The Luna and The Beast

Kitchen Confrontation

Gabriel POV

Gabriel leaned against the railing of the packhouse steps, staring out into the darkening forest. The cool afternoon air brushed against his skin, but it did nothing to soothe the fire burning inside him.

He should’ve been in the meeting room, sitting beside his father, showing strength. Instead, he was here, replaying Maya’s rejection of the bond over and over in his mind. Her family hadn’t even stayed for the meeting. They’d headed straight back home after their whole mate bond fiasco.

The bond was maddening, pulling at him relentlessly, yet she had looked at him like he was her worst nightmare. Her disgust, her cold dismissal—it had cut deeper than any blade ever could.

He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as he fought to tamp down the rising storm within him. Draven, his wolf, growled in the back of his mind, his agitation mirroring Gabriel’s own.

“Mind if I join you?” his father’s voice broke through the stillness, low and steady.

Gabriel didn’t move, his eyes fixed on the forest. “Free packhouse. Do what you want.”

“You’ve been out here for a while,” Christian said, his tone casual but probing. “Your mother’s worried.”

“I’m fine,” Gabriel muttered, though the strain in his voice betrayed him.

Christian sighed. “You’re not fine, Gabe. And that’s okay. The mate bond... it’s not easy. Especially when things don’t go the way you’d hoped.”

“She doesn’t want me, Dad. She barely even looked at me. And when she did...” He trailed off, shaking his head. “It was like I was the last person she wanted to see.”

“She’s scared,” Christian said simply. “And can you blame her? This is new territory for both of you. Throw in her family’s history with ours, and it’s no wonder she’s hesitant.”

“Hesitant?” Gabriel let out a bitter laugh. “She rejected me before I even had a chance to say a word. She’s not hesitant—she’s done.”

“She’s not done,” Nora’s voice chimed in as she stepped onto the porch. She crossed her arms, her expression both stern and sympathetic. “Maya is overwhelmed, yes, but the bond is there, Gabriel. Whether she likes it or not, it’s there. And it’s not going away.”

Gabriel ran a hand through his hair, the tension in his chest building. “What am I supposed to do, Mom? Just sit back and wait for her to change her mind?”

“No,” Christian said firmly. “You show her who you are. You prove to her that you’re worth the risk. That you’re not the man she thinks you are. You have six precious months to change her mind.”

Gabriel’s head snapped up, his blue eyes blazing. “And if she still rejects me? What then?”

“Then you fight,” Christian said, his voice steady. “But not with force. You fight with patience, with understanding. With the kind of strength that doesn’t come from magic or muscles, but from here.” He tapped his chest. “The mate bond isn’t just about instinct. It’s about choice. She needs to see that you’re her choice.”

Gabriel let out a long breath, the weight of his father’s words settling over him.

Nora stepped closer, resting a hand on his arm. “We’re here for you, Gabe. Always. And remember, this isn’t just your fight. The bond is hers too. She’ll feel it, no matter how much she tries to ignore it.”

“That’s all you can do,” Christian said, clapping him on the shoulder. He hesitated for a moment, then added, “So... Mackenzie invited us to Maya’s birthday. Are you up for going?”

Gabriel’s jaw clenched at the thought of seeing her again so soon, but he nodded. “Yeah. I’ll go.”

“Good,” Christian said with a faint smile. “Just remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t scare her off.”

Gabriel smirked faintly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “No promises.”

Christian chuckled, stepping back toward the packhouse.

“Come on, lets get ready and go. It’s a two hour drive.”

The drive to Shadow Rock was quiet, tension thick in the car as they approached the packhouse. Gabriel leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, his mind spinning.

His father’s voice broke through the silence. “Remember, Gabriel, don’t push too hard tonight. This isn’t a battleground.”

Gabriel didn’t respond, his jaw tightening as they pulled into the large circular driveway. The Shadow Rock packhouse loomed ahead, lit up for the celebration. Cars lined the drive, and wolves in formal attire milled around the entrance.

“Ready?” Christian asked, turning to look at him.

Gabriel forced a nod. He wasn’t ready—far from it. But he wasn’t going to back down.

They stepped out of the car, the cool evening air wrapping around him as he adjusted his jacket. His parents moved ahead, greeting Mackenzie.

The moment he walked through the grand double doors, the noise hit him—a mix of laughter, music, and the low hum of conversation. The party was in full swing.

Gabriel stood off to the side, his piercing gaze sweeping the room. He wasn’t here to socialize, and he certainly wasn’t here to celebrate. His eyes landed on Maya almost immediately.

She stood near the bar, talking to her cousins, Mason and Mia. Her soft pink dress hugged her figure, the slit revealing just enough to make his wolf, Draven, growl in approval. Gabriel’s jaw clenched as he watched her throw her head back in laughter at something Mason said, her carefree smile igniting a fire in his chest.

He took a step forward, his instincts urging him to claim her, but then Adrian appeared.

Gabriel’s stomach twisted as he watched Adrian place a possessive hand on Maya’s lower back, leaning in to whisper something in her ear. Her smile faltered for a moment before she turned toward him, her expression softening. Then, to Gabriel’s growing fury, Adrian cupped her face and pressed a kiss to her lips.

