Skin Walkers: Gauge (13 page)

Chapter
22

Ella was bent, wiping the rem
nants of a chocolate covered cupcake from Alysa’s lips when she felt a hand on her hip.  Standing, she turned to discover Gauge smiling down at them.  He was so close to Ella that she had to tuck her elbow when she turned slowly into him.

“Alysa, unc
le King has a surprise for you, pretty girl.  Why don’t you go see what it is?”

Alysa’s eyes lit with
excitement as she and Mahkya raced back across the ballroom to a waiting King.

Ella held up a hand, and issued a firm, “Don’t run.”  But it was too late.  Alysa was too fast and to
o excited to be bothered with her mother’s direction. 

Gauge watched as worry knitte
d Ella’s fine brows together.  She watched, gnawing at her bottom lip, to ensure Alysa arrived safely at her destination.  The tension in her slight frame eased when King stood as Alysa and Mahkya approached then bent and hoisted the young girls into his arms.

“She’ll be fine
,” Gauge whispered.

“I know
,” she snapped before she turned to look at Gauge apologetically.  “I’m sorry.”  She placed a hand on his chest but pulled it back at the last second.  “I’m just not used to…to…”

“To trusting other people
with your child?” Gauge supplied, the slightest hint of mockery curling his lip. 

Ella dropped her hand and her eyes to wring her fingers together.  “I
t may seem foolish to you, but she’s all I have.”

When Gauge didn’t respond, Ella looked up to find him watching her intently.

“A mother’s shoulders are broad, Gauge, so that we may shoulder the burdens.  I’ve made the choices I have to give her something better.”

“
Yet you’re not her
true
mother.”

Indignation flared to life as Ella hissed, “I’m more than a true mother.  I choose to defend
a life that isn’t mine to protect.  There’s no obligation here, only pure love.  It’s sacrosanct, and clearly something you’ll never understand!”

“You don’t have to
protect her alone.  You don’t need to be afraid anymore.”  He’d nearly slipped and told her the truth about Anthony.

“I’m not
afraid, damn it!  I’m mad!”

“Mad?”

“Yes,” she hissed as anger sparked in her eyes.  “I’m not going to let what’s happened to Alysa and I harden me into some resentful, fear-laden shrew.  What happened to us was difficult, but it doesn’t define us.  I won’t spend the rest of my life cowering in fear and looking over my shoulder.  I don’t care what happens to me, but I refuse to make her live like that.  If it’s all I can offer her then what was the point of ever running in the first place?”

He smiled, admiring her.  She was his perfect mate, his angel.  There might be no affliction, but he’d claim her anyway, and he’d never go back. 

“Gauge?  What is it?”  Her words were a whisper.

H
e reached up to stroke over her soft cheek with the back of his strong fingers.  “I wonder if that fierce allegiance could be supplied to anyone beyond that little girl.”

She couldn’t tear her eyes from his.  He seemed so at eas
e, so content.  She’d never seen him like this before, and when he dropped his hand to thread his fingers between hers and lead her out to the dance floor, she simply followed numbly.

Her attention was riveted on him. 
She could barely hear the din of the music over the thunderous beat of her heart as she studied him.  Gauge was gorgeous tonight.  She stared at the broad expanse of his back and the way his perfectly fitted tux hugged his massive shoulders before it tapered at his trim waist.  Her eyes slid up to stare at the back of his head as he gently led her toward the center of the dance floor.  His short blond hair looked so soft that her fingers actually itched to run through the satiny looking strands.  Then out of the corner of her eye she noticed couples clearing the dance floor.  She took a wider stride to catch pace with Gauge and she whispered up to him, “I don’t think we should be dancing.  Everyone else is sitting down.”

He turned to look down at her, but kept walking even as the music slowly died. 
“Remember our discussion the other night?”

Ella shook her head
confused by the abrupt change of subject.

“
Anything!
” Gauge ground out determinedly.  “You promised me you’d do anything to keep from losing Alysa.”  His eyes dimmed to a matte black as he stared down at her.

Ella
slowed her pace as her heart picked up tempo.  She tried to pull her hand free of his but he simply tightened his hold, pulling her along with him.

“
This,
” Gauge began, staring intently at her, “is what you must do to ensure her safety.  To keep from losing her.”  It was a lie.  Only hours earlier he’d taken care of the threat to his family. 
His family!
  He worked his jaw, unable to fathom why he was going through with his plan when Alysa’s father was dead.  He had to fight a smirk.  He knew why he was going through with his plan.  He might fool Ella, but he refused to lie to himself.  Staring down at her, he silently cursed the Walker affliction. Why hadn’t it set in?  He knew she was his, he simply fucking knew it! 

