Grumbling, Angela cracked open her eyelids, and took a look at the alarm clock on the nightstand. 6:00am. Couldn’t she get just a little bit of a break, and sleep in? Especially considering that she was practically away from civilization, as the first world countries knew it? Surely mom would just save her some, if she rolled over and caught another hour of sleep…
“Is that bacon I smell?” Cole lifted his head, his eyes suddenly bright and alert, even though he’d been dead asleep not that long ago.
“Umm…”
“It is bacon.” His eyes narrowed, and he looked down at her. “I’m starving.”
“Aren’t you always?” she said with a sigh, and he instantly bounded out of bed, searching for his clothes. Groaning, she found her underwear and pulled them on, then shuffled to the closet, and grabbed a robe hanging inside the door.
By the time she turned around, Cole was already gone, probably halfway down the stairs. As she trudged down the steps, rubbing her eyes, she heard voices chattering away, and her eyes widened when she realized that there were other clan members in the kitchen, eating as well.
Dammit. I can’t go down there looking like this! Cursing, she dashed up the stairs and pulled the rest of her clothes on, then hunted through the bathroom drawers, until she found a brush. Ten minutes later, she was back down the stairs again.
“Oh, there you are, honey.” Her mother turned away from the stove, where pancakes were busily cooking away on the griddle, to smile at her. “Why don’t you have a seat and start eating.”
“You don’t need any help?”
“Not at all, darling. Go ahead and enjoy breakfast with your friend.”
Angela turned to look at Cole, who was rather enjoying his breakfast. Contrary to her being concerned that Cole would be uncomfortable sitting around a bunch of strange, new shifters, he seemed to be happily chomping away at his bacon, while chatting it up with one of the clan members.
“Enjoying your bacon?” she asked, as she sat down beside him and began piling food onto her own plate.
“Mmmhmmm.” He swallowed a mouthful. “These pancakes are really good, Mrs. Mason,” he called to her mother.
She turned to smile at him. “Please, call me Genevieve. All my friends do.”
“Hey Mister?” Charlie, one of the foster children, piped up from around the edge of the table.
It took a few seconds for Cole to realize that he was the one being spoken to.
“Umm, yes?” He blinked owlishly.
“Why are your eyes purple?”
“Charlie!” Genevieve scolded. “That’s not a polite question to ask, especially at the table.”
“No, no, it’s alright.” Cole smiled at the child. “To be honest, I’m not really sure why my eyes are this color. I was born that way.”
“Oh.” Charlie’s eyes were wide. “Did your dad have purple eyes?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve never met him.”
“Oh.” Charlie seemed to process that, and then he nodded. “I’ve never met my dad either. He died before I was born.” His face seemed to crumple a little.
Angela’s heart melted, as Cole placed his big hand on the little boy’s shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. “I know what that’s like,” he said quietly. “But I’m sure your dad would be so proud to know that you’re growing, and becoming bigger and stronger every day.” He peered around Charlie to Deena, the little girl sitting next to him. “And you too. I’m sure your father is very proud of both of you.”
The children both smiled at him, and they finished the rest of the meal in comfortable silence. Angela was helping her mother clear the table, when her father walked into the kitchen, looking very serious.
“Angela, Cole. I have news for you.” His expression was grave, but his eyes betrayed absolutely nothing, as to whether or not the news was good or bad.
“Alright.” Angela set the pot she was carrying on the counter, then beckoned for Cole to follow her and her father into the study.
“I was able to determine Garrison’s whereabouts,” he told them, settling into a dark brown leather chair behind a huge oak desk covered by ruthlessly organized stacks of paper. He pushed them all aside so that he could lay his forearms comfortably on the desk. “His clan is located in the Cascade mountains up in southern Oregon, near Mount Thielsen.”
Cole let out a low whistle. “He’s not going to be easy to find, especially considering that it’s probably snowing up there, even now.”
Her father nodded tightly. “You’re going to need to pack for the weather,” he told her. “I’m sure your mother has everything that you’ll need. And I’ll be sending two of my bears with you, as well.”
