Bound by the Mark of Lies (BL) Chapter 3 - 1.3: The Weight of a Mark (3)

Gabriel awoke to the dull hum of the city outside his window and the ringing of his alarm. He had left the window open; sumr had passed, but the heat was still unbearable. The dim light of early morning filtered through the blinds, casting thin lines across his couch. His head throbbed, and his mouth was parched, remnants of a restless night spent chasing dreams he couldn't escape.

He sat up slowly, running a hand through his disheveled hair. For a mont, he focused on the dust particles dancing in the sunlight, their aimless movent a small distraction. Shaking off the haze, he muttered under his breath and headed for the bathroom, grateful for the temporary reprieve the shower offered.

The bathroom was cold, and steam quickly filled the room as the water cascaded over his skin. As the water hit his skin, he let out a sigh, trying to shake off the lingering tension from yesterday. The nightmares had been the sa, haunting and persistent, but at least the alcohol dulled their edges.

Gabriel steps out of the shower and dried his hair, feeling the familiar hum of detachnt settle in. His fingers brushed against the mark again, the phantom pain fading but still sharp. He quickly changed into a light gray suit and reached for his coat.

As he left his apartnt, the city greeted him with its usual chaotic rhythm. The cold morning air felt refreshing against his skin. The hum of traffic, distant chatter, and the pulse of magic in the city felt like a reminder of his place in this world, though not one he welcod. Still, he got used to it.

Gabriel's office building lood ahead, a monolith of marble adorned with imposing statues of hippogriffs that towered over the city center. He entered the building silently, nodding at the receptionist as he passed. Her na, Maria Avalone, barely registered. Gabriel had been with the company for nearly five years, but until six months ago, he had been dispatched on different sites, rarely setting foot in this unfamiliar building.

Once inside his office, he shrugged off his coat and contemplated heading to the break room for coffee. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Looking up, he saw Elliot standing in the doorway, a casual smile on his face.

"Morning, Gabriel," Elliot said, his voice smooth and easy. "Got a minute?"

Gabriel's stomach tightened with unease, a flicker of déjà vu hitting him. "Of course. Co in."

Elliot stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a deliberate motion. He leaned against the edge of the desk, his movents fluid and calculated. The erald and gold tie he wore glead, perfectly complenting his piercing green eyes. There was an air of confidence about him, which was unusual in the small city of Ashmont but common in the capital. It was alpha-level confidence. Gabriel knew better than to get too close to that kind of people, but Elliot was already present, and avoiding him would only make matters worse.

"How's the day going?" Elliot asked, leaning against the edge of the desk.

"Busy," Gabriel replied, keeping his tone neutral. He wanted to get his coffee before work.

Elliott chuckled softly. "Yeah, I can imagine." He paused, and for a second, the casual façade slipped. Gabriel's instincts flared.

"Ah, there it is." Tought Gabriel, looking into Elliot's piercing eyes. "Another alpha interested in ." The realisation ca to him naturally; it disturbed him, and he could feel a chill down his spine.

"You don't seem like soone who thrives on routine, Gabriel. I've always wondered about that." Gabriel was confused by Elliot's words.

Gabriel rose from his seat and turned his back at Elliot, looking at the city below. He lightly touched his marking before responding.

"Soti routine is necessary. Keeps things manageable."

Elliot tilted his head slightly as if considering Gabriel's words. "Maybe. But don't you ever get bored? Don't you want your chaos back?" Elliot's gaze never left him, and his face contorted into a furious grimace; he knew what Gabriel had done.

When he turned to face Elliot, he found the alpha's gaze fixed intently on him, his expression unreadable. The question hung in the air, heavy with implication. Gabriel stiffened, catching the underlying insinuation. The tension in the room thickened as Elliot's words struck nerves.

"I'm content with what I have." Sohow the man in front of him stroked a cord, and Elliot knew that. He took a step closer, lowering his voice just enough that it bordered on personal. "You know, there's more to life than just this. And I can help you." Elliot's gaze was fixed on Gabriel's bite mark on the nape.