Ella’s mouth went dry and she instantly paled, eyeing their surroundings.  She had no idea what was happening even as Gauge pulled h
er to a stop in front of a well-dressed elderly gentleman who was standing in front of the stage.

“G-G
auge?”  She couldn’t hide the tremor in her voice.

The elderly man smiled briefly at her then nodded up to Gauge before raising his hands.  When he did so, the throng of
people seated at the tables that lined either side of the dance floor and dotted the ballroom all stood in unison.

Ella’s fearful eyes turned to scan the crowd as
they all stared at her and the large Walker at her side.  Instinctively she took a step closer to Gauge, needing the feel of his protection before her eyes locked on little Alysa who beamed at her from King’s arms.

King winked at her then took Alysa’s small hand in his and flapped it playfully at Ella in a wave.

Ella tore her eyes from her daughter to look up at Gauge with imploring eyes even as both hands fisted his sleeve.  She was terrified.  “Gauge,” her words were barely audible, “what’s happening?”

He
stared down at her with such a fierce look of possession that her breath caught on a gasp.

She
looked to the elderly gentleman as he cleared his throat and began to speak loudly, “My friends, we are gathered here today to ceremoniously join this Walker and his angel.”

Gauge’s arm snaked around her
waist just in time to keep her from hitting the floor as her knees buckled.  Stars swam in her vision and she wasn’t sure she heard the old man correctly.

“Gauge, you have claimed this woman as your angel.  In doing so and by Skin Walker law you vow with vehemence to defend her as your blood
?”

Gauge didn’t hesitate in his response as he stared down at her unflinchingly.  “I do.”

Ella’s eyes darted to the nearest exit.  She could make a run for it.  Her eyes darted over her shoulder to Alysa as she mentally calculated the odds of getting to Alysa and escaping before Gauge could stop her.

“Don’t
,” Gauge threatened in a whisper at her ear, “you won’t make it.”

“Gauge,” Ella’s
plea was nearly inaudible.  “Please don’t do this.”

“And do you Ella
Garrett claim Gauge Alexander as your Skin Walker mate?  Forsaking all others as long as you both shall live?”

When she didn’t answer Gauge
’s stern expression darkened as anger flared to life in his eyes.  “How badly do you want to keep Alysa?”

Ella swallowed at the thick emotion that swelled in her throat as she stared up at him with tear-filled eyes.  She didn’t answer him, but turned to the Officiant whose smile faltered momentarily as he stared f
rom Gauge to Ella in confusion. 

“I
-I do,” Ella finally supplied.

Satisfied, the elderly Officiant’s beaming smile returned.  “Do you have the rings?”

As Gauge retrieved two rings from his coat pocket, Ella pulled from him woodenly and stood staring straight ahead.  He slid a ring onto the fourth finger of his own left hand before taking Ella’s small hand in his and sliding a perfectly fitted ring onto her finger.  She didn’t look at the ring or at him. 

Oh God, this isn’t happening!

“Turn to each other now for the exchange of Walker vows.”

Gauge turned her to him
and held her hands tightly in his as she stared up at him, a silent plea in her eyes as she listened to him repeat his vows.

“I Gauge Alexander,
take you, Ella Garret, to be my friend, my lover, the mother of my children, my wife, my mate…my angel. I will be your strength in times of weakness, your want in times of need, your joy in times of sorrow.  I will sacrifice my health, my triumph, my hopes, and my desires to put your needs ahead of my own. I promise to cherish and respect you, to care for you, and protect your life and the lives of our children with my very own. I vow to comfort and encourage you, to guard and keep you, and to love you until my time in this world ends.”

Ella couldn’t
hold back the tears as they slid from her eyes.  How could he make such promises to her in front of God and their friends when he couldn’t possibly mean it?

“Ella, please repeat after me.”

As the Officiant began, she shook her head imperceptibly as she stared up at Gauge, tears sliding down her cheeks. 

Gauge lifted a hand and swiped a tear.  “For Alysa.”
  There was no emotion in his voice, only a steely resolve.

Alysa’s brow furrowed and she stead
ied herself with a determination she hadn’t known she’d possessed.  She could do this.  She had to right?  For Alysa!  She repeated the words of the Officiant numbly.