“That isn’t necessary – ” Angela began.
“It’s absolutely necessary,” her father said with a growl, “especially if you want me to give you the coordinates of their location. I won’t be sending one child off to go to war against another, not without protection.” He sighed. “I would go myself, but…”
“No.” Angela bit back her protest; she’d much rather have two of her father’s shifters come along, than have him put himself in harm’s way. “You need to be here to take care of the clan. I’ll accept the extra manpower, providing that they have their own transportation, and that they won’t hinder the mission in any way.”
“Done.”
Angela stared at her father for a long time. He looked back at her, his expression completely unreadable. “You agreed to all of that way too quickly.”
He scowled. “It isn’t exactly as if I have much choice, is there?” He shooed them away, with a waving motion from his hands. “Now go and get ready, before I change my mind.”
“Are you sure this is such a good idea?” Cole muttered to Angela, when they’d left the room. “I mean…can we trust your father to stay out of this long enough for us to rescue your partner?”
Angela’s lips curved downward. “I wish I could say yes… but the truth is that when it comes to family, my father is just as irrational as anyone.” She squared her jaw as they headed back down the stairs. “We’ll just have to do our best, regardless.
Her mother dug out winter gear for them from the attic – she kept extras of everything and even had a set that fit Cole – and also packed them a cooler full of food for the road. “You two be safe,” she said, kissing them both on the cheek.
“Thanks. We will.” Angela grinned. “I love you Mom.”
“I love you too, daughter.” She hugged her mother, who surprised Angela by hugging her back even more tightly.
“Please make Garrison see reason,” she whispered in Angela’s ears, her voice tight with unshed tears. It startled Angela, because her mother was usually so serene… but then, Garrison was the first foster child she’d taken in, and he’d been a true part of their family, up until the end. “If he won’t… or can’t… come home, I just want him to be at peace.”
“I’ll do my best.” She gave her mother one last squeeze, then hefted the cooler off the counter.
“I’ve got that.” Cole took the cooler off her hands, before she could protest, then smiled at Angela’s mother. “I’ll take good care of her, Genevieve.”
Her mother winked, the tears evaporating from her eyes, like dew from leaves on a summer day. “You’d better, or you’re going to ruin my hopes of having a son-in-law.”
Angela blushed, and Cole laughed. They walked out to the porch, where they found two shifters waiting for them – a blonde and a redhead, one tall and lean, and the other shorter and stockier, but with identical faces – strong jaws, intense blue eyes, and roman noses that added up to a handsome visage. They were already packed, a Jeep parked just a few feet away, waiting for them to load up.
“Ben! Jamie!” Angela smiled broadly, as she moved to embrace them. They were cousins of hers, though they were several hundred years older than she was, and had already been full-grown when she was born. “I’m so glad Dad asked you two to come along.”
�
�It’s good to see you.” Ben’s whiskers tickled her cheek, as he hugged her.
“You don’t come to visit often enough,” Jamie complained, as he embraced her, his cheek smooth and clean-shaven as it pressed against hers. “Who am I supposed to bully and harass when you’re not around?”
“Sorry to disappoint.” Angela laughed. “I’ll try to be a more accommodating punching bag.” She turned to Cole. “These are my cousins, Ben and James Lancaster. Ben and Jamie, this is Cole Avery. He’s my partner on this mission.”
The two brothers nodded, taking Cole’s measure. “You use magic?” Jamie asked.
Cole nodded. “Most of the time, yes.”
Jamie seemed to consider that, and then shrugged. “Alright, well as long as you don’t aim it at us, I’m okay. No need to be turning me into a frog, or anything like that.” He turned toward the steps. “I guess we’d better get a move on, huh? It’s a long drive to the Cascades.”
“Three hundred and forty-six miles,” Cole said, not sounding too happy about it. “We’d better get started, if we want to make it there before nightfall.”
