Page 86 of My Unexpected Mate

But then Annie spoke again. “Do you know who Victor is?”

That fucker mentioned Victor. Do they know who she is?

Aria froze and I could feel a wave of fear coming off her. I growled loudly and startled her.

“Nate!” Gabriel said strictly.

Nate whined and licked her face.

She scrunched up her nose. Goddess, she was adorable.

“Nate,” she said slowly, stroking my fur. “I like you and can’t wait to see you again, but could you let Nick back to us, please?”

He whined but unwrapped his body from her.

“Go to my room and grab some clothes,” Gabriel said.

Tell mate I love her. He told me while we were walking upstairs.

I will. I responded and shifted back as soon as I got inside Gabriel’s room.

I quickly put on some sweats and a black hoodie. I couldn't wait to get back to her. She was not to be left alone hereafter. Not even for a second. I was not risking him getting close to her again.

When I came back to the living room Aria was sitting on the sofa. She looked up at me and gave me a small smile.

Goddess, I wanted to hold her. But I didn’t want to freak her out. I didn’t want her to fear me.

I walked slowly to the couch and sat beside Gabriel.

“Thank you for not getting angry at me,” Aria said quietly, looking down at her hands.

I looked between Gabriel and Annie. They were as confused as I was.

“Why would we be angry at you?” Gabriel asked her.

“Well, I thought maybe you would think it was my fault,” she said, not looking up at us.

She thought it was her fault. I clenched my fists and took a deep breath. I saw Gabriel do the same thing.

Annie gasped. She got up and walked over to Aria. She sat on the armrest and hugged her. I felt a pinch of jealousy. I wanted to hug her like that.

“Goddess, A,” Annie said. “In no way, shape or form was it your fault. It was his. He is a sick man, and you did nothing wrong. Please don’t say that again.”

“Annie is right, Aria,” Gabriel interfered. “There wasn’t a second when I thought you were at fault here. It is all on him. And he will get punished for what he did. I will kill him. He will not lay his eyes on you again.”

Aria looked between them with tears in her beautiful eyes. But I could still feel guilt coming from her.

“Thank you,” she said and wiped the tears from her eyes. “I was really scared to show you, but I am glad I did. I don’t have to go through this alone. Although, I don’t want to be a burden. And a part of me thinks I shouldn’t have bothered you with this.”

Goddess, did she have a selfish bone in her body?

“You are not a burden, love,” I said and she looked up at me. “You are a gift. Not just to me. But to Annie and Gabriel as well. It would have hurt us more if you hadn’t told us about this. We want to help you. I want to help you, love. And I want to help Gabriel kill that bastard. I will show him what happens when you touch something that is mine.”

Gabriel and Annie nodded and smiled at her. She was looking at me and tears were falling down her cheeks.

“Thank you, Nick,” she said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better mate.”

Oh, no, love. I was the one who got lucky.