Ij Gabrielの小説

I was drowning.The cold grasp of the river had already seized me, the currents pulling me deeper in its endless dark, my limbs no longer responding to my frantic calls. My body was numb, lungs screaming for air that would not come.Then out of nowhere I heard it. His voice."Selene, are you trying to drown on purpose, or do you just attract disaster wherever you go?"A warm voice cut through the freezing current wrapping around me, and I forced my eyes open, coughing, struggling to keep my head above the water.There he was: Frey Storm-his silhouette cutting a sharp contrast against gray clouds above, a wicked, amused smile curling at his lips."Frey?" My voice came out hoarse, disbelief threading through every syllable. I wanted to say something sharper; to act like I wasn't clinging desperately to the rocky bank, but every ounce of strength had bled out of me. I was barely managing to keep my grip, much less hold my pride together."What's it going to be?" he called down, the teas

"Rafe, plea… My voice cracked, little more than a whisper above the roar of the water rushing past my ears.I was slipping, my fingers digging desperately into the rocks jutting out from the riverbank, but they were slick, the current ripping me away inch by inch. The cold had found its way into my body was was nowdeep into my bones, numbing my body.Only Rafe's hand, his eyes locked to mine, kept me tethered to the surface. I held on, his grip tight at first, strong.Then his gaze shifted, his jaw clenching as he looked over his shoulder, beyond me."Rafe?" My voice shook, and a tremble of panic slid into it.He hesitated, his eyes darting left and right and his ears perked up.I followed his gaze out, catching a scent on the air that made my stomach twist-the scent of the pack. They were coming, their voices carrying through the trees, growing louder. If they found us like this, with Rafe helping me, an exile, someone who was supposed to be miles away from their territory, it woul

“Secrets… they always come back to haunt you."The words twisted in my head like a jackknife, jolting me as Frey's eyes held hostage. It was as if his gaze was burrowing straight through me, and it made me suddenly feel self conscious.His jaw clenched, his lips mashed into a firm line, as if he were about to let fall some life-altering bomb. Then, in a flash, the mask fell back into place. Frey shut down again."I know enough," he murmured, voice low and unsettling. "But maybe you're not ready to hear it."I bristled. "You don't get to decide what I'm ready for, Frey.He gave a wry smile, more mocking than warm. "Perhaps not. But trust me, there are some things you can't unknow. Things that'll alter the way you look at this world. and everyone in it."I took a shaky breath, willing myself not to flinch. "Cut the riddles, Frey. If there's something I should know, then *tell me*.He held my stare, and for that flash of a moment, something unguarded flickered in his eyes, vulnerability

I just couldn't let go the feeling.The anklet was hidden so well, and it was as though it had been waiting there for me to discover it.My mother's anklet—she had it on every waking and sleeping day of her life.I could still remember the soft jingle of it when she moved-a quiet reminder of her presence. It was as if some part of her had been left with it, buried in this place.And now, it was in my hands.That moment I found it, I knew my parents didn't die ordinary deaths. I knew I could see things from dreams; it was another power I'd inherited from my mother.Which was why I wanted to know about the man I'd seen in my dream. But how to find him?I hadn't even seen his face.But why would they have her anklet? What were they hiding?I didn't even want to think that they, perhaps, have been buried. Without me.I stared at the glittering curves of the anklet, my fingers following the delicate patterns; the more I thought, however, the more questions arose.Regrettably, there were no

“Are you well rested?” The birds chirped with careless abandon as I stepped out of the cabin. Frey was standing a few feet away, staring up at me with a smirk on his face.I turned away from him, dragging my eyes to the scenery at the elft side of the cabin. I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate, on the sounds of the forest.Behind me, Frey cleared his throat, and I heard the floorboards creak as he stepped closer to me.The smell of fresh air and the sound of water rushing through stones, filled my ears. This was one gift of mine that I appreciated, my ability to hear things from afar.I honed in on the sounds: rustling leaves, chirping birds, and that faraway hum of life within the forest. It was peaceful here, or at least it should have been.I felt Frey's presence behind me, but I didn't turn around and acknowledge him. He'd made it his mission to get under my skin, and today wasn't going to be the day I gave him the satisfaction. "I didn't ask," I muttered, not looking at h

