Let The Alpha Fall 78

There was little time to dress, but Gabriel had the good sense to order a dress for her beforehand. It was delivered at the
nick of time.
While a staff from the building management cleaned the penthouse, the personal chef Gabriel hired started on preparing
his grandfather’s favorite dinner.
Lori put on her dress and was in awe with it. It was a strapless gown with side split. How Gabriel had managed to get her
size, she had no idea because the dress fit perfectly! Much more than she would have imagined.
Simple yet bold, the gown stopped right above her knee. It had a strapless bodice encrusted with feathers on the
neckline. The figure-flattering silhouette of the gown highlighted her curves in a subtle but sexy way.
There was even a box complete with a pair of nude heels to match.
Lori struggled with her makeup. Mostly because she didn’t have much to begin with. She always told herself she would
buy more makeup but there had been no time for frivolities. But she managed well with a concealer, eyeliner, mascara
and lip stain.
Her hair was sleeked back, straightened with as much heat as her hair could take and sleeked back with some gel.
She had no notable jewelry to accessorize her neck or ears with so she left them bare.
The witch had left shortly after Lori made the shift back to human form. Which didn’t nearly take as much time or hurt as much as it did to shift in the first place.
You might get the urge to shift back. This is only temporary.
The witch had warned and Lori nodded.
She knew it was a temporary fix. She didn’t expect it to be permanent.
Gabriel was right about black magic being her weakness. Stepping into the pentagram the witch had drawn felt like
someone had severed a limb. She didn’t feel the pain of it, but she felt the brutal absence.
She didn’t remember much right after because she passed out but Gabriel told her she had shifted back immediately.
And after a few moments in the pentagram, they took her out of it and she woke up again.
Human. With no wings. No claws.
Fascinating.
“Are you ready?!”
Gabriel asked as he walked in and he halted as he saw her.
“Gods…”
He whispered and Lori smiled bashfully.
“You have great taste.”
She complimented and he shook his head. His eyes still on her.
“I believe Draco’s mate picked the dress… I only gave her your measurements.”
Lori nodded. Her heart was beating fast.
“Well she made a right pick. I love the dress.”
“Me too.”
He murmured.
He tilted his head to get a better look at her.
“It’s missing something though…”
He said as he walked into the closet.
“What?”
Lori asked as she stood up, following him.
Gabriel opened one of the drawers and pulled out a pale blue velvet box.
“I planned to give you the morning after we mated… but…”
“What is it?”
Slowly, Gabriel opened the box to reveal a beautiful dainty necklace. A thin silver necklace with a breathtaking gemstone
as the pendant. The gemstone was of a floating clear blue color.
Lori gasped.
“It’s a moonstone… it’s normal for mates to give themselves gifts after mating.”
“Oh… I’m so sorry! I didn’t get you anything!”
Lori exclaimed. Her eyes were still transfixed on the dainty necklace.
Gabriel grinned.
“It’s okay. I can think of other ways for you to repay me.”
He winked suggestively and Lori rolled her eyes.
“Want me to help you put it on?”
He asked and Lori nodded.
“Yes! I need to try it on!”
She turned her back and held up her hair gently as he slowly placed the necklace on her, his callused fingers grazing her
delicate neck gently.
Lori’s breath hitched as he planted a soft kiss on her collarbone.
“How does it look?”
She whispered as her whole body lit on fire with desire after his touch.
“See for yourself.”
He said as he steered her towards the full length mirror in the closet.
It was perfect. She covered her mouth as she blinked back tears.
She had never owned anything so perfect. Or so pretty.
It was beautiful.
“I’m not sure it matches the dress properly…”
Gabriel mused and Lori shook her head.
“No. No. It looks perfect. And I’m never taking it off.”
She turned around and hugged him, her small frame leaning into him.
Gabriel hugged her back. His large hands around her small waist.
They broke away briefly to stare at each other, they lean in to kiss but are interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.