“
I, Ella Garret take you, Gauge Alexander, to be my husband, my Walker, my mate. Loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know. I eagerly anticipate the chance to grow together, getting to know the Walker way, and to become closer to your people every day.”

Her voice caught at the next phrase and Gauge squeezed her hand, imploring her to finish.

“ I-I promise to love and to cherish you through whatever life may bring us.  Entreat me not to leave you, or to return from following after you, for where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your life will be my life. And where you die, I will die and there I will be buried. May the Grandfathers do with me and more if anything but death parts me from you.”

Ella’s hands trembled under the pressure of Gauge’s and she took a step closer to him
, seeking his strength and comfort.  He wrapped his arms around her as the Officiant announced, “By the power of the sacred four directions, with blessings from the state of Montana, and as witnessed by the rare and commanding Skin Walkers, I now pronounce you Walker and angel, husband and wife, mates for life.  Gauge, claim your right.”

He was
the only thing holding her up now as she trembled in his arms.  It was too much.  He slid a strong finger under her chin and raised her face to his.

“No,” the word was whispered from her lip
s.  His mouth descended on hers, swallowing her denial and sealing their fate.  Her eyes slid closed with one last tear that eased down her cheek.

The room erupted into applause and well wishes and still Ella kept her eyes closed until Gauge’s lips left hers and he demanded harshly, “Look at me
!”

Ella let her eyes flutter open and she was shocked at the fierce possession she saw.

“Mine,” He growled the word.  “You belong to me now, Ella. 
Forever
!”

She
trembled under the threat. 
Forever! 
She’d hoped the nuptials had been a ruse, a ploy thought up by Gauge as a means to protect Alysa, to keep Monroe from tossing them out, but the ownership in his words, his tone, his eyes, and in the very manner with which he held her had her trembling at the realization that she had just given herself to a Walker that had no intention of ever giving her up.

Chapter
23

“Mom
ma!”  Alysa exclaimed as she raced to the couple, “Uncle King said Gauge is my daddy now!” 

Ella
pushed back from Gauge and felt his reluctance to release her.  She knelt to smooth a hand over Alysa’s long dark hair.  “Yes baby.”  Ella raised her eyes to meet Gauge’s as he stood behind the little girl.  “He’s…he’s your daddy now.”

Alysa kissed her mother on the cheek before turning and holding her arms up to Gauge. He lifted the child effortlessly and nuzzled her neck as she squealed in delight.

Knowing Alysa was safe, Ella quickly excused herself without looking at Gauge.   On the way to the ladies room, she was stopped by Bishop and Jenny, then RedKnife and Cindy.  Both times, she looked up to find Gauge watching her from across the room. 

As b
oth couples offered their sincere congratulations, Ella smiled numbly and thanked them before she was stopped by King and Lilly.  The other woman hugged Ella in a warm embrace before Ella managed to pull herself free of the throng of well-wishers and disappear into the ladies room. 

Inside the delicately painted powder room, Ella slunk into the furthest stall and locked the door before leaning on it and covering her face with her hands.  She didn’t know whether to cry or scream.  Gauge had taken advantage of her and she knew it.  She should have run when she’d had the chance.  Instead, she’d trusted him, trusted that he’d protect her and Alysa.  Now, he’d forced her into something
she didn’t want and he’d used Alysa to do it. 

She’d never been so angry and humiliated in all her life.  Her hands trembled with a barely contained rage even as she rested
one on her churning belly.  She had a right mind to stomp back out to the ball room and inform Gauge’s friends of his treachery and deceit.  Problem was she couldn’t.  She had no legal right to Alysa and if Gauge didn’t help her,
hide her
, then Anthony would take Alysa from her and there wasn’t a damn thing she’d be able to do.

Gauge had used her love for her niece to force her into marrying him.  But why?  What would he gain from
the marriage?  Clearly he didn’t love her.  Ella paled and her legs nearly buckled. 
My God!  He doesn’t expect me to…sleep with him!
  She broke out in a cold sweat.  Christ, it was the night of their wedding.  Surely he’d expect… 

Ella
leaned her face over the toilette, positive she was going to lose her lunch. 
That
can’t be what he’s after.  He could have any woman, surely there’s something else he wants.

Ella lifted a hand to swipe at the beads of perspiration that dotted her forehead. 
How did I let this happen?

“Ella?  You alright?”