The growl sent a chill down my spine, and I pressed myself against the wall, seeking some form of shelter. I was taut with fear, and my hands began to shake.My pulse thundered in my ears, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the glowing eyes that stood at the window. This was no ordinary wolf. It’s presence felt different, more menacing, and very powerful.My breath hitched as I reached for the small hunting knife that my grandmother always kept under the bed. There was no guarantee that it was still there, since grandma had died two years ago.Thankfully, it was still there. My fingers fumbled around blindly, and then I pulled it free from the leather sheath. In my state, I could not fight, and if I tried, I would probably die from the effort.My wolf was gone, and I was prone to attacks now. I was the wolfless girl, and a target for dangerous rogue wolves. For a moment, I thought about stepping out and surrendering myself to being torn into bits and pieces by the rogue wolf, but t

Amelia's pov "I didn’t cry."That’s the first lie I told myself.But the second the door shut behind him, and I was alone in that white hospital room, I broke.Hot, silent tears slid into my hair as I stared at the ceiling and gripped the stiff sheets so hard my knuckles ached.When Ethan came back, I’d already wiped my face. He carried two water bottles. He set one on the table, twisting the cap for me without looking up."Here. Drink when you can.""Thank you," I murmured, my throat dry.His head lifted, just slightly. His eyes scanned mine like he could see what I wasn’t saying, then dropped again. He sat, leaning forward, elbows on his knees, his hands clasped together."You should’ve told me sooner," he muttered."I didn’t know it would get that bad," I said."It doesn’t matter. You should’ve told me.""You weren’t here," I shot back, sharper than I meant.His head came up fully then. "Don’t start.""Why not?"His jaw flexed. "Because I’m here now. That’s what matters.""Is it?"

"Don’t put me down… please."That’s what I remember saying. Or maybe just thinking.But Ethan held me tighter anyway, his arms like steel and shaking all at once as he carried me through the villa’s hallway.His breath was ragged above me, his voice cracking every few seconds as he shouted for someone—anyone—to help.I was so cold. My head lolled against his chest, and the faint smell of his cologne clung to me, sharp and expensive, mixed now with the coppery tang of blood.I blinked once and saw the hallway lights blur into stars.The next time my eyes opened, we were in a room I didn’t recognize—smaller than ours, with a narrow bed already stripped bare and a man in a white coat rolling up his sleeves."Here. Lay her down here."I felt the sudden chill of the sheets beneath me as Ethan lowered me onto the bed, one hand still cupping the back of my head like I might break completely without him.He knelt beside me, his cane forgotten somewhere behind him, his face pale and tight as h

Amelia's pov: present "Ethan…"His name scraped out of my throat before I even knew I was saying it.But no one answered.I was slumped on the floor just inside the bedroom door, the towel clutched hard against me already soaked through and warm with blood. The air smelled like lavender and saltwater, and the tiles beneath me felt so cold, it made my teeth chatter.I pressed my palm harder against the towel, trying to convince myself it was enough to stop it. But the blood kept coming.I tried to sit up straighter and immediately felt the world tilt sideways. My vision swam. My fingers went numb.Beyond the door I could still hear faint laughter, faint murmuring—Ethan’s voice low and warm. For half a second it comforted me. Then the sound twisted itself into something sharp, something mean. My mind conjured her—Sienna out there with him, lips red, hand on his arm. Smiling like she already knew how this would end.I hated myself for thinking it, but the thought stuck in my ribs and wo

Ethan's pov: 2hrs ago "Don’t wait up. I’ll be quick."That’s what I told her.Amelia was already sinking into the bath when I closed the bedroom door behind me. I could still hear the faint slosh of water and her soft sigh echoing in my head as I stepped into the quiet of the villa’s corridor.The text had come through just minutes earlier, buzzing on the nightstand.Come to the terrace for a minute. Need to talk before everyone gathers. You look good on your feet again. Proud of you.It was from Marco—the owner of the villa and my oldest friend from university. The gala tonight was his doing. His message hadn’t sounded urgent, but knowing Marco, he’d already have two glasses of whiskey in him and a dozen things he wanted to say before the formal toast began.I straightened my jacket, grabbed my cane from where it leaned against the armoire, and gave one last glance at the door to the bathroom. The scent of lavender hung in the air even out here.I told myself it wouldn’t take long.

