Free Gabe's Destiny (Alien Mates Book Three) by Serena Simpson Page A

Gabe didn’t already have her full attention. His well-worn jeans and button down flannel made him look desirable.
    Gabe looked up and gasped at the male. “Colun?”
    “Something wrong with your eyes? I can see you well, boy.”
    “Not a boy,” he muttered, showing the male in front of him respect. Colun was one of the males who raised him. He had taken special interest in Gabe and treated him like a son. Colun was the reason he was still standing. When Rylan went missing, Colun kept Gabe from doing stupid things to punish himself. Deadly things.
    Gabe should stand his ground, let his mentor see the male he was today. Instead he found himself leaving the porch walking up to him. The next thing he knew he was wrapped in thick solid arms. He was a boy again, crying against the shoulder that was strong enough to bear the agony of the brother who wasn’t taken but felt the pain anyway.
    “I’ve missed you, boy.” Colun’s hand hit against his back several times bringing a smile to Gabe’s lips. He was still as heavy handed as ever.
    “What are you doing here? No wait, I’m glad you’re here but what brought you back? You’ve been gone so long we didn’t think we would ever see you again.”
    Translation—he and the others had looked for the old timers and couldn’t find them. They were certain they must have lost hope and ended their lives.
    “Avoiding you children isn’t that hard. You forget we know more than you’ve learned so far. We’re around, as to what brought me here, I’m looking at him.”
    “I’m fine.” His voice was gruff because there was no way he was going to acknowledge that at his age everything wasn’t working out.
    “Uh huh. I think you and your lady need some help.”
    Gabe turned to look at Taya before turning back to look at Colun.
    “Well introduce me to her.”
    They moved across the area coming back to the porch in perfect synch. Taya was going through her list of women she knew to see if maybe one of them might like him. She could see the smile on his face, but something about him reached out and said he’s been alone too long. It touched her because it was the same feeling she picked up from Gabe.
    “Taya, this is Colun. I guess you could say he was the dad I never had.”
    “Nice to meet you, Taya.” He held out his hand to shake hers then pulled her into a tight hug. “Welcome to the family,” he whispered for her ears alone.
    She pulled back with a bemused smile on her face. “It’s nice to meet you also, Colun.”
    “I better go in and greet the others. After that I was hoping the three of us could talk.” His eyes were on Taya as if she was the unknown piece in this puzzle.
    She nodded her head. Maybe talking was what she needed.
    He walked in and they followed behind him. The once empty foyer was now filled with Arbrins and their mates. Handshakes and hugs disguised as pats on the back were given. Then real hugs for the mates as he was introduced one by one.
    “Your rooms are ready.” Selma told him with a smile.
    “So you knew I was coming back?”
    She shook her head and gave him a rueful smile. “Not I. The house knew and reacted accordingly.”
    “I never could keep a secret from this old place.”
    “Let me go settle down and then I’ll be back.” He walked up the stairs. “Gabe, I think you owe it to Taya to show her your Matra so she has all the facts before she decides.”
    Every eye turned to look at Gabe including Taya.
    “What does he mean show me your Matra?” Her eyes were big and the smile hovering on her lips was a little shaky making him want to hold her close.
    He turned to look at his family; they all found an emergency they needed to attend to. Everyone except Rylan. He stood there meeting Gabe’s gaze head on and daring him to try and make him leave.
    “Ry, you can be a pain.” His brother laughed.
    “I still remember you staked outside of my door. They call it payback, bro.”
    Gabe rolled his eyes because he’d been