Sabrina had taken a bath, slipped on a robe and left her bedroom. The marble floor cooled her warm feet as she descended the stairs. She felt as if last night was a dream. She woke up in bed, wondering how she got there, but then she noted Gabriel's lingering dark scent and knew that he carried her to bed. But sadly, what had happened to her wasn't any dream, it was very real and she had no clue how to even begin to process all of it.

"Good morning," a voice startled her.

Sabrina froze in her tracks. She finally noticed the four domineering men standing in her living-room space. Their tall statures and black wardrobes sent off a threatening aura. She looked past the men and straight at the one standing in front of them. Gabriel wasn't in the same clothes as yesterday, his causal clothes were replaced with a black suit and white with no tie, the first few buttons opened showed his clavicles and bronzed skin. Sabrina realized that walking downstairs in her robe was definitely a bad idea.

"Good morning," she smiled to the boys behind Gabriel. "How long have you waited here?"

"A few minutes," said River who stood with his twin brother, and a red-haired man named Lupin.

"We all just arrived," said Gabriel. "How are you feeling?"

Sabrina stepped off the last stair. She lost the foot of height she had on him, that kept her levelled with his eyes. "Tired," she joked, not wanting to ruin her own mood or theirs again. But it didn't seem to work because Gabriel's frown told her that he knew the truth.

"There are a few things I need to talk to you about," said Gabriel.

Sabrina noted his stern tone, although he spoke to her very gently. "About last night?"

"Yeah," he laid his hand on her nape. Sabrina's gut sank at remembering what she very desperately wanted to forget.

"I-" she froze.

"But let's get some breakfast and coffee in you and then we'll talk," said Gabriel sensing her distress.

"Okay," she said. "You guys can make yourselves comfortable in the kitchen. The coffee stuff is on the counter and my fridge is always packed with food."

The men stared at her blankly, but Gabriel ushered them to move from the couches into the kitchen, which they crowded too with their muscular six-foot built. That's all the initiation they needed to make themselves comfortable.

"I'm going to get dressed because I have work today," she told him. Gabriel straightened to his height and removed his hand from her neck, it was strange how aware she was of every move of his body. "I still have to call Helen about last night too."

"Take your time," he said calmly.

Sabrina tilted her head. "How are you so calm?" She blurted out.

Gabriel's expression may have been relaxed, but the tension coiled in every fibre of his body was clear. "I'm not calm right now," he told her. "I'm controlled."

Sabrina's brows rose at his hard, deep voice that sent a chill down her body enough to make her regret that she asked. His velvety voice caressed her body that it seeped into her skin and bones, melting her. "I'll just be a few moments," she stuttered and ran up the stairs so she wouldn't expose her reaction just to his voice alone.

Sabrina closed the door to her bedroom like it was going to protect her from Gabriel's oozing sex appeal, that was threatening for her life. She was quick to slip on a silky champagne long skirt and a simple white blouse. Sabrina had slipped on a comfortable pair of nude heels, when she called Helen and told her what happened last night.

"It's good you didn't call the police," said Helen. "That would have been a nightmare to handle for us."

"I don't know what I would have done if Gabriel didn't come," said Sabrina. "His family took the 'package' and are checking if it does belong to Richard Brady."

Helen sighed deeply over the line. "Okay, that's good," she stayed composed even though it was hell for them both right now. "I'm heading over to your house right now. Eat and see what Mr. Centauri has to tell you, then we'll go from there."

Sabrina noticed that she was fisting her phone, but she quickly relaxed just hearing Gabriel's name. "I'll see you later," she cut the phone with her friend.

Sabrina grabbed her purse off the table and looked back in her room. A place that brought her comfort before was scaring the life out of her now. She couldn't believe that someone snuck onto her property and tainted her privacy. A sickness set in her gut, she felt it fester inside her body and it made her feel as if she was going to sink away. A chill crawled over all over her skin and she felt her hands clamp. Closing the door behind her, she walked away from the room and darted down the stairs trying to escape from what tried to swallow her whole.