Amelia's pov We reached the villa just as the sun began to slip behind the hills, spilling molten gold and burnt orange across the water. The air was thick with salt and the faint, smoky scent of grilled fish from somewhere down the coast. Ethan carried most of the bags, despite my protests, his long fingers hooked easily through the handles.“You’re impossible,” I muttered as we crossed the threshold.“And you’re predictable,” he shot back, a half-smile tugging at his mouth. “I told you—quick stop. Somehow you bought out half the damn market.”I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help laughing, though it came out thinner than I intended. “Oh please. Don’t act like you didn’t enjoy haggling with that spice vendor. I swear you two were flirting by the end.”He paused just inside the kitchen, setting the heavier bags down with a soft thunk on the counter. His smirk faltered—not much, but enough that I caught it. “She was old enough to be my mother,” he said, voice flat now.I leaned against t

POV: Amelia“You keep looking at me like that,” he murmured, voice still thick with sleep, “and I’m going to forget we’re supposed to take it slow.”I didn’t answer. I just smiled and trailed my fingers lower under the sheets, past the curve of his stomach, until I felt him—already half-hard, already responding to just my touch.Ethan inhaled sharply, his arm tightening around my waist.“Morning,” I whispered.“Best one yet,” he said, voice gravel and heat.I shifted onto my side so I could look at him fully. The sunlight cut across his chest in soft lines, making everything golden and impossibly tender. But when I slid my leg over his and pressed against him, what lit between us wasn’t soft.It was fire.His hand slid down to my thigh, gripping it as I rocked against him slowly. I kissed him then—deep, lazy, indulgent. Not like we were in a hurry. Like we had all morning. Like we’d earned this.Because we had.He pulled me on top of him, his hands firm on my hips, and I didn’t hesita

"You’re quiet."Adrian’s voice cut through the dim glow of the penthouse, low and smooth, as Naya stared blankly out the window at the city lights below."I’m fine," she replied, too quickly, her arms folded across her chest.He leaned against the marble island behind her, swirling a glass of scotch, studying her like a puzzle he already knew the solution to."You’re lying. Badly," he said after a beat."Why do you care?" she snapped, still not turning around.He let out a soft laugh, dark and amused. "Because you look like a woman trying not to fall apart. And because I just got this."When she finally turned, his phone was in his hand, the screen glowing with a news article. She stepped closer, hesitant, then impatient, and froze when she saw the headline:“Carter Heir to Wed Longtime Family Friend Chloe Winslow: Engagement Announced at Charity Gala”A glossy photo showed Daniel in his designer tuxedo, Chloe draped on his arm in a shimmering gown, both of them smiling as though noth

"Smells like Paris up here."Naya’s voice was quiet as she stepped barefoot onto the rooftop terrace, the morning air cool against her legs beneath the silk robe. Adrian glanced up from his file at the sound of her voice, one corner of his mouth curling into that infuriatingly self-assured smile."Does it?" he replied, setting his espresso cup down and leaning back casually in his chair. The top two buttons of his crisp white shirt were undone, a hint of sun-kissed skin visible. "Funny. I was thinking more like Rome. Morning’s still soft. City hasn’t started pretending yet."Naya rolled her eyes faintly but couldn’t stop herself from glancing at him longer than she meant to. He noticed—of course he noticed—and his smirk deepened."You’re staring.""You’re imagining things," she shot back, smoothing her hair behind her ear as she approached the table where a tray of golden croissants and tiny jars of jam awaited. "I just didn’t expect… this.""This?" He arched a brow, closing the file

The walls were white, too white, and the sheets felt foreign. Naya woke gasping.She sat up abruptly in the soft guest bed, one hand gripping the duvet like it might anchor her back to reality. Her heart pounded in her chest, her skin clammy beneath the oversized T-shirt she didn’t remember putting on. The dream still clung to her—the echo of Daniel’s laughter, Chloe’s syrupy voice dripping venom behind glass.You're the joke, Naya.She pressed her palms into her eyes. No prison bars. No Daniel. No Chloe.Just her. And the soft hum of air conditioning.She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, taking a moment to breathe. Adrian had brought her here after the crash. She remembered the warmth of his hands, the low rasp of his voice telling her to breathe, the way his arms had wrapped around her like armor.Why the hell did that comfort her?Naya padded barefoot down the hallway. It was dark except for the glow spilling from the living room.He was there.Adrian sat at a long wooden d

