Chapter Five

Angelica

Packing my suitcase into the taxi's boot, I faintly hear Mom's cries as she clutches onto my father. "Don't worry, Mom," I said as I walked over to them, engulfing both of them into a tight, loving hug. "I'm going to be okay. I'll call every morning and every night, I promise." I pulled back and gave my mother the best smile I could with what little confidence I had. Mom smiled back weakly as I watched her heartbreak once again. A week ago, when my mate left me that night, my father called people he knew that might be willing to take me in. Either nobody had the room or they didn't want to. In the end, he called up Moms' parents from her old pack and they were more than happy to take me in - their pack was in Ireland, however. I shuttered at the thought of Ireland, knowing that that's where the Mermaids and Sirens like to go, on the shores of Ireland, attracting their pray. But Grandma and Grandpa were the only ones that were willing to take me, so I was off to the airport to Ireland.

I haven't seen Carla since that night we argued, but Dad says she's busying herself with her friends but thinks she feels bad for fighting with me. A part of me wants to believe it, believe that she's remorseful for attacking me... But another part of me thinks that she's glad I'm leaving. I sighed. I'm not sure I want to know which it is.

Grabbing my school bag full of my stuff, I gave my parents one last hug and kiss. "I'll call when I get there, I promise!" I called. I got into the taxi, feeling my stomach tie up in knots as the realisation hit me. I'm leaving my family. Not for good, no - just until this whole thing blows over but still, I've never gone anywhere outside of the pack territory without my dad or the Alpha. This will be the first time I've gone anywhere without anyone with me. I took a deep breath as I rolled down my window, poking my head out. "I love you, Mum, Daddy."

Mum choked on a sob and Dad did his best not to show any tears, but his eyes welled up anyway. "We love you, too, sweetness. Be safe, be our good girl, stay out of trouble...and call us, as soon as you land."

I nodded. "I will, Dad. I promise." As the taxi roared to life and slowly began to drive away, the gravel beneath the tires crunching, I stuck my head and arm out of the window, waving goodbye until I could no longer see them or our house. Just grassy fields and a gravel road. I sighed, my breath trembling as I breathed in and out with control, steadying myself so I wouldn't cry.

Something inside me was telling me that my life was going to be different from now on.

****

I woke up as the plane landed, the whole plane shaking violently, but not bad enough that we were in danger. I waited politely for the other people to gather their belongings and leave before I stood up and grabbed my school bag and walked down the steps of the plane to the Earth below me. I looked around, hoping I could see my grandma and grandpa somewhere. I eventually found a guy in a crisp clean suit holding a sign with my full name written on it, my suitcase already by his side. I jog over to him with a smile, smelling his scent. He was a werewolf, but I could feel a slight power radiating off him, but I couldn't tell if he was really high-ranking or if he just seemed that way. I guess I'll find out soon. He greeted me back with a wide child-like grin. "Mornin'," he chirped. "Your granny an' grandpa sent me to come get ya an' take ya home."

"Oh, well, thank you very much for going out of your way for me." I liked his soft Irish accent. "As you know, I'm Angelica Sky, but everyone calls me Angel."

"Oh, it suits ya!" I blushed slightly at his compliment as he held his hand out. "The name's Lloyd, but yer can call me Lu," he said as he shook my hand softly. "Ya should feel privileged, not everybody is allowed to call me Lu," he grinned and I laughed as he lifted up my suitcase and began to walk over to the car park where a sleek, black Ferrari shone in the sunlight. Lu caught me staring wide-eyed and laughing. "Do ya like it?"

"It's the coolest car I've ever seen," I commented with a smile. I couldn't wait to get in! Lu put my luggage in the back seat and opened up the front passenger door for me. "Thanks," I said excitedly as I slid into the leather seat, a smell of pineapple and lime filled my nose. I liked it. I grinned as Lu started up the car and revved the engine - my insides stirring with anticipation and untameable excitement. When Lu skidded off, I yelped in surprise. He soon got onto the road and when he drove he drove it well, meaning it was the smoothest ride I've ever had. I grinned like a little kid as I stared out of the window, watching the world of Ireland pass me by.

****

The sun was beginning to set, the sky was a peaceful orange-purple as Lu and I sat in comfortable silence and soon we reached a road made of stone leading into a thick, eerie forest. "The packed house is in the middle of the forest," Lu explained half-heartedly. "It's deep in the forest so no humans accidentally find us. They'd have to be either really lost or actually trying to find us." Lu yawned loudly as we entered the forest.

