CHAPTER 32

JAYDEN

The voice slithered in again, curling like smoke inside my skull.

Tell him. Tell Gabriel about his daughter… or I will make you.

My jaw clenched so tight it ached. I pressed my palms flat against my knees, forcing my body still. My wolf raged, pacing, snarling at the intrusion. My own thoughts felt hijacked, invaded, until I couldn’t tell which belonged to me and which he had planted.

Get out, I hissed in my head. You don’t own me.

The laughter that followed was a low, rasping echo, sharp enough to raise the hairs on the back of my neck.

I closed my eyes, sucking in a long breath, grounding myself in the faint sounds around me: the steady beep of Abriel’s monitor, the soft hum of the ventilation, the gentle rhythm of Catriona’s breathing as she slept.

They were my anchor. My reminder.

This was why I couldn’t break.

The old man wanted me shaken. He wanted me reckless. He wanted me to tear open a wound that would split everything apart—me, Catriona, Gabriel. But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

My nails dug into my palms, small crescents of pain keeping me tethered.

When I opened my eyes again, I focused on them—my family. Abriel stirred faintly, shifting in his sleep, his tiny hand curling against Catriona’s arm. She instinctively pulled him closer, even in slumber, as though her body refused to let him go.

The heaviness in my chest grew, but I straightened in my chair. I would sit here all night if I had to. I would guard them. I would not bend.

The old man’s voice tried once more, quieter now, venom dripping slow. You can’t silence me forever, wolf.

I shut my eyes, forcing his words to fade, and focused only on the sound of my son breathing.

