Wolf.e: A Dark MC Romance
Wolf.e: Chapter 52

My eyes flutter open to the sound of birds. I shoot up in bed. It’s still dark but it’s almost four. The last I remembered seeing the clock was after one, I fell asleep thinking Gabriel was just late for the first time ever, but now, a feeling of dread settles in my stomach.

Gabriel is never late. He always arrives on time or early.

I pick up my phone and hope to find a message telling me why he isn’t here but there’s nothing except a few pictures from Layla who’s still at the rally with the girls. I text him but it’s marked as undelivered. I call, straight to voicemail.

I feel my face contort. I know his phone is never off. He’s always on high alert for any situation that may arise. I start to pace around the room, biting my nails as I do.

I try Jake and it also goes straight to voicemail.

I pour myself a stiff drink from the glass cantor on Gabriel’s dresser. I knock it back and try to rationalize what is happening.

Fuck. I have no idea.

I pull my phone out and open the AirTag app. I haven’t even used it yet, but at least if I check where he is I’ll be able to guess if he’s safe before I decide to wake up half the club.

I scroll with shaky fingers to find Gabriel’s location. I wait as it takes an eon to load. When it does, my heart drops into my stomach. He’s at St Henry’s cabin?

“The night we had the party at St Henry’s old resort… I’ve had him once, I’ll have him again.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. No that’s not it. He wouldn’t. I instantly push that thought out of my mind. Chelsea was someone he bided his time with—nothing more, nothing less. He wouldn’t touch her, that’s not why he’s there. I know it with everything in me. It must be where he met the seller, but something isn’t right.

I pace for a few minutes and try to text him again, knowing in my gut that he and Jake must be in some sort of trouble. Maybe the sale was a set up by DOS?

Or someone found out they were meeting? Either way, he wouldn’t be this long. I read his last text from me at 9:05. An hour. Even if the guy was later, he still would have been home hours ago.

I text Sean and Layla, but get no answer. I try to phone Sean, but he doesn’t answer that either. I know they are staying at Glen Eden along with a lot of the club so I wouldn’t be surprised if they drank too much.

I try to wrack my brain to remember who came back to Harmony and who stayed in Benson.

Flipp. Flipp came home.

I pull my phone out and thank my lucky stars Gabriel programmed his main men into my phone a couple weeks ago. As I wait for him to answer, I also let the inevitable sink in. Flipp is fifty years old. He isn’t in the best shape so I’m not sure he could even help me.

He doesn’t answer anyway so I continue my pace. I argue with myself. I can’t go there. If I do and he’s involved with club business, he will be furious I showed up. If he’s in trouble, am I ready at all to help him after only a month of training with him? I’m hitting my targets and I’m stronger but in a moment of real pressure would I help him or make it worse?

I remember his words from before he left and it solidifies my fate.

If I’m going to be late for any reason, I’ll text you.

“Shit, shit, shit!” I yell into the quiet house because my decision is already made.

I’m already pulling on my jeans and my boots. If I get there and all is fine, I’ll just turn around and come home. I go over my plan in my head as I tie up my Doc Martens. I can park on Hwy 6 and walk the last bit in. I’ll take one look and if everything seems legit, I’ll just sneak away. He’ll be none the wiser and I’ll beat him back home.

I grab my gun and check the mag, holstering it at my waist with shaky hands, then without giving it another thought, I’m charging through the front door and down the front steps of Gabriel’s house before I lose my nerve, making sure to pull the damn AirTag out from under my front seat, tossing it into the grass before I enter the address of St Henry’s into my nav.

In any other circumstance, I would’ve dwelled on this for the next hour, but I know with everything in me that something is wrong. For the first time in my life I don’t think, I just do… and hope to God I’ve made the right choice.

As the dark highway passes by out my window, I realize I don’t know what scares me more, finding out nothing is wrong or finding out that something is.