AN: not edited.

Chapter 9 - Truth and Lies (Gabriel's POV)

Checking her thoughts I see that she's counting, so knocking gently then waiting I hear her say softly "come in."

Using my instincts and deciding that I needed to set this entire situation straight about what was going to happen I began speaking almost immediately, knowing that if I gave her time to speak first my resolve would shift.

She thought she was stronger than us, that I was weak but she was incorrect, she might be a flight risk but after watching Audrey grow up I knew that them being twins meant they were somewhat alike. Audrey was stubborn and quite frankly a big brat, and the Beta and his wife spoiled her rotten. I wouldn't do that with Chelsea, if she were going to be my Luna I needed her to understand things about my family, hers and me.

"Okay Chelsea, first about Jay and Rian I know you don't know their sides so I'm going to tell you okay? And I understand that you angry and not interested but as my mate they are a part of my life."

I said as she sat down facing me on her sofa, not speaking or showing any sign to interrupt me I continued.

"Jay and Rian aren't true mates. They fell in love as friends, and then when he told her about wolves she gave up her human family for him. He's about 87 years old, when the pack needed him and my dad to step up he married then mated Rian. They had Ames and then right after, Madeline and Maggie, but when they were 5 and 4 years old he met your biological mom."

"The thing is if a lower member of a pack mates with someone else that is not the chosen mate, the mate bond goes away but not for an Alpha, Elder, Beta or third. When he met your mom he had a lot of responsibility. Three kids, Rian had been changed for him, plus his pack he couldn't just abandon them so he made a sacrifice. When he met your mom the mate bond was strong, she didn't know about Rian and they mated, but he didn't mark her. Your biological mom, he told her to go away because he had his family." I took a breath and continued my explanation.

"Rian was so depressed worried he would leave her but he loved her, your mom too but he had to pick so he did. No one in our pack blamed him for mating with your mom because they understood it was something he couldn't control but choosing to abandon all the promises he made to Rian, he just couldn't be with your mom. When he told your mom to leave, he was looking out for her too because no one treated her well... The worst place she could be was with our pack, if there were an attack she would be sacrificed, no one would defend her, keep her safe so he had to send her away. When she left Rian made him swear he would never see her again. It took sometime but she forgave him for being intimate with your mom."

"Four months later someone left Audrey on the edge of our pack lines with a note saying who her father was. At first Rian wanted him to give up Audrey but everyone knew that he wouldn't be able to function well with that. Male wolves are very protective of their pups, but Rian thought that if he kept her that one day your mom would come back and now that they had a child together, she was a chosen mate that he would leave her and be with your mom." I explain, remember that time but also having heard the story from my mom just recently.

"At first Rian, she never wanted to hold Audrey. After two months when she saw the hurt that caused she came around, became Audrey's mom. We're all pretty tight nit and Rian had him agree that he shouldn't go looking for his mate because she left his child with him. Everyone was convinced that your mom left Audrey so that your dad would go looking for her. He just didn't fall for it though, he was repulsed by what she did, and she just left Audrey, her own pup. You're dad didn't abandon you Chelsea and he never knew you existed. That's the truth..." I trailed off.

Stop. This is a mistake don't say more Gabriel!! I heard my wolf Max saying.  

I need to say the rest, I'm thinking straight now and she can't hold a grudge against our entire pack, we didn't know she existed if just one of us knew we would have gone to find her but this is her mothers fault... plus look at where she is... she was adopted by a rich family, lives in this huge house, has plenty of money; it's not like anything bad happened to her... I replied to Max.

Gabriel you do not know what you are saying, I know what you're trying to do but this isn't the way to do it, you are going to cost us our mate. I won't forgive you if you do so, I will not! I. WILL. NOT. LIVE. WITHOUT. MY MATE! Max growled out inside my head.

She is more important than the pack and she needs us, I spoke to her wolf so don't mess this up! Or. Else.

As I watched the tears I knew what I said next would break her heart but she wanted a family, and I had one that would welcome her, if she weren't so cold and closed off. Her father dying was tragic but she had another chance to have another family.

"You are my mate, but they are my family-" I started but was cut off by my wolf howling at me to stop, he had never been quite this adamant about anything well except one thing.

STOPPP!!!!

I wouldn't stop so I just ignored him and shut off our link while I finished. I was looking at her, she had her head down, not looking at me and I could see her tears falling onto her hands resting in her lap.

I began again "Chelsea, you are my mate, but they are my family I can't just not see them because of your misguided grudge. I can't completely give them up, so don't ask or assume that I would make such a sacrifice it would be selfish. We can't run away, I'm the future Alpha Chelsea. My sisters, brothers, friends everyone in that pack are all family."

