Her room hadn't really changed since she was sixteen and had decided to paint it purple. She loved the color purple and her room made her happy. She'd probably leave it like it was for a while, until she eventually decided to move out.
"Here's your bag."
She looked up as Caleb walked in, his blue eyes studying her intently. "How was it at Denali Pack?"
"I met Alpha Axel. I didn't know you were his liaison," she said with a smile.
"Yeah, but I've only met him once, and he wasn't the Alpha at the time," Caleb said with a smirk.
"That's what he said," Gabby told him. "He asked me to be his chosen."
Caleb's eyebrows shot up and he crossed his arms over his chest. "He did what?"
"Yeah," she sighed. "Even when I said no, he asked me to think about it."
"Huh," Caleb grunted. "I'd rather you waited for your fated."
She sighed at that and looked away from him. "Yeah.."
"Gabby, what's going on with you?"
And there it was. The question she'd been dreading for five long years. Tears sprang to her eyes, and her father closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms.
"You've changed. You're not happy, and I want to know what I can do about it. I hate seeing you this way," he said. "And some how, I don't think you being away at college has anything to do with it."
"I can't talk about it. Not now," she whispered.
"Okay, but eventually I want you to tell me what's going on with you. You know you can always come to me over anything," he said softly.
Not this. She couldn't come to him with this. "Okay."
"Your brother is wanting to meet with you. Tomorrow if you're okay with it.," Caleb said softly.
"That's fine. He wants to talk to me about working." She knew that.
"You know?"
"We've texted." She had a feeling Daniel knew something was up too. The men in her pack were much too perceptive.
"Well, you don't need to worry about that until tomorrow. Are you hungry? It's almost dinner time," Caleb said.
She sucked in a small breath. Going to dinner was a bad idea. Not today. She was hungry, but she wasn't about to go down to the dining room, knowing he was here. "No. I'm good."
Caleb pulled back and looked at her, a grim expression on his handsome face. "You want me to bring you up something to eat?"
She let loose a small breath. "Please?"
"I will, but at some point, we're going to talk, Gabby," Caleb told her.
She sighed. "I know. I need to, I'm just too emotional today."
He nodded. "I'll bring you up some food. Take a shower and relax. I'll link you when I'm on my way up."
"Thanks Dad." She smiled at him.
"I love you, Gabby. Don't forget that," he said, tipping her chin up.
She nodded and brushed away a tear as he left the room. She sighed and turned her attention back to her bag and began to unpack.
Everything needed to be washed, which made it easy for her. She hadn't done laundry in a week, and had just worn what she had so she could focus on her finals. She'd do that tomorrow though.
She grabbed her other bag and took it into her bathroom and emptied it. Now she could take a shower. She flipped the water on, and slipped in. She took her time, washing her hair, and bathing herself before she finally got out and dried off.
I'm on my way back up.
Good. She was starving. She dressed quickly then headed out to the kitchen as her parents walked in.
Caleb sat the plate down on the table, and Gabby sat down in front of it. "Thank you."
He nodded and sat down with her. Charlotte sat down on her other side. She sighed, knowing they were going to ask questions.
"So who are you trying to avoid?" Caleb asked her.
She cringed. How did he know? She bit her lip. "My mate."
"What?" Charlotte exclaimed.
"Why?" Caleb asked, his mouth hanging open in shock.
She looked down at her plate, her appetite suddenly gone. How was she supposed to explain this to them? They would think she was crazy for doing what she'd done. She was starting to think she was crazy for it. For avoiding the situation and him all of this time.
"It's someone in this pack, isn't it?" Caleb asked her.
"Yes."
He sat there, quiet for several moments, thinking over that. She knew it wouldn't take him long to put it together. She glanced at him, and saw he was mind linking someone. Her gaze darted to her mother and she realized he was mind linking her.
He turned back to her. "I don't even know where to start with this."
She deflated a bit.
"This is why you've barely been home, isn't it," Charlotte said.
She nodded, looking down. Charlotte reached over and took her hand.
"Does he know?" Caleb asked her.
"I don't know," she responded softly.
"This has been ongoing since you turned eighteen?" Caleb asked.
"Yes. Since the night of my birthday," she murmured.
"How are you not obsessing about marking him?" Charlotte asked her.
"She's avoided him. She's never confirmed it," Caleb said with a frown.
"No I haven't," she agreed.
"How does Reese feel about all of this?" Charlotte asked her.
"It's a point of contention between us," she mumbled. Reese hated the fact that Gabby avoided him.
"Why? Why are you avoiding him?" Caleb asked her.
"He's going to reject me," she said, a tear falling down her cheek.
"You don't know that," Charlotte said softly.
"I dream it every night. Every night I get rejected," she said softly. The tears were really starting to flow now.
"Oh Gabby. Why haven't you just confronted him then? Why put yourself through this?" Caleb asked her, moving closer and wrapping an arm around her.
"I don't know. I just.. I don't even know anymore," she mumbled.
"Who is it?" Charlotte asked.
Gabby shook her head. "I don't want to say."
"I think I know, but I'm not going to push you. But you need to confront him and get this over with. He may surprise you," Caleb told her.
"I doubt it. But you're right. I need to confront him and get this over with," she said. She had to, for her own peace of mind.
"You never know Gabby," Charlotte agreed.
"No matter what happens, we'll be here for you. We'll get you through this, if it ends in rejection. But you can't keep avoiding him. Especially now," Caleb told her.
She sighed softly. She knew he was right. She needed to for her own piece of mind. Under her own control too. She didn't want to suddenly walk around a corner and walk into him. That could be disastrous. "I will. I have to."
"If you don't, I'm going to bug you about it until you do. Im serious, Gabby. I want my bright sunny girl back," Caleb told her.
She sucked in a breath. "I will Dad. I want to go to bed."
He nodded and let her go. She stood and left the room, disappearing into the safety of her own room and crawled into bed. Another night, another rejection. She sighed sadly.
Caleb looked at his mate and sighed. I cannot believe she's done this.
Do you know who it is?
I have a few guesses but I'm going to wait until she tells us.
She might not, Charlotte said.
I know. And if she chooses not to, then so be it. But if it's who I think it is, I think she might be surprised.
That he'll accept her?
Yeah. I could be wrong, but I rarely am. He flashed her a smile.
In this case I hope you're not.
Me too. My heart is heavy for her.
Mine too. Let's go relax and watch a movie, Charlotte suggested.
Okay. He stood and so did she, and he followed her down the hall to their room.