Page 66 of Her Bossy Wolf Protector

Something’s wrong.

Chapter 25

Gabriel

I’ve been on the road, staying in motels for days now. Checking into a new place, Jade’s “I miss you” message flashes across my phone screen. Yes! Finally, a cell signal. It’s been so quiet since I left. I’ve missed her more than I expected, and her text tugs at my heart.

It’s been tough not being able to call and check-in. I want to talk to Mariay, Liam, and Jade. I never want her to feel trapped or “locked up,” but by her text, it seems she might be reconsidering everything. The motel’s desk clerk hands me a key, and finally, I call Jade, but it goes straight to voicemail. So, I decide to text her back, a simple “I miss you too.”

I came on this trip for Jade. She needs answers about her heritage, and I want to be the one to provide them to her.

I decide to take a shower, get some rest, and then try calling her again.

I flick on the lights in the motel room, expecting just an ordinary room. Instead, my heart drops like a stone when I see two unexpected guests—Seraphina and Lucius. I immediately drop my bags and try to process why they are here. I have never seen them in person, only virtually. The council members rarely ever make a physical appearance.

“Hello, Protector. We’ve been waiting for you,” Lucius says pointedly. I try to hide my surprise and ask them what they’re doing here. But I already know the reason—they know about Jade.

Lucius starts by mentioning a call they received about someone I was supposedly sheltering. Then Seraphina gets straight to the point. “Why is the so-called savior Majesty residing under your protection, Protector?”

Fuck!

I try to hide my nerves, “Let me guess, Ambrose?”

Seraphina is stern as she stands up, “Answer the question, Gabriel. You were tasked with upholding the sacred treaties. Imagine our surprise when we get a call that you have been working with the very same evil we have been trying to kill.”

My blood runs cold. “She is not evil.”

“She is an abomination that should not be allowed to live,” Lucius spits out venomously.

“Seraphina. Lucius. You know me. You know I always work for the greater good.”

Seraphina scoffs, “I don’t know that. The council has entrusted you with protecting the peace between our worlds, and you have betrayed our trust.

“But—” I protest.

“We are here to right those wrongs.”

I can feel my nerves begin to fray. “What do you mean?”

“We mean, we set up this meeting as a test. We wanted to see where your loyalties lie.” Then she tuts loudly, “You obviously picked wrong.”

Everything begins to click into place.

“There was no necromancer.” It’s not a question.

“Of course not,” Lucius smirks at me. “This was all orchestrated to test you, and as Seph said, you failed miserably.”

I feel my heart sink. Could this mean that Mariya was part of this? Why would she feed me false information? I trusted her… I thought she was my friend.

Seraphina interprets my look of betrayal and clarifies, “I can see what you’re thinking. Your precious little witch didn’t tattle on you. We discovered what the two of you were looking into and knew you must have found the creature.”

“Her name is Jade.”

“Oh! We know. She is lucky she was able to escape the first time. We have been monitoring her for years, her and that silly little human she so depends on. We thought she would go and live a quiet life outside of our world, but we aren’t that lucky.”

I swallow. They knew. All this time, they knew who and what Jade was, and they did nothing about it. They let the treaties be challenged, knowing they could have stopped it at any time. That truth means my role as the protector was useless all along. That and… “You killed her parents!” I feel my heart break for Jade.

“Of course. Vermin must always be exterminated,” Lucius says.

---