Gabriel and River had returned to Centauri Enterprise after lunch. They left the foyer and made their way to the busy elevators.

"You alright?" asked River.

Gabriel looked at his side where his buddy always was. "I had some good news to share with you," he smiled.

River's blue eyes softened as he looked at Gabriel too. "I can only imagine the news," he remarked.

"I was actually going to tell everyone tonight," Gabriel shared. Gabriel rolled the kinks out of his neck. "When is this day going to be over?" He complained. "Maybe we should call it a day and head home."

River shook his head. "You're such a slacker."

Gabriel rolled his eyes. "I am not," he muttered. Gabriel looked around and surveyed the crowd around the building. Many employees were either leaving for the evening or rushing to finish last-minute tasks.

"Why are the elevators taking so long?" grumbled River as he hammered the poor button.

"I need the restroom," said Gabriel. He left towards the lonely hall across the elevators, he took the last left. A few employees past by and smiled at Gabriel before they left him on his own. Gabriel entered the restroom when the lights flickered.

Gabriel froze in front of the multiple mirrors.

The lights turned off.

However, Gabriel wasn't a mere human that would be defenceless in the dark. His ears, nose and ever muscle on his body had stiffened, because they were ready to fight any threat. Gabriel knew who had come to attack him; it was the stalker after Sabrina.

Gabriel merely stood in the dark. He wasn't going to instigate any fight right now, it wasn't the time. Besides, his employees were in danger too if this mystery 'killer' got provoked. Gabriel was going to let the attacker do what he wanted for now.

Through the reflection of the mirror, a dark muscular figure appeared from one of the stalls. The glint of silver reflected into the mirror, Gabriel carefully measured the threat and took precaution to guarantee he wouldn't get stabbed.

The man ran forward without any word or warning.

Gabriel rolled his eyes. "How trivial," he mumbled as he stepped to the side sending the attacker straight against the sinks. Gabriel couldn't get a good look of the man because his face was covered by a ski-mask, his big body was covered under a dark hoodie and jeans, he even had leather gloves on.

Despite the concealment, this man was still an amateur. His form was off and he didn't have as much control over his body, unlike Gabriel who had mastered the art of killing pretty much anything. There wasn't much danger, except for the knife the man carried like loose cannon. He swung the weapon around like a lunatic and Gabriel dodged it without worry.

"You're the one that killed Richard Brady, right?" asked Gabriel. The man stiffened. He didn't say anything- he didn't have to because Gabriel already knew the answer.

"Gabriel!" River ran inside the restroom. "Goddamn it!"

"Get out of here, River," advised Gabriel.

"Who's the punk?" River asked Gabriel completely ignoring his alpha's warning.

"Fucking Santa Claus!" retorted Gabriel. "Who do you think it is?"

The stalker turned with the knife and ran for River. However, that was a bad move, because Gabriel was going easy on him, but River would go for the kill any-fucking-time. River grabbed the hand with the knife and twisted it back. He rammed his fist right against the stalker's face. With quick reflexes, River threw the six-foot man over his shoulder outside the restroom.

River turned towards Gabriel. "Are you hurt?"

"No," said Gabriel.

"Are you fucking hurt!?" asked River more pressingly.

"I'm fine, River," reassured Gabriel.

They both got out of the dark restroom and saw the stalker had escaped through the emergency staircase. River made a move to follow, but Gabriel stopped him.

"What are you doing?" asked River.

Gabriel leaned on the railing of the stairs. His eyes followed the man who ran down the stairs with great haste. "Let him go," Gabriel instructed. "I already know where he's going to go next."

"What do you mean?" asked River.

"Everything's going how we planned," said Gabriel. "Let it all play out."

River crossed his arms. "How the hell did he think that it was a good idea to attack you?" He growled.

"He saw the news," said Gabriel.

"What's that got to do with anything-" River's eyes widened- "you planned this, didn't you?"

Gabriel shrugged a shoulder. "I didn't think it would work out so perfectly."

"So, you went to the nightclub to get your photo taken with Sabrina," said River. "That's why you went to the club, you knew paparazzi are always there."

"I knew that whoever was following Sabrina would target me once they found out about my relationship with her," said Gabriel. "I didn't think that the fool would attack me so soon."

"So, now what?" asked River.

"We take the fight to him," answered Gabriel. "Let's lay out a trap and catch that son-of-a-bitch." He straightened to his full height.

River's icy-blue gaze hardened. "And where's this trap to be held?"

Gabriel's gaze was as deadly as River's. "I think you already know," his voice had a hard tone.

"Sabrina is the trap, isn't she?" asked River.