The sound of Lilly’s voice had Ella pulling toilette paper from the dispenser attached to the wall and dabbing quickly at her sweat soaked face and neck. She fought to find a light airy tone, “Fine.  Be out in just a minute.”  She heard the sound of a purse unzip and the pop from a tube of lipstick opening before Lilly responded.

“Oh take your time.  No rush.  I just wanted to see how you were feeling.”

Ella exited the bathroom as Lilly rubbed her lips together then smacked them apart before replacing the lid and tucking the cosmetic back into her clutch. 

“King says Gauge surprised you with today’s ceremony.”  Lilly turned to Ella as the shorter woman approached and turned on the sink before placing both hands under the cool water.

“Yes, it was quite a shock.”

“A pleasant one I hope?” Lilly raised her brows and bent her head trying to get Ella to look up.

“Of course.”  Ella responded, turning off the water and grabbing a hand towel before meeting the other woman’s gaze.  “You know he’s done so much for me and my daughter.”

“I know, b
ut you shouldn’t feel obligated simply because he’s protected you.”

“I don’t.” Ella
dried her hands, thankful the other woman wasn’t a Walker and couldn’t scent the lie.  “We’ve grown close over these past few months.”

Lilly’s features eased from concern to crack in a genuine smile. “I’m so happy for the both of you…for the
three
of you!  I know how difficult it can be to love a Walker, Ella.  If you ever need to talk, please know that I’m here.”

Ella nodded.  “Thank you
, Lilly.”

The doors were pushed open
and Ella bristled as Aries and Jenny stepped into the ladies room.  Both were Walker women and would clearly scent any lie she made regarding her recent nuptials. 

“Excuse me ladies,” Ella announced loudly, “I need
to find my daughter.”  She walked as she talked hoping to stave off any further inquiries.  “You know if I don’t lay eyes on her every five minutes I start to hyperventilate.”  It was said in jest, but it was wholly the truth.

As Ella passed by
Aries and Jenny both women offered their congratulations and Ella thanked them quickly before slipping out the door and running straight into the solid wall of Gauge’s chest.

His hand closed around her upper arm and pulled her into him.  “What’s wrong?”  He raised his eyes to the closed bathroom door.  “Everything alright?”  His eyes slid back to her.

“Just fine.”  Ella glanced around him.  “Where’s Alysa?”

“With King.  She’s fine.”

Ella tried to jerk from his grasp, but he refused.

“You’re fear spiked in the bathroom.”  He eyed the door again warily.  “What happened?”

“Just Walker women wanting to congratulate me.”  Ella was scowling up at him.

Gauge stepped
away from the door of the bathroom to the entrance that led to the unoccupied coat room.  He pulled Ella with him until they were hidden from anyone that passed down the hall.

“How am I supposed to keep lies from them
, Gauge?” Ella bit out angrily.  “I can’t hide anything from them or their Walker husbands.”  She jerked her arm again, “What in hell were you thinking?” 

Gauge frowned down at her.  “I was thinking of Alysa’s safety.”

“Really?  And
this
was your solution?  How in the hell is this supposed to help?  All you’ve done is made things worse.”

Gauge fought to hide
his amusement at her beautiful flare of anger.  He loved it when she grew angry.  Her gray eyes darkened until it seemed as though storm clouds were thundering furiously within.  He swore he could even see brilliant flashes in their murky depths. 

“I’m glad you’re so entertained.  Maybe when you’ve finished laughing at me you can tell me how I’m supposed to respond when a Walker asks me what I thought of your
surprise
.”

Gauge did s
mile then.  “You can tell them the truth.  Say you were shocked.”

“I did!” Ella raised a hand to peel his fingers off her arm.  “Then Lilly asked if it was a pleasant
suprise.”

Gauge released her arm.  “
No harm.  She’s not a Walker, she wouldn’t know the difference.”

“Two Walkers came in
, Gauge!  What if they’d been there when she’d asked me?  What would happen then?  They’d scent me and know that I wasn’t pleasantly pleased by your shotgun wedding, but that I was
terrified
.”

Gauge’s brows drew together
.  “Terrified?  Of what?”

Ella lifted both hands to her head, “Oh God
, Gauge!  I wish you could see this from my perspective for just one minute.”  She looked at him, her eyes filling with tears.  “What have you done to me?  To
us
?  How do I explain this to Alysa once you’re done playing with me?”  She slid a hand down to cover her mouth as she forced back a sob, “It’ll break her heart.”  Her heart wrenched for the pain Alysa would have to endure at the loss of Gauge, and that had Ella glaring up at him accusingly.  “I don’t care what you do to me, but you can’t hurt her.”