Sabrina reached the main floor, when her ears were filled with the voices of the men in her kitchen. In that moment, she realized that she wasn't alone. She lingered on the stairs as she relished that she had people by her side now. Her heart calmed and she made her way to the kitchen without collapsing from defeat.

A warmth spread across her when she smelt roasted coffee brewing in the machine. River was sitting on the stool with his cellphone and mug of coffee. Ryder and Lupin were bustling around the stove, she realized that they were cooking breakfast. She was glad that they did because she was starving and didn't really have the spirit to cook at all.

Gabriel saw her first. "Hope you like a BLT sandwich?"

"That sounds really good right now," she said, and they smiled at her.

She went around the counter to pour herself some coffee too. She grabbed the carafe's black handle, when her hands paralyzed and her blood drained. She tried her hardest to move and relax, but the image of the bloody hands chopped up, left in a box in her house had mercilessly traumatized her. Sabrina's hand clambered and she was sure that the cup would drop from her hand. But it hadn't and something blocked her from the group of guys in the kitchen, which she was sure had noticed her freeze up.

"It's okay," Gabriel's soft voice caressed her ear, his lips lingered near the temple of her forehead. "You're fine, baby." His strong hand had caught the cup from falling on the floor.

"I'm sorry... I don't know what came over me," she said finding herself exasperated.

Gabriel's forest pine scent surrounded her into his arms. The comfort of his warmth was the only thing bringing her back from the dark thoughts. He purposely used his broad shoulders and height to conceal her from the boys behind him, which she was so thankful for because she didn't want to show this side to them. Gabriel grabbed the coffee pot from her grasp, his hand gently grazed over her whitened knuckles, which released when he replaced her grip and poured her a cup of coffee.

"Thank you," she said.

"You're welcome," he placed the cup in her hand and firmly held it with her until he knew that she wasn't going to drop it.

Sabrina wanted to laugh at herself for being so pathetic. This wasn't supposed to bother her or ruin her day. But she couldn't forget the horror of how someone entered her house and left such a horrendous package for her.

"Food's done," announced Lupin. "Come and eat."

Sabrina put a brave face and told Gabriel that she was fine now. They both sat on the long stools and thankfully none of them asked her anything, because she wouldn't know how to respond.

A plate with a BLT sandwich, cut in half was placed in front of her. She looked up and met the bright and kind green eyes belonging to the scarily tall and muscular Lupin. None of them made her feel strange for feeling the way she did. For men who were known to be cold and ruthless, they sure knew how to take care of someone who needed care and kindness.

"Thank you for making me breakfast," she smiled at Lupin warmly.

"No problem, just hope you enjoy it," Lupin shot her a charming wink.

"I'm sure I will," she said. "It smells delicious." Sabrina quickly dug in and enjoyed the crispy, salty sandwich with the darkly-roasted coffee, that went perfectly with the bacon and tomatoes. Lupin passed more plates to the rest of them. River, Ryder and Gabriel all enjoyed breakfast with her, which was nice to see. Lupin didn't eat but he gladly drank another mug of coffee.

Sabrina wiped her mouth with a tissue and then faced the inevitable, that she knew she couldn't avoid forever. "So, what did you need to tell me?" she asked Gabriel and all the others too.

Gabriel's stern gaze warned her that it wasn't good news. "Those hands belonged to Richard Brady," he told her.

She closed her eyes and sighed in defeat. She prayed so hard that this was some kind of joke and she'd laugh it off after someone dropped the punch-line.

"Eve and Elliot had sent them to the team who are investigating this murder and handled the matter discreetly," Gabriel continued.

Sabrina was curious how those two were able to manage that, but from the foreboding silence exchanged between Gabriel and the boys, she concluded that it would be safer not knowing.

"So, it's safe to say that the police won't come knocking on your doorstep," said River reassuring her, which it did.

"But how will we figure out who sent the package to my home?" Sabrina asked them.

Ryder leaned his elbows on the counter. "The person who killed Richard and sent you the hands, clearly is attached to you in some way," he said. "So, all we have to do is stay by your side and lure the person out."

