Page 51 of Her Bossy Wolf Protector

But suddenly, we hear a noise and break apart, panting and gasping for air.

“Daddy!” Liam shouts.

“Jade! Where are you?” Mariya calls, right behind Liam.

Gabriel and I pull away from each other, breathing heavily as we try to regain our composure. We exchange a quick, panicked look, and then he steps away from me, putting some distance between us.

“Good morning, kiddo. Morning, Mariya,” he says, his voice strained as he greets his son.

I step back, too, feeling awkward as I realize what’s just happened between us. I try to compose myself, smoothing down the t-shirt and straightening my hair.

“Good morning, guys,” I echo, trying to sound cheerful.

He walks over to the sink to wash his hands and face. I remember where his hands just were and turn crimson at the thought.

He looks over at me and smirks, before drying his hands.

I can tell that Mariya knows exactly what we were up to before she walked in, but Liam is oblivious as he races towards his father. Gabriel picks him up.

“Hey, bud. Sleep well?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Good.”

Mariya looks from Gabriel to me. She looks like she is holding her tongue now.

“Everything okay Mariya? Seems like you were looking for Jade.”

The corners of her mouth lift in a small smile. “Ah, yes. Sorry, I got a little distracted. Actually, I was coming to tell you.”

“What?” we all ask.

“I think I finally figured out what you are, but I will need to do one last test to confirm it.

I blanch at her statement, remembering how drained I had felt the day before.

Gabriel puts Liam on the counter, turning his attention to us. “Are you really up for it?”

I contemplate his question. It is either this or living without knowing the truth about my existence. I would rather know.

“I feel like I have to do this, Gabriel. Let me just go upstairs and get dressed.”

Today, things feel different, like an electricity buzzing in the air. Mariya stands in the center of a carefully arranged circle with glowing symbols. The room is cast in a soft, flickering light from the candles positioned around us. It’s all surreal, but I feel oddly grounded despite the nervous thump of my heart.

Gabriel is here, too, leaning against the wall. He’s watching everything, curious but guarded. I wonder what’s running through his mind right now.

Mariya’s voice echoes through the room, carrying an ancient resonance as she begins the ritual. Her incantations are melodic and powerful, swirling around us like an invisible cloak. A shiver runs down my spine as the atmosphere thickens with an energy I don’t quite understand.

The room feels charged, like a storm about to break. I glance at Gabriel, but his expression is unreadable. He’s watching the ritual intently, his eyes narrowed in concentration.

Mariya continues, her words weaving a tapestry of arcane energies. I close my eyes for a moment, trying to steady my racing thoughts. This is a lot to take in.

The last few days, all the magic and rituals, feel like a fantastical story, but there’s something in Mariya’s tone that makes me believe her. Maybe this is the last test we need to uncover my mystery.

The air in the room seems to shimmer, and I feel a strange sensation coursing through me. A tingling warmth spreads from my core, reaching out to my fingertips and down to my toes. It’s as though I’m connected to something ancient and powerful, something I’ve never known before.

Mariya’s voice grows stronger, more resonant, and then she opens her eyes, a serene yet knowing expression on her face. She looks directly at me, her gaze steady.

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