They loaded up their stuff, and took off, Cole careful to keep her cousins in sight at all times, since he was following them. He didn’t speak at all until they were on the I-580. “Son-in-law?” he said, echoing her mother. “I think your mom might have her expectations set a little too high for me.”
Angela shrugged. “My mom just wants to see me happy,” she said, not quite looking him in the eye. She didn’t want to betray the hope that was fighting to blossom in her chest, that he would take those words to heart, and stay. “Especially when it comes to matchmaking. She likes you.”
“I know. And it’s throwing me off.” Cole’s lips curved downward, as his brows drew together. “Even your father, who’s appropriately distrustful of me and protective of you, is throwing me off, because he’s still being far nicer than I have any right to expect from a shifter. But your mother’s kindness and acceptance… it’s just unfathomable to me.”
Angela smiled. “My mother’s a rarity,” she admitted softly. “She’s got a backbone of steel, but a heart filled with sweetness and fluff. She’s the kind of person that would strike you down if you tried to threaten her family, and then patch you up afterwards and send you on your way if she thought you had a good heart. And her instincts are always spot-on in that area.”
“Always?” Cole asked softly. “What about your brother, then? What did her instincts say about him?”
Pain and guilt lanced through Angela’s chest, as she turned her head sharply to face Cole. “That was unfair,” she snapped.
Cole’s gaze was unreadable, as he looked at her, and in that moment she saw him as the cold, ruthless mercenary that he was, and not the tender, passionate lover who’d held her last night, and growled her name in pleasure, as though it were a sacred prayer.
“I’m just trying to understand whether or not he’d always had leanings toward vengeance and darkness, and if your mother knew that when she took him in, or if it was something he developed later on in life. That’s all I meant.”
“Garrison was barely older than a toddler, when my parents took him in,” Angela bit out. “I doubt he had anything other than confusion and grief in his heart at that age, and his pain would have called out to my mother like a beacon. She was pregnant with me when she took him in, so I don’t know how he was then, or how and when he developed his ill will toward mages, or how long it took him to get to the breaking point. But I do know my mother wouldn’t have shunned him, just for developing darker feelings. She nurtured him as best as she could. It’s not her fault that it wasn’t enough for him.”
Cole reached out, and squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry if I upset you,” he said quietly. “I know family is a touchy subject.” He paused. “But… do you think it’s possible that someone else could have been influencing him?”
Angela pursed her lips. “You mean egging him on? I can’t see why anyone in our clan would do that.”
“I know it’s hard for you to fathom anyone in your clan being disloyal,” Cole said gently. “But really, is there nobody that Garrison looked up to? Spent a lot of time with?”
“My father and mother, of course, but they would never put him on such a destructive path.” But suddenly the thought of Ben and Jamie popped into her head. They’d spent a lot of time with Garrison growing up. But that was just to fill in for her father and help teach him how to hunt and fish, and all the other important things a male bear shifter needed to know to survive. They weren’t off teaching him how to hate. “I really don’t think there’s any point in discussing this further.”
“Alright.” Cole gazed doubtfully at her, but to his credit he didn’t press the matter. Sighing, Angela settled back into her seat, struggling to let go of the confusion and anger that had bubbled up inside of her. She couldn’t let it distract her – she needed to be rested and ready by the time they got to the Black Moon Clan.
By the time they crossed the border into Oregon, the sun was more than halfway towards the horizon, and Angela was feeling positively groggy. “Maybe we should make a pit stop soon,” Angela groaned, struggling to sit up. Her ass felt like it had fossilized, or turned into a boulder. “I’ve gotta stretch out, get some life back into these limbs, before we go charging into danger.”
“Looks like your cousins agree with you,” Cole said tightly, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
“Huh?” Angela followed his gaze to see that Ben and Jamie were getting off at an exit that was far too early. Pulling out her cell phone from her jacket pocket, she dialed them. “Hello?”
“Hey Angela. What’s up?”
“Why are we getting off here? We’re not even close to the mountains yet.”
