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

play and if you wanted to run away you’re old enough. They stopped looking for you but we never did. Where are you?”
    “I’m fine, dad, honestly. That person who was stalking me followed me or someone just like him found me. Either way, I left to make sure you and mom were okay. I can’t come back until I figure this out. I just needed to hear your voices.” She broke down in a sob.
    “Give me the phone, Bob. My baby is crying and I’m going to find out why.” There was silence, then her mother was back on the phone.
    “What’s going on, Taya, and I want the truth.”
    She gave her mother the unvarnished truth and waited for her to call her crazy or suggest she get mental help right away.
    “When you were a little girl you used to see monsters all the time.” There was a sadness clinging to her mother’s voice. “We eventually moved here hoping the nightmares would go away and they did. You became a normal child running and playing, having fun. The specialists said it was just a phase and your father and I prayed every night that they were right. When you started being stalked, at first we thought you were having the same nightmares, but nightmares don’t leave dead animals on your porch. We should have told you.”
    What would she have done if her parents told her? She would have probably laughed it off like she did with Gabe. Even though it was her parents telling her, she didn’t have any memories of going through this as a child. Most likely she had repressed them. Knowing what she knew now, repressing them was probably for the best.
    “Mom, if you had told me it would have either freaked me out more or I would have ignored it. Accepting this kind of thing isn’t easy.”
    “Taya, now that you know what’s wrong, can’t you come home?”
    Could she go home? Maybe, after she figured out how to protect herself and them. She was going to be in danger no matter where she lived; she might as well live by her parents. Yeah, she could go home or at least she could try if Gabe would stop invading her mind.
    “Mom, remember I told you about that male named Gabe?” She need to pace to tell her mom this so she stood. When her mother said yes, she told her the rest. “So you see he wants to marry me. It’s called soul-bonding and it’s for life.”
    “You don’t even know him!” Her father screamed from the background. Of course her dad was listening; he hadn’t seen her for a year. No way was he going to go back and watch whatever was on the television.
    “Really Bob,” her mother scolded. “We knew each other for three weeks before we headed to Vegas and got married. I thought my dad was going to kill you, and if I remember correctly it was close. I literally stood between his shotgun and you.”
    Her dad mumbled something about no one being good enough for his princess, especially some alien from another world. What if he tried to take her off planet or eat her for breakfast?
    Taya felt her lips quirk; she loved her family, they made her feel sane, like she would figure this out.
    “Your dad says he trust you.”
    Her father yelled, “When did I say that?”
    “He also says if you chose to soul-bond with this male we better get the invitation because we need to meet him. Understand young lady?”
    “Yes ma’am.”
    “And there will be a real wedding! Do what you think is right for your life, Taya. We will support you one hundred percent. Can I reach you at this number?”
    “I…” What could she say? Her mother was asking sweetly but pretty much demanding she give her a way to stay in touch.
    “Yes, mom. If I have to ditch this phone for any reason, I promise to get a new one and call you with the number.”
    “Thank you, dear.” Taya held the phone cradled next to her ear not wanting to break the connection with her family.
    Gabe was standing on the porch listening. He walked over and took her in his arms sheltering her. He took her phone and snapped a picture of the two of them