"Maggie, Madeline, Sam, Scar, Ames... they are all my best friends, I'm going to see them often it'd be easier on me if you just accepted it and could be okay with that. We, they and I are a team and if you were kind to them they'd all accept you."

You're a goddamned idiot... I heard Max thinking; he was fighting me with all his might to get me to shut up, to try and take over but not having much luck.

"Maggie and I are no longer in a relationship, she will understand that, and you need to understand that I can't just drop her she will always be around although now as a friend not lover or fiancé."

"I'm not in love with her anymore but I love her the way Ames loves her now. We are going back to what we were when we were very little and that is friends. Just friends that is all. I would never cheat on you with her, but you need to come to accept that and quick, as will she." I finish proud of myself for holding my ground. My mate is stubborn if I state what has to happen now it will save much time, heartache and overall problems.

As I look at her I notice that she is deathly silent, no crying sounds but tears are falling down her face.

You fucked up, you made our mate cry and you're proud of that? Screeched a fuming mad Max in my mind.

No just watch, all I said was true she needs to change, that human spoiled her...

Since she has yet to say anything I'm curious as to what is going on in her head right now so I check and see its open. I'm a bit confused because I see that she's counting again, she's at 190, 191, 192... why is she always counting I wonder absentmindedly while glancing at my watch I nothing that its almost 10pm now, and I have to be awake in 4 and a half hours.

I have to admit besides the tears, Chelsea handled what I had to say very nicely and now that this little hurdle has been jumped I want to get right in to getting to know her better.

You should have gotten to know her better before you said those entirely stupid sounding things jackass; she isn't like all the others.

No I was right in telling her, I have a lot of experience in these kinds of things Max, I mean you and I both know that the reason dad thought she would be nothing more than a side piece was because of all the other side pieces I've had over the years; all the women that wanted me because of who I am and what I will be... 

"Want to do something later tomorrow when I come home?" my mind intent on finding all things she and I can do together since she is a bit young... movies, dinner, dance club, basketball game, maybe football... maybe go out on my boat...

"I'll let you know after school, depends on how I feel." She distantly replied.

Her reply was monotone and for a minute I questioned whether I handled this wrong but then I thought about how I felt before coming to her room.

Getting back to the present and knowing from dad that my mate had never actually went to real school only being homeschooled her whole life I asked "Are you nervous about tomorrow?" Looking up at my face then wrinkling her brows at me.

"Your first day of school." Recognition flashed in her eyes and she licks her lips then begins to bite on her bottom lip, I can tell she's nervous about it.

"Don't worry about it," I said as I made way to leave her room.

Leave her room? Why? She wants us to stay!!

Ignoring Max, I stand up. "You'll love it at Resurrection. My brothers are there as well as Audrey..." I began but stopping when a look I couldn't decipher crossed her face. "Good luck okay? Mind link me anytime... I'll make sure my brothers let everyone know that you're mine and off limits, so I doubt you'll have any problems."

I leaned down and kissed her forehead, feeling the sparks when my lips touched her soft, alluring skin. Hardest thing was pulling away, and walking out the door going back to my room but I did because I knew she needed time to think about everything I said. She had been so still when I explained to her about Jay and Rian, she shouldn't be angry at the situation or blame anyone but her mother. No one knew she existed, until today and I knew if I helped she would accept my pack. They were family, hers too if she would just let them.

If mom and Maggie could accept her so quickly she should be able to do the same.

X-X-X-X-X-X-X

Chapter Ten – The lies he hides...(Gabriel POV once again)

Walking out of my mates room was the hardest thing I had ever done, all I really wanted to do was convince her to let me stay in her room, even on her couch. I wouldn't have minded but I knew that she would need some space.

Walking back down to the room she had given me I passed a few rooms, two actually but what caught my attention was the door that needed a code to the keypad that was situated right near it. Huh, so Chelsea had some secrets of her own then...

 Yeah and we could have known them if you didn't just act like a total butthole! You made her cry!

Well she needs to toughen up if she plans to be Luna.

Our pack would be lucky to have her as a Luna, not the other way around, but you don't understand that do you?

Shutting him out I made it into my room and picked up two of my textbooks for my classes tomorrow... we didn't have any assignments but I like to at least know a few things before walking in for this new semester, my last semester. Math. I despised it and it was only Maggie who had talked me into taking this class along with her, Ames, Samuel and Scarlett. I couldn't just cut Maggie out of my life I knew that, but for some many reasons. Now since I had let Chelsea know that I wasn't going to pick her over them, I would still be able to get help in both classes from Maggie. Out of our entire little group of friends and siblings she was the one that was able to always pick up what was being taught and would help the rest of us outside of class. USC had a few wolf professors that were in our pack and would know if we were cheating so we always studied. Education was a large part of our lives; we had a very successful pack.