“I guess he’s here…”
Gabriel sighed as he reluctantly broke away from her.
Lori smoothed the front of her dress and touched her hair slightly.
“How do I look?”
She asked and Gabriel grinned.
“Gorgeous!”
He commented.
“By the way… my grandfather will be a little harsh… he might say some things that are not nice. Don’t take it to heart.
Please don’t.”
Gabriel pleaded and Lori nodded.
“I won’t. Don’t worry.”
She promised and Gabriel sighed in relief.
Excellent.
**********
Reginald Caine bore little resemblance to Gabriel. Expert for the blue eyes. The man had the same intense look that
Gabriel had. With greying hair, and wrinkles on his face, he looked like he was in his seventies. But Lori remembered
Gabriel mentioning that he was older.
Much older.
He walked with a cane, but something told Lori that he didn’t need it. He stared at Lori for the longest time and she held
his stare. She didn’t cower.
“My grandson tells me you’re Lori.”
“Lori Wyatt.”
Lori said as she stretched her hand.
The old man ignored it.
“So you are his mate?”
He asked and she nodded.
“I am.”
“Gabriel hasn’t told me much about you but it’s nice to meet you sir.”
The old man didn’t give a reply, but still Gabriel led him to the living room.
“The baby’s not around today?”
He asked and Gabriel nodded.
“With everything that has been happening we thought it best to keep her away for a while.”
The old man settled down in the farthest sofa.
“A wise decision.”
“Come. Sit Lori. Tell me about you.”
All about her?! Well then they would never leave the spot.
“Is there anything you’d like to know?”
She asked and the old man nodded.
“Yes. How did you meet Gabriel. Did you know you were mates when you met?”
Lori settled down in the sofa across from the old man.
She shook her head.
“I didn’t even know werewolves existed when I met him. We met at a diner. He wanted me to be Emilia’s nanny.”
“Ooh… so you’re the nanny too?”
“Yes. Yes I am.”
“And your parents?!”
“Never met them. I was dropped off at an orphanage as a baby.”
“That’s quite sad. Did you at least get adopted?”
She nodded.
“I did.”
Best not to mention anything about the Wyatts. Or the equally traumatizing life she had led before meeting Gabriel.
“What did you study?”
He asked and Lori shrugged.
“I’ve actually not attended college yet. But I plan to… as soon as I can.”
The old man shifted in his seat. Clearly very unimpressed with her answers.
“And your nephilim powers. Any sign of them?”
Lori shook her head.
“Not really. I didn’t even know I was one till Gabriel found out.”
Gabriel nodded.
“It’s true.”
“Interesting.”
The man mused. He didn’t sound convinced.
“The chef made your favorite. Venison.”
“I’m not quite hungry now. Maybe a glass of wine first will do.”
He said and Gabriel nodded as he signaled to the chef to bring them some wine.
“I saw a lot of security outside. Is it because of her?”
He asked and Gabriel nodded.
“Partly. You’re here too… so I have to make sure everywhere’s secure.”
That was a half lie. The security was for mostly Lori. His grandfather brought his own men so there would be no need for
him to have more men.
“I know this might be an uncomfortable question…”
Gabriel sighed.
“Don’t ruin the mood grandfather. At least not yet.”
He pleaded and the old man gulped and finally relented.
The chef brought them wine and for a moment they all sat in silence while he poured them the wine.
Lori tried her best to look unbothered even as she could feel the old man’s eyes on her. Gabriel kept her close enough.
His hand on her thigh, squeezing reassuringly anytime he sensed her discomfort.
All of these didn’t go unnoticed. His grandfather was watching them intently.
“You’re quite close… both of you.”
“I was under the impression you met a few months ago.”
He added.
Lori and Gabriel exchanged a look.
“We did…”
Gabriel answered.
Lori got handed her wine and quickly sipped a little of it. The tension in the room was so thick it could be cut with a knife.
She felt like she was being investigated… and the way the old man kept staring… it was certainly going to be a long
night.
