Worries and fear 

Gabriel

I open my eyes gasping for air as Cal holds my shoulders, desperate to see life in me.

"Shit, I thought I had lost you. I have been trying to wake you up for an hour," he lets out a sigh of relief.

I look around the room, trying to ground myself in reality. I'm back in my own body, in my own mind.

But the memory of Gus's last moments is still fresh in my mind. I feel a heavy weight in my chest, the guilt of not being able to help him.

I get up from the chair, my mind racing with thought. I need to find out more about the Nightshade Syndicate and their plans and more importantly, I need to find out what they were after in Lucas's territory.

"Are you okay?" Cal asks me with a worried expression on his face.

"Yes, thank you for bringing me back," I flash him a warm smile.

Cal returns the smile and nods "Do you want to talk about what happened in there?"

Cal is just a kid but he is one of the smartest people I know.

I haven't spoken to Elijah and Olivia about all that has been happening. Olivia isn't even back, so I need to speak to Blackwood.

I take a moment to collect my thoughts, knowing that Cal deserves to know the truth about what happened in Gus's dream. He has proven himself to be reliable and trustworthy, and I need his support in unraveling the mysteries that lie ahead. "I saw the people that ambushed the patrollers, but I need to figure out what pack they are from. A man was killed the night of the attack, and people were hurt."

His eyes flash with concern as he listens to my words. "Do you have any leads?" he asks.

I shake my head "Not yet, but I will find out. It's a dangerous game we are playing, Cal. But we have to do this. We have to find out what is going on and stop it before it's too late."

Cal nods his head in agreement "I'll do whatever it takes to help you, Gabriel. Just tell me what you need."

I smile at him, grateful for his unwavering support. "Thank you, Cal. We need to keep our eyes and ears open. We don't know who we can trust and who we cannot trust."

It might seem like I am talking to Cal but the warning is more for me.

I need to be careful because it seems like this is much more than I thought.

LATER THAT NIGHT

I have been unable to sleep all night. The last memories of Gus have been haunting me terribly. I sit up on my bed and run my fingers through my hair. My windows are open and the wind whistles through the trees outside. I can hear the sounds of crickets chirping in the distance. It is a peaceful sound, one that should put me at ease but instead, it only amplifies the guilt and sadness I feel.

Blackwood says I am too weak to be a leader and maybe he is right. I shouldn't feel this much for someone that did this to themselves.

He had a brother and a father, they were counting on him.

How could he do this to his family?

I decide to get up and take a walk to clear my head. I pull on a hoodie and step outside, taking in the night air. The moon is full and bright, casting an eerie blue glow over the forest. It's a beautiful sight, but it also reminds me of the dangers that lurk in the darkness.

My phone beeps in my pocket and there is a message from an unknown number.

Unknown: Did you hack it?

I furrow my brows in confusion before I reply.

Gabriel: Who is this?

My phone starts to ring and the number blares on the screen.

I answer the phone and Blackwood's voice through the speaker.

"How did you get my number?" That is the first thing I ask him.

I don't want him calling me.

I don't want to have anything to do with him.

"You could at least say hello. Considering the favor I did for you early.

My heart jolts and the 'activity' in the woods spring to my mind. Fuck, I don't want to think about sex with him right now.

"You are thinking about me inside you...aren't you?" he interrupts my thoughts.

"You wish."

He laughs hysterically "Gosh it is so easy to fuck with you."

I roll my eyes at his childish behavior.

"What do you want Blackwood, I don't have time for you and your shit," I say trying to keep the irritation out of my voice.

"Did you dream walk?" he finally asks.

I take a deep breath because I actually wanted to talk to him about the things I saw in the dreams.

Gus and his pack.

If I can find out which pack Gus belongs to, then I can find out other things.

"Yes."

He lets out a huff "And? What's up with the fucking suspense. What did you see?"

"We need to talk in person. There's a lot more going on than you even know. I wasn't the target...you were."

There's a beat of silence on the other end of the line. I wait, the anticipation building inside me. Finally, Blackwood speaks.

"What are you talking about?" His voice is guarded, but I can hear the curiosity seeping in.

"A stone. Do you have a stone in your compound? They wanted it. Fuck they already took it."

There is a pause. I hear his breath hitch.

"Fuck."

Okay, so there is something he is hiding.

"Blackwood?"

"I have to go Rivers," he doesn't wait for a response before he ends the call.

What the fuck?