Nightmares at Everglade Falls

3. Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Gabriel

I wake up feeling warm and sticky, my body tangled with Isabella’s. It’s still early, the room dimly lit by the early morning light. Isabella stirs beside me, her eyes fluttering open. She snuck into my room sometime after three a.m., and I think we have had sex at least four times since.

I had missed this.

“Hey,” she murmurs, her voice husky with sleep. She kisses my jaw, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Hey, Bella ,” I reply, my voice rough. I pull her closer, relishing the feel of her skin against mine.

She slides onto my lap, her movements slow and sensual. I can feel myself getting hard again despite the early hour.

“Gods, you feel so good,” she moans, trailing kisses down my neck.

I groan, my hands gripping her hips. “You’re driving me crazy, Isabella.”

She giggles, and the sound is like music to my ears. “Good,” she says, nipping at my earlobe. “I want you to lose control.”

I tighten my arms around her, reveling in the feel of her body against mine. But then she says something that makes me pause.

“Mark me,” she whispers, her breath hot against my ear.

I freeze, my heart pounding in my chest. This is something we’ve argued about before. She wants me to mark her as my Luna, but I’m not ready. Not yet.

“I... I can’t,” I stammer, gently sliding her off my lap.

She frowns, folding her arms. “Why not?”

“You know why,” I say, my voice pleading.

But before she can respond, the loud alarm goes off, signaling it’s time for breakfast.

Isabella sighs, climbing off the bed and quickly dressing. She’s so beautiful, and I hate that I can’t give her what she wants.

“Don’t leave,” I say, reaching out for her.

“Are you going to mark me?” she asks, her voice tinged with hurt.

I cover my face with my hands, feeling torn. I want to keep her here with me, but I’m not sure I can give her what she wants.

“C’mon, Isabella,” I say, my voice cracking.

“Then I’m leaving,” she says, storming out of the room.

I slump back against the pillows, feeling frustration and longing.

Maybe I should just give in and mark her.

But I’m scared of what that might mean.

It is too soon.

I know it would be a mistake to mark her if I'm not feeling fully committed to the decision.

My stomach grumbles, reminding me that I’m hungry. I need to shower and head to breakfast before assembly.

I drag myself out of bed.

I hate this day already.

“You look like hell,” Owen remarks as I slump into the seat beside him. It’s unusual for me to sit with the alphas, just as it is for him to sit with the vampires, but here we are, a pair of misfits in a sea of factions. Alphas like to sit with betas of their choice, and while vampires stick to covens like witches, Owen is not very social with his kind, but I think that is just because he prefers my company.

“Yeah, well, Isabella,” I groan, taking a bite of my sandwich.

He glances towards the House Lacroix table where Isabella sits, deliberately avoiding my gaze. Owen raises an eyebrow, silently asking what’s going on.

I want to spill everything to him, but I know better than to discuss personal matters in a room full of supernatural ears. “Later,” I tell him, keeping my voice low. “Let’s just finish breakfast and then get out of here.”

He nods, understanding, and returns to slurping on his cup, filled with blood. The school always provides blood bags for the vampires, but they’re rationed—thirty per semester. The rest of the time, they make do with animal blood.

“Why human?” I gesture towards Owen.

“Later,” he repeats, a hint of amusement in his voice. “I will tell you later.” From the look on his face, I guess I am not the only one who spent my morning with a woman in my bed.

“Okay.”

We finish our breakfast in silence before Owen mentions the new student I missed.

“What do you know about her?” I ask, hoping for some useful information.

“She has a Shakespearean name. That’s all I remember,” he replies with a shrug.

I playfully knock his head and tease him for being unhelpful. He laughs, reminding me I can’t hit him now that I’m the head boy.

I laugh, and he joins me, and I suddenly feel a little lighter.

I just need to get through this day, and then I can sit down with Isabella and sort everything out.

The assembly hall is abuzz with chatter as we make our way inside. I try to tune out the noise, my thoughts drifting back to the painful memories of my trip to Greece. My father had pushed me to transform repeatedly, each time causing excruciating pain.

I hated it, but he didn't care.

