Page 39 of The Wolf

Following Alex’s noiseless footsteps as we make our way to the East Wing, he briefly explains to me how the next days are going to go. Without him. I focus on the sound of his otherworldly voice, trying to memorize the deep timbre, as if it might somehow keep me steady when he’s gone.

Gone…

I can’t believe it’s already Halloween, and they’re leaving first thing in the morning. The mere thought alone sends a lump rising in my throat. But I hold back my tears. Not now, not here. The last thing I want is for Alex to notice how close I am to breaking. He’s got enough to deal with. I know he needs me to be strong.

I’m so scared, though. The fear feels unbearable, like a weight pressing down on my chest, and my nerves are frayed to the edge. Of course, it doesn’t help that my damn period is coming, making everything more dramatic than it needs to be with my emotions spiraling out of control.

“Everything will be fine,” he says softly, sensing my mood.

“It’s just…” I manage to whisper, though my voice feels scratchy and tight. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll be back before you know it,” he reassures me, but it does very little to calm me down.

“If I don’t die out of boredom first.” My laugh is too loud, too forced, yet I cling to it like a shield.

He lets out a heavy sigh, clearly recognizing my sarcasm for what it is. “It’s not like I’m leaving you alone.”

“Oh, right. Becausethatmakes it better.” I roll my eyes, trying to ignore the ache in my chest. “So who’s this mysterioushe, anyway?”I ask as we continue our way to the forgotten part of the castle.

“A gargoyle,” Alex replies matter-of-factly.

“Awhat?” I stop in my tracks in the middle of the corridor, staring at him dumbfounded. “You didn’t mention gargoyles.”

“Well, there aren’t any left. He’s the last of his kind, and not the most social one,” he clarifies. “My mother freed him from his captivity at Notre Dame, but he quickly became a problem after her death. Now, he’s bound to the castle to keep him contained.”

“And it’s necessary for him to act as my bodyguard?” I press, folding my arms and leaning back against the mossy stone wall.

“Yes,” he says simply, his unwavering tone making it clear he doesn’t intend to argue. “I’m not sure how long we will be gone.”

“Ugh, it’s either you being back before I know it or you gone for hell knows how long.”

“Both can be true at the same time, silly.” He seems slightly amused. I’m fucking glad he finds my panic hilarious. Guess I’m a comedian now.

“You never even told me what this whole operation is about!” I snap, the words spilling out before I can stop myself. And that’s that for my composure—it lasted a good five seconds. I may be acting childish, but I’m too frustrated to care. I’ve seriously had enough of the secrets.

“There’s this highly classified and very remote military base in Nevada—”

“Area 51?” I interrupt, raising an eyebrow.

He nods, looking both tired and unbending. “They conduct experiments there, using ancient technology.”

I stare at him, the words taking a moment to sink in. “What kind of experiments are we talking about here?”

“Splicing DNA. Mixing species. They’re playing god, just as they used to back in the day. There’s no new thing under the sun,” he tells me, his voice steady but laced with an edge of disgust. “We’re planning to break out as many as we can.”

My stomach tightens, remembering the hybrids we fought in Michigan. “Won’t they be dangerous?” I keep my face calm, but it’s hard to ignore the small pangs of unease building inside me.

He shrugs, his gigantic stature shifting slightly. “Some of them, sure. But why should we let our kind suffer? And maybe some of them will join us. We need numbers.”

I narrow my eyes at him, suspicion creeping into my voice. “Numbers for what?”

“To fight Lilith and her demons,” he says bluntly.

I blink at him, stunned. “But isn’t she sealed away?”

Alex’s jaws tighten, and his expression hardens. “The government isn’t necessarily our biggest opposition,” he says, his voice lowering. “Some of the top world elite—powerful families—they’re actively trying to bring Lilith back. They believe they’re descended from Nephilim bloodlines, and they’re the ones pulling the strings from the deep shadows.”

My breath catches, and all I can think is,Meg was right. This all sounds exactly like one hell of a conspiracy theory.

---