"Tired?" I asked and he nodded.

"Yep," he sighed. "It's been a long day, helpin' my dad deal with pack business an' dealin' with my ma's constant naggin' an' I still have to deal with it when I get home."

I chuckled. "Your parents are Alpha and Luna?"

He shook his head. "My parents are the Beta's an' they're gettin' me ready for the responsibility of bein' Beta." I frowned. So who are the Alpha and Luna? "Look, there's the pack house," Lu pointed towards the distance and there stood a beautiful mansion, straight out of a faerie tale. As we drove closer, the more detail I could see and the more I fell in love with it. It was white bricked with grey tiles on the roof, beautifully trimmed hedges and few olden styled lampposts on the edges of the path leading to the mansion. Glorious gardens also surrounded the house.

"It's beautiful," I gasped as Lu made a turn off to a dirt path, heading towards a giant wooden shed. The door opened when we neared it and Lu parked the car carefully. He quickly got out of the car and moved to my side and opened up my door.

"Ya can get walkin' to the house, I'll grab ya things."

"Thanks, Lu," I smiled as I walked towards the house, admiring the beauty of the grassy, glossy fields; tall, thick and proud trees; delicate beds of colourful flowers; decorative, beautifully shaped hedges surrounding the packed house - everything was just beautiful.

I wasn't walking long when a shrill voice interrupted my thoughts. "Who the hell are you?" I looked up to see a pretty girl, perhaps a few years older than me - maybe the same age as Lu - long black, curly hair, naturally tanned skin, dark brown eyes and full-bodied, wearing a black singlet and dark blue shorts, no shoes.

"I beg your pardon?"

The girl rolled her eyes. "I said, who the hell are you? Are you a rogue?" Her foreign accent was familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

I chuckled. "No, I'm not. I'm here seeing my grandparents for a while," I explained but her glare didn't disappear. She sniffed the air and suddenly her frown turned into a murderous glare.

"Why is my mates scent on you?!"

"What're you talking about? You mean Lu?" Once I said Lu's nickname, she lunged at me and I landed on the soft ground with a scream.

"You slut! You mother f*cking slut! I'll kill you!"

"Garcia! Get off her, you're hurting her!" Lu screamed as he tried to pry his mate off me. I curled into a ball, refusing to fight back.

"Good! I hope she stops breathing!"

Soon she was thrown off me by a stronger force and delicate hands lifted me up, stroking my hair and cradling me. I heard a familiar voice scream at this Garcia girl. "What do you think you are doing, Garcia?! I told you to get Lloyd and our guest, not attack her!"

"I'm sorry, Alpha, b-buts-she smelled l-like my mate, I-I thought-"

"You didn't even think that she might smell like your mate because he was picking her up from the airport?! Are you just looking for an excuse to fight someone?!"

"N-no," she stuttered, now crying. I looked over and saw Lu standing over me with his back facing me and an older lady holding me tightly, a familiar scent on her. Garcia looked up at Lu, eyes wide and glassy, pleading with him for help. But he shook his head before he spoke.

"You had no right, Garcia. You didn't even think 'bout it. Not only did you attack our guest, but you attacked the Alpha's granddaughter."

Grandma and Grandpa are Alpha and Luna?

Garcia snapped her head towards me with surprise and regret. "A-Alpha, I'm so sorry, I didn't know."

"I'll let you off with a warning, Garcia however if you threaten my granddaughter again, I'll make you regret it."

Garcia nodded as Lu helped her up and took her back to the packed house. "I'll see yer later, Angel," Lu waved.

I smiled and waved back. The big, muscly man turned to me, a wide happy grin hiding behind his small beard. "Angel!"

"Grandpa!" He engulfed me in a tight hug before looking me over.

"Are you alright? Did she hurt you?"

I shook my head and smiled. "I'm fine, Grandpa. Tell me! When did you get Alpha status?" I asked curiously.

Grandpa smiled sadly. "The former Alpha lost his mate and pup during childbirth. He made me Alpha before he took his own life."

"Oh, Grandpa, I'm so sorry."

Grandpa shook his head and smiled, guiding me towards the packed house as Grandma came by my side with a soft, loving smile. "Enough about me, darling, tell us, why are you here? Your father didn't really explain."

I gulped.