Sabrina swallowed the coffee that was getting more bitter in her mouth, so she put it down. "Lure the person out," she looked at them puzzled and with uncertainty.

Gabriel's firm gaze stared into her. "Let us do what we do best, Sabrina," he said. "We won't let anything happen to you."

"That's not what I'm worried about," she said. "This person doesn't seem afraid of anything, and that's unnerving." A darkness seeped into Gabriel's cool gaze. It told her that he was going to give that person something to be scared of now. Sabrina sensed the heightened scent around Gabriel, she realized that he let his wolf's pheromones convince her, that he was way more dangerous than this killer.

Suddenly, the front door opened and the men grew alert. Sabrina went to check, but Gabriel stopped her and Ryder went instead. A moment later, he returned with Helen by his side.

Helen rushed to Sabrina. "How are you feeling?" she asked with a frown.

"Alright, considering the situation," said Sabrina.

"I'm going to cancel the photoshoot and-"

Sabrina shook her head. "No, I need to work and get my mind off things." Helen nodded and went to make a phone call.

"Oh right, Ryder and Lupin will accompany you from now on," said Gabriel.

Sabrina looked up at the two men who had relaxed stances. "What?" she asked Gabriel to clarify more.

"I'm assigning Ryder and Lupin to keep you safe," he stated more firmly.

"As in bodyguards," Sabrina inwardly groaned. "Er- that's a bit boring for them, isn't it?"

Gabriel raised a brow. "No, they do what I tell them," he said. "And if I tell them to protect you, then that's what they will do."

Sabrina looked at Ryder and Lupin who simply nodded at their alpha's words. "It still seems a bit conspicuous."

"This isn't up for negotiation, Sabrina," asserted Gabriel. He looked down at his watch tied on his thick wrist. "It's time we head out." Gabriel lifted from his seat and so did all the other guys.

Helen patted Sabrina's arm. "I'm in the car," she said and walked off.

Sabrina collected the dishes and told them to leave it for her to clean later. It was the least she could do since they made her breakfast and didn't mind accompanying her to work. She rinsed her hands when Gabriel came around and stood behind her. She looked over her shoulder seeing him standing confidently and alone.

"Are you sure Lupin and Ryder are okay with following me to work?" she leaned back facing him. "I doubt anyone will approach me at a photoshoot."

Gabriel stepped forward, his macular arms that were covered under a black jacket caged her against the sink. "I thought I said this wasn't up for debate," he said evenly.

"Gabriel-"

He tilted his head. "My men don't find any task less or more important than the other," he told her. "Besides, the order to guard you was given by their alpha. They will follow it even if you don't want them to. They're stubborn that way."

"I just don't want them to think that I'm causing you trouble," said Sabrina.

Gabriel inched closer, his thighs brushed her legs and it was faint, but her breath stopped in her throat when he did. Sabrina looked away from his eyes, which was bad because she was staring at his luscious lips now. She quickly averted her gaze and looked at anything but this mouth-wateringly gorgeous man.

"Sabrina," his voice caught her attention. Sabrina froze when his lips found hers. His soft kiss drowned everything out of her, her body molded into his, and she couldn't feel anything past his hot mouth on hers. That was a great way to shut her up, she thought.

"Why do you think you're causing trouble?" he asked. "Has it ever occurred to you that they might actually want to keep you safe."

Sabrina shook her head. "No, it didn't."

Gabriel's strong hands suddenly wrapped around her nape. He gently turned her gaze towards his. "You are family, Sabrina," he stated. "And my men always protect their family."

Sabrina put her own hands over his. "Okay," she said. "Thank you."

Gabriel smiled sweetly. "You're welcome," he said. "Now, let's get you to work safely." Gabriel wrapped his arm around her waist and took her where everyone waited.

They separated on the road in their own cars from Gabriel who was with River. His twin, Ryder drove with Lupin in the passenger seat next to him. Helen was sitting beside Sabrina, her expression still grim from everything that happened, and even Sabrina was finding it hard to smile. She had no idea how she was going to get in front of a camera today. But work was probably the only way to distract Sabrina from her life right now.

