Chapter 32

Have you ever been awakened by the sounds of an earthquake? No? That's exactly what I did. I jump up and open my eyes, only to smash back into bed with such a groan. We'd planned on taking a nap while Gabriel drove to the motel, but I couldn't sleep because I was worried about how angry he'd be when he saw me. I was also considering what reasons I could use to defend my actions. Valeria is lying horizontally on my body, with Paloma's feet on her back, while he sleeps at the edge of the bed. I look around, perplexed as to where the noise originated from, and come face to face with total black eyes which flash red as they land on me. When I see the broken door just on ground and pieces of plaster falling from the walls, my jaw drops. I thought to myself, "I'm not paying for it." "Oh, you're so screwed!" exclaims the narrator. Ryan gleefully laughs as he walks over a massive part of the wall that has broken away. I return my gaze towards Gabriel, his features are strained, his fists clenched and his form trembling as he stood there.

I don't get up because I can't, not just because I would not want to, but because I can't. I don't really want Gabriel to explode the second I speak since the air has now become heavy and dense. As a result, I remain silent, snickering as Ryan smacks Paloma awake and tosses him from the bed. Valeria jolts awake over me and looks around, a sheepish smile on her face as she realizes I was a pillow for her slumber.
As she lift herself off of me, I return her smile. I'm going to stand up when my back is slammed into a chest. As Gabriel caresses his nose right into the curve of my neck, goosebumps erupt over my skin and a nice sensation rises in my tummy. My eyelids close quickly as I notice how warm he is. Another oddity about him is that his temperature appears to be consistent at all times. My bare legs, on the other hand, aren't doing anything to warm me up in the outfit I wore to school.
Unexpectedly, I'm being carried out of the now-broken doorway in bridal style. Valeria grabs my bag and the food bag, while Paloma sleepily wipes his eyes and grabs some other plastic bag. I signal Valeria for my bag by moving myself up and over his shoulders, but Gabriel jerks my body back then wraps my legs about his waist before I can grasp it. As his hands tighten over my back, he runs his nose all along curve of my neck, taking deep breaths.
"You know, I uh...I can walk." I mumble under my breath, pressing my hand on his chest, begging him to put me down. With a harsh gaze, he draws me back right into his chest, his arms wrapping my body once more. "I'm wearing a dress, Gabriel. Please put me down." As I watch his eyes return to a dark green, I whisper to him. "No!" He growls back, grabbing my head and yanking it to his chest. "Gabriel," I mutter as I swat his hand down and struggle to extricate myself from his grip. "I would not want to make a fool of myself."
His eyes glow crimson as he pulls my coat off Ryan and wraps it over me, making me leap in surprise. I wrap my legs round his waist, making sure I'm well covered, and grudgingly settle into his chest with a defeated groan. Why is he refusing to put me down? Turning around to face the others behind us, I wonder. Over Gabriel's shoulder, I'm grinning at Ryan as we stroll down the steps. As if my hand were a needle, I detach my arms off his neck and jab the air near his head. Everyone behind me, including the four weird men clothed in all black, laughs as I pretend his skull has exploded by moving my hands away.
"Amanda, put a stop to it." Gabriel mutters as he walks past the front desk. "How did I get here?" With a pout, I turned to face him before smiling awkwardly at the shocked man at the table. I turn around to see him groaning quietly behind us, while the others snicker. We exit the hotel and approaching the two sleek black automobiles parked in the driveway. A bunch of men appear from the trees towards our far left just as Gabriel gets me back on my feet. I'm pushed behind Gabriel, the four guards rushing around me, before I can just get a decent look at them.
As though he's a sort of leader, a tall, large man approaches us with the rest of the group trailing behind him. As they take us in, his golden blonde hair whips in the breeze, and his bright blue eyes narrow and ominous. "I'm guessing Gabriel Silva has now found the right one based on how you're shielding the girl behind you." As he approaches us, he sneers and crosses his arms, causing his muscles to bulge. Gabriel responds with a deep roar, his form trembling once again. My hand subconsciously rises to wipe his back in circles, but I'm too preoccupied with the men to observe him instantly relax when I touch him.
"Did Silva reveal his true identity to you here? What kind of monster is he, exactly?" The man speaks to me. "You should stop talking," was said. As my hand leaves his back, Gabriel issues a lethal warning. "No? Never observed the wolf-like snarling and growling?" When I go back to the times he's growled and snarled, to the times his eyes have changed colors, I remember how he nearly seemed protective of me. What in the world is happening? I ponder while I look at Gabriel. Gabriel advances while tensing and straining at his shirt with his back muscles. Adriano, "Don't you dare."
"What else? I must admit that your partner is even more delicious than the first. I wouldn't mind carrying her up against the closest wall and fucking her." Gabriel suddenly roars, interrupting the man. He surges forward, and I gasp as everyone behind me rushes past to join the fight. I am compelled to watch the back-and-forth punches and kicks until I can no longer keep track of them and everybody is a mass of blur because my feet are firmly planted in place. I take deep breaths while attempting to ignore my awareness. Gabriel's actions resemble those of a wolf, now as I think about it. He is human, though, isn't he? I weakly examine myself, hoping that my mind may come up with a reasoned justification for why Gabriel sometimes acts in such a cruel manner. It appears that, like the cosmos, my brain is not on my side.
I examine my past seeing what I wished I hadn't done. Before his clothing split and fur begins to grow in lieu of his skin, Gabriel roars one more time. His teeth become more visible as he snarls, and I watch in dread as his nails grow into razor claws. Gabriel Silva, the person I had believed to be human and the one who had taken my first kiss, abruptly changed into a wolf in front of my eyes. In shock, I raise my gaze to the heavens. Please take me back to my chamber, God, if you are up there. However, I am aware that it will never occur. I chuckle uncontrollably as I witness each and every individual who was battling in human form change into a pack of enormous wolves. I then take off running. I grab my luggage as I run over to one of the vehicles behind me and open the door. I throw my rucksack carelessly and sigh with satisfaction when I notice the keys hanging from their place. I turn on the engine and swiftly reverse. A few wolves are lying on the ground, and when I turn to look at my left, I notice a huge wolf towering in the middle of the group with blood streaming from his muzzle.