Novels by Ij Gabriel

I was drowning.The cold grasp of the river had already seized me, the currents pulling me deeper in its endless dark, my limbs no longer responding to my frantic calls. My body was numb, lungs screaming for air that would not come.Then out of nowhere I heard it. His voice."Selene, are you trying to drown on purpose, or do you just attract disaster wherever you go?"A warm voice cut through the freezing current wrapping around me, and I forced my eyes open, coughing, struggling to keep my head above the water.There he was: Frey Storm-his silhouette cutting a sharp contrast against gray clouds above, a wicked, amused smile curling at his lips."Frey?" My voice came out hoarse, disbelief threading through every syllable. I wanted to say something sharper; to act like I wasn't clinging desperately to the rocky bank, but every ounce of strength had bled out of me. I was barely managing to keep my grip, much less hold my pride together."What's it going to be?" he called down, the teas

"Rafe, plea… My voice cracked, little more than a whisper above the roar of the water rushing past my ears.I was slipping, my fingers digging desperately into the rocks jutting out from the riverbank, but they were slick, the current ripping me away inch by inch. The cold had found its way into my body was was nowdeep into my bones, numbing my body.Only Rafe's hand, his eyes locked to mine, kept me tethered to the surface. I held on, his grip tight at first, strong.Then his gaze shifted, his jaw clenching as he looked over his shoulder, beyond me."Rafe?" My voice shook, and a tremble of panic slid into it.He hesitated, his eyes darting left and right and his ears perked up.I followed his gaze out, catching a scent on the air that made my stomach twist-the scent of the pack. They were coming, their voices carrying through the trees, growing louder. If they found us like this, with Rafe helping me, an exile, someone who was supposed to be miles away from their territory, it woul

“Secrets… they always come back to haunt you."The words twisted in my head like a jackknife, jolting me as Frey's eyes held hostage. It was as if his gaze was burrowing straight through me, and it made me suddenly feel self conscious.His jaw clenched, his lips mashed into a firm line, as if he were about to let fall some life-altering bomb. Then, in a flash, the mask fell back into place. Frey shut down again."I know enough," he murmured, voice low and unsettling. "But maybe you're not ready to hear it."I bristled. "You don't get to decide what I'm ready for, Frey.He gave a wry smile, more mocking than warm. "Perhaps not. But trust me, there are some things you can't unknow. Things that'll alter the way you look at this world. and everyone in it."I took a shaky breath, willing myself not to flinch. "Cut the riddles, Frey. If there's something I should know, then *tell me*.He held my stare, and for that flash of a moment, something unguarded flickered in his eyes, vulnerability

I just couldn't let go the feeling.The anklet was hidden so well, and it was as though it had been waiting there for me to discover it.My mother's anklet—she had it on every waking and sleeping day of her life.I could still remember the soft jingle of it when she moved-a quiet reminder of her presence. It was as if some part of her had been left with it, buried in this place.And now, it was in my hands.That moment I found it, I knew my parents didn't die ordinary deaths. I knew I could see things from dreams; it was another power I'd inherited from my mother.Which was why I wanted to know about the man I'd seen in my dream. But how to find him?I hadn't even seen his face.But why would they have her anklet? What were they hiding?I didn't even want to think that they, perhaps, have been buried. Without me.I stared at the glittering curves of the anklet, my fingers following the delicate patterns; the more I thought, however, the more questions arose.Regrettably, there were no

“Are you well rested?” The birds chirped with careless abandon as I stepped out of the cabin. Frey was standing a few feet away, staring up at me with a smirk on his face.I turned away from him, dragging my eyes to the scenery at the elft side of the cabin. I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate, on the sounds of the forest.Behind me, Frey cleared his throat, and I heard the floorboards creak as he stepped closer to me.The smell of fresh air and the sound of water rushing through stones, filled my ears. This was one gift of mine that I appreciated, my ability to hear things from afar.I honed in on the sounds: rustling leaves, chirping birds, and that faraway hum of life within the forest. It was peaceful here, or at least it should have been.I felt Frey's presence behind me, but I didn't turn around and acknowledge him. He'd made it his mission to get under my skin, and today wasn't going to be the day I gave him the satisfaction. "I didn't ask," I muttered, not looking at h