Ryder timely got Sabrina to the hotel-studio for her photoshoot with the jewelry brand, Harry Winston. Clearing her face of all weariness, she masked her grim frown with a relaxed smile. She got out of the car and walked into the hotel with Ryder, Lupin and Helen following her.

"This way, Sabrina," said Helen. Her manager took the model where she needed to be, which was in a massive room bustling with dozens of workers. This was the atmosphere Sabrina grew to love. Screens, cameras, lights and lots of clothes just for Sabrina to play with and use.

"Has Carlo arrived?" Sabrina asked Helen.

"Yes, he has. Wait here, I'm going to check if your room is ready," said Helen before she walked off in the direction of the hectic staff offices. Many recognized her and greeted her.

Sabrina noticed as the staff were walking in-and-out of the busy studio, their eyes couldn't help but look at Sabrina, and as they did, they whispered something to the one next to them. Sabrina was used to this, but not the guys behind her, many girls and some guys were staring at them. Sabrina turned to find them composed, but she was sure that they were out of their comfort zone.

"You two doing alright?" she asked.

"Don't worry about us," said Ryder. "You just focus on your work and pretend we're not even here."

Sabrina raised a brow. "That's a bit hard to do," she mumbled. Sabrina wondered if these men noticed their own height and built, and on top of that they were hot as hell.

"So, do you do this every day?" asked Lupin, his eyes curiously measuring the environment.

Sabrina smiled. "Pretty much. Cool, right?"

Lupin grinned. "Absolutely."

"Sabrina," Helen's voice called out from afar. She ushered the three of them towards her.

Lupin and Ryder followed Sabrina and stood guard outside her dressing room. The stylists worked quickly before the photographer arrived to start the shoot. Carlo and his team were as efficient and fast every time they came to work. Sabrina's dark, smoky makeup was complete before she stepped behind the curtains for the first outfit.

Sabrina knew that the campaign today was for Harry Winston. She didn't expect the campaigns to be so sensual, since she knew that this brand preferred more elegant approach to their branding. But Sabrina didn't mind the black bodice and silk stockings either. Wrapped in a robe, Sabrina was taken to the centre of the photoshoot where a clean display was set up for her to shoot. Although, she wore a bodice and some stockings, she still felt terribly heavy and the reason was because she adorned with diamonds, that were worth millions. On her neck were two diamond wreath necklaces, her wrist had three candy-bracelets with glittery diamonds of all different colours and she had two sapphires on her fingers as well. If this didn't make a girl smile, Sabrina didn't what would.

"Helen, who's the photographer for this shoot?" Sabrina asked.

Helen looked up from her phone. "Apparently the first guy was taken off the shoot, someone else requested to be put in."

Sabrina frowned. "Who was it?" Helen shook her head implying she didn't know.

A man walked inside the room right on schedule. He had light brown hair that was untidy, a pale complexion and his darkly-rimmed glasses blocked his inky black eyes. The photographer was tall and built to a healthy stature.

"Jon Adler," said Sabrina.

Jon's black eyes widened, his lips lifted into a smile as he stopped in front of her. "You remember me?" he asked stunned.

Sabrina couldn't believe her eyes. "Of course, I remember you," she beamed a smile. Helen looked at them confused and so did everyone else in the room. She looked at Helen; "You didn't work with me at the time, Helen. But Jon was my photographer for my first Vogue cover," she told Helen and everyone else.

"I took a break after your Vogue shoot," said Jon. "But I decided to come back this year."

"And for my shoot too," said Sabrina chirpily.

Jon smiled too. "After taking photos of you, no one else was as perfect as you."

Sabrina laughed at his compliment. "You're such a sweetheart, Jon," she laid her hand on his arm. "I'm glad to have met you again. A great photographer like you can't leave the fashion industry, it'll be catastrophic."

Jon blushed and laid his big hand on hers. "You don't know how much it means to me."