As much as Gabriel didn't like it. This was what had to be done, he reminded himself over and over again.

"I'm also guessing that we're not telling Sabrina about this attack," said River.

"She'll worry for no reason," replied Gabriel. "Besides, none of us got hurt. So, there's no need."

River sighed. "Fine," he settled. "Let's get you back upstairs. Safely, this time." Gabriel grinned. River held the door open and they both returned to the top floor.

The day was long and Gabriel barely had the energy to read through the next couple of tasks. At the end of the continuous meetings, phone calls and coffee breaks, Gabriel finally reached the end of it all including his patience. He tried to note down the tasks he'd tackle tomorrow, but he failed miserably at that too.

He walked out of his office. "Cassie, where's River?" Gabriel asked his secretary.

Cassie's brown-haired head rose from her table. "He just told me he was taking a walk," she said.

Gabriel raised a brow. "A walk?" he puzzled, but then he shrugged it off because he knew that River was probably patrolling the building because of the earlier attack. "I'm going to take the evening off. So, you can head out too, Cassie."

"I still have some work to finish," said Cassie. "But you have a good night, sir."

Gabriel smiled. "It definitely feels like I'm having a lot of those," he mumbled before he returned to his office. He slugged over the last remaining tasks, so he wouldn't get any early calls tomorrow. Gabriel was deep into thought when the door to his office opened. "Cassie-" he called out- "I need the-" his voice dropped when the scent of his mate caught his keen senses. He dropped his pen and looked up to a beautiful woman. Sabrina had adorned a ruby-red dress that flared at her calves, her hair curled up into a chignon and she had matching red heels on too.

"Hi," she beamed a smile.

"Weren't you at work?" he asked but still dazed by her sudden appearance.

"River brought me," she said. On cue, River poked inside with his twin brother. River shot Gabriel a smug grin.

"I owe you one," declared Gabriel.

"You owe me your entire life, buddy," remarked River.

"Er- what about me?" asked Ryder. "I was the one who drove her here."

"It's okay, Ryder," jested Sabrina. "You have me." she turned and kissed his cheek, surprising all of them.

Ryder blushed. "I'm honoured, I really am," he told Sabrina. "But never do it again Sabrina, because your man over there is ready to kill me."

Sabrina laughed as she saw Gabriel's glare pining Ryder to floor. "Oh, stop it," she told him. "They're just being sweet." Gabriel froze and didn't know where to direct his glare now.

"Damn, there is someone who can control Gabriel," remarked Ryder who was grinning like a cheeky wolf now that Sabrina protected him.

"Come on," River grabbed Ryder by his collar and dragged him out of the room. The office's door closed behind Sabrina who was left alone with Gabriel.

Finally.

Sabrina stood across the room. She crossed her arms and stared wilfully at Gabriel, her mint-green eyes glimmered under the golden light of the sun. "I hope you had a good day," she began, but even from across the distance, he could sense her bonding scent. That face, her body, her eyes and her shiny thick hair had Gabriel conniving some dark fantasies in his head.

"Hey, are you even listening?" she asked.

Gabriel reeled back. "I'm listening," he said softly. His eyes drifted over from her eyes to her moving mouth. He really did owe River and Ryder a good bottle of whiskey. "Come here, Sabrina," said Gabriel, but she didn't move, instead she stiffened as she noticed the reserve in his tone. "You have five seconds, baby, or else you're not going to like what happens next."

Sabrina closed the distance between them. "Gosh, you're so bossy," she muttered.

Gabriel put his hands on her corseted waist. "Good girl," he whispered against her lips. He took her mouth not in any restrained or slow way, never with his girl. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him back with the same wild heat. He was eating her up and he desired more, way more than just her lips on his.

Sabrina abruptly pulled away leaving him cold. "That's enough for now," she affirmed. "Otherwise, we'll get out of hand and this is a workplace. Plus, I need to head to my house and pack my things before our wedding."

"Didn't you come here to motivate me?" he stated. "I still need more encouraging."

Sabrina chuckled, she pressed her body closer to his and smiled sweetly. "All in due time, sweetheart," she teased. "But right now, I need some coffee and a dozen donuts."

"I just want you though," Gabriel pouted.

Sabrina's smile widened, she raked back the few strands of his dark hair that fell forward. "Don't play coy with me," she remarked. "I know how that cunning mind of yours works now."

Sabrina moved back and tried to leave. But he caught her again. Gabriel pulled her back into his arms and kissed her sweetly. Gabriel then let her go when he was finished.

She stood breathless and baffled.

Gabriel wiped the bit of gloss off the side of his lip. "Okay, you can go now," he grinned.

