Page 214 of My Unexpected Mate

I stood up and walked over to the road, trying to find the slightest clue in which direction they went. Tire marks, scents, anything would do.

But there was nothing. Not a fucking thing.

“Gabriel,” Jacob called me quietly.

I turned around to look at him. His eyes were red, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks.

Nick was on the ground behind him, clutching his chest. I could hear him whining quietly.

“We have to go back and make a plan,” Jacob said. “He won’t kill her. He needs her.”

“GO BACK?!” Nick roared and stood up. “I am not going back there until I find her!”

Nick looked feral. I had never been afraid of him, but now I was. I’d heard what happened to werewolves when they lose a mate, but seeing it was totally different. She hadn’t been gone long, but he already looked like a lost, wild man.

“Jacob is right, Nick,” I said slowly. “We need a plan. We don’t know in which direction they left. He is not going to kill her. He needs her.”

Nick growled and looked at me. My blood froze.

This wasn’t Nick. This wasn’t my friend.

This was a wild, hurt monster.

He lunged at me, but I managed to avoid his attack. He lost his footing and fell to his knees. I turned around quickly, anticipating another attack.

Nick was hurt and wasn’t thinking clearly. His attacks weren’t calculated. He was guided by pain and rage. I knew I could defend myself. I could avoid his attacks. I just can’t let him touch me. Right now, his strength was the real danger. The need to find and protect his mate just made him stronger than ever. If he managed to control his movements, he would be the world’s most dangerous weapon.

He got up and turned around to face me. His canines were on display and his claws elongated. He lunged at me again, but a sudden blast stopped him.

“Altum somnum,” Jacob mumbled, and Nick fell down with a loud thud.

I looked at Jacob and released a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

“Thank you,” I sighed.

I hated that Jacob had to do this. But Nick was gone. Jacob had no other choice.

“You are welcome,” Jacob mumbled. “Grab him and let’s go home. We don’t have time for this.”

I walked over to my friend, grabbed him around his waist, and threw him over my shoulder. He was heavy, but I managed to carry him.

When we approached the house, Cassie ran outside. Blake followed her and my vision blackened as soon as I saw him.

“Oh, Goddess!” Cassie gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. “What happened?!”

“I had to put him to deep sleep,” Jacob explained. “He attacked Gabriel.”

Cassie gasped and looked at me. “Are you okay?”

I nodded and walked past her. I gave Blake a murderous look as I walked by him.

I took Nick into his room and placed him on the bed. He groaned and grabbed the pillow that, I assumed, belonged to Aria. He nuzzled his nose into it and his body relaxed.

I heard Jacob behind me.

“How long until he wakes up?” I asked him.

“A few hours maybe,” Jacob said.

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