Draven growled in his mind, the sound low and dangerous. Ours.

“She doesn’t know that yet,” Gabriel muttered under his breath, forcing himself to stay rooted.

“Talking to yourself now?”

Gabriel turned to see Mason grinning at him, Mia standing beside him with a curious expression.

“Mason. Mia,” Gabriel said, his voice even.

“What are you doing over here all alone?” Mia asked, c*****g her head. “You’re the Beast of Blue Mountain. Shouldn’t you be... I don’t know, scaring people or something?”

Gabriel smirked faintly. “Not tonight.”

Mason chuckled, but his amusement faded as he followed Gabriel’s gaze. His eyes landed on Maya and Adrian, and his brow furrowed. “You okay, man?”

Gabriel hesitated. He wasn’t one to confide in others, but Mason and Mia had grown up with him. They were as close to friends as he had.

“She’s my mate,” Gabriel said quietly, his voice strained.

Mason’s eyes widened, and Mia gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “What?” she whispered.

“Maya,” Gabriel confirmed, his jaw tightening. “She’s my mate. But she’s not planning to tell anyone, is she?”

Mia looked between Gabriel and Maya, her expression torn. “Gabe, I—”

“She doesn’t want me,” Gabriel said bluntly, cutting her off.

Mason whistled low, shaking his head. “Damn.”

“She’s scared,” Mia said softly, placing a hand on Gabriel’s arm. “Give her time.”

Gabriel’s gaze hardened as he looked back at Maya, who was now laughing again, Adrian’s arm still firmly around her waist. “Yeah, I keep hearing that,” he muttered.

Mia and Mason exchanged a glance, but before they could respond, Gabriel turned on his heel and disappeared into the crowd.

Hours later, he noticed Maya sneaking away and he took his chance.

The kitchen was quiet, a stark contrast to the lively hum of the ballroom. Gabriel leaned casually against the doorframe, his piercing gaze fixed on the figure by the counter. Maya stood with her back to him, pouring herself a glass of water. Her movements were deliberate, her shoulders tense.

She hadn’t noticed him yet.

“You always sneak off during your own parties, or is tonight special?” His voice cut through the silence, low and smooth.

Maya stiffened, the glass pausing halfway to her lips. Slowly, she turned, her blue eyes narrowing when they met his. “What are you doing here?”

Gabriel didn’t answer immediately, stepping into the room with deliberate ease. “Nice party. Thought I’d check out the quieter side of it.” His gaze roamed over her, lingering just long enough to make her shift uncomfortably.

“You need to leave,” she said firmly, setting the glass down on the counter with more force than necessary.

“Leave?” Gabriel’s lips curved into a smirk. “Now why would I do that? You’re here, and I’m your mate. Doesn’t seem polite.”

Maya’s jaw tightened, and she crossed her arms. “I’m not your anything. I already told you—this isn’t happening.”

He let out a soft laugh, the sound low and teasing. “You can say it as many times as you want, Maya. Doesn’t make it true.”

She straightened, her defiance sparking something electric in the air between them. “I have a boyfriend,” she snapped.

“Adrian?” Gabriel said, his voice laced with amusement. “I saw the two of you out there. Nice guy. He’s no mate, though.”

Maya’s cheeks flushed with anger, her hands curling into fists. “I love him.”

Gabriel took another step closer, his presence overwhelming. “Maybe you do,” he said, his tone softer now, though no less intense. “But you feel me too, don’t you? The bond.”

Her silence was louder than any denial.

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I can feel it, you know. Your wolf wants me. She knows exactly who I am to her. Why are you fighting her?”

Maya’s eyes flickered, a brief flash of uncertainty before her defiance returned. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, I know,” Gabriel said, his smirk widening. “And so do you.”

Her defiance was maddening, but it only made him want her more. If she wasn’t going to admit the bond, then he’d make sure she couldn’t ignore it.

Before she could respond, the kitchen door swung open.

“Maya?” Adrian’s voice was sharp, his expression darkening as his gaze landed on them.

Gabriel stepped back slowly, the smirk never leaving his face. He turned to face Adrian, his stance relaxed but his eyes gleaming with challenge.

“Gabriel,” Adrian said coldly, stepping forward.

“Adrian,” Gabriel replied, his tone mocking.

Adrian’s eyes flicked to Maya, his expression tightening. “What’s going on here?”

Gabriel smirked, taking a deliberate step back. He didn’t need to fight Adrian—not when the truth was already written all over Maya’s face. “Just getting to know my mate,” he said smoothly, letting the words land like a bomb.

Adrian’s face twisted in disbelief. “Mate?” he repeated, his voice rising. His eyes snapped to Maya, a mix of anger and betrayal burning in his gaze. “Maya, is this true?”

Gabriel could feel her tension radiating off her, but he didn’t stay to watch her stumble over an answer. He clapped Adrian on the shoulder as he passed.

“Good luck,” he said with a smirk, leaving the kitchen without a backward glance.

Yes, it was a d**k move, but he wanted to stir things up between her and Adrain, and it was working.

As the door swung shut behind him, Gabriel’s smirk faded. He wasn’t just stirring the pot—he was planting the first seeds. Whether Maya wanted to admit it or not, she was his, and he wasn’t going anywhere.