“Interesting how fast a bond can grow…”
“I wonder if the mating bond feels the same with you Lori. Do you feel as strongly for Gabriel as he feels for you?”
“I do….”
The man raised his eyebrow.
“How can you be so sure?! The mating bond doesn’t click so fast for humans… who knows… you might be attracted to
other things.”
“Like his money perhaps.”
“Grandfather!”
Gabriel snapped and Lori placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a look.
Calm down.
She seemed to say.
“As much as I look like one and act like one… I’m not human. And if you’re insinuating that I’m with your grandson for
money then you couldn’t be any more wrong. I’m not with Gabriel for money.”
“Then what are you with him for?! You’re the one benefiting the most from this relationship.”
“What do you mean by that word? Benefitting? Because my life has been at risk more than once just because I’m in love with your grandson.”
Lori froze.
Shit.
Shit.
She said it. She said the word.
“But isn’t it worth the risk?! To be his Luna, to be his wife and mate… enjoying all of his wealth… Being on top of the world!”
“Grandfather. It’s enough. Seriously stop!”
Gabriel warned.
Lori sighed.
She wished he had not butted in. She wished he’d just give her a chance to speak and defend herself sometimes.
Gabriel’s phone rang as Lori’s grandfather relaxed in his sofa. Gabriel ignored it.
Lori gave him a look.
“Aren’t you going to pick the call?!”
She whispered and he shrugged.
“Later. I can’t leave now.”
“Yes. You can. I’ll be fine with your grandfather.”
She whispered back, her voice so low that she thought she might have imagined the words rather than speak them.
“You’re sure?”
Gabriel asked.
Now it was clear that they weren’t speaking to each other again. They were talking in each other’s minds.
I am.
Lori finally answered without opening her mouth.
The phone rang again and Gabriel excused himself.
Left alone with Reginald Caine, Lori swirled her drink and looked intently at her nails.
“That’s a pretty necklace.”
The old man finally broke the silence and Lori touched it slightly.
“Thank you.”
“Gift from Gabriel I presume?”
He asked and she nodded.
The old man sighed.
“Enjoy your time with him. But know that you will never be his Luna.”
“Why?”
Lori fired back.
“Because you’re not fit to be his Luna.”
“Because I’m not a werewolf?!”
Lori raised her eyebrow and the old man nodded.
“You’re not a pure bred werewolf. Worst still… you’re nephilim. Your kind is a vicious and cruel species.”
Vicious?! Lori thought as she almost asked why.
“You have no land. No money. No allies. You’re useless to Gabriel and our pack.”
“It’s hard for him to see it now because he’s so blinded by love. But he can do so much better than you. So much more
better.”
Lori gulped hard. She didn’t let him see that his words had stung her.
“And I suppose you have someone better in mind?!”
She asked and the man nodded as he smiled faintly.
“Actually. I do. Kate. Kate Caddel. Her father owns one of the largest packs in the country. She’s a respectable purebred werewolf. Fit for a Luna.”
“Oh I know her.”
“You do?”
“Yes… she’s been around here a couple of times…”
Lori answered as she sipped more of her wine.
“It’s unfortunate that Gabriel doesn’t see things the way you do. He wouldn’t just marry her out of obligation.”
“Then he’s even more foolish than I thought!Kate’s father was kind enough to present us with such a generous proposal,
knowing that it would benefit our pack more than his…”
Wait.
What?!
Kate’s father proposed that Gabriel marry his daughter?!
This had Kate written all over it.
“Kate’s young and beautiful. I’m sure she’ll find a much better match for herself.”
The old man narrowed his eyes at her as he leaned forward.
“You are foolish. And naive. I only hope Gabriel would open his eyes before everything comes crashing down on us all.”
“Before he ruins himself and everyone else in the pack. All for what?! All for you?!”
The old man scoffed.
“If you truly love him… you’d do him a favor and reject him yourself!”