Mating Fever by Celeste Anwar Page A

her belly. In all honesty, she knew she had no one
to rely on but herself. Smart people didn’t trust their fate to
others. The urge to let Gabriel play her hero and sweep her into
his arms went beyond tempting, but it was completely irrational.
More than likely, they were outnumbered, definitely weaponless, and
in the middle of nowhere.
     
    She was going to have to get free by herself
and try to do something. She just wasn’t sure how much she could do
if someone didn’t come back inside ... and by then, it would
probably be too late....
     
     

Chapter Six
     
     
    Nardo pushed Gabriel roughly, driving
him ahead to the luna clearing where the pack met each cycle, when
the moon sat fat in the sky and pulled them to shift with near
irresistible force. Gabriel stumbled from the forceful push and
whipped around, his voice a menacing growl, “You push me again,
I’ll kill you, mon
ami .”
     
    Nardo returned his menacing look, his eyes
flashing in the dark, but he said nothing. He did not touch him
again as they walked.
     
    Gabriel thought of Jessica being taken away
by that bitch, Lavinia. He hoped she did nothing so foolish as to
hurt Jessica, for if she did, she would regret it.
     
    His fury rolled inside, like the flames of a
white hot blaze. He should have expected this. He had, but not so
soon, and not when he was with Jessica.
     
    His brains fled to his cock every time she
was near. Had he gotten a handle on his lust, he never would’ve
been so foolish as to take her home, or any other place he’d ever
been. The pack could sniff him out so easily. He should have known
they were waiting to take him.
     
    Gabriel felt like hitting something. His
fists tightened with the urge. He knew he’d soon have the chance to
satisfy the bloodlust.
     
    They crossed the guardian-like trees into the
clearing, moving toward the center. Nardo parted from him silently
as they reached the center, moving back into the shadows of the
trees. Gabriel stood in the placement of the accused. A mark of
shame for the worst trespass on pack laws, the accused stood
surrounded by the pack, yet alone.
     
    The last time the pack had met to try an
accused had been a few months back, when Raoul had trespassed into
vampire territory to claim a human woman for himself.
     
    Gabriel had done much worse, and he knew it.
He didn’t expect to fair as well as Raoul.
     
    He expected to die.
     
    A dead calm settled over him. No matter their
decision, he would not allow harm to come to Jessica. They’d taken
her father. They would not take her too.
     
    Regret left a bitter taste in his mouth,
vanquishing the lingering sweetness of her kiss. He’d wanted so
much more, and he had no right to those desires. No right to
her....
     
    Gabriel angrily thrust the thought to the
corners of his mind, preparing himself for judgment. To help her,
he must remain clear, focused. He could not allow thoughts of her
to distract him in an already deadly contest. One false move could
prove instant death ... no chance for survival.
     
    Yet still, she entered his thoughts. He knew
little enough of her, but even his limited contact had him
distracted to the point where he thought of nothing else. He
resolved to destroy those urges. He couldn’t have her, but neither
would anyone else. He would see to it.
     
    He looked up at the sky a brief moment,
feeling the energy of the moon course through him. The moon shone
down clearly, gilding his muscles with silver, days from ripeness.
Had the moon been full dark, he would still have known he was not
alone.
     
    Gabriel needed no light to see his brethren
move from the shadows and into the circular clearing, ringing him
until there was no opening for retreat.
     
    Low, feral growls carried on the air, angry
rumbles of dissension. His beast tensed at their challenging
voices. The air vibrated with their energy, moving like chain
lightning through the crowd. His beast answered their challenge,
eager to face them, unmindful of