Really thought I'd posted this before... Stupid computer. Sorry!
He was genuinely happy to be with Elisabeth, and he had never been like that with Lily. With her, there had been doubt and a gnawing bite of guilt for having to keep the truth from reaching her ears. Lily was innocent and so utterly human that she had not had enough courage to accept him when the wolf came out and looked her in the eyes. And he had been so enthralled by her that her disapproval shattered his heart and angered the animal, who got a hold of her and did what he would never forgive himself for. Elisabeth was stronger than Lily could have ever dreamed of being. She wasn’t a normal human and her acceptance of him let Gabriel be himself.
The wolf had claimed her as his mate and being with her, he had an obligation to be understanding and protective. He listened to her, let her take his hands and returned her kiss. Gabriel wasn’t stiff or uneasy but relaxed and complaisant. Whatever she had to say to him, he would be ready to hear it. It wasn’t anything bad, for he would have sensed something like that. He would have sensed it because he was supposed to feel. He was expected to know when something was wrong. An alpha wasn’t a good leader unless they could tell between good and bad. Like Vivian’s father before him.
“You know I love you too, Liz,” Tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear, his lips brushed against her cheek again, a reassuring gesture. “You can tell me whatever you want. I won’t run away. Promise.”