No one ever really cares what I want.

No one no one no one.

Lost in my thoughts, I don’t realize what’s happening until Owen nudges me, drawing my attention.

I look around and notice all eyes on me. The principal must have made the announcement about me being appointed as head boy.

Amidst the whoops and cheers, I navigate through the crowd to the podium. As I stand before everyone, I catch Isabella’s eye. In the midst of everything, I completely forgot to tell her about this. The look on her face says it all—she’s pissed.

She hates being blindsided, and despite her attempts to mask her emotions, I can always read her like a book.

I’ve messed up yet again.

The words tumble out of my mouth as I make my speech about being a good head boy and upholding the school motto. But the whole time, I feel like a fraud.

The applause rings in my ears as I step down from the podium.

Principal Celestia announces that we have until the end of the day to pick our electives, and she’ll also reveal the sports for the year. Last year was lacrosse, and the year before that was basketball. Most people think that we will be playing football, but that is all just a guess.

Then, with a wave of her hand, the principal dismisses us.

I hurry over to Isabella, eager to explain and apologize. But before I can say anything, she tells me she has to go and pick her classes.

My heart sinks at her words. She is hurt. I know it.

Damn it!

“I’m sorry,” I blurt out, hoping she’ll understand.

Her eyes narrow, and she asks if she’s even a priority to me.

I reach out, cupping her cheek gently. “Of course you are, honey ,” I murmur, trying to reassure her.

She hesitates for a moment, her gaze searching mine for sincerity. “Then why didn’t you tell me about this?” she presses, her voice tinged with frustration.

“I messed up,” I admit, feeling a pang of guilt. “I should’ve told you sooner, but I got caught up in everything.”

Her expression softens slightly, but she still seems guarded. “Gabriel, communication is important in a relationship,” she says, her tone gentle but firm. “I want to be there for you, but I need you to let me in.”

“I know, and I’m sorry,” I say, my voice filled with sincerity. “I’ll do better, I promise.”

She nods slowly, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. “Okay,” she says softly, giving me a small smile. “Just... don’t shut me out, okay?”

“I won’t,” I promise, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. “I’ll make it up to you, Isabella, I swear.”

As she reaches for my hand, I feel a surge of gratitude.

“Can I take you somewhere?”

“Where, Gabriel?”

I lift her hand to my lips and kiss it gently. “Trust me.”

Her eyes soften as she lets me lead her out of the assembly room. We have exactly ten minutes before we have to show up for the first class, and I know exactly where to take her.

I take Isabella to the small lab, which holds a special memory for us. It’s where we had our very first class, where a class discussion turned into a private after-class discussion, and we shared our first kiss. It was only about two weeks after we joined the school, but I knew then and there that we were meant to be together. She had been nothing more than a family friend until that kiss changed everything.

She giggles as we step into the lab, saying we can’t be in here. I lock the door, reassuring her that we have a few minutes before anyone notices. I press her against the door, and her eyes darken with desire. “I’m sorry,” I whisper against her neck before trailing kisses along her skin. She moans softly, and I feel a surge of desire coursing through me.

I cup her cheek, capturing her lips with mine. She responds eagerly, her hands running through my hair as I lift her, her legs wrapping around my waist. Our kisses are heated, filled with passion and longing. She tugs at my lip, biting down gently, and I can taste the metallic tang of blood as I reciprocate, pulling at her lip in return.

My hands grip her thighs tightly as we lose ourselves in each other. I cherish moments like these, more than anything else, about our relationship. Despite our fights, our makeup sessions are always intense and filled with a raw, unspoken connection.

Us.

But then, my name echoes through the intercom, breaking the spell.

“Gabriel Nightshade, please report to the principal’s office,” the voice repeats over and over again.

I groan in frustration. “You have to be fucking kidding me,” I mutter, reluctantly pulling away from Isabella.

She laughs, telling me I can find her after.

“Okay, honey.” I help straighten her uniform, kissing her lightly before we step out of the lab.

My eyes linger on her retreating form as we head out in different directions.

I take a few deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart and my raging erection, before I make my way to the administrative building.