Page 19 of Her Bossy Wolf Protector

There’s no time to change back to human form, and I need my wolf’s size and strength. Besides, it would take much longer, and her situation is dire. I gently bite the blanket she’s lying on, sling-like, and lift her. It’s not perfect, and a bit awkward, but it allows me to carry her while hopefully not causing her further harm.

The scent of her blood lingers in the air as I turn around and begin the journey back.

Chapter 6

Jade

I’m pacing nervously in my apartment, unable to shake off the worry gnawing at me. The minutes drag on, and it feels like hours since I last spoke to Gabriel. I expected him to call me with news by now. My phone is clutched tightly in my hand, and every second that ticks by adds to my mounting anxiety.

I am contemplating calling Alyssa for what must be the hundredth time when my phone rings. The number is unknown.

I pick it up, expecting it to be the police, but instead, Gabriel’s voice comes through the line. “Jade. It’s me.”

“Gabriel, have you heard from Alyssa? What about the police? What’s going on?” I blurt out before he could even say hello.

There’s a brief pause on the other end of the line, and when Gabriel finally speaks, his voice is low and measured. “Jade, I have some news about Alyssa. She’s at Montefiore Hospital.”

My heart skips a beat. “What happened?” I demand, my voice panicked.

“Meet me at the hospital, and I’ll explain everything,” Gabriel says.

“Is she… Is she ali—?” My voice catches.

“Yes, she’s alive, Jade. Just get here.”

I don’t waste any time. I grab my coat and practically sprint to my car, speeding toward the hospital. I rarely take my car anywhere, but I can’t even contemplate going to the train station right now.

On my drive, every scenario plays out in my mind, each one more terrifying than the last. Is she awake? Where is Jake? Was it another animal attack? Where was she found?

When I arrive at Montefiore Hospital, my heart is racing, and my palms are clammy. I rush inside and go to the reception desk, where a kind nurse directs me upstairs to Alyssa’s room.

I find the room and push the door open, my eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings. And then I see her, lying unconscious in the hospital bed, hooked up to an IV. My breath catches in my throat. Alyssa looks so small and fragile in the sterile hospital bed. Her once graceful hands lie motionless, now marred by broken nails and bruises. Numerous scratches crisscross her beautiful dark skin.

She is hurt, but she is alive.

Relief washes over me, but it’s fleeting. I can’t ignore the unease creeping in.

There is a man seated in a chair beside her. It takes me a minute to realize that it is Gabriel. I walk over to him and wrap my arms around him. He helped bring my friend back.

Gabriel is stiff for a few seconds, before wrapping his arms around me and gently stroking my back.

“They found her,” I whisper into his jacket.

“Yes, they did.”

Once my breathing has settled, I disentangle myself from Gabriel and take a step back. I look at Alyssa’s still body. I am still so shocked and confused. How the fuck did this happen?

“What happened, Gabriel?”

“The police found her unconscious in a ditch. She’s stable now, but the doctors are running some tests.”

“A ditch?” I turn to face him.

“Yeah. That’s all I know right now.”

The words hang in the air, but I can’t ignore the nagging feeling that something isn’t right. “How did she wind up in a ditch? What happened to her? Where is Jake?”

Gabriel’s eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I see a flicker of hesitation. “I’m not entirely sure, Jade. The police are looking into it.”

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