Gabriel’s POV
I was so fucking angry.
The bastard was there, and I couldn’t find him. He was so close to her. He could have taken her. It made me so furious I could barely focus on driving.
Annie was sitting beside me on the passenger seat, and I could see her shaking. I placed my hand on her thigh and she calmed down a bit. She turned around to give me a small smile.
I looked at the rearview mirror and saw Aria leaning on Nick’s chest. He had his arms around her, and she was looking out the window. He was burying his nose in her hair, inhaling her scent.
I could see how tense he was. But having Aria close calmed him down.
I pulled up the driveway and we got out of the car.
Nick grabbed Aria’s hand and led her inside.
I closed the door behind us and locked them. I checked on my spell around the house only to find it intact. Good.
I walked to the living room and Aria and Annie were already there.
“Where is Nick?” I asked them and sat down beside Aria.
I put my arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to me.
I needed to feel her and know she was safe.
Thankfully, she didn’t flinch or push me away. She sat closer to me and put her head on my shoulder. I leaned in and kissed her forehead.
“He is in the kitchen making some tea for us,” Annie said quietly.
I nodded and looked down at my sister. “Are you okay?”
“I am scared,” she said quietly. “He said he’ll find me, and he did.”
“He will never touch you, Aria,” I said and tugged her closer. “I am so sorry you had to see him today. But he will never come near you again. I promise you that.”
“You can’t make a promise like that,” she whispered.
“Yes, I can,” I said sternly. “I will kill him before he does.”
She sighed but didn’t respond.
I heard Nick walking back to the living room.
He walked over to us and gave the girls their cups of tea.
“Thank you,” Aria said and gave him a small smile.
“You are welcome, love,” he responded. “Gabe, do you want a beer?”
I nodded and he walked back to the kitchen to grab us a beer.
“There is a protection spell around the house,” I told the girls. “You are safe here. Nobody can sense or hear anything going on inside. Nobody but us and Nick’s parents can come inside or near the house.”
Annie looked at me wide-eyed, but Aria didn’t seem surprised.
“I know,” she said. “I felt it when we moved here.”
“You did?” Annie asked, surprised. “I had no idea.”
“Maybe because you are a wolf,” Aria said and shrugged.
I knew that was not the reason. Aria could feel it because she was my sister. She could feel my magic as her own. Annie could be aware of the spell because she wasn’t related to me. It was a very powerful spell, and I was really proud I could do it. Only the people included can be here and know what was going on inside. It took me a while to perfect it and now it was protecting everything and everyone important to me.
“So, the three of you could do magic in here and nobody outside would know?” Annie asked me.
I nodded. “Yes. Only a very powerful witch or wizard would be aware of the spell and could break it.”
“That is so cool,” Annie whispered, looking at me amazed.
“Thank you,” I said and gave her a big smile.
She smiled back and looked down at her hands, suddenly shy. I could see her blush and I thought that was so cute.
Nick came back into the living room and handed me my beer.
“What took you so long?” I asked him.
“My mom called,” he said. “I told her what happened at the club.”
“You did?” Aria asked and lifted her head from my shoulder.
Nick nodded and sat beside her. He pulled her from me and placed her on his lap. He nuzzled his nose into her neck.
“I did. My parents know everything, and they too want to help,” he said and looked up at her.
“I don’t want to bother them,” Aria said quietly.
“You are not,” Nick said. “They love you. My mom is completely obsessed with you and my dad can’t wait to meet you. You are family now, love. And we protect our family.”
Aria smiled and yawned.
“I think it’s time for bed,” Annie said and got up. “Aria, are you coming?”
Aria nodded and wriggled out of Nick’s lap.
“I am sleeping here tonight,” Nick said.
I frowned and narrowed my eyes at him.
Aria looked at him, surprised. “Where?”
“I wanted to sleep with you. I want you close. I need to know you are safe,” he said. “But if you are not comfortable, I will sleep in the room next door. But I am not going home.”
Aria looked down at her hands. I could see how nervous she was.
“Maybe you should sleep next door,” she said quietly. “And if I need you, I will let you know.”
Nick nodded and smiled at her, but I could tell he was disappointed. Good. He was not getting her that easy.
The girls said their goodbyes and went upstairs.
As soon as we heard their doors close, Nick sighed loudly.
“Fuck,” he growled. “I want to kill the fucker.”
“I know. Me too,” I sighed and leaned back.
“He has to be following her, Gabriel,” Nick said, frowning. “This cannot be a coincidence. I think he is watching the house.”
My eyes widened. He was right. He had to be close. There was no fucking way this was a coincidence.
“I think you are right,” I said. “And that only makes it easier for us to kill him.”
He nodded and looked at me. “We will be on the lookout. We need a plan. We can’t let him alert Victor.”
“I know,” I sighed. “We will come up with something. The important thing is that we are one step ahead of him. He doesn’t know that we are aware he is watching us.”
“Speaking of Victor, did you get the info Sebastian left for you?” Nick asked me.
“I did,” I nodded. “But I don’t think I can look at it tonight. Meet me in my study tomorrow morning?”
Nick nodded. “Yeah. I can’t think about that now.”
“I think I am going to tell her tomorrow,” I said quietly.
Nick looked at me. “I think you should. She needs you right now. She needs her brother.”
I nodded and patted his back. “I am going to bed. Do you need anything?”
