Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Time seemed to slow, the noise of the fundraiser fading to a distant hum as Kymberlie lost herself in the intensity of Gabriel’s green-gold eyes.
Her wolf yipped happily inside her. Finally!
She traced the firm line of his jaw. “Gabriel,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Then she was kissing him, pouring everything she felt but couldn’t articulate into the joining of their lips.
Her emotions went far beyond mere gratitude for saving her club. He saw her… the good, the bad, and the weaknesses she tried so hard to hide.
And he still loved her.
His arms tightened around her, pulling her flush against the hard planes of his body.
Heat spiraled through her, setting every nerve ending alight.
The familiar, beloved scent of him filled her senses until she was drowning in it.
Her wolf reveled in his closeness, in the taste of him on her tongue, in the soft rumble of pleasure that vibrated through his chest.
When they finally broke apart, Kymberlie’s pulse raced like a wild thing in her veins. She blinked, dazed, and found Gabriel watching her with such tender intensity that it made her breath catch all over again.
Then, with deliberate slowness, Gabriel released her and sank to one knee before her.
A hush fell over the crowd. Rob stopped singing, and the drums and guitars went silent. Kymberlie’s hand flew to her mouth, stifling a gasp as understanding dawned.
“Kymberlie Tringstad,” Gabriel said, his deep voice steady despite the vulnerability etched across his features. “My inner cat chose you the moment we met. It recognized what I was too stubborn to see at first—that you are everything I never knew I was searching for.”
Her heart hammered against her ribs so forcefully she was certain everyone in the room could hear it. Gabriel’s gaze never wavered from hers as he continued.
“Every day since has only proven my beast right. Your strength, your loyalty, your fierce heart—they humble me. The way you fought for this place showed me how fiercely you fight for the things important to you.” He smiled up at her, and her breath caught at the look in his eyes.
“You’re extraordinary, my love. And I’d be the happiest man in the world if you’d agree to be my mate, my wife, for all the days we have. ”
From his pocket, he withdrew a small velvet box and flipped it open to reveal a diamond ring that caught the light in dazzling sparks.
Kymberlie’s wolf surged up in triumph, nearly overwhelming her with the need to claim him on the spot and seal their bond.
Later, she promised it, fighting to maintain control, to find words worthy of this moment.
“Gabriel,” she managed, her voice breaking on his name. “You walked into my bar and my life and turned everything upside down. You challenged me, you saved me from myself, you saw me—really saw me—when I was trying so hard to pretend I was invincible.”
She bent her head. Gabriel reached up to cup her cheek with his free hand. She leaned into his warm palm.
“My wolf knew you were mine from the start,” she admitted. “It was just waiting for the rest of me to catch up.” She drew a shaky breath. “Yes. Yes, I’ll be your mate. I can’t wait to spend my life with you.”
The crowd erupted around them—cheers and whistles and applause crashing over them like a wave. Kymberlie barely registered it, her focus narrowed to the brilliant smile that transformed Gabriel’s face. His hands shook as he slid the ring onto her finger.
“Perfect fit,” he murmured, pressing his lips to her knuckles just above where the diamond now sparkled.
From the stage, Rob Jacobsen’s voice cut through the din, amplified by the microphone. “Welcome to the wolf pack, big cat!” the long-haired singer hollered.
Shouts of agreement rose above his words. The band behind Rob struck up a romantic ballad, the sweet notes floating through the air like a benediction.
Gabriel rose to his feet in a single fluid motion. His powerful arms encircled her waist, pulling her close again. “May I have this dance, my beautiful mate?” he whispered.
His breath brushed her ear, sending delicious shivers racing down her spine.
“You may have every dance from now on,” Kymberlie replied, twining her arms around his neck.
They shared another kiss, softer and shorter this time but no less meaningful.
Then Gabriel led her to the center of the dance floor. The crowd parted around them, creating a circle of space around them.
Gabriel’s hand was warm and solid against the small of her back as they swayed together. His other hand cradled hers against his chest, where she felt the steady beat of his heart.
Kymberlie let herself melt into him, into this moment that felt like the beginning of everything.
Around them, familiar faces beamed with joy. Her sister Annika wiped away tears while her tall, eagle shifter husband Roy squeezed her shoulders. A grinning Maggie and Cade raised their bottles of beer in a silent toast.