Flipping through a few pages I realized I wasn't in the mood, my mind was still on the talk I just had with my mate. Thinking back I thought of what made me decide to handle it the way I had.

- ~ FLASHBACK ~ -

"Do you want to get ready for bed, then talk some?" I asked, it was already 9pm and as much as I wanted to stay and talk to my mate until early morning I had training and school in the morning.

She just nodded her head, I had many things to ask, and I would just have to ask later, because she deserved some answers as well.

My mate didn't talk much and that was very different from the girls that I was used too, when she showed me to my room I wasn't surprised, it was very me. While her room was very white, with only a black leather couch, my new room had gray carpets that matched the silver and gray painted walls. Looking around I realized that connected to this room was an office/study and another door leading to a very large bathroom, with an attached closet. My mate wanted us to be comfortable, I would like to be closer to her though but I guess based on my actions before she probably didn't know that. Picking up my cell phone quickly reading and replying to messages deciding that I need to shower before speaking with Chelsea.

Opening my suitcases I picked up a wife beater, boxers and basketball shorts and walked into the bathroom. Starting the shower then getting in I thought about how to say all I needed too. She was such a flight risk, even marked, she had thought about leaving me.

Leaving us, we need to be kind to her so she wont leave us said my wolf Max.

Once I was finished washing and dressed I walked back up to her room, we were in a tricky situation, she was only 17 and she wasn't very mature and was incredible impulsive as I saw earlier. I hated to admit it, but dad was right she had probably just shifted and needed to be trained.

Checking my phone all I saw was a text message from everyone in my family. My family, even Ames cared and was concerned about how Chelsea and I were doing. But what really changed how I wanted to handle this talk were three messages one from my mother the other from Maggie and Ames.

#MESSAGE 1: Mom

Your father's sorry please don't shut us out, the pack needs you, they will welcome her, as your mate and future Luna Gabriel, love Mom.

P.S. Your mate sure can cook, let her know that I'm sorry for how this dinner turned out and maybe you guys can come over tomorrow. Not too meet the whole pack but just a quick hello.

Hell yeah our girl can cook, beautiful and perfect Max thought and I had to agree with him, it was strange when she showed all what she had made for dinner because Audrey couldn't cook anything and could quite frankly burn water.

#MESSAGE 2: Maggie

"Never let the tings you want forget the things you have." You always say that Gabe. Always. When pack members go away to school your dad tells them that so they remember that they have a pack. We may not be billionaire rich like her but we are rich in love and family. You have a mate and I understand that, but don't turn your back on us. On me. We've been friends since I was 3 years old; you have her now but please don't shut us out. We were your family first, and when she's bored with us, figures out the type of life we run and ready to go to abandon you we will still be here when she leaves.

As I read her message I knew that what she was saying was right but my wolf had different ideas... 

Damn right I do! If you're going to fall for what Maggie is saying now Gabriel you're slower than I thought said Max

#MESSAGE 3: Ames

How are you and Chelsea? Oh bro defense training and range practice tomorrow in the meadow, you still coming?

Not answering him yet before I talk to Chelsea...

- ~ END FLASHBACK ~ -

There were many things she didn't understand just yet because she was a child and I was a 22-year-old man, nearly 23... a man that just made a bad decision but when do you ever make the right ones... point and case MAGGIE... my wolf added.

My father had his hands in many shifty deals and I didn't want to go into very many details, but I needed to break her if she was going to stand by my side while I removed my family and pack from the shady dealings my father had gotten us all into. She would need mom and Rian to give her Luna training, show what her future duties would be and whatever else came with being my mate and our packs Luna.

It was probably 3 or 4 years off, my dad wasn't ready to retire but if he were ever hurt I would need to take my place as Alpha. My brothers could one day be alpha if anything happened to both my father and I, but neither were born with an Alpha gene.

There was much responsibility that came with being the next inline, but that was my life, the life I was born into, a roll I was created to take over one day, one that actually gave me pleasure.

Maggie. I had two choices, for my father Chelsea wouldn't be the right person for me. Maggie and I in the beginning could probably be considered a marriage of convenience, on paper; with proper training she appeared to be the best match for me so our families had constantly pushed us together until finally we gave each other a change. We had broken up before but being so close by and near each other we got back together but I never stopped seeing other women. I had never been the faithful type with her, and I'm sure my mom knew it. While most wolves would be closer to their dads I was closer with my mom, she knew me better than anything.

