Page 13 of Fractured Fang: Omega

Gabriel stood in the pavilion's center, looking at the cinderblock wall. The pavilion was a standalone shelter that was all open except for the back wall, which actually was a little building that housed a restroom and a small kitchenette-like area. The intention was that someday we would build a complete outdoor kitchen and serve our food outside, similar to how the Greycoast and Northbay packs' pavillions worked.

With how small we were now, it didn’t make sense to eat outside all the time or keep a full-time restaurant running with a menu, as Greycoast did. So we didn’t get to build the full kitchen. Still, the little shelter came in handy when we were doing popcorn nights, movie nights outside or even when we had our pack runs with everybody.

The pavilion was a great place to gather.

“What are you looking at, mate?” I asked, and Gabriel jumped.

“Hey,” he said. “When did you get back?”

“Just a few minutes ago. You didn’t hear the truck pull in? And those bleating sheep?” I teased.

The noise rivaled that of the blasted rooster that couldn’t tell time.

“Well, I do now,” he said with a smile, still a little lost in thought.

“I have something silly to ask you. Or maybe it’s not silly, but it does feel like something I should’ve asked you when we met.”

He looked at me quizzically. “Okay?”

“Everyone calls you Gabe. Is that what you prefer?” I asked.

“You know what? No one has ever asked me that. I’ve always been Gabe unless I was in trouble. Then I was Gabriel.” He rubbed his chin. I wanted to be the one doing that or touching any part of him. I wasn’t picky. “I think maybe I like Gabe, but I will think about that.”

“Thanks, Gabe.” He smiled at my saying his name. I appreciated that he didn’t just give me a random answer, that he truly thought about it.

“What are you up to?” I asked. I did have to let the sheep out, but I wasn’t quite ready to leave Gabe’s side yet, even though I had sated my beast’s desire to check on him.

He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck and faced the wall. “Well, Franklin saw a sketch I did, and he wants me to do a painting on the brick here.”

“That would be cool.” It would give the place a very inviting feel. I could see why Franklin thought of the idea.

“Yeah, so I’m just trying to sketch it out in my mind.” He shrugged.

“That’s awesome,” I said. Before I could tell Gabe how incredibly proud I was, Phillip came up to us.

“What’s awesome?” he asked.

“Nothing. I was just remarking on all the cool buildings the place has,” Gabe said.

My brow furrowed at that. Why not tell his parents about the mural and his plans for it? Because they wouldn’t approve. I knew the answer; I just didn’t want to admit it to myself because it meant my mate had to guard his heart against his own parents, and I hated that for him.

“Yep, we’ve done a lot of work here,” Phillip said. “Dinner looks good. Are we going to unload the sheep?”

I nodded. They shouldn’t wait much longer.

“Gabe, would you like to help?” I wanted him with me and if staring at the wall wasn’t helping, maybe stepping away for a bit might. At least I knew that was what helped me when I got stuck.

“Sure,” he said. “I don’t know much about animals, but—”

“You can learn,” Phillip said, cutting him off. “Hell, Macs didn’t know much about raising any of these hurt animals either, but he’s become the animal manager ever since Perry brought home all those damn cows.”

I rolled my eyes. “If you’d like, I can show you around. You could help me do chores, trim hooves, that kind of thing.” My eyes bore into his, hopefully conveying the right message that we could spend time together and no one would be the wiser. I could care less if he could trim a hoof. His skills were of value, and he needed to know that. But also, spending time with him sounded blissful.

“That would be great,” Gabe said. “I’d love to help out while I’m here.”

Like an ice water bucket over the head, he reminded me that his time here was temporary. I had to remind myself that I would be with him wherever he went. His leaving wouldn’t be rejecting me; it would be deciding that Fractured Fang wasn’t for him—two very different things.

“Perfect,” Phillip said, clapping Gabe on the back. “Let’s get the sheep unloaded.”

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