Mom and Dad looked dazed by the sudden turn of events, though Mom had the presence of mind to blow Kymberlie a kiss across the room.
“I never thought I’d find a place to belong,” Gabriel confessed in a whisper, his words for her alone. “After everything that happened in Granite Gap, I thought I was going to be alone forever.”
Kymberlie tightened her arms around him. “You’re not alone anymore,” she promised. “You have your new pride. You’ll be part of our pack once we’re mated. And you’re mine.”
His eyes flashed with that distinctive sabertooth gold, his beast responding to her claim. “I am. And you’re mine.”
The possessive note in his voice sent a thrill through her.
Her wolf threw its head back and howled in triumph. Everything had worked out the way it had hoped.
This is the beginning of our forever.
The moment hung suspended in time: Gabriel’s arms strong around her, the music weaving through the air, their family and friends encircling them with love and acceptance.
It was everything Kymberlie had ever wanted and more than she’d dared to hope for.
∞∞∞
After the auction of donated items, dessert was served.
When the fundraiser finally wound down near midnight and the last guests trickled out to the parking lot, Zoey, Karl, and Matt chased Kymberlie and Gabriel out.
“Don’t worry about cleanup,” Zoey said. “We’ve got a bunch of volunteers to help with that.”
“We’ll leave this place so clean you’ll never know we had a big party in here,” Karl added cheerfully.
Maggie and Cade were waiting in the parking lot as Kymberlie and Gabriel walked outside.
Maggie thrust a bulging envelope into Kymberlie’s hands.
“These are just the proceeds from tickets we sold at the door,” she said.
“Check your banking app for the rest of the advance ticket sales. And the money from the auction should show up by next week.”
Kymberlie hugged her. “Thanks for everything, Maggie. I don’t have the words to tell you how much tonight meant to me.”
“I know you’d do the same for us if we needed help,” Cade drawled. “Now, get going, you two. I know you have wedding plans to make.”
∞∞∞
Gabriel ached at the temporary separation as he followed Kymberlie’s car back to her house. He didn’t want to stop touching her, didn’t want her to get further away than arm’s length… but the nature of tonight’s surprise meant they’d each driven their own vehicles.
Once he’d parked in front of her house, he strode up the snow-covered walk to her porch and scooped her up in his arms.
Kymberlie giggled and wound her arms around his neck as he carried her across the threshold of her house.
Our house now, he supposed. The cabin he was renting from Daniel Langlais out at the Cougar Lake Ranch had never really felt like home.
As he strode into the living room, his sabertooth rumbled with satisfaction, a deep vibration that traveled from his chest to hers where she was pressed against him.
The front door swung shut behind them with a soft click. For a moment, they simply stared at each other in the dim entryway.
The only illumination came from the porch light filtering through the curtained living room windows, but it was more than enough for Gabriel’s shifter-enhanced vision. The diamond on Kymberlie’s finger caught the faint light and winked like a star.
“I can’t believe you’re mine,” Gabriel whispered, setting her gently on her feet but keeping her within the circle of his arms.
Kymberlie’s smile was radiant. “Believe it.” She rose on her tiptoes, her mouth seeking his.
The kiss started slow, exploratory, but quickly blazed into something fierce and demanding.
Gabriel’s hands slid down to her jeans-clad ass, pulling her flush against him. Her scent filled his lungs, intoxicating him. His cat growled in approval as her fingers tangled in his hair and her short nails scraped lightly against his scalp.
“Bedroom,” she gasped against his mouth. “Now.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. Scooping her up again, Gabriel carried her down the hallway to his favorite spot inside her home. When he pushed open her bedroom door, moonlight spilled across the rumpled sheets of her unmade bed, turning them silver.
He set her on her feet beside the bed, his hands immediately moving to the hem of her knitted sweater.
“I’ve wanted you for my mate since the first time we met,” he confessed, his voice rough with desire.
Her hands weren’t idle either, tugging at his tie, unbuttoning his dress shirt with nimble fingers. “While you were shutting down my club?” she teased. “Me yelling at you is what turned you on?”
“Kind of,” Gabriel admitted. “I mean, I felt bad about having to lay down the law, but you were so fierce, so determined to make everything right.”
She raised her arms as he pulled the sweater up and over her head. Gabriel’s breath caught in his throat, as it always did when he was unwrapping her delicious body. She was glorious in her plain bra and smooth, warm skin.