She closed her mouth that was dropped open. "I'm not buying you anything," grumbled Sabrina. She stomped off leaving Gabriel bemused by himself.

A few moments had passed when Cassie rushed into the room. Her hazel eyes were drowned in panic, she looked terribly upset. Gabriel stiffened when he saw her dishevelled, which never happened, his secretary was always calm and composed, never a feather out of place.

Gabriel frowned. "What's wrong, Cassie?"

"I tried to stop him-" Cassie stiffened.

A figure appeared behind her. Gabriel's skin had doused in ice as he recognized the familiar face. Every fibre in his being was as sharp as glass and just as hard. All the love he felt a moment ago had vanished the moment Robert Centauri sauntered into the office. He was dressed in a black suit like always, his hair was neatly combed back and it had streaks of silver at the temples of his forehead. The heavy scent of cologne didn't mask that lingering bitter bite of alcohol that Gabriel smelt off his father.

"Won't you greet your father?" Robert remarked darkly.

Gabriel's jaw tightened, his eyes showed a clear sign of resentment. "What are you doing here, Robert?" he asked bluntly. He didn't have the time to amuse his father.

Robert's golden eyes hardened, but when did he ever look at his kids with kindness. "I had to discuss a few matters with you," he alleged sternly. "To be honest, I didn't expect this behaviour from you-" Robert scowled at Gabriel- "especially since you're the alpha now and you should know better than to treat your father with such disrespect."

Gabriel's faced the fearsome alpha that hundreds of packs feared, but Gabriel wasn't afraid, he was rather disgusted and irritated. "Stop spinning in circles," he retorted coldly.

"Hunter's mating ceremony," he began. "And not only that, I find out that my eldest son has found his mate through the newspaper."

"What did you expect?" asked Gabriel. 


Robert straightened. "I expected an invitation to Hunter's wedding," he stated. "And the same from you."

Gabriel scoffed. The last person Hunter wanted to see at his wedding was their father. And Gabriel would never bring Robert back to the pack, especially for Klaus. He didn't need Robert ruining Klaus's mood ever again.

"I wish to meet your mate," asserted Robert. "I even heard that Hunter's mate is with a pup now."

"Yeah, the same woman you pushed down the stairs," snapped Gabriel.

Robert sneered. "She needed to know her place in my house-" he froze when Gabriel raised a brow. "It doesn't matter anymore."

"Get out, Robert," barked Gabriel. "I won't let you meet them, especially my mate." Robert darkened, his pheromones threatened Gabriel, but this never surprised or scared Gabriel.

"Sabrina, that was her name, right?" asked Robert.

Gabriel froze. "Robert..." his voice was feral; a dangerous need consumed his body and Gabriel's wolf was ready for bloodshed. Gabriel and his wolf weren't even this angry when they got attacked earlier. "You go near her," he seethed, "I will kill you." The last person Gabriel wanted near Sabrina was Robert, if it was the last thing he did. "Cassie!" he shouted.

Cassie opened the door. "Yes?" she asked sternly.

"Get River and Ryder to escort this man out of the building," Gabriel glared at his father's nasty sneer. "He's not welcome here anymore."

"What did I expect from the kids who never respected their father?" scoffed Robert.

Gabriel smirked coldly. "When were you ever a father to us?" he retorted. Gabriel stood against his father, inches apart, he glared into his father's pathetic eyes. "I'm on the last bit of restraint right now. So, I suggest you walk out using your own two feet before you lose those too."

"Gabriel-" Sabrina appeared at the door, her hands full of coffee and a box. She froze from seeing Gabriel and then Robert.

Gabriel's gut sank and his body turned cold. He needed to get Sabrina away from Robert, and like his prayers had been answered, River and Ryder had arrived hastily.

"So, you're the one," said Robert, his nasty smirk pointed towards Sabrina.

Sabrina raised a brow. "Excuse me?" she remarked facing Robert.

River and Ryder blocked Sabrina using their bulky figures. "This way, Robert," River said sternly and Robert left complacently, Ryder closed the door behind them. The twins and Cassie took Robert from the office.

Sabrina placed the coffee tray and donuts on the table. "Who the hell was that?" she asked.

"Robert Centauri," gritted out Gabriel, he knew that his expression was twisted with hatred. He didn't want to show this to Sabrina, but a poison had filled his blood, that had his mood darkening more and more by the minute.

"That was your father?" she astounded.

Gabriel nodded and he crossed his arms, that were tense to fucking punch something right now. "The one and only," he grumbled.