“I don’t want to hurt her,
” he ground out angrily.

“Then you should have though
t this through.”  She poked him in the chest, her voice raising an octave.  “I swear to God, Gauge, if this ends up hurting her…”

“Ella?” 

Recognition flashed over Ella’s features as she froze and gaped at Gauge.  She recognized the voice that called to her from down the hall.  “Brooklyn,” she whispered up at Gauge, unsure what else to do.

Without
another word, Gauge pulled Ella to him and crushed her mouth with his own.  His lips forced hers apart as his tongue darted past her lips. 

Damn, he tasted good. 
Ella’s slight frame melded into his even as her soft pink tongue slid tentatively forward to touch his.  She felt the moan that escaped him as it rumbled deep in his chest.  Slowly she lifted a hand to his cheek and then eased it back until her fingers caught in the short silken strands of his hair.  She’d been wanting to do it all night.

***

Brooklyn could’ve sworn she’d seen Gauge and Ella standing in the hall only moments earlier.  “Ella?”  She paced briskly down the hall wanting to verify the new bride and groom were pleased with her performance before she got as far away from the reception and Monroe as possible.

“Oh!  There you two are.” Brooklyn interrupted abruptly.  “Sorry to intrude on the two love-birds.”  She watched Ella flush in embarrassment as Gauge pulled ba
ck from their kiss and smiled at Brooklyn.

“Anyway,”
Brooklyn continued.  “Just wanted to offer my congratulations and say that I hope everything went according to plan.”  The resident Events Director looked from Ella to Gauge.  “Now, if you have any complaints or suggestions for improvement, please don’t hesitate to contact my office at your nearest convenience.”

“Christ
, Brooklyn, can’t you see they want to be alone?”  Monroe stepped into the hallway and approached the trio.  His crisp black tux was a perfect match to his raven colored hair. 

Brooklyn stared cool
ly from the new couple to the CEO.  “Of course they’d like to be alone, Mr. StoneCrow.  But I’m leaving for the evening and I wanted to ensure the event was to their liking.”

Ella knew Brooklyn to be
a direct woman, so it was alarming and amusing to watch how the Events Coordinator refused to meet Monroe’s gaze.  She watched as the CEO’s jaw worked in anger as he frowned down at his employee.

“Everything was perfect
, Brooklyn.  Thank you.” Gauge shifted Ella so she was tucked under his arm.  “We have no complaints.”  He squeezed Ella and she fought to find the perfect compliment that wouldn’t be detected by Monroe as being a lie.

“The ballroom was exquisite, as was the food.  Honestly, it was the most memorable night of my life.”  Ella was pleased with herself for finding a compliment that was also the absolute truth.

Brooklyn smiled at them, her bright blue eyes satisfied that she’d done her job.  “Excellent.”  She pulled a business card from the inside pocket of her black jacket.  “Here’s my card.  Should you realize some deficiency on mine or my staff’s part at a later date…well, please contact me directly should that be the case.”  Then Brooklyn turned without looking at Monroe and strode determinedly down the hall.

Ella watched her go thinking the woman
was one of the most beautiful she’d ever seen.

Gauge could sense Monroe’s barely contained anger that was di
rected toward his Event’s Coordinator.  “I think she’s smitten.” Gauge didn’t attempt to mask the obvious humor he found in the situation.

Monroe tore his eyes from Brooklyn’s departing form to frown at Gauge.  “That woman is impossible.  Unfortunately, I fear she’s formed somewhat of a crush.”  Monroe shook his head in annoyance.  “It’s just bad form.”

Ella felt sorry for the other woman as she watched her disappear down the long carpeted hall.  Everyone knew that Monroe’s bond to Eden was unbreakable; apparently someone forgot to mention it to Brooklyn.

Gauge squeezed his bride’s hand.  “Should we…uh…go back inside?”

Monroe’s scowl slid from his face as he looked from Gauge down to Ella.  “Absolutely.  I’d say it’s time for a toast.  You two have the rest of the night to spend in each other’s arms.  For now, let’s enjoy this occasion together.”  He passed a knowing smirk onto Gauge, and Gauge realized that while he’d used the opportunity to force Ella into a mating, he’d simultaneously played right into the CEO’S hands. 

Gauge laced his fingers through
Ella’s and led her back into the ballroom.