The growl sent a chill down my spine, and I pressed myself against the wall, seeking some form of shelter. I was taut with fear, and my hands began to shake.My pulse thundered in my ears, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the glowing eyes that stood at the window. This was no ordinary wolf. It’s presence felt different, more menacing, and very powerful.My breath hitched as I reached for the small hunting knife that my grandmother always kept under the bed. There was no guarantee that it was still there, since grandma had died two years ago.Thankfully, it was still there. My fingers fumbled around blindly, and then I pulled it free from the leather sheath. In my state, I could not fight, and if I tried, I would probably die from the effort.My wolf was gone, and I was prone to attacks now. I was the wolfless girl, and a target for dangerous rogue wolves. For a moment, I thought about stepping out and surrendering myself to being torn into bits and pieces by the rogue wolf, but t

"Are you sure about this?" Naya's voice was shaking, her eyes flicking nervously around the room. She clutched the edge of her chair, as if the sterile office walls were closing in on her.How had her life degenerated into this in the twinkling of an eye?Adrian leaned back in his seat, smiling at her with his piercing blue eyes."I've never been more certain about anything, Naya. You need protection, and I can provide it. But you have to trust me.”Trust…The word reverberated in her mind with a bad aftertaste in her mouth. It was the last thing she could afford after all that had happened.How cold she trust this dazzling man with a charming smile after everything with her husband and her bestriend?Naya pressed her lips together, and inhaled deeply, forcing herself to push those thoughts away.“But first you need to be brutally honest with me. I need to know everything if I'm to help you win this case.” Adrian's sultry voice cut into her thoughts.“Asking me to trust you is goin

“How does it feel, Naya? How does it feel to have everything crumble at your feet?”Chloe asked her in the cold sterile police interrogation room as Naya sat in the chair, handcuffs over her wrists. She was shaking with so much rage that it was hard to see. All Naya saw was red.Since her arrest after the birthday party, Naya had not been able to eat, sleep or drink. She was still in shock, nothing felt real,but each time she looked at her wrist she realized it was real.“You can’t do this to me Chloe. Talk to Daniel. Hasn’t he hurt me enough?” Chloe arched an eyebrow. “Hurt you enough?’ Chloe laughed harshly. “If anyone’s been hurt in all this, it’s me. I’m the one that has watched you and Daniel for years, while my heart broke into two.”“I don;t care about you and Daniel, all I care about is clearing my name. All I want is for you to tell the truth. You know I didn’t steal anything, stop supporting Daniel.” She didn’t know when she started to yell.Daniel came in then, followed by

Naya stood in front of the mirror in the guest bathroom, trying to get herself together.Daniel’s words pricked her skin each time she remembered them. When had her marriage gone to shambles? She asked herself, as she touched her face, wiping away the last traces of tears.Naya touched up her makeup, smoothened down the creases in her dress, and amended her hair. She’d organized this party and it was mandatory for her to be there. Naya slipped out of the bathroom and made her way downstairs, the sound of music filling the air as she entered the living room. She searched subtly for Daniel, but he was nowhere to be found. She to everyone who greeted her, and complimented her, but everytime someone told her she was a wonderful wife, she thought about the divorce papers, and the fact that someone else was pregnant for him.Then she caught sight of her best friend, Chloe, standing outside the house, near the patio behind the bushes. It was a hidden spot, but from Naya's position, she cou

Naya was shocked.She flipped through the file again, trying to make sure that she was not seeing things. Then she began to tremble.“Naya?!! Where are you?” Naya flipped the papers shut and returned them to the table, then she ran back to the study’s door just as Daniel’s mother was about to open it.“Naya? Why are you up here? The party needs you downstairs. Everything is a mess.” She eyed Naya.Naya and Daniel’s mother did not get along. To her, Naya was a bad daughter in law, who knew nothing. She didn't like Naya because she was not the sophisticated and rich daughter in law she’d been hoping for. And she was still not pregnant after four years.“Are you dumb? Why are you here when we have company? You threw this party didn't you?” She widened her eyes and cocked her head to the side, waiting for Naya’s response.“Yes.” Naya mumbled respectfully. The dislike was mutual.“Then maybe you should pay more attention to it, instead of hiding away. We have a reputation to uphold in thi