“No, man,” he said. “This is like my home.”
I chuckled. “It is. Good night, Nick.”
“Night, Gabe,” he smiled back at me.
I walked upstairs to my room and headed straight for the shower. I needed warm water to relax my muscles. I had been tense since the club. I needed to find and kill that fucker.
Aria’s POV
I walked into my room, thinking about Nick.
Goddess, I wanted him to sleep here with me. There was no way in hell I was able to sleep tonight. But I felt embarrassed admitting I wanted him here. I felt a little bit scared as well, but I could get past that. Especially after tonight. Nothing felt more right than being in his arms. I never felt safer.
I stripped my clothes and walked into my bathroom.
I turned the shower on and went to remove my makeup while the water heated up.
I looked at myself in the mirror. My eyes were red and puffy. My skin was paler than usual. I looked like I hadn’t slept for days. I looked tortured.
In a way I was. My mind was constantly being tortured by the images of that man. The images of my grandma hitting me. Telling me I was a mistake.
I never told them about my grandma. I don’t think they needed to know. She got better and stopped abusing me. She was a good grandma later on. And she saved me from that man. I just wish I knew why she hated me in the first place. Maybe she was in pain about losing her entire family? Maybe I was a painful reminder of her daughter? I wish I could ask her.
I turned around and walked into the shower. Hot water started running down my body, burning me slightly. But I enjoyed it. I needed something warm to soothe my soul and my sore muscles.
I poured a little bit of shampoo onto my palm and massaged it into my hair. Goddess, I didn’t want to leave this shower stall ever.
But I knew I had to. My legs were shaking because I was so tired. I needed to sleep. Or just lay down, because I knew I would not be able to sleep much. Not without Nick.
I rinsed the shampoo out of my hair and walked out of the shower.
I wrapped my body in a soft towel and dried my hair.
I put my hair into a messy bun and walked out to my room. I put on my pajamas and got under the covers.
I heard the door to my left open and close. Gabriel was in his room. I wondered if Nick had come back as well.
I sighed and picked up my phone only to find it off. My battery had run out. I plugged a charger in and placed it on my nightstand.
I wished I had Cassie’s or Jake’s number. I missed them terribly. I wanted to see them. I wanted to explain. I just hoped they were alive and well.
Maybe I could talk to Gabriel and Nick and ask them to let me go back to my old village. I knew I would be safe there. Jake wouldn’t let anything happen to me.
Although, I believed Nick wouldn’t let me go. And he probably wouldn’t be happy if I went to see an old boyfriend. But maybe he would come with me. I will ask him tomorrow.
I heard the door to my right open and close. Nick was here. I let out a breath of relief. I immediately felt safer. Maybe I could get some sleep tonight after all.
I turned off the lamp on my nightstand and lay down.
I turned on my side and snuggled into my blanket. I closed my eyes and sighed.
After half an hour of constant turning around, I sat up in my bed. I guess I wasn’t sleeping again tonight. I just couldn’t relax. I had this feeling he was close and watching me.
I turned on the lamp on my nightstand and sighed. What should I do? I was exhausted and I needed to sleep. But every time I closed my eyes, I felt his hands on me. I saw him whispering “mine”.
I needed to feel safe and the only place I did feel safe was in Nick’s arms.
Before I could change my mind, I got out of my bed and headed to the door.
I opened them silently, not to wake Gabriel or Annie.
I walked to Nick’s room on my toes and took a deep breath before knocking softly. I didn’t want to wake him up if he was asleep.
“Come in,” he said.
I opened the door and peeked inside.
He was laying on the bed wearing only gray pajama bottoms. His abs, muscular chest and huge arms were naked and on full display for me. His bottom was hanging loosely on his hips, and I could see the V shape of his abs going down under his pants. I could tell he had been in the shower because I could see small drops of water glistening under the soft light coming from the lamp on the nightstand.
He was gorgeous and I was staring, completely dazzled by his presence.
“Aria?” he called me with a small smile on his face.
Shit. I think he caught me staring.
I gulped and walked in, closing the door behind me.
“I couldn’t sleep,” I said quietly, staring down at my feet.
Suddenly I became aware of my exposed body. I was wearing short pajama bottoms and a tight camisole.
I could feel his gaze roaming all over my body and it heated me up immediately.
“Do you want to sleep here?” he asked, his voice raspy.
I looked up at him and nodded. “If it is not too much trouble.”
He chuckled. “I was hoping you would come. If you didn’t, it would have probably taken me a few minutes more to come knocking at your door.”
I stared at him with a small smile on my face.
“Come here,” he said. “I need to feel you.”
I walked to him, suddenly nervous. I licked my lips and lightly bit the lower one.
“Don’t do that,” he growled quietly. “Or we won’t be getting much sleep.”
I chuckled and climbed beside him.
He pulled me closer and breathed in my scent. “You smell amazing. It is like a drug. I will never get enough of your smell.”
I smiled. “What is it with you wolves and smelling stuff?”
He pinched my cheek slightly. “It is our most potent sense. And I am glad it is. That way I will always be able to find what belongs to me. You.”
I smiled and caressed his cheek. Goddess, he was perfect. I could look at him forever.
“Sleep, love,” he said softly and kissed the top of my nose. “I am here, and I am not going anywhere.”
I closed my eyes and snuggled closer to him. He wrapped his huge arms around me, and all my fears were gone.