The photoshoot began with a blast. Sabrina wasn't feeling as grim as she was when she first arrived and it was mainly because she loved her job. Underneath the lights and cameras, Sabrina shined more than ever. Laid back against a beige-silken bed, she focused her attention on the camera-lens and her body. Shot after shot, Jon Adler had a skill with the camera that produced beautiful and intimate shots. It was like he saw things the way no one else did, especially with photography.

"As always, you're perfect," said Jon from the top of the ladder he was perched on, so he could take the shots. "Let's switch outfits and the jewelry pieces, please."

Sabrina rose from the bed, Helen covered her with a robe and took her to changing-room. In the next segment, she adorned a black silk gown that had a plunging neckline to showcase some cleavage and her neckline. Carlo fixed her makeup as she fastened a heavy and rich emerald necklace around her neck. The square emeralds were surrounded by clusters of smaller diamonds, a massive emerald hung low between her breasts. Sabrina was almost too scared to move with this on.

Sabrina fastened the emeralds on her earlobes, when she spotted Ryder and Lupin. "After this we'll head down for lunch," she told them. But both the men simply nodded in reply and looked away quickly. "Are you two blushing?" she asked astounded that they were being shy.

Lupin pinched the bridge of his nose. "Your looks should be illegal, Sabrina," he groaned.

Sabrina chuckled. "Aren't you sweet."

"It's true though," Ryder crossed his arms and grinned. "Gabriel was a goner from the moment he saw you."

Sabrina rolled her eyes. "I doubt that," she said. "Gabriel doesn't seem the type to fall for my looks." The men looked at her baffled but they didn't say anything further about the matter.

"Sabrina, we need you in position," Jon called out eagerly for her.

Sabrina patted the boys' shoulders. "I'll see you two in a minute, okay."

"We'll be here," said Lupin.

Sabrina sauntered back onto the set, that had been changed for the next shooting. Instead of the silk bed, there was a simple black stool for her to sit on. She positioned herself on the stool, and since she was barefoot it was easier to hide her feet under the length of the dress. Jon worked to replace the camera in his hand for the closer shots of Sabrina's face and the necklace alone.

"Looking beautiful, angel," said Jon as the camera clicked multiple shots of Sabrina.

She couldn't help but smile, which she noticed that Jon quickly took more photos. It wasn't new that Sabrina was drift off in her own world as she was getting her photo taken. But instead of dreaming about the diamonds around her neck, she envisioned Gabriel. Earlier, Ryder and Lupin made a strange face when she said that Gabriel didn't care for her beauty. But Sabrina couldn't help but confess, that she definitely noticed that man's face first.

Gabriel wasn't the type of man anyone would overlook under any circumstance. Intense and pure golden eyes that would turned her into a puddle were hard to resist. His sharp, masculine jaw and luscious lips were all Sabrina needed to lose her control over herself. Sabrina hadn't realized how deep she had fallen in his trap. However, now trapped in his cage, she couldn't resist what he had on her and she didn't want to, which made it so much worse. Gabriel Centauri was a dangerous man, she had no clue how to control so he wouldn't swallow her in his wildfire.

"Alright, done," announced Jon snapping Sabrina out of her head. "You looked beautiful. No, that's not the right word, more like erotic."

Sabrina gaped at him. "What?"

Jon chuckled at her. "Your expression was very intense and sensual in the last shots," he commended. "Can we change the necklace," he instructed.

Two ladies appeared to take off the necklace off Sabrina. The same piece was to be replaced with rubies now. Sabrina helped the girls with the clasp, when suddenly, her neck was pricked.

"Ow," winced Sabrina.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" the young girl panicked.

Sabrina smiled. "That hurt, but I'm fine-"

"Are you stupid?" Jon snapped. He pushed the camera to his assistant. "What if she got hurt!" Jon grew furious. "You can't do anything straight," Jon assessed Sabrina's neck. "Are you okay? Does it hurt at all, Sabrina?" Jon turned towards the girls. "Get out of my face!" Jon's assistant quickly guided the two girls away.