“Oh, we’re just making a quick stop for some supplies,” Ben said nonchalantly. “Shouldn’t take more than fifteen minutes off our trip.”
“Oh. Okay.” She frowned. “You didn’t mention this before we left.”
She could almost hear Ben shrug on the other side of the line. “We didn’t really discuss the itinerary at all, to be honest. I didn’t think it was that important. Really, it’ll be a very quick stop.”
“Okay.” Sighing, she hung up the phone. “I guess we’re making a quick stop for supplies.”
The lines around Cole’s eyes tightened. “Just what kind of ‘supplies’ would your cousins need to stop for? I thought we packed everything we needed already.”
Angela pursed her lips, feeling uneasy. “I don’t really know.”
“And you didn’t think to ask?”
She sat up and glared at him. “You want me to interrogate my own cousins? They’re on our side, you know.”
“Hmm.” Cole only tightened his grip on the steering wheel, and kept his eye firmly on the Jeep.
Fuming, Angela threw herself back into her seat and clenched her jaw. But as they followed her cousins off the highway, through a town, and then down a winding dirt road, her sense of unease grew. Pine trees began cropping up around them, until the dirt road became more of a forest trail, with the very occasional property coming into view.
“I don’t see what they could possibly be picking up out here,” Cole muttered between clenched teeth.
“Maybe they’re picking up something from another clan that lives out here.” That sounded like a pathetic excuse, even to her, the doubt in her voice almost palpable.
“Right.” They crested a hill to see two men waiting for them in the middle of the road. The Jeep pulled off to the shoulder, and came to a complete stop. Cole stopped the car in the middle of the road, but left it running. “Wait here.”
He jumped out of the car, and Angela came right after him, not even remotely considering the idea of letting Cole go head to head with her cousins. What if something happened? She wouldn’t be able to forgive herself if any of them got hurt, especially over a misunderstanding.
“Hey guys,” she said, as Ben and Jessie came around the side of
the Jeep. “What’s going on?”
“Hey Angela.” Ben took a step forward, then stopped when Cole shot him a lethal glare. He stopped, and instead gestured to the two men standing in the middle of the road. They were both young looking and muscular, dressed tight shirts and not-as-tight jeans. From this distance, Angela could smell that they were shifters “This is Jack and Brian. They’re from the Freedom Group.”
Cole’s expression turned thunderous. “You guys are rebels.”
Angela scowled. “What? That can’t be right. No.” She turned to Jamie. “Explain this. Immediately.”
Jamie gave her an apologetic look. “Sorry, cuz, but it’s for your own good. We’ve got to keep you out of the way until Garrison finishes what he started.”
The blood rushed straight out of Angela’s head, and down somewhere into her feet. “No,” she gasped, taking a step back. “No, no, no.” Her knees went out from under her, and she collapsed to the ground, too shocked to be embarrassed about the show of weakness. Cole immediately ran to her side, shielding her from attack, and she stared blankly up at Jamie. “Not you too. Garrison was bad enough, but not both of you too.”
“Sorry Ang.” Ben stepped forward, a grim look on his face. “But we’re the ones who recruited Garrison in the first place. Please don’t fight us… we don’t want to have to get violent.”
Chapter Eleven
“Like hell you are,” Cole growled, stepping forward. He raised his hand and fire lit in his palm. “We’re not going to go down for scum like you. You’re the ones who should get out of our way, before you get hurt.”
“Those are some pretty big words coming from someone who’s out numbered two to one,” one of the newcomers sneered – he thought it was Jack.
“And pretty hypocritical, in my opinion,” Brian added, baring his fangs. “I mean look at you. You’re a hybrid. You’ve been abused by the current regime more than most, probably, and yet you still fight for it.” He laughed. “Sounds pretty pathetic, if you ask me.”
“I didn’t ask you.” Cole took another step forward, holding the flame aloft. “And considering that we’re putting my ability against yours, I’m pretty sure that you’re the ones who are outnumbered.”
Bearly Magic: (Bear Meets Girl: BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Werebear Romance) Page 10
