Chapter 33

Poppy.

Once my wolf returns to the cave, I shift back into my human form. After the intense run, my body glistens with sweat, so I wrap a cold sheet around it to help cool me down. My body still feels the adrenaline pumping through me like a euphoric high.

I step out of the cave to feel the cold night air against my hot, moist skin. I take several steps away from my cave before I close my eyes and tilt my head back, taking a deep breath before releasing a heavy sigh.

Everything feels amazing right now.

I open my eyes and stare at the star-filled sky while the moon shines brightly. My smile begins to fade as I stare at the moon, as thoughts of my curse fill my head.

Grandma Selene used to tell me that everything happens for a reason.

But right now, I can’t see the reasoning behind all of this.

Why would the world take my Grandmother away from me when I need her the most right now?

Why did my mother have to die while giving birth to me?

Why do I have to be alone and have no one who loves me in my life?

Why, why, why?

I release a frustrating scream out into the night sky as I drop to my knees into the cold dirt.

I shake my head.

So much for having one night where my mind is free from overthinking about everything in my life.

My body tenses when I hear leaves rustling and male voices in the distance. I get up onto my feet, and I use my senses to see who they are. My guard goes up when I sense they are not members of my pack. All of my instincts tell me to run and hide in my little cave, but I don’t think I will make it back in time before they sense me.

I look down at the thin sheet covering my petite frame and nothing else. I internally shake my head at myself for being stupid and not putting my regular clothes back on.

This is going to be good, I think to myself.

“Well, well, look what we found,” One of the males says when he emerges from behind one of the bushes that surround me.

“She sure is a scrawny little wolf, isn’t she,” Another one comments as he joins his friend.

I roll my eyes; maybe you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, I think to myself. If only I had stayed in my wolf form, they wouldn’t think I’m scrawny anymore.

“Hey, pretty little lady. What are you doing out in the woods all by your lonesome?” Another male asks me.

“None of your business. This land is Rover pack territory, and you’re trespassing. I suggest you leave before the warriors find you and punish you for being here,” I threaten.

All the males laugh at my feeble attempt to scare them away.

“There’s no one around here, little girl, that’s going to be able to help you.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure of that,” A male voice speaks out from the dark.

One of the males grabs me, pulls a knife out, and holds it against my throat.

“Who’s out there?”

A tall man with platinum blonde hair and ice-blue eyes walks out into the light.

Gabriel.

A sigh of relief flows through me when I see that it’s Gabriel. Even though I hardly know the man, he knows my secret, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want to see me get hurt.

“Now, I’m sure we can talk about this like men and come up with an arrangement or compromise, can’t we?” Gabriel asks.

“Who are you?” One of the men asks Gabriel.

Gabriel shakes his head casually. “I’m no one in particular. But I wouldn’t want to mess with this one if I were you,” he tells them.

They shift their eyes on me. The male, who is still holding me against him with a knife to my neck, snickers, “You’re messing with us. This scrawny little wolf can’t do anything to us.”

My wolf lets out a defensive growl at the remark. I smirk at the thought that my wolf is not happy either with what they are calling us.

The male laughs, “Oh, did we offend you by calling you a scrawny little wolf?”

That’s the last straw, and now I want to show them what this scrawny little wolf can do to them.

My eyes start to glow as my fingers tingle with magic.

Gabriel shakes his head no at me, telling me not to use my magic. Does he know something that I don’t?

“Gents, how about we strike up a deal? If you can take me down, then you can have the girl and do what you want with her,” Gabriel offers.

The three males laugh at his offer.

“And if by slim chance you win?” One of them asks.

“Then the girl comes with me, and you never return to this place again.”

My eyes widen as I listen to the proposal he’s giving these men. I am not some prize to be won.

I stand there and look at the other two men as they assess Gabriel to see if this is worth their time.

Gabriel, with his boyishly handsome good looks, may put him at a disadvantage, but the men may see it in their favor.

The man behind me releases me and pushes me to the side, causing me to fall to the ground, before charging toward Gabriel to catch him off guard.

Surprisingly, Gabriel is ready for any challenge they give him.

I sit in awe as I watch Gabriel use his brains over his brawn to weaken the men one by one. It’s kind of thrilling to see a man not have to use his brute strength in order to win the fight.

By the end of the fight, the three men are down on the ground, and Gabriel is still standing without any marks on him.

He walks over to me and offers his hand to me. I take it as he helps pull me off of the ground.

Gabriel smiles at me.

“Come on, let’s get you somewhere that’s a little more safe.”