For tonight, that was enough.

~~~

Dawn broke pale through the hospital blinds. The sterile white of the room glowed faint gold, but it did nothing to ease the heaviness in my chest.

I hadn’t slept. Not a blink. All night I sat there, watching over them. Catriona curled beside Abriel, both of them tangled together in the sheets, the picture of peace I could barely believe was real.

But peace was a lie. And morning meant it was time to move again.

I rose from the chair, every muscle stiff. I splashed cold water on my face in the bathroom sink, gripping the porcelain until it threatened to crack. Today would decide everything. Either Selena Jones opened her door—or the old man won.

By the time Catriona stirred awake, blinking groggily, I was already pulling her bag together.

She sat up quickly, panic flashing across her face. “Abriel?”

“He’s fine,” I said softly, glancing at our boy. He was still asleep, chest rising steady, a faint flush of color in his cheeks. Stronger than last night.

Relief softened her shoulders. She slid off the bed, padding over to me. “So… today?”

“Today,” I confirmed, zipping the bag closed.

Sandra slipped into the room with coffee in hand, her eyes sharper than mine despite the dark circles under them. “The car is ready. Alpha Gabriel’s already waiting in the lobby.”

I clenched my jaw but nodded.

Catriona moved to the bed, brushing her fingers through Abriel’s curls. “We’ll have to wake him.”

I hesitated, then placed a hand over hers. “Not yet. Let him sleep a few more minutes. He’ll need all his strength.”

Because this time, we weren’t leaving him behind.

This time, we were taking him straight into the lion’s den.

By the time Abriel stirred awake, the hospital room was already cleared of our things. Sandra helped him get dressed while Catriona kept close, adjusting his collar and smoothing his curls with gentle hands. He was quiet, still pale, but his eyes followed us with more alertness than last night.

We signed him out with the doctor’s reluctant approval. One more night, at least, the man had urged, but I wasn’t going to let him stay behind. Not this time.

Downstairs, Gabriel was waiting in the lobby, arms folded, eyes cool as stone. He gave a short nod but didn’t speak.

We walked out together, the morning air crisp, the cars already waiting. Sandra slid into the backseat with Abriel, while Catriona settled up front beside me.

I had barely pulled onto the main road when her voice broke the silence. “Jayden—can we stop somewhere first? Just… somewhere to have breakfast before we continue?”

I glanced at her, surprised, but the faint pleading in her eyes told me enough. She wanted normalcy—just for a little while. Something soft for Abriel before we dragged him back into darkness.

I exhaled through my nose, then nodded. “Alright. I’ll find us a place.”

A few streets later, the smell of roasted coffee and fresh bread drifted through the air. A small café sat on the corner, its windows fogged from the warmth inside, a row of tables lined along the sidewalk.

Perfect.

I parked, and we all stepped out. The bell over the door chimed softly as we entered, the sudden wash of warmth wrapping around us. Inside, it smelled of butter and sugar, the low murmur of other patrons blending with the hiss of the espresso machine.

We chose a table by the window. Abriel perked up almost immediately, his little fingers tapping at the menu Sandra showed him. For the first time in days, a spark of excitement flickered in his eyes.

Catriona ordered something simple—toast, fruit, and tea for her, pancakes for Abriel. I asked for black coffee, strong, and Gabriel chose without much thought, his eyes always scanning the café as though expecting trouble to slip through the door.

When the plates arrived, Abriel’s whole face lit up. He dug into the pancakes with slow but steady bites, syrup smudging his lips. Watching him eat, seeing him enjoy something so ordinary that isn't made by his mother was a relief I hadn’t realized I needed.

For just a little while, we sat there like a family on a morning trip. No spirits. No witches. No threats clawing at the edges. Just us.

But deep down, I knew it was only the calm before the storm.

I lifted the mug halfway to my lips when Gabriel’s voice slid into my head.

Jayden.

My eyes cut to him across the table. What?

Yesterday, at the hospital—I found someone lurking around.

My grip tightened on the mug. And?

It was the officer. The one you told me about—the one who knew what you are.

The coffee went untouched. I set the mug down, slower than I wanted to, my gaze locked hard on Gabriel. What was he doing there?

Following you, most likely.

Heat surged in my chest. And what did he say?

Gabriel’s jaw ticked, his face calm for everyone else in the café, but his words in my mind were razor sharp. He looked like he wanted trouble. Claimed a werewolf killed his mother in the mountains. Just as I guessed.

I ground my teeth. So he wants revenge on us—for something done by another wolf, probably a rogue. And his bright idea is to stalk me?

Exactly. Gabriel leaned back, his expression almost lazy, though his mindlink carried weight. So I made him a deal. I’ll find that rogue and kill him for him. Call it peace.

The mug hit the table harder than I meant. Abriel jumped, his fork clattering against the plate.

Gabriel’s voice brushed mine again, sharper. Easy. You’re scaring the boy.

I leaned forward, my glare cutting deep. What the hell were you thinking, Gabriel? Where do you expect to find this rogue? His dead mother is none of our business.

Gabriel’s reply was smooth, almost cold. When I offered help, I didn’t include your name. So relax. It’s the least I can do to get that officer off your back.

I hissed through clenched teeth. I didn’t ask for your help. Whether he knows what I am or not, we’re here for one thing—Selena. We get her to help us, then we get back to the States. That’s it.

