CHAPTER 12

[Gabe's POV]

Another day, another day in which I pretend I am someone else, another day in which I deceive people. Another day in which I deceive her. Damn it! I don't remember ever hating my job this much before. Damn it! I can't remember ever being happy doing this job. Maybe I should consider retiring. I could be a professor, a lecturer just like the character I am playing now, I am enjoying this role more than I ever thought I would, I think is the first time in a long while that I am smiling honestly. It could also have something to do with Ella. I know she is not my mate, but I so much wish she was, she is the pinnacle of being the perfect woman for me.

"Gosh!" Gabe exclaimed out loud. I think I am falling for her, it could be karma, from many years of exploiting the mate pull to catch my targets. Today I have a 9 am lecture I must give, after my matinal run and a quick shower I still had enough time to have breakfast and look over the topic, romantic love and evolutionary attachment development in humans. What about werewolves? I asked myself while driving to the campus, werewolves love differently than humans. Luckily, I managed to find a place near campus to park my car, as the rain is too strong to ride my Ducati. I am starting to miss the sunny days of Italy...Italy? I shook my head vicariously, why would Italy come to my mind like this?

"Good morning class, I hope you're awake," I chimed, setting my files on the desk. The class was ridiculously quiet, despite the many students crowding it. My eyes instinctively searched for her. Ella didn't notice when I entered the class, she seemed to be busy browsing her social media. When she finally noticed me, her face immediately changed followed by a gag reflex. She then immediately rushed out of the class leaving her things on the desk.

"Ella," I called her name softly; she didn't realize I followed her.

"Gabe," Ella called, without looking at me.

"Are you ok?"

"Gabe, I don't know...I... I," She stumbled over her words.

"That's ok, you can tell me." I encouraged her, hugging her from behind.

"People are going to see us," She scolded me giving in.

"Let them see us," I whispered burying my face in her hair and tightening my hug. "I'll protect you," I found myself telling her.

"Lately these dreams are plaguing my sleep, and now even in class," She confessed breathing in, "they are all about you."

"Hmm...are they sexy dreams?" I asked mischievously, nibbling on her ear. I could feel her melting under my touch, and I swear that I can't hurt this woman.

"They are not...they are horrible dreams,"

"Hmm..." I acknowledged, my mind foggy with her scent, with her warmth, and with my burning desire for her. My lips moved on her neck with a mind of their own, nibbling on where she would wear the mark of her mate. I could feel her body catching fire. "So, nightmares, you're saying?" I asked, my voice deep and affected.

"Nightmares," She replied, a quiet moan escaping her lips. Her reaction to my touch did nothing to help me think more clearly.

"Maybe you should stop using these wolfsbane perfumes, I will protect you!" I found myself telling her, I then turned her around me so I could look at her "I will protect you! Even at the cost of my life, do you hear me?" I promised her, looking her straight in the eyes. I don't know where this courage came from, but I knew in that exact moment that is what I will do, even if the royals will claim my life.

"Thank you. This is something I've never got the chance to experiment." She confessed looking down at her shoes and tugging on my coat. She looked so delicate and adorable at that right moment that I couldn't help but feel more attracted to her. I pulled her closer to me and begun tracing her face with my fingers, ready to devour her lips at her permission. But at right that moment my personal phone ruined the magic. I looked at the screen, and my whole demeanour darkened.

"I need to take this," I said, walking away from her.

"Yes, sir!" I answered the call in a rigid tone.

"Mr Jager, I have yet to receive the report from you. Are you slagging in your job?" The man at the other end inquired.

"No, sir, I am not slagging. But I need to discuss something of great importance with the royals before I continue my assignment." I stated resolutely. I must know the 'why' at the very least. How can they make such a request when she is without a fault?

"The royals don't want to be seen with someone like you!" He replied in a cold tone. I almost laughed at his reply, many centuries back I was a king myself, royal blood runs in my veins. Someone like me, huh?!

"Tell them, if they don't make true on my request, I'll dig all their deepest secrets and expose them to the world!" I harshly blackmailed. I am sure they don't want the world to know that they are not human.

"I understand, I'll let them know. Expect my phone call." The man coldly replied. Blackmailing is still the most straightforward way of obtaining what I want, even more so in this century than in the previous one.