Chapter 78

CATRIONA

I told Jayden to stop the car and he did. I unbuckled the seat belt and rushed out. I ran toward the woods and stopped where it started. I fell down on my knees, feeling feeble and dismayed that Gabriel might lose his life because of me. Jayden's proposal wasn't bad at all and I liked it because I never went on a date before but now I regret accepting it. I would've stayed at the house and spent time with my brother.

Are you alright, baby? Jayden asked, stepping forward. I really, feel sick to my stomach and felt like throwing up but nothing came out. Is it that I am just scared? Am I just worried about Gabriel?

What is it, baby? Jayden asked again as he crouched down next to me. Does your stomach hurt? Do you want me to take you to the hospital-

I'm good, Jayden. I said, holding his hand. I just wanted some fresh air. I said as I sat down on the ground. Alright, this is not about your pregnancy. It's about Gabriel. Right? He asked. He pressed his lips before looking at me cautiously, his ocean-blue eyes dilating.

I remained silent knowing that he'll be uncomfortable with Gabriel's topic. As if he read my mind, he held both my hands in his and brought them to his lips for a long soft kiss and said,

I'll be honest, baby. Anything concerning Gabriel makes me uncomfortable. He's the man that tried to swoop my woman away from me. But I'll bear it for you and listen to whatever is bothering you about him. He said, sitting on the ground, too, next to me.

It all started with Gabriel's stepmother and his brother. I heard them talking about ending his life. I couldn't keep quiet after what he told me he went through because of his stepmother. The people I often see in my dreams these days told me approached anew and told me it was his fate. If I interfere in his fate I would lose a loved one. And that what was this pregnancy I doubted at first. After running a test and confirming I was pregnant, I got really scared. But thank God- they gave him a chance to live through miss Oliver, but in that, I and my family had to get out of his life. That's why I freaked out when I saw him at the restaurant. What hurts the most is that I must be hurting him yet I can't give him a reason.

I turned to Jayden. He looked much angry about how I expressed my feelings for Gabriel when I told him I was over him.

I'm sorry for talking about Gabriel. I said.

This man is good at masking his feeling because he tagged on a smile and kissed away my running tears that I didn't realise I had.

Don't be, baby. I believe nothing will happen to him. I believe they changed his fate for a reason, and I'm sure they protect him from such-– I just hope that reason has nothing to do with you. He said in his head. I heard it.

Suddenly, Jayden's expression changed. He swooped me in his arms and walked us toward the car.

"Hi, brother."

A deep man's voice said. Jayden's muscles tensed up but kept on trodding until he got me in the car.

Who was that? I asked.

Stay in the car. I'll find out who he is. He said.

He said hi brother. Do you have a brother?

Lock the car and stay inside silently. He kissed me on the forehead. I love you. He said and shut the car door before walking away. I locked the car and shifted to the left side of the seat to have a clear survey. A tall muscled man was standing in the clear view of the woods. He leaned on a tree and regarded Jayden with a baleful smirk as he neared him.

After a laborious moment of exchanging words, I couldn't hear, a man in his 50-6os plodded out of the woods crooking his head down. in a trice, Jayden half shifted. He drew his wolf claws, grabbed the man and in the blink of an eye he ripped his neck. Blood splattered on both Jayden and the muscled man that didn't bat an eye on Jayden's murder.

Why is he doing it again? There is no way I want to watch this again. I watched in awe as the man brought his fang out and licked clean all the splattered blood on his face using his fingers. He seized the man Jayden ripped and crooked his head in his bloodied neck. The scene was so disturbing that I started retching but didn't turn away. When he finished, he tossed him and whirled his eyes toward the car and smirked. I saw him saying something to Jayden that pissed him badly because he gruffed that I heard it. My heart was pounding so hard and heard.

The car door was plucked off and someone grabbed me pulling me out. I screamed as I fought him but he was very strong. Catriona! I heard Jayden's in my head. I managed to dart my eyes around to an aggressive growl. It was Jayden's wolf. It charged toward the car. The strong man held my hands together from clinging to the grab handles and carried me out. He didn't succeed in taking me further because Jayden's wolf pounced on us. It went straight to my holder's head and snapped it off, deluding me with warm blood.

My mouth hung open, petrified I tasted blood. This is not what a pregnant woman has to see. How will I ever erase this image from my mind? The realisation of swallowing human blood kicked in. I'm not even sure of its even humans. The thought of swallowing a vampire's, wolf's or whatever creature's blood brought fear in me. I began panicking my breath coming short. I slipped from my holder's hands and felt myself falling on a very soft surface. I opened my eyes just to see myself on top of Jayden's wolf.

Catriona, are you okay? He asked through a mind link.

Is that a question? As long as this child in me is okay. I'm fine, too. I said, as more blood went down my throat. Jayden's wolf carefully slid me off him and stood so huge before me. It licked the blood off my face. It bored its beaver eyes in mine.

Don't worry, mate. I'm gonna take you back home. As long as I'm still breathing, I will never let anyone hurt you again.

The muscled man emerged from behind the car and dashed toward Jayden's wolf.

Jayden, behind you. I screamed.

He turned around but was too late. The guy pulled out something from his pockets and stung it in the right side of his wolfy neck. It let out a painful yelp. The guy stepped near me, his smirk never fades. I want to wash it off.

You must be my sister-in-law. You're beautiful… Jayden's wolf didn't let him finish the sentence. It knocked him from the sides, launching him feet away and stood in front of me, shielding me. The guy mounted on his feet, glancing at Jayden's wolf for some moment.

It was nice meeting you, and I hope to see you again, sister-in-law. He said.

I couldn't see him because Jayden's wolf had blinded me. It spun around. It's okay now, mate. It mind-linked me. Jayden and I get back home safe and sound. And our baby that is growing in your womb. He stepped back to shift back to his human but there was a car that was coming. Looking at it, it was the police. The snap of bones was heard. Averting my eyes back to Jayden. He was shifting back to his human form.