17. Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Seventeen
D akota drove while Gabriel sat in the passenger seat, his posture tense as he scanned the streets we passed. I clutched my tote bag with the African violet, watching my apartment building disappear from view. A strange sense of finality settled over me—like I was leaving behind more than just a physical space.
"You okay back there?" Dakota asked, his eyes meeting mine briefly in the rearview mirror.
"Fine," I lied, my voice steadier than I expected. "Just tired."
Gabriel turned slightly in his seat, studying my face with those perceptive blue eyes. "It's normal to feel overwhelmed," he said quietly. "This is a lot to process."
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak further. The reality of my situation was sinking in with crushing weight. Someone was watching my apartment, stalking my routine, had attacked my shop. I wasn't safe in my own home, my own business. The independence I'd worked so hard to build was crumbling, replaced by a dependence on these Alphas that made my skin crawl even as I recognized its necessity.
"Stop thinking so loud," Dakota said, his voice gentler than I'd heard before. "We can practically hear your brain overheating."
I let out a startled laugh despite myself. "Sorry. Occupational hazard. I'm used to working things out on my own."
"Well, you're not on your own now," Gabriel said, his tone brooking no argument. "And that's not a bad thing, Vivian. Even the most independent people need support sometimes."
I met his gaze in the rearview mirror, struck by the quiet conviction in his voice. There was no condescension there, no Alpha superiority—just a simple statement of fact. I looked away first, unable to maintain eye contact with the intensity of his gaze.
"I'm just not used to needing help," I admitted softly, watching the city transition to more upscale neighborhoods as we drove. "Especially from Alphas."
"We've noticed," Dakota replied dryly, though there was a hint of amusement in his tone rather than offense.
"May I ask why?" Gabriel inquired, his voice carefully neutral. "Your aversion to Alpha assistance seems... personal."
I tensed, my fingers tightening around the strap of my tote bag. This wasn't a conversation I wanted to have—not here, not now, maybe not ever. My past experiences with Alphas were my own business, buried deep where they couldn't hurt me anymore.
"You don't have to answer that," Gabriel added quickly, sensing my discomfort. "I shouldn't have asked."
I took a deep breath, staring out the window at the passing houses. "It's fine. It's not some dark secret or anything. Just... experiences. Observations." I shrugged, trying to appear more casual than I felt. "When you grow up watching Alphas use their status to control others, you develop a healthy skepticism."
Dakota snorted softly. "Can't argue with that. Some of us are definitely assholes."
Gabriel shot him a look, but didn't contradict him. "Not all of us believe our designation makes us superior," he said instead, his eyes finding mine in the mirror again.
"I know that," I admitted. "Intellectually, at least. But old habits die hard."
The conversation lapsed into silence as Dakota turned onto a winding road that led up into the hills. I watched as the house came into view and eventually the car came to a stop.
"Home sweet home," he muttered, more to himself than to us.
Gabriel exited first, scanning the surroundings with that hypervigilant gaze before opening my door. "Lucas and Theo should be back by now," he informed me, taking my suitcase from the trunk. "Let's get you settled in."
I let him lead me inside and into the house, following him down the hall I had been in this morning, but this time he lead me to a different room. I raised an eyebrow at this, silently asking him a question.
"I thought you might want a room with a better view," Gabriel explained, pushing open a door to reveal a spacious bedroom with large windows overlooking the gardens. "The morning sunlight is particularly good in here."
The room was beautiful—airy and bright, with a queen-sized bed covered in what looked like impossibly soft linens in shades of sage green and cream. A reading nook was nestled in the bay window, complete with cushions and throw pillows that looked perfect for curling up with a book. The walls were a soft gray, adorned with tasteful botanical prints that reminded me of my own apartment.
"This is..." I trailed off, stepping inside and setting my tote bag carefully on a nearby chair. "Did you plan this?"
Gabriel set my suitcase down, a hint of uncertainty crossing his features. "Theo might have mentioned your preference for plants and natural light. We want you to be comfortable here, Vivian. As comfortable as possible under the circumstances."
I ran my hand along the footboard of the bed, touched by this unexpected thoughtfulness. "Thank you. It's perfect."
Gabriel nodded, seemingly relieved by my approval. "The bathroom is through there," he said, gesturing to a door on the right. "And there's plenty of closet space for your things."
I moved to the window, gazing out at the well-maintained gardens below. Neat beds of perennials lined stone pathways, and I could see a small greenhouse nestled among the trees at the far end of the property.
"Is that a greenhouse?" I asked, unable to hide my interest.
Gabriel moved to stand beside me, his presence warm but not intrusive. "Yes. It's Theo's domain, primarily. He grows herbs and some experimental hybrids. You're welcome to use it, if you'd like. I think he'd appreciate another plant enthusiast."
"I'd like that," I said softly, genuinely touched by this unexpected kindness. The thought of having access to a greenhouse during my stay here offered a small comfort—a piece of normalcy in the chaos my life had become.
Gabriel cleared his throat, stepping back slightly. "I'll let you get settled. Take your time unpacking. Dinner's usually around seven, but there's no pressure to join if you'd prefer some time alone…"
“What about the security…”I didn’t get to even finish before Gabriel gave a small laugh.
“I will have Theo go over everything when he is back. Since they were so close to your apartment, I think going back to the store today isn’t a good idea.” Gabriel gave me a sympathetic smile, but I understood as I nodded. We stood in silence for a moment before I spoke again.
"Thank you. For all of this." I broke the silence as I gestured to the room. "It's more than I expected."
"What did you expect?" he asked, his head tilting slightly in curiosity.
"I don't know," I admitted with a small shrug. "A spare room with bare necessities? Some kind of Alpha power play about territory and protection. Not... thoughtfulness."
Gabriel's expression softened, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "We're not all the stereotypes, Vivian. My pack, we..." he paused, seeming to choose his words carefully. "We've all experienced things that taught us power isn't the same as strength."
I studied his face, struck by the genuine emotion I saw there. There was clearly a story behind his words, something personal that had shaped his worldview. Part of me wanted to ask, to understand this Alpha who defied my expectations at every turn. But another part—the cautious, self-protective part—warned me against getting too close.
"I should unpack," I said instead, breaking the moment.
Gabriel nodded, respecting my unspoken boundary. "Of course. I'll leave you to it." He moved toward the door, pausing with his hand on the doorknob. "If you need anything, just ask. Someone's always around."
After he left, I sat on the edge of the bed, finally allowing myself a moment to process everything. The softness of the mattress beneath me was a stark contrast to the hardness of my reality—a shop in ruins, an apartment no longer safe, and a killer who seemed determined to find me.
I pulled the African violet from my tote bag, carefully unwrapping it and placing it on the windowsill where it would catch the morning light. The familiar routine of checking its soil, adjusting its position for optimal sunlight, grounded me in a way nothing else could.
"Just you and me now," I murmured to the plant, gently touching one of its velvety purple blooms before setting it on the side table of the bed. "At least until this nightmare is over."
I sat down on the bed, feeling everything start to catch up with me, a low whimper leaving me as I buried my face in my hands and allowed myself a moment of weakness now that I was alone. Hot tears slipped between my fingers as I finally let go of the tight control I'd been maintaining.
My life felt so out of control….I didn’t know how long I could stand it. For now, I would let myself cry and figure out things one day at a time.