Page 15 of Her Bossy Wolf Protector

Jade sniffs, and for a moment, I fear she might burst into tears again. But instead, she begins to speak, her voice trembling but determined, “I want to show you something.”

She retrieves her phone, showing me a picture of a gorgeous black woman wearing a party hat.

“This is Alyssa,” she says, her voice filled with fondness. “I took this picture on Sunday. We were celebrating because I had gotten the job offer from Night Corp and I would start on Monday. That’s the last I saw of her.”

A chill runs down my spine as I realize the date's significance. It was the same night I first met Jade, the night that irrevocably changed both of our lives. Alyssa’s disappearance is linked somehow. I can feel it.

“Have you reached out to someone at her work?” I ask, trying to maintain my composure.

“Alyssa is a freelance writer. She works from home. If she is not at home, then I have no way of finding out where she is.”

“When was the last time you talked to her?”

She swallows, “At the bar. She had been flirting with one of the bartenders, so I had left her behind. I was supposed to call her when I got home, but I didn’t, and she has been unreachable since then. Gabriel, this is all my fault.”

I can see the slight tremble in her chin like she is about to start crying again. I decide to distract her by collecting more information.

“Have you called the police, Jade?”

She nods.

“What did they say?”

“That they would look into it. I went to the bar and found out that the bartender had also not returned to work since that night. Something feels wrong, Gabriel. I can’t just go to work when she is missing. She’s all I have.”

I am tempted to ask about her family and her other friends, but this is hardly the place or time.

I can’t explain why, but I feel compelled to help her. I am not sure if it is because some part of me suspects that what happened in the alley was not an isolated incident, or if I just don’t like the look of despair on Jade’s face. I don’t know what about this woman drives me to the edge, but I know there is no way I can leave her in this state, at least not without helping her get some answers.

And that is what I tell myself, even as I open my mouth and say the words that seal my fate, “I know someone who can help.”

Jade’s green eyes grow big as she reaches out and takes my hand in hers, “Really? Do you really mean that, Gabriel? I know I have treated you with nothing but suspicion, but if you know how to help, please, you’ve got to help me.”

She is saying words, but all my thoughts are concentrated on the feel of her hand on my skin. I am burning up.

I feel the familiar tingle again.

I clear my throat and stand, letting her hand fall. “Yes. I know some people in the New York Police Department, and I can ensure they expedite the process,” I lie smoothly.

“Oh, Gabriel. Thank you! Tell me what you need. Anything.”

I am not sure how to ask.

I know I need something that can help Mariya track her down, and then I can rely on my sense of scent to find her. I take a deep breath, hating myself for the compromise I am about to ask her for.

“I am going to need two things… actually make that three.”

“Anything.”

I square my shoulders and start with my most important one, “Something that belongs to Alyssa. Something she holds dear. I want to try and convince my contact to use a scent dog to help him track her down. Do you have anything of hers?”

She is already standing and heading to her bedroom. In a few minutes, she returns with a burgundy cashmere sweater and a small necklace with a heart pendant on it. “She wore these the last time she was here. Do you think they will help?”

I pick them up, the scent already flooding my nose. Yep! These would work just fine.

“I think so, but I’ll let you know when I know more,” I say instead.

Her mouth is already lifting in a smile. This is what hope looks like, and I am just about to dangle it before her.

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