Page 35 of Her Bossy Wolf Protector

Mariya shoves me once again. “Fucking hell, Gabriel. Snap out of it, please. You had a bad dream. It was just a bad dream.” That is when I realize that my claws are bared. I shake my head, trying to put everything together.

I just had a bad dream.

It was only a bad dream.

I shove the sweat-slicked bed sheet off me. “I have to go.”

Mariya looks confused. “Go where?”

“I have to make sure she is safe,” I say as I grab a t-shirt from my closet.

Mariya sidesteps me as I walk to my other closet to grab my running shoes.

“Gabriel. It is two o’clock in the morning. What the hell is going on?”

I take a deep breath. “Something is wrong. I have to make sure she is okay.”

“Who?”

I put on my jacket as I make my way out of my room, “My mate. I have to make sure my mate is okay.” And I race for the garage.

I settle into the luxurious leather seat of my Lexus, the engine purring to life beneath me as I speed towards Jade’s apartment. The city lights blur into streaks as I navigate the streets, my thoughts all over the place.

My heart pounds, a rhythm of uncertainty and anticipation. Is it the lingering adrenaline from the recent events or something more primal, a feeling I’ve been trying to suppress? The truth I’ve been avoiding crashes against my consciousness – Jade is my mate. I felt it in the core of my being from the first moment our paths crossed. But it’s impossible. Jade is human. There’s no way she could be my mate. Yet, the undeniable connection persists, defying logic.

I pull into a space near her apartment, the quiet neighborhood standing still under the night’s embrace. I sit in my car, contemplating my next move. Should I knock on her door, unravel the mysteries surrounding her, and risk exposing her to a world she may not be ready to face? Or should I succumb to the truth I’ve been denying – that Jade is meant to be mine?

The internal debate rages within me, but before I can make a decision, movement catches my attention. Two figures cross the road, and recognition sharpens my focus. The first is a familiar face – Mr. Black, the vampire from the mansion. His presence raises alarms, but it’s the companion with him that intensifies the gravity of the situation.

The unknown figure walks alongside Mr. Black, their features shrouded in the night’s shadows. My instincts scream a warning. This is bad. The convergence of vampires near Jade’s residence is no coincidence. The pieces of a puzzle, previously scattered, begin to align with ominous clarity.

I take a deep breath, the decision made for me. I can’t afford to turn back now.

I step out of my car, the danger palpable in the night air. However, before I can fully engage in the unfolding scenario, Lucius, a representative of the Council, calls me. I can’t ignore a summons from the Council, even amidst these pressing circumstances, so I answer.

“This is a bad time,” I inform Lucius, my strides purposeful as I cross the dimly lit parking lot, my focus divided between the call and the imminent threat around Jade’s apartment.

Lucius wastes no time delivering news of another case involving rogue wolves. It’s a common predicament now that the prophecy seems to be spreading, but I’m currently dealing with a similar, more immediate threat.

“I am kind of dealing with the same thing right now. Can you find someone else to cover it?” I implore, urgency underscoring my words.

Understanding my predicament, Lucius agrees to contact Seraphina immediately, assuring me they will handle the rogue wolf case. With that, I end the call, leaving me to confront the impending dangers lurking within Jade’s vicinity.

My duty as a protector and a father usually comes first, but I must protect Jade.

She is my mate.

Her safety is right up there with Liam’s.

Chapter 12

Jade

Ihad spent the evening with Alyssa, sharing dinner and laughter. However, as the night wore on, she expressed a desire to go home. It had been a while, so I dropped her off before returning to my apartment. The routine of watering my plants and settling into bed followed a semblance of normalcy after everything.

The weariness of the day, both physically and emotionally, lingered as I drifted into sleep. Yet, the tranquility was short-lived as a nightmare took hold of my subconscious.

The dream swirls around me in a surreal dance of images. A forest is ablaze, flames licking at the trees, and the sharp scent of burning wood fills the air. In the distance, the haunting wails of pain echo through the night. Wolves and vampires move together in a chaotic ballet, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly intensity.

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