“Do you think he’ll like it, Sammy?” Naya asked, her voice almost a hum as she gently petted the sleek silver siamese cat lounging on the kitchen counter.Sammy the cat blinked up at her, with his piercing blue eyes, then he hissed at her, and turned away. It's different.Naya smiled to herself, glancing down at the half finished decorated cake sitting on the kitchen counter.She’d stayed up all morning working on this cake for him. It was his favorite, a rich chocolate mousse layered with fresh raspberries and topped with a dusting of gold flakes. Naya sighed and went back to completing the cake.When she was done, she stepped back and away, admiring her work. Years after leaving baking behind as a profession, and getting married, she was pleased to know that she’d never lost her touch.Sammy meowed softly as if encouraging her work. Naya smiled harder. She was sure that Daniel, her husband, would love the cake. It was his birthday tonight and she wanted to make him feel special, sin

The bathroom floor was cold.I laid on the cold bathroom floor, every inch of my body screaming in pain. My head was in a war zone, But the worst part? The silence. It was suffocating, like the air itself had turned heavy and still. I tried to sit up, but my limbs felt like lead. Then, a strange pressure pressed down upon my eyelids, the feeling of being sucked into some kind of dark, open space. My hand flew to my face, fingers shaking. Wet. Sticky.Blood.It trickled into my fingers, a slow tide that felt heavy and suffocating. Panic clawed at me, I tried to open my eyes, but it was useless. The effort itself was painful, and the outlines I once could see were gone.I could only see pitch darkness.My right eye, burned like fire, the pain so strong it sent my whole body tumbling back down when I tried again to stand up.I can't see.It hit my brain like a streak of lightning, and I felt breathless, frozen in fear. The bathroom swayed to a tilt, and it was as if the world had

It didn't stop.I pressed my ear to the bathroom door, and a hand to my mouth to keep my whimpering silent.Landon didn't stop cheating on me. Now, as I listened to his hearty laughter and the ‘pit pat’ of the water as it hit the ground, I wondered how I had not noticed it.“I miss you, baby…” I heard him say, and I took a step back. I didn't want to hear anymore.I'd stepped backward, and the world blurred for a second before coming back into harsh focus.My brain was screaming at me to run and to just pretend I hadn't heard any of it. “So do you need me right now? I could…”Another trembling step back from the bathroom door, every word from his mouth made it harder to breathe. This was not the Landon I knew. The more I listened, the more I felt like I wasn't even real.Like this all wasn't real.He laughed-a rich sound with that same flow that once drew me to him like a moth to a flame. Now it was all wrong-twisted. It showed me something that I had been too blind to see, too bl

The hot summer breeze hit me as I stepped out of the hospital, and I wondered why I had chosen to wear thick clothing.Landon had told me it would only get hotter, but I'd insisted on ‘’covering up' properly.“Careful, now.” The driver, a Somalian man with an accent, said, as he guided me towards the car.This was another privilege I enjoyed from being loved by a wealthy man like Landon. I had my own personal driver.“You should've waited for me inside.” he chided gently as he helped me inside the car.I smiled at him, hoping that he would not notice how scared I was inside.Dr. Knox's words still rang in my head. It was hard to forget. I had a real chance of seeing again.“The Dr. had offered to walk me, besides you were late.” I replied, turning my face to the window as he drove out of the hospital.I could see the blurry outline of the buildings and trees as we sped past.My thoughts went back to the Dr's words. A surgery that could restore my sight, felt unreal. I didn't want to h

I bit my lower lip as I moaned softly.“Good morning beautiful…” Beside me, my boyfriend's Landon's fingers played with my nipples under my lacy nightwear.I kept my eyes closed enjoying the sensation, enjoying his husky morning voice against my ear.“Thank..thank you for the…” I trailed off as his hand wandered down my body and settled on my thighs.“Thank you for what?” His voice was so close that I could feel his breath on my cheek. I could not think properly, not with his hands on my body. “Thank you for picking this night dress out last night.” I finally said, throwing my head back as his finger found its way to my panties.He chuckled, and placed a kiss on my neck that sent shivers down my spine. Everyday, I thanked God for a man like Landon.“Don't be silly. I have done that every night since we got into this relationship, years ago. When will you stop thanking me?” He didn't stop his sweet assault. His thumb grazed my clit, and I bit back a sharp moan.“I'm practically blin