There were things that Gabriel wasn’t telling Sam about his past, but it wasn’t out of any real desire to keep things from his new mate. They were in his past and some of them were frankly, a little humiliating. He wasn’t going back and as Sam pulled him in closer, Gabriel knew he would tell him someday. But they’re not things he wants to think about right now. He was sated and content, covered in Sam’s scent – a mated Omega at last.

“Nothing,” he shook his head. “Anything I wanted to keep I smuggled out when I started sneaking off to stay here.”

Staying safe, well. That was going to be another matter. “Michael will probably just disown me. He’s wanted to since I came into my first heat. Raphael will do whatever he tells him to. It’s Lucifer I’m worried about.” His older brother was possessive and quick to anger. Losing Gabriel to the wolf that he’d been obsessed with? Probably not going to go over well.

“We should be okay here today. Tomorrow? If Anna can give us a lift, that cottage might not be a bad idea. They’ll realize something’s up when I don’t come back to the house.”

God he hated his family. They should be celebrating this, not planning the best way to stay safe while he was mating. An uneasy whine slipped free as he burrowed back against Sam. “No Omega is safe in that house, especially Cas. He can’t go there, and I won’t put Anna at risk either. They can watch the bakery for me, but I don’t want them getting involved.”

"I hate them, Sam. I shouldn't, but I do."