“You’re not coming.”Adrian’s voice was calm, controlled—one of those low, even tones that cloaked arrogance like silk. He straightened his cufflinks as if the matter were already settled, his eyes flicking to her in the mirror like she was nothing more than a reflection to manage.Naya stood still, arms crossed over the dress she didn’t pick to be dismissed in. It hugged her like defiance—sleek, sharp, dark. Her hair was pulled high and tight, lips a soft nude, emerald earrings glinting like quiet rebellion.She looked like a woman ready for war. Not the one who’d cried behind bars forty-eight hours ago.“That’s adorable,” she said flatly, stepping into the room without waiting to be invited. “Try telling me again.”Adrian turned. “This is a closed-room meeting. High-level. The DA, the judge, media advisors. It’s not a show trial yet.”She took one step forward. “Then they’ll need a reminder I’m not a ghost.”Her voice cut clean through the space between them.“This is my life, Adria

"Are you sure about this?" Naya's voice was shaking, her eyes flicking nervously around the room. She clutched the edge of her chair, as if the sterile office walls were closing in on her.How had her life degenerated into this in the twinkling of an eye?Adrian leaned back in his seat, smiling at her with his piercing blue eyes."I've never been more certain about anything, Naya. You need protection, and I can provide it. But you have to trust me.”Trust…The word reverberated in her mind with a bad aftertaste in her mouth. It was the last thing she could afford after all that had happened.How cold she trust this dazzling man with a charming smile after everything with her husband and her bestriend?Naya pressed her lips together, and inhaled deeply, forcing herself to push those thoughts away.“But first you need to be brutally honest with me. I need to know everything if I'm to help you win this case.” Adrian's sultry voice cut into her thoughts.“Asking me to trust you is goin

“How does it feel, Naya? How does it feel to have everything crumble at your feet?”Chloe asked her in the cold sterile police interrogation room as Naya sat in the chair, handcuffs over her wrists. She was shaking with so much rage that it was hard to see. All Naya saw was red.Since her arrest after the birthday party, Naya had not been able to eat, sleep or drink. She was still in shock, nothing felt real,but each time she looked at her wrist she realized it was real.“You can’t do this to me Chloe. Talk to Daniel. Hasn’t he hurt me enough?” Chloe arched an eyebrow. “Hurt you enough?’ Chloe laughed harshly. “If anyone’s been hurt in all this, it’s me. I’m the one that has watched you and Daniel for years, while my heart broke into two.”“I don;t care about you and Daniel, all I care about is clearing my name. All I want is for you to tell the truth. You know I didn’t steal anything, stop supporting Daniel.” She didn’t know when she started to yell.Daniel came in then, followed by

I did not open the e-mail.Not that night. Nor the next morning. Not even after reconsidering the subject line—We have to discuss something.Landon needed a lot of things. Closure. Forgiveness. Maybe a soul.I did not intend to provide anything else.I opened up a browser and typed in two words that I had forgotten: personal reinvention.The salon smelled of citrus and hairspray. I sat beneath the harsh glow of vanity lights while a stranger studied my face like a canvas she’d been aching to paint."So," she said, taking her gloves off, "what are we going to do today?"I looked at my reflection—flat, lifeless brown hair, cheeks still pale from the hospital, lips pressed into a firm, unsmiling line.I pressed the glass gently. "We're deleting her."She raised one impeccably arched eyebrow. "Erasing?""She is too soft. She forgives people who don't deserve forgiveness. She stays quiet when she should be speaking out."The stylist smiled mischievously. "Oh, I see. We’re making a monster.

