The truck came to a stop and Angel moved to push the door open. "Thank God!" Amelie muttered. Shortly after, the door on the other side was pulled open and Xavier reached for her. "Come here, babe," he rasped, lifting her out of the vehicle and into his arms. Amelie wrapped her arms around his neck and made him kiss her. Nadia smiled loving the way the couple seemed to show their affection with no care in the world. "Hey, " Angel called, distracting Nadia from Cole and Isabelle. The other couple was holding each other tightly by the side of the car. Nadia met his gaze and lowered them to settle on the hand he held out to her. She placed hers in it and he assisted her to come out of the truck. The rush of cold air hit her face and the smell of pine trees, food and nature assailed her nostrils. She couldn't help smiling. The air was fresh and devoid of death and misery. "This place is beautiful…." she muttered. "I'm glad you think so. The island too, if I recall correctly, is also
When Nadia woke up the following morning, her eyes immediately went to Angel's side of the bed and saw it was undisturbed like it had been hours before. The couch to the side wall didn't look like anyone had laid on it either which meant Angel hadn't returned since he left after his bath the previous night. She got up and went to have her bath and brush her teeth. When she opened the wardrobe to see if there was something she could wear, she found a pair of denim trousers with a black shirt. She quickly wore them and found her way down the stairs. The smell of fresh coffee assailed her. And as she got to the stairs landing leading to the foyer, her eyes settled on the back of a tall, dark-hair lady standing very close to Angel. The two were oblivious to her presence and the lady was pouring coffee into a cup Angel was holding, and at the same time using her free hand to stroke his shoulder in an obvious flirty way. The lady whispered something to Angel and he laughed. She then leaned
"Why? Did you eat something that didn't agree with you?" Xavier asked with concern. "I may have back in Moscow, I'm feeling better now," he replied. "Glad to hear that, brother," Xavier said. "Sorry, man," Angel said. "Thanks," Cole said. "Let's go to the study and wait for the others. I need to talk to you Xavier about this growing need for accommodation ...." "Sure," Xavier said. Once they entered the office, Cole asked if Angel and Xavier wanted a drink and they both declined. "Isabelle was talking to me about accommodations over on the island. And before we start, I want you, Xavier, to know we set a date to get married," Cole said. "I thought you two were just going to sign some papers and be done with it?" Xavier said, frowning. "No. I want her to experience the whole shebang," Cole replied, grinning. Xavier glared at him. Cole chuckled. "What?" "Now, Amelie is going to expect that too, way to go traitor!" Xavier said. Angel busted out laughing. Xavier directed a glare
Nadia stood by the window to her room watching Angel approached yet again by another she-wolf. Tiana had told her they were gammas somewhat like the pack securities, brought from their original home as a result of construction going on over there. It had been close to two weeks since they got back from Moscow and every night he took his bath, changed his clothes and left. She had no idea where he went to or with whom he spent the nights and she was about had it. Tiana had told her he intended to move to the island because of a project he was supposed to oversee there and he hadn't discussed it with her, not to mention letting her know if she was going to go with him or if he intended to abandon her here. He wore a black top like the rest of the Alphas over equally black pants. His beard was fuller now and his hair longer. He looked really good and she wasn't surprised females were drawn to him. When the lady raised her hand to run her fingers through his hair, Nadia turned away a
"You are sure about that?" Wulfrun challenged, returning Angel's daring stare. "Enough!" Xavier thundered. The alphas and everyone that heard him went very still. Angel took a few steps back, thinking to leave, then went very still when Wulfrun said, "If he is treating her right, she would not be acting out though …" Angel reacted before he could think to contain himself. He rushed the other alpha, channelling all the pent-up anger and frustration inside him and before anyone could react, Angel was pinning the other alpha to a nearby tree. "Shut the fuck up!" Angel snarled in a low menacing tone. Wulfrun shapeshifted into a big black Were and swiped his claw at Angel's face, leaving lined claw gashes on his cheek, and blood trickling down his face. Angel felt himself grow until he was glowering down at the other Were. He lifted him away from the tree and slammed him hard against the ground. Darrow stepped forward, trying to intervene but Angel, snarled at him, and the other Were p
Nadia kept walking, feeling pumped up with anger. The adrenaline rush through her and her entire form shook from it. She still held the knife tightly in her hand; the zeal to thrust it into something whirled in her like a hurricane. She was furious at herself for what she allowed Angel's behaviour to turn her into. ‘If he didn't want her, she should leave!’ she thought and her anger grew. She stopped in a clearing and started to walk in a circle and then paced. Grunting like a wounded lion. The crunching of ice underfoot made her snap her attention in that direction. For a minute she hoped that that bitch Elena had followed her or some unfortunate bitch who thought they could disrespect her by flirting with her mate. The grip around the knife hilt tightened and it didn't relent when the hair on her neck bristled. She parted her legs and lowered her gaze, something primitive seemed to have awoken inside her and all her senses appeared alert. She took steady breaths as she grew attuned t
