Chapter 5 UNFINISHED HUNT

RACHEL'S POV

"I said you're under arrest," I shouted as he tried to stand.

"Well, you're not going to arrest me with your head on my arms, you know?" he replied, his voice tinged with amusement. I jolted upright, mortified. Why on earth had I curled up on him like that?

"Alright, stand up slowly," I commanded, brandishing my badge as if it were a weapon. What was I thinking? Instinctively, I reached for my hip, but my gun wasn't there. I'd left it at home. Of course, I hadn't brought it while visiting my parents. They'd have my head if I did.

"Don't mess with me. Keep your hands where I can see them!" I barked, as he began lowering them.

"What, you're going to shoot me with that badge of yours?" he asked, standing straight.

"No," I snapped, balling my hands into fists. "I'll knock you out if you don't cooperate."

"Well, go ahead then-"

"Don't push me," I cut him off, my voice tight. I hadn't expected a fight today, but if that's what it took to get answers, so be it. He was a Gabriel, after all.

"Okay, okay," he said, raising his hands but before I could react, he swept my legs out from under me as I felt a rush of air and the sharp approach of concrete against my head-only for his arms to catch me at the last second. What the hell?

"For what it's worth, you're beautiful," he murmured, gently lowering me to the ground before taking off at an impossible speed. I scrambled to my feet and sprinted after him, but he was gone. Vanished. And I couldn't believe I'd let him slip through my fingers. It felt unreal how fast he was. He was definitely a werewolf but not an ordinary one. I'd always managed to keep pace with, if not outmatch, any wolf I'd faced. There was a reason everyone at WPD wanted me on cases. But this wasn't normal. Damn it!

My phone rang, snapping me from my thoughts. It was Dave. Great. Time for a scolding.

"Hello, Dave," I answered, trying to keep my frustration in check.

"Rachel? Did you get him?" he asked, cheerful as always, his tone full of hope. I rarely messed up, so coming up with a good excuse for my failure wasn't easy.

"I lost him, Dave." I admitted. "I'm sorry,"

"It's okay. We'll get him another day alright? The victim survived, so we can get answers from him and track those lunatics."

"Like last time?" I muttered. We'd lost victims before, hoping for leads that never came. That's why I shouldn't have let that bastard get away. But I would catch him. One day.

"Losing is part of the job, Rachel," Dave said, his voice calm. "We win some, we lose some. Just don't let it get to you okay. We'll get him eventually."

"Thanks, Dave," I whispered. Sometimes he just knew the right thing to say when I was ready to crumble.

"Alright, we'll meet at the station tomorrow-"

"I need a ride, Dave. I wrecked my car."

**********

"Damn! This is bad, Rachel," Dave said as he arrived to pick me up.

"So what, you went Fast and Furious with that guy, huh?" Mateo, Dave's partner, teased as I got into the backseat.

"I guess," I muttered, forcing a smile to mask my disappointment. We both settled into the back while Mateo took the wheel.

"Hey," Dave said, breaking the silence a few minutes into the ride. "I told you not to worry about it."

"I'm not, Dave. Sometimes it's just better not to say anything. Not that you'd understand."

"Ouch," Mateo muttered from the front seat.

"Okay, so how's your family?" Dave continued, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

"Dave? I can't. I just want to be alone right now."

"Dave, deja a la mujer sola," Mateo chimed in Spanish, clearly catching the shift in my mood.

We arrived at my family's mansion not long after as I stepped out of the car, exhausted. The memory of how effortlessly he had swept me off my feet haunted me. That I wished I could pretend this had never happened. How could I have let that happen? I barely made it inside the compound when I noticed someone trailing me.

"Dave? What are you doing?" I called out, jogging back to stop him. "Go back. I'll see you at work tomorrow."

"No! I want to meet your family, Rachel. You've kept this place hidden from me for too long."

"Not today, Dave. Please. They're not- It's just not time for that yet."

"So you'll introduce me later? Is that a promise?" he teased.

"Yes, it's a promise," I replied, just to get rid of him for now. I shouldn't have brought him here. It was only a matter of time before his curiosity led him to show up on his own, thinking my father was the same warm, charismatic man the world saw on TV. The man who claimed to love humans.

Dave finally left after some prodding, and I exhaled deeply, stepping inside. But just as I was about to close the door behind me, a woman's voice rang out sharply, startling me.

"Where's my car, Rachel?"

Oh shit. We just observed her vehicle earlier without actually fixing it.

"It's at a workshop, Mrs. Grams," I replied, sneaking inside as she called me back. I didn't stop. Damn, that was close.

It was already very late, the crescent moon hanging low among the clouds above. I walked inside, spotting my dad and mom arguing in the large sitting room as usual. Seizing the moment, I crept quietly, climbing the stairs to my room.

"Rachel?" I heard my mom's voice, though my dad dismissed her, saying I wasn't back. He'd know if I was. I couldn't spend the night here; I needed to be at the station tomorrow morning, see how badly the victim was injured, and try to get some answers.

Over the years, we'd only had one case involving a Gabriel, which turned out to be tied to gambling. While the rest mostly involved different Gabriels and petty crimes as if every Gabriel was destined to cause trouble. But this felt different-this felt like progress, like something bigger. No matter how fast he was, I knew I could have done better if he hadn't tricked me and the next time we crossed paths, I'd make sure to get my revenge.

After gathering a few things from home and resting, showering, and so on, I headed downstairs, ready to leave only to be stopped by my mom's voice. Damn it.

"Mom?" I turned around, trying to sound like her good ol' daughter.

"Where are you headed?" she asked, stepping closer.

"Nowhere... just wanted to step out-"

"You're taking more of your stuff this time, Rachel," she said in a quiet, almost sad tone, stepping even closer. "We love you, you know. Your dad, Theodore, and I. You're our only daughter, and you're important, alright? Never forget that." She rubbed my palms with her thumbs.

"Something came up, Mom-"

"The guy from before?" she interrupted.

"Yes," I replied. "The murderer. I ran into him today. I know you don't believe-"

"I do, Rachel and I hope you catch him this time so we can have you back okay." She added, touching my face.

"And so I can have a grandchild-"

"Mom?" I cut her off, a little embarrassed.

"I'll visit more often this time. I promise." I added as we shared a hug.

She was right to be worried. Everyone had moved on from that incident, and sometimes I think I have too, but I just didn't want to come to terms with the fact that I'd wasted five years of my life chasing after ghosts, pushing everyone who cared for me aside. It was brutal to accept, and all I could hope for now was that this guy was the culprit. His moves, everything were extraordinary. It had to be him. Please. I needed closure.