Gabriel's pulse quickened, but his expression remained unreadable. Elliot relaxed and sat on the edge of the dark wooden desk, looking at his long, slender fingers and replaying. "You are not talking about work, Elliot. Let's keep this professional."

A flicker of sothing passed through Elliot's eyes. He liked this side of Gabriel. He got closer and put his hands on either side of Gabriel, his tone softening. "Of course. Just... consider that I'm here for you. When you're ready."

Gabriel didn't answer. The tension in the air was palpable. He wondered if he had not been marked, if he would be on his knees because of these alpha feromons. The mont lingered for a beat too long before Elliot turned and walked to the door.

"I'll let you get back to your work," Elliot said, glancing over his shoulder with a half-smile. "But think about it."

Gabriel sat still, his mind spinning. He didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to think about the way Elliot's voice had held an undertone of sothing deeper—sothing more than just friendly advice. But he couldn't help it. The words stuck with him.

The door closed behind him, and Gabriel exhaled slowly, trying to steady himself. It seed that the father and son didn't work for the sa team.

He took an air freshener from his desk; despite the fact that he was marked, he knew that Elliot bathed him in his scent. He felt grossed out.

Then his office phone rang, snapping him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the caller ID—Maria Avalone, the receptionist.

"Gabriel, there is soone here for you from the capital. They are waiting for you in the lobby," Maria said, her tone steady but curious.

Soone from the capital? Gabriel's brow furrowed. The capital was worlds apart from this city. His first thought was that it could be soone related to the ongoing governnt projects he'd been involved in—perhaps an evaluator or a liaison.

That was unusual. It was rare for anyone from the governnt to request such a setting. He really hoped that they weren't from the Blue Ether Project.

"I'll be right down," he said, setting the phone down. He felt an unexpected shift in his chest, the anticipation gnawing at him.

This will be an extrely long day.

He stood and walked into the long hall, which was filled with people chatting. Gabriel gave a few quick head nods before hurrying to the elevator, his mind racing. The doors opened with a soft chi, and he stepped inside. The descent to the lobby felt slower than usual, each floor taking longer than the last. When the doors opened, he saw a tall figure waiting near the reception desk. He panicked; it was Robert, one of his family's knights.

There could be only a few reasons for him being here, and none of them were good news. He hurried to the lobby door and entered the room without a knock.

Gabriel's breath got caught in his throat. Lucius von Jaunez stood tall, his posture regal even in the modest surroundings. The graying hair framing his face only added to the air of authority that radiated from him. Round, elegant gold-frad glasses softened the sharpness of his features, but his gaze was unyielding.

When Gabriel approached, Lucius looked up, his expression softening behind his round, elegant gold-frad glasses. "Gabriel," he said, his voice low and steady, as if the years of distance between them hadn't existed. "We need to talk."

Gabriel's stomach twisted, but he didn't show it. "What are you doing here?" He stood still, with his fists clenched; he should have known that his father's silence was an ominous sign. He had stopped calling Gabriel in the last few weeks, but it appeared that he had not given up.

Lucius did not mince words. "It's ti for you to return to the capital, Gabriel. Your family awaits for you. I think we gave you enough ti."

Gabriel felt a flicker of resistance rise within him. The Capital, a land of magic, power, and familial ties. A place he had left behind when the burden of his family and duties were too much.

"I'm not going back," Gabriel said firmly, his voice betraying none of the turmoil inside.

Lucius's gaze hardened. "Why? I think we were patient enough, Gabriel." He sighed and added, "The alpha who marked you will return to Ashmont from his mission."

Gabriel clenched his fists at his sides, feeling the weight of his past pressing down on him.

Lucius stepped closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "We both know that's not you. You cannot keep running forever. We can convince him to remove it."

The tension between them was thick, but Gabriel didn't back down. He would not be swayed by the quiet authority in his father's voice. Not today.

Lucius studied him for a long mont before nodding, a rare flicker of sothing softer in his eyes. "Let's talk about it. Your sibling will be here soon."

With that, he turned and walked Gabriel to the leather couch before exiting for a mont, leaving Gabriel standing in the lobby, his heart heavy with questions he could not answer.