Angel felt it when Nadia gained consciousness. Her body jerked in his arms and then went rigid. She then slowly relaxed her body and he felt her trembling. The way he held her, her face was pressed to his chest and his big body eclipsed hers so much so that all she could see was his broad chest."Did you sleep with her? With that bitch, Elena?" Nadia whispered against his pectorals. Her voice carried so much sadness his heart tightened."Did you perceive my scent on her, my dear mate?" Angel replied, burying his face in her hair. His voice was low and gruff."No…" Nadia replied and she clutched the fabric of his shirt where her hand lay."There you have your answer. I don't want any other, Nadia," Angel said, pressing his lips to her hair."Why then do you leave me every night…" Nadia asked in a raspy voice thick with feelings."Because I want you and you told me you don't want me.""You know I didn't mean it.""I have to respect your words, Nadie," he said and took a shaky breath whe
Later on when Amelie said it was okay for Angel to take Nadia back to the house. Isabelle and Opaline helped him to wear a white shirt for her with cargo pants for females. Tiana wore black soaks for her and Nadia smiled at all the women, grateful for their love and kindness. "I have always wished to be part of a normal family for the longest time. Is it kind of weird that I feel I have found that here?" Nadia said. Angel pressed a kiss to her hair and then rubbed an open palm down her back. "Well… I wouldn't say normal," Tiana said, grinning. "You will understand if you have the kind I had…" Nadia said. Isabelle leaned forward to cup her face. "I hope you still hold that sentiment when the alphas start throwing tantrums," said Isabelle with a raised eyebrow. Nadia smiled. Everyone laughed. "You are one of us, and nobody---as from today---would question your loyalty," Isabelle added in a firm solemn tone. Nadia nodded in understanding. When Isabelle straightened her spine, An
When their needs were thoroughly satisfied, they found their way to the park. Angel noticed the little ones were no longer there. Amelie and the triplets had gone back to the cabin but Xavier was there with Cole, Ash, and the rest of the gang. Cole was standing behind Isabelle with his arms wrapped around her, chatting with Xavier and Jason. Opaline was talking to Faelan and he could see the younger Were shifting on his feet and darting anxious gaze to Jason. His big brother turned around and grinned in his direction as the younger Were glowered at him. Jason laughed. Wulfrun, Darrow, Kurt, and Odwolf were sitting around a table laden with drinks, and with the way Wulfrun kept shaking his head and staring into his cup he was certain the Alpha wolf was half drunk. Tiana was in a corner with Ash and with how close their bodies were and the scent surrounding them Angel knew there was some foreplay going on there. "Looks like we have to pick a side," Nadia said in a laughing tone.
Angel and Nadia left his parents and strode back in the direction of the park. Angel wrapped his arm around Nadia's shoulder, holding her tight to his body as they walked. "Tell me about them…" Nadia said in a soft voice. Angel lowered his head to press a kiss to her forehead. "My mother was the only daughter of an alpha—" "Also Wulfblood?" Nadia asked. "No," Angel replied. Nadia smiled up at him. "She was a warrior and quite dashing. According to the story, I heard. She rejected her first mate, and the second and the third…" Angel said. Nadia chuckled. "She said she didn't want to be tied to any mate, but then she met my father at a party and his wolf recognised her as his true mate. My mother said the moment she set her eyes on him she knew she was in trouble." "I bet! Especially if you look like him. It's hard to tell now and it breaks my heart," Nadia said. Angel's arms tightened around her and he kissed her again. "Yes, I looked like him. She said he walked up to her
Xavier, Isabelle, Angel, and Nadia with Hallec in the lead accompanied Angel's parents to an unoccupied cabin not too far from Angel's house. Angel's mother faltered on her feet after the walk, clinging to her son and Angel paused to lift her up in his arms. "Aunty," Isabelle called with concern. "It's been a long day. I am fine, Belle," she said. Isabelle nodded and threw a worried look at Xavier. "Amelie is the pack's doctor. I will come to pick you up first thing in the morning. So she can give you a full body check." "Thank you, Xavier. Cole, Belle's mate, already told us," Alpha Bardulf said, sounding tired too. "He seems like a good human," he added. "He is," Xavier, Angel, and Nadia said at the same time. The old man grinned. Isabelle smiled. "You have quite a number of humans here as security. Do you trust them all?" "Well… they are useful for now. Cole hired them for specific jobs and I am certain that none of them would want to have him as an enemy," Xavier sa