"Damn," she copied his posture and crossed her own arms too. "I had some words for that man." she stared at the door intently. "It's good you didn't tell me who he was when he was still here," she added. "I probably would've punched him-" she changed her position by putting her hands on her waist- "you know, on second thought..." Sabrina took off as fast as she could, reaching the open hallway. "Hey, you!" she yelled in the corridor.

Gabriel gaped at her. "Fuck," he growled. Gabriel ran after his mate, but he was too late.

Sabrina had reached Robert and neither River or Ryder tried to stop her. She swung her arm back and put as much force as she could when she forced her fist into Robert's right cheek. The man toppled back and gaped at her as he held his reddened cheek.

"That was for Klaus," she pointed a finger at him. "Don't you ever come near my pack again."

Robert's jaw tightened, he fixed his tie and jacket before he walked into the elevator alone. "You're insane," he cursed under his breath.

"You too, asshole," remarked Sabrina.

The elevator door closed on Robert, which was probably the only thing protecting him from another punch.

Sabrina let out a wince once the door closed, she shook off the sting from her throbbing fist. Sabrina turned and faced Gabriel holding her hand. "I think my hand's broken," she pouted.

Gabriel laughed. "That was a nice punch," he put his arm around her waist. "Come on, let's get some ice for that."

"Remind me not to get on your bad side," remarked Ryder as they all followed back into Gabriel's office.

"I can't believe you punched him," added River, he looked at Sabrina proudly. "I like your style."

"Stupid-idiot deserved it," she added with River. They all agreed to that.

Cassie speedily brought an ice-bag. "Here, put this."

Gabriel grabbed it and put it over Sabrina's hand. "Thanks," Sabrina smiled at Cassie. "I brought you a coffee too, Cassie." Sabrina distributed the coffee even though one of her hands was resting on Gabriel's thigh with ice on it.

"What was he doing here anyways?" asked River.

Gabriel rolled his eyes just thinking about it. "He felt disrespected that we didn't invite him to Hunter and Hailey's wedding," said Gabriel. "And that he found out that I had a mate through the paper."

"Wooow," Ryder, Sabrina and Cassie all spoke.

"Oh, I feel so bad for him," remarked Sabrina, her voice oozing with sarcasm. "I know one thing, he's not coming to our wedding." Gabriel couldn't agree more.

The three in the room gaped. "Hold on!" astounded Ryder. "When did this happen?"

"Last night," shared Gabriel with a smile.

"Aww," Ryder smiled and patted his back. "We're so happy for you."

"Should I need to clear your schedule for the next month then?" asked Cassie.

"The wedding will be quick, Cassie," said Sabrina. "I doubt it'll take even a week."

"Er-" Gabriel didn't approve, he had other plans already thought out. "Free two months instead of one, Cassie. The wedding won't take long, but our honeymoon will."

Sabrina gaped at him. "What's wrong with you?" she muttered as she grabbed the bag of ice from him.

Gabriel shrugged. "It's true," he smirked. "I need all the time I can get."

They laughed and it didn't even feel like Robert was here. Gabriel had completely let all malicious thoughts go, which was never the case before. He usually needed a couple of days just to fix his mood and a fuck ton of days at the gym to work off the steam. But right now, he was smiling more than ever.

Sabrina's phone rang and she answered fast once she saw the caller ID. "You're already there, Vincent?" she asked looking at Gabriel. "I'm coming too." she cut the phone and turned towards Gabriel. "I have to get going. There's still a lot I have to pack at my old house."

Gabriel got to his feet as Sabrina had done too. "Ryder will take you," he instructed.

Sabrina nodded. "Let's go, Ryder," she said.

Gabriel grabbed her hand. "Keep the ice on it, otherwise it'll bruise," he said.

"I will," she smiled and quickly kissed his lips. She grabbed her coffee, another chocolate glazed donut and Ryder helped her with her long black jacket.

As soon as the door closed, River spoke grimly; "Are you sure about this plan, Gabriel?"

Gabriel's gaze darkened. "Is everything ready?" he asked.

"Yes," answered River.

"I want no mistakes," Gabriel ordered.

River's icy gaze was determined just as much as Gabriel's. "I never make mistakes," he said smugly.

Gabriel rolled his eyes and made his way back to his desk. "Then it's time to lure out the mouse," he muttered. "I want you at Sabrina's house too."

River straightened. "What about you?" he asked.

"If I'm there then I won't be able to hold back," said Gabriel. "We need the proof first." Gabriel met River's wavering gaze. "I'll be there on time," he told River. "Nothing takes priority over Sabrina's safety. Is that clear?"

River nodded. He took out of his cellphone and called all the wolves that were needed to make sure that their alpha-female was safe.