When Maggie found out she was pregnant, my father, and her parents were ecstatic, I on the other hand didn't get on the bandwagon. My mother however knew the truth about many things like why I had never marked Maggie. I had given excuses to everyone but I spoke to my mother and told her the truth, which was my wolf, wouldn't let me mark her. No matter the pressure dad put me under to mate, mark and marry Maggie I couldn't because my wolf wouldn't let me. My wolf ignored hers completely ever since we started dating, which she brought up once but I sidestepped explaining that I had a shy wolf.

But over the years my wolf never warmed up to her, and when she found out she was pregnant he still resented her and I for making that type of mistake. When I spoke to mom about the situation she told me that my wolf probably knew who my mate was and wanted to wait for her so instead of letting me mark Maggie he was waiting for his true mate. I was a bit infuriated because if he knew who my mate was, then that meant she knew as well and she whoever she was, was hiding from me. Mom again explained that my mate must be younger than me, so while I had shifted she had not.

So even after getting pregnant I had not marked her, when she was 4 months along a rogue attached us, causing her to lose our child, just three months ago. Everyone had taken it hard and stupidly now, I regretted with every fiber of my being that our families, and my dad had continually pushed us together. I hated myself even more for going along with it but I just didn't like the pressure my father was putting on me to get his way, so I gave in.

The rogue that attacked us did so for one reason, he was Maggie's true chosen mate, saw she was pregnant with another persons child and shifted out to attack me, but Maggie was caught in the middle.

The warriors were able to capture him and place him in our dungeon. At the pack hospital they performed a D and C, I know everyone had been hoping that our child would be born early and survive but the father didn't make it that way. She spent a week in the hospital then was allowed to return home.

Her mate stayed in the dungeon awaiting punishment, which my dad left up to Maggie to decide. No matter how much I pleaded that he be the one he declined. I went to my mother, the Beta and his wife to tell them not to let her decide while she was grieving, because I was upset but I felt that now that she met him she should take time and get to know him, he is her mate.

It was then that I finally spoke to my mother about my wolf not accepting Maggie as our mate, explaining why I thought she should get to know her own mate because I wouldn't be able to be with her. I didn't want her to do something she regretted because as soon as I had graduated from University this coming year I had decided I would finally go find my mate, then we were pregnant and I still hadn't changed my plans.

The talk with everyone led nowhere they all said the same things that I wouldn't understand her pain, she felt our child growing inside her, moving and kicking. 

They questioned my love, my wolf and why I would want for her to wait and decide after she had recovered emotionally and physically.

In truth when they asked I had no answer that worked to explain only that my wolf was encouraging me to do so. We had both knew we would have mates out there and she found hers.

If she didn't give him a chance and decided he should be put to death, I didn't want to be held responsible. She should only care about what was best for her; I didn't want her to think of my feelings. Because I knew what I did on the side, going out and sleeping with other women after all these years I couldn't say that I truly loved Maggie the right way. The way Jay had loved Rian enough to send his mate away, or the way Ames loved Scarlet, I guess it was my way of getting out of this situation but also making sure that she would be taken care of by someone. Not just someone but someone made for her, to love and complete her, give her a chance to do the same for them because my wolf didn't want her. 

So I told her to take time, to heal emotionally before deciding however she did not.

After just one month she made her decision.

Death.

It was a mistake then and it was a mistake now.

In the span of five months she had lost our child, her mate and now me as a potential mate.

I didn't feel guilty for marking Chelsea, but I would feel guilty if I just shut Maggie out when I know that she is clearly suffering.

If I could do everything at once it would all work out, be there for Maggie but as a friend, please my dad by training Chelsea and helping her make mends with our pack and her family.

What I said to her, how I explained it, I knew in my heart was the right thing to do, because I needed to bring her down a few pegs and I needed to reassure my pack family that they still had me. My initial reaction was not the reaction of a future Alpha but tomorrow I would rectify my hasty choices.

I couldn't tell her all of this instead of what I did because either way I looked like an ass, at least this way she will think better of me; but I knew the truth up until I met her 3 hours ago there was nothing about my behavior, attitude and decisions to be remotely proud of, except anything to do with my pack.

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Hi... thanks for reading... Gabe is STILL a total ________!! Would the readers like to fill in the blank space with an answer, AGAIN?? lol

So yeah things aren't about to get any better for the lovely couple ;) I mean making decision about Chelsea based on Audrey... *sigh while i shake my head*

Vote (if you liked it) and comment please.

thanks all :)

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