The hospital smelled of antiseptic and shattered hopes.It felt odd entering through the doorway again—this time without cane to lean on or hand to cling to. I went in without support, shoulders squared, sunglasses shielding still-sensitive eyes. It was all sharper. Brighter. As if waiting for me to awaken.Dr. Knox's office was located at the far end of the hall. The receptionist double-taked when she noticed me."Elara?" she spoke softly, nearly whispering. "You"Such as one who is seeing for the first time?" I suggested, tilting the brim of my spectacles with a half-smile.She pasted on a smile. "Dr. Knox is expecting you. Go right on in."I knocked, then went in.Dr. Knox looked up from her tablet. "There she is." She stood up from her seat, approaching me with a smile. "Let me take a look at you."I removed the sunglasses, and we sat there staring at one another for some time. Her eyes searched me intensely."Tracking is fine. Any pressure sensations? Flashes of light? Headache?"

The sunbeam warmed my skin as I walked through the glass doors of the hospital. It should have been like starting over, like having a miracle set before me. But instead, I walked as if I had entered right in the eye of the storm.Mark was leaning against the car in a relaxed pose, arms crossed, sunglasses on the nose as always. He stood up straight when he saw me. "Miss Matthews," he said, opening the back door as though nothing had changed.I hesitated. “Please, don’t call Landon.”His brow furrowed. “Ma’am?”I adjusted the straps on my bag. “Don’t tell him I’m out. Not yet.”His lips had begun to open as if he were about to ask something, but an abrupt tension in my posture restrained him."I comprehend," he finally said.I nodded and moved over into the back seat. "I have to go to the family guesthouse, not the penthouse,""One in Rosehill?" he asked, briefly glancing over his shoulder in my direction."Indeed, serene. I yearn for such calmness."Mark declined to take the issue fur

Something seemed amiss.I blinked twice, then again, slowly. The pain in the back of my eyes burned, yet it was subdued—muted. The world wasn't black. It was something else. Liquid light nudged the edges of my vision, like the first hint of day through mist."Elara?" There came a voice through the mist. Filling. Warm.I shifted my head slightly, and the motion had the sensation of pulling my skull through sandpaper."Elara, do you hear me?" The voice came closer—Dr. Knox.I had a dry mouth, though I could muster a rasp. "I can hear you."A sigh of relief. "Well. That's fine. You certainly scared us enough with your post-op experience.""Did. did it work?" My voice cracked, though I barely noticed. My fingertips hurt on the rough surface of the hospital bed.There existed a pause. I could feel it before she went on.You tell me.I wrenched them open as far as I could. Light blinded me: searing, brilliant, intruding, yes. Light. No dark outlines dancing in the dark. No hues. Burning, re

The bathroom floor was cold.I laid on the cold bathroom floor, every inch of my body screaming in pain. My head was in a war zone, But the worst part? The silence. It was suffocating, like the air itself had turned heavy and still. I tried to sit up, but my limbs felt like lead. Then, a strange pressure pressed down upon my eyelids, the feeling of being sucked into some kind of dark, open space. My hand flew to my face, fingers shaking. Wet. Sticky.Blood.It trickled into my fingers, a slow tide that felt heavy and suffocating. Panic clawed at me, I tried to open my eyes, but it was useless. The effort itself was painful, and the outlines I once could see were gone.I could only see pitch darkness.My right eye, burned like fire, the pain so strong it sent my whole body tumbling back down when I tried again to stand up.I can't see.It hit my brain like a streak of lightning, and I felt breathless, frozen in fear. The bathroom swayed to a tilt, and it was as if the world had

It didn't stop.I pressed my ear to the bathroom door, and a hand to my mouth to keep my whimpering silent.Landon didn't stop cheating on me. Now, as I listened to his hearty laughter and the ‘pit pat’ of the water as it hit the ground, I wondered how I had not noticed it.“I miss you, baby…” I heard him say, and I took a step back. I didn't want to hear anymore.I'd stepped backward, and the world blurred for a second before coming back into harsh focus.My brain was screaming at me to run and to just pretend I hadn't heard any of it. “So do you need me right now? I could…”Another trembling step back from the bathroom door, every word from his mouth made it harder to breathe. This was not the Landon I knew. The more I listened, the more I felt like I wasn't even real.Like this all wasn't real.He laughed-a rich sound with that same flow that once drew me to him like a moth to a flame. Now it was all wrong-twisted. It showed me something that I had been too blind to see, too bl