Sabrina and the whole room hushed. It was normal for photographers to lose their temper, but this was a bit much. "I'm fine, Jon," she reassured. Carlo handled the necklace around her neck this time. "There was no need to lose your temper at them." Sabrina frowned, the last thing she liked was the staff getting yelled at.

Jon sighed as he helped Carlo put the rubies on her. "I know," he said. "But your skin can't be tainted in any way. It's your livelihood after all."

Sabrina grabbed the earring from Jon's grasp. "I got it," she said. Carlo helped her himself and Jon went back to the computer screens.

"That was intense," mumbled Carlo. "Are you okay?"

Sabrina smiled at Carlo. "I don't remember him being so rude before," she remarked. "Check on those girls for me?" she asked of Carlo.

He smiled warmly. "Sure," he fixed her makeup before he left to go check on the girls.

Jon took the next few shots quickly and finished up without any problems. Jon turned over to the group; "Great job, everyone. We'll take a short lunch break and then come back for the last two pieces."

Everyone moved to the hotel's restaurant. Sabrina took off the jewelry, which was kept under locked security but she didn't change out of the dress. Helen put a robe over Sabrina's shoulders before they all went to the restaurant to eat lunch.

Seated at their own table, Ryder and Lupin enjoyed the lunch just as much as Sabrina and Helen did.

"I'm stuffed and feeling so much better," said Sabrina leaning back in the chair after a slice of cheesy, hot lasagne was devoured.

"How can you eat so much but stay so thin?" remarked Helen. Sabrina looked at Helen blankly. "Maybe, it's your-" she turned her voice to a whisper- "wolf DNA."

Ryder's ears perked. "She knows?" he asked Sabrina.

Sabrina nodded. "Yeah, she also knows about you guys too." Ryder and Lupin exchanged a look with Helen who was unbothered, and quite frankly, she seemed unenthusiastic.

Sabrina drank half the glass of ice-cold water to quench her parched throat. "You boys didn't get too bored today, right?" she asked. "I know that being with me today probably wore you out."

"Not really," said Lupin. "Seeing you work was impressive."

"And once in a lifetime opportunity," remarked Ryder. "Everyone back home is going to be so jealous of us." Lupin exchanged a smug look with Ryder. "I'm going to gloat about it my whole life."

Sabrina chuckled. "Thanks, you two," she said. "It's reassuring to know that I didn't waste your time."

Ryder's sterling blue eyes that mirrored the blue sky gazed sternly at Sabrina. "To us, nothing is more important than protecting you," he said. "You're Gabriel's mate, his everything, which means that if we have to die to protect you, we would do that for Gabriel without a second thought."

"I couldn't have said it better," added Lupin. "We felt honoured that Gabriel chose us to protect you."

Sabrina smiled and their words warmed her heart. "You boys are so-"

"Awesome-" remarked Ryder.

"Impressive-" added Lupin.

"Precious," she told them. And the reaction she got was even more adorable. The badass wolves trained to kill without hesitation had blushed at her small compliment.

"Sabrina, did you enjoy lunch?" Jon asked as he came to her side of the table.

Sabrina nodded. "Yes, I did. Thank you."

Jon's eyes shifted over to Ryder and Lupin whose charming smiles had dropped, and the dangerous wolves she knew them to be appeared. Both of them glared darkly at Jon, which was obvious that the air thickened with their intensity.

"Who are these two gentlemen?" Jon asked Sabrina.

"We're Ms. Sinclair's bodyguards," replied Ryder, well more like declared.

Jon's inky eyes flickered with alarm. "Er- did something happen Sabrina that you need-" he gestured towards the scary men.

Sabrina wasn't going to reveal what happened to her. "Just for safety measures," she told Jon. "You can never be too careful, right?"

Jon pushed his glass higher up the bridge of his nose, that looked like it had been broken a few times. "For a woman of your beauty, I totally understand," he smiled with all his perfect teeth. "You need to be protected."

Sabrina smiled. "I'll see you upstairs for the rest of the shoot, Jon." He nodded and waltzed off towards the hallway to return to the studio alone. They quickly finished their lunch before they returned to the studio too.