Nadia was with Isabelle, Tiana, Opaline, and Amelie when they all watched the craft land atop the mountain. They had gone to visit Amelie with the new additions to the family as they had been doing for the past few days. Amelie was a bit overwhelmed with the thought of three babies but with the she-wolves' assistance, she had a lot of time to rest and be with her mate. The she-wolves have been taking turns in babysitting and helping with the house chores. Xavier was still a tad careful about having Weres stream freely to the home he now shared with his mate and still had guards standing across the water to the cabin as security and to allow only authorised pack members to cross over to the cabin. But since he was the Alpha to the pack and the triplets were the first babies born by a human mare to a Were, all the pack members were interested in seeing the babies. Xavier decided to organize a party so as to introduce the babies to the pack members. Nadia didn't know the setup of
Angel helped to groom his parents in the jet on their way back to the island, cutting off his father's beard and trimming his hair. Cole gave them new clothes and the two took their baths and changed into the new clothes in the jet. Angel's mother washed her hair and braided it into two cornrows. Her hair was all grey now and reached below her bum. The dress she wore hung on her slim form, but Angel thought they looked quite better than they did a few hours before. The stewards gave them plenty to eat and drink, and Cole assured them they would undergo a thorough check-up when they got to the island. After their meal, Angel sat across their chairs just looking at them. His mother tried to smile at him and her lips trembled as tears welled and spilt down her face. "I never thought that I would see you again. I did pray and prayed for the moon goddess to watch over you and send you a helper," the older woman said in a voice thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry, mama. It was my fault…"
Angel and his parents watched the fucker's blood pool under his head and soak the snow-covered floor. His brain cells splattered everywhere. "Where is the property deed?" Cole asked calmly as if he hadn't just shot a man in the head. "In a box buried under the earth over there," Angel’s father said, weakly, pointing to the left end of where they stood."How come you never gave it to him?" Angel asked, still holding on to his parents, making sure he held them to his sides as if he was afraid they were an illusion that might fade away. "I was hit in the head, when they attacked," the old man started. Angel clenched his teeth remembering the scene too well. "I told him I had lost my memory. Your mother was unconscious for days," he continued. Angel pressed a kiss to the older woman's head as she clung to him. "She lost her voice for a while too. It made it easy for me to continue the charade.""They had killed everybody else…" the older woman chipped in sad resignation. "So there wa
(The Boldclaw Prowlers’ Pack, Ohio. Seven days before Cole and Isabelle's wedding) Angel took a deep breath as the Jeep stopped just in the driveway. The place looked different from the last time he saw it. The expansive bungalow he remembered was now replaced by a massive duplex. The front porch was framed with exotic flower beds and the only familiar sight was the endless ridges of grapevines about a quarter of a mile away from the building spanning to the horizon. He wondered if the small cottages at the south end of the grounds were still there. "Ready?" Cole asked and he directed his gaze at him. "I still can't believe we are here…" Angel said, noting his courage failing. "Believe me, I know exactly how you are feeling right now. But if you don't take that step and find closure, it will forever haunt you. Let's go," he said and without giving Angel the chance to react he pushed the door open and stepped out. Angel was forced to imitate the act. As soon as he stepped out th
"I found out who I am, papa," she said, calling her father the way she used to when she was little or feeling vulnerable. Her father's eyes widened. "W – what do you mean?" he stuttered. "I found out why you and mum wouldn't allow me to use a regular hospital.""That fucking bastard! Did Antonio tell you?! He promised me he will never bring you into his shitty obsession with those creatures---""You mean our kin, papa?""Nadia, listen to me you are nothing like—""I am no longer just wolfless kin as you and my uncle Antonio, Papa. The moon goddess blessed me with a mate, a Wulfblood…""Oh God, he has infected you with his madness. Wulfblood are extinct. They no longer exist, Nadia! Antonio was not right in the head. He was obsessed with those creatures …"Nadia gave Angel a warm smile, Xavier gestured for every Were to turn their back to Nadia and right there she shapeshifted. A gasp tore from the device as her father gaped at her. Isabelle passed a robe to her, standing out of vi
"Tiana!" Amelie called out to the unconscious she-wolf on the ground. "Help me drag her here. She can not die! She was protecting me!" Amelie started to weep. Isabelle rushed back to her and knelt in front of the two women, panting. "Help me drag Tiana here. He shot her in the chest! She was trying to protect me!" "Amelie, calm down…" Isabelle cautioned. The other woman grunted in pain. Isabelle looked from her to Nadia for an explanation."She is in labour," Nadia supplied. Fear clouded Isabelle's eyes. "What?" She muttered and jerked her gaze back to Angel. "Let me try to get Xavier and Cole," Angel said as Amelie struggled to crawl to Tiana, but Nadia stopped her.Isabelle dragged her friend towards the doctor. Amelie struggled to kneel and then quickly tore open Tiana’s vest to check her wound. Nadia knelt beside her ready to help. Angel and Isabelle flanked them, in a protective stance while war literally raged around them. Kurt, Blaze, Odwolf and the rest of the Weres had