Page 14 of Her Bossy Wolf Protector

Idiot! Why would she be here?

I call the only person I trust, Mariya. Her magical abilities far surpass my own, and I hope she can help me in this dire situation.

“Hey, Mariya,” I begin. “Would you mind doing a locator spell for me? I’m trying to find someone, a woman, and I’m running out of leads.”

Mariya’s voice on the other end is soothing. “Of course, Gabriel. But I’ll need something that belongs to her, an object with a strong connection to her. Can you provide that?”

I pause, thinking about what I could offer. “Let me go back to her apartment and see what I can find. Then I will bring it right over.”

“Okay, Gabriel.”

I hang up and make my way back to my car. I have only been driving for a couple of minutes, when I spot Jade.

My heart stops.

She is sitting on a bench, in the same clothes she wore yesterday.

I don’t even think about it. I just swerve, park my car at the side of the road, and get out. I am running towards her before I even think to turn off my engine.

She looks disheveled, her blond hair sticking everywhere. “Hey!” I say gently as I take a few steps towards her.

She looks up, and I see that her green eyes are red-rimmed, like she has been crying all night.

“Gabriel?” she asks.

“Yeah,” then I sit beside her, “What’s going on? You didn’t show up for work today?”

There are bags under her eyes, and her lips are cracked like she hasn’t had food or water in days. I expect her to explain, but instead, she turns to me with tears in her eyes, and collapses in my arms, crying.

I am confused.

I wrap my arms around her and let her cry.

I watch helplessly as her sobs go on and on. She’s trying to get out words between sobs, but I can’t understand anything she’s saying. She doesn’t stop crying for fifteen minutes, and I feel helpless in the face of her pain.

Once her tears subside, I guide her to my car, and together, we make the short journey to her apartment. She’s silent in her own thoughts, so I respect her need for quiet, not bothering to push her for information.

She unlocks her front door and settles on her sofa. I wrap a blanket around her, which she accepts and curls herself in. She looks so tired.

What is going on with her?

“Can I get you some tea?” I finally manage to ask gently.

Jade nods gratefully, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears. “It’s in the cupboard drawer over there,” she says, pointing toward the kitchen.

I walk over and begin investigating the unfamiliar layout of her kitchen. Jade has an eclectic collection of mugs. Each one is a work of art, bursting with personality and character. Some are adorned with whimsical patterns, others with vibrant splashes of color, and a few have quotes I would read on t-shirts.

I choose a simple, comforting purple mug with white polka dots and pour hot water into it.

While I prepare the tea, Jade’s voice breaks the silence. “How did you know where I live, Gabriel? I didn’t give you any instructions, but you drove us here.”

I pause, trying to think of the best answer. “It’s in your employment file,” I reply, my voice measured, though I’m unsure if she believes me.

She doesn’t say a thing and I release the breath I did not know I was holding. Her mug of tea ready, I walk back to her tiny living room.

She accepts the tea with a grateful nod and takes a sip, her eyes still holding the shadow of her earlier tears.

“Ok? Are you feeling ready to talk now? What’s going on, Jade?” I ask gently, wanting to understand why she is in her current state. She looks shaken.Was it the wolves again? I will rip every single one of them apart with my bare hands if they touched her.

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