And while he’s circling your family? Gabriel’s stare didn’t waver. That man was already becoming a problem.

“Are you two fighting?”

Catriona’s voice cut clean through the link. We both snapped our eyes to her. She was watching us, sharp, her suspicion alive.

“No, love,” I said quickly, forcing a calm smile. “Just… discussing something. We’re on the same page.”

Her eyes lingered on me, then slid to Gabriel. He only shrugged, pushing back his chair. “I’ll wait in the car.”

We watched him leave.

A second later, Catriona’s voice threaded into my mind, sharp as a blade. Really, Jayden? What was that? What were you two fighting about? I saw the tension. I saw the glares.

I rubbed my jaw, keeping my expression neutral for Abriel’s sake. It’s nothing for you to worry about. Gabriel just decided to play the good Samaritan, that’s all.

Her silence pressed back against me like a warning. She didn’t believe me—not entirely.

And she wasn’t wrong.

The silence at the table stretched thin, sharp as wire. Catriona watched me like she could peel the truth from my skin, and Sandra kept her eyes on her plate, wisely saying nothing.

Then Abriel’s small voice broke through.

“Daddy… Can I have more syrup?”

I blinked, the coil in my chest loosening just a fraction. My gaze dropped to him—his cheeks sticky, his curls falling into his eyes, his fork clutched like it was the most important weapon in the world.

Catriona let out a soft laugh, shaking her head as she reached for the syrup bottle. “You’ve had enough, sweetheart. Your pancakes are already swimming in it.”

Abriel pouted, but then he turned those wide, innocent eyes to me. “Please, Daddy? Just a little?”

My lips tugged despite myself. “Fine. But just a little.”

I tipped the bottle, letting a thin stream drizzle over what was left of his pancakes. His grin was instant, lighting up his whole face, and for a second, the heaviness in the room cracked apart.

Breakfast wound down quickly after that. Abriel scraped his plate clean, syrup shining on his chin, and Catriona carried him off toward the bathroom, Sandra following with his stuffed wolf in hand.

I stood, pulling out my wallet, but the server lifted a hand. “Already taken care of, sir. The man outside paid.”

I turned my head toward the window. Gabriel leaned against the hood of his car, a cigarette burning between his fingers, smoke curling lazily into the air. Children passing on the street stared at him with wide eyes, some whispering to their parents.

I slid my card back into my wallet and strode out.

“You could at least care where you light that thing,” I said sharply, stopping in front of him. “Kids are watching.”

Gabriel exhaled a long stream of smoke, not bothering to look at me. “And? I’m not harming anyone. It’s their parents’ job to tell them what’s right and wrong. Not mine.”

I narrowed my eyes, the wolf in me rising, but before I could snap back, the café door opened.

Catriona emerged with Abriel in her arms, Sandra at her side. Abriel’s cheeks were flushed from the bathroom, his curls bouncing as he leaned into his mother’s shoulder.

“Ready?” she asked, her voice tired but steady.

I gave a short nod. “Let’s move.”

We loaded back into the cars. Engines started, tires rolled, and soon the café was nothing but another place we’d passed through. The road stretched ahead, winding toward the mountains—toward Selena Jones.

And this time, nothing would stop us.

---

The road stretched endless in front of us, the city giving way to long stretches of gray highway and then to the rolling countryside. The deeper we drove, the quieter it became—traffic thinning, buildings fading, until it was only us and the wilderness pressing in on both sides.

Catriona sat beside me, her gaze often turned out the window. Abriel dozed in the back, his head heavy on Sandra’s lap, his stuffed wolf cradled tight to his chest. I kept glancing in the mirror, watching him breathe, reminding myself he was here, still with us.

Gabriel’s car stayed ahead of ours, his taillights a constant guide along the winding roads. The man drove like he belonged on these roads, steady and unbothered, but I knew him well enough to see the tension in the way he held the wheel. He was on edge too, same as me.

Hours bled together as the mountains drew closer, their peaks shrouded in early mist. By the time we reached the turnoff, the sky was a slate gray, clouds heavy and low, the air thick with the damp scent of pine.

We left the main road, gravel crunching under the tires, the track narrowing as trees closed in on both sides. The forest swallowed us whole.

Catriona shifted in her seat. “This is it, isn’t it?”

I nodded once. “It’s the way.”

The path wound upward, the incline growing steeper, roots and rocks jutting from the ground like old bones. Still, the cars pushed through, grinding forward. Unlike our first attempt, no illusions twisted the roads. No loops dragged us back where we started. The way was clear.

Too clear.

By the time Gabriel slowed, I could already feel it—the air thicker, heavier, charged with something unseen. We stopped at the edge of a broad clearing, the trees circling it like a wall.

And there it was.

Not the house itself, but the shimmer.

The boundary stretched across the clearing, faint at first glance, but undeniable if you looked longer—like sunlight caught on water, rippling and shifting, bending the world just slightly wrong.

Selena’s property.

Hidden still, but not gone.

I stepped out of the car, the damp earth soft beneath my boots. The shimmer wavered ahead, daring us to cross.

Behind me, Catriona got out too, holding Abriel close, her eyes locked on the distortion as though she could already see through to what lay beyond. Sandra hovered at her side, tense, while Gabriel leaned against his car, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the same place as mine.

The house was there. We could feel it.

But the barrier reminded us: we weren’t welcome.

Not yet.