Angel's Destiny

by Dawn Sullivan

  She turned to look at Angel, her eyes wide, “You know?”

  Angel smiled gently, motioning toward the two chairs in front of the desk. “Your secret is safe here. Please, have a seat.”

  “Where is Chase?”

  Angel felt a small, painful twinge in the vicinity of her heart as she rested a hip against the desk. “He isn’t here right now. I’m Angel, his mate, and I’m going to make sure you are taken care of until he returns.”

  “We heard,” the bear said softly. “Thank you.”

  “What are your names?”

  They looked at each other in confusion before the one with the pink hair asked, “If you are Chase’s mate, shouldn’t you know that already?”

  That small twinge became a sharp pang as she replied, “Even mates have secrets sometimes.”

  “You’re in a lot of pain, too,” the bear whispered. “So much, that it’s almost crushing you. Please, let me help.”

  “No,” Angel refused. “I need to feel the pain. It will make me fight harder.”

  “She’s like Serenity,” Phoenix said in awe.

  When the bear’s eyes turned to him in surprise, Angel murmured, “Similar, yes. Now, your names?”

  “I’m Alanna Miller,” the bear said quietly, “and this is my friend, Fallon.”

  “I asked the council for help,” Fallon spoke for the first time. “I needed to get Alanna away from her brother. He was hurting her. Abusing her both physically and emotionally. It had to be stopped.”

  “Does he know about your gifts, Alanna?” Angel asked quietly.

  Alanna glanced around the room, then ducked her head, seeming to close in on herself before replying, “Not all of them, but some, yes.”

  “He isn’t just going to let you go, is he?”

  “No,” Alanna whispered, so low Angel almost didn’t hear it.

  Angel moved to stand beside her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, “You are safe now, Alanna. You are under not only my protection but the protection of the entire pack. You do not have to be afraid.”

  “A part of me is terrified,” Alanna admitted.

  “And the other part?” Angel asked, knowing what the answer would be.

  Alanna lifted her head, her dark brown eyes sparking as she snapped, “The other part of me wants to go back and kick that brother of mine in the balls. Unfortunately, he’s bigger and meaner than I am, so it always ends badly when I try.”

  The room filled with laughter, and a small smile lifted the corners of Angel’s mouth. “Tell me, do you wish to stay here?”

  “Is that an option?”

  “I am making it one.”

  Alanna glanced at her friend, then back at Angel, “Yes, please. We want to stay.”

  “Good.” Taking out her cell phone, Angel quickly found the number she wanted. Pressing send, she waited for someone to answer. When they did, she said, “Angel Johnston for the council, please.”

  Alanna’s eyes widened in shock and she sat forward on the edge of her chair. “The council?” she mouthed in alarm.

  Angel nodded, leaning a hip against the desk again, as she waited for the council’s secretary to pick up. “Hello, Charlene. It is good to speak to you again.”

  “Likewise,” came the elegant response. “To what do we owe the pleasure, Ms. Johnston?”

  “I am calling regarding Chase Montgomery.”

  “Yes?” Charlene’s reply was short and guarded.

  “My mate is unable to meet with you at this time,” Angel said, “so I am calling on his behalf.”

  “Your mate?” The shock in Charlene’s voice was obvious, as was the tinge of jealousy.

  “Yes, my mate.” The need to get back to looking for Chase and her children was pushing at her, and it was a struggle to stay civil toward the other woman. “He acquired the two lovely ladies you sent him to get yesterday. They are with me now, and both have chosen to become a part of our pack, so they will stay here.”

  “Oh! We normally don’t do things like that Ms. Johnston,” Charlene stated. “I’m sorry. You will need to bring them here so that we can find a suitable place for them.”

  “Are you insinuating that my pack is not suitable?” Angel asked, her tone low and deadly.

  “Well, no,” the woman hedged.

  “I think I need to speak with an actual member of the council, please.”

  “That’s not necessary,” Charlene protested.

  “It is very necessary,” Angel growled. “Put one of them on. Now.” She was done. She did not have time for this crap. She was out of patience, and Charlene was about to understand why it was a bad idea to piss her off.

  Luckily for Charlene, she was smart enough to know when it was time to give in on her end. “One moment, please.”

  Bran and the two women were staring at her in shock, but Nico and Phoenix were unfazed. They were used to dealing with her, and knew she did not bow down to anyone, not even the council.

  “What can we do for you, Angel?”

  Angel smiled when she heard none other than Dante Reeves answer the phone this time. “Dante, so nice to speak with you again.” And it was. Dante was always kind and courteous, unless forced to be otherwise. She respected him, and knew the feeling was mutual.

  “You as well, my dear. I hear you and the White River Wolves alpha have mated?”

  “Chase is my mate,” she said evasively, because technically they were not fully mated yet, and while she may not bow down to the council, she refused to flat out lie to them.

  “Very good,” Dante replied, and she could hear the approval in his voice. “And Chase and his team acquired the young bear we sent them after?”

  “Yes, she and her friend are right here, Councilman.” She looked over to see Alanna biting her bottom lip in agitation and worry, and she smiled at her hoping to put her at ease. “They have requested a place in our pack,” she continued, “and I have granted that request.”

  There was complete silence on the other line, and then, “Angel, she needs special care and protection.”

  “Which my mate and I are fully prepared to give her,” Angel countered smoothly. “I have claimed her as one of my own.”

  There was a moment before there was a response, and Angel could hear the members of the council talking rapidly in the background. She could not make out the words, but she did not have long to wait. “The request has been approved,” Dante finally said. “We had been trying to decide where to send her, to be honest, but it has been difficult finding a place that we thought would accept her and her unique abilities.”

  “Thank you, Dante. We will take good care of her here.”

  “I know you will, Angel.” He hesitated briefly before asking in concern, “Is Chase okay? He never misses a check-in time.”

  “He will be,” Angel promised, before ending the call.

  “We are putting you in danger,” Alanna whispered. “My brother will never stop looking for me. There are things you don’t know. Things I need to tell you.”

  “Alanna,” Fallon interrupted. “We agreed.”

  “Everything is different now, Fallon. When you become a part of a pack like we are, there can be no secrets from your alpha.”

  “You kept them from Doug,” Fallon reminded her, with a sideways glance at Angel.

  “That was different. Doug would have used them against me.”

  “And how do you know they won’t?” Fallon hissed.

  “Because I do,” Alanna said simply.

  “She’s right, Fallon,” Angel interjected. “I know you have been through a lot, and I don’t expect you to trust any of us right away, but you will learn to. And we will talk, Alanna, but it is going to have to wait. Just know, you are safe here. The pack will protect you while I’m gone.”

  “You’re leaving?”

  “I don’t have a choice.” Turning to Bran, she said, “Take care of them, Bran. I want two enforcers that you trust with your life with them at all times. It is best to keep the
m hidden away for now, just until I’m back.” Walking to the door, she paused and looked back at the women, “I don’t know how long I will be. Bran will be in charge while I am gone. You let him know if you need anything.”

  “Where are you going?” Alanna asked softly.

  “To find my mate.”

  13

  They had been traveling in the back of a cargo van for at least a couple of hours when it suddenly came to a stop. Chase stiffened when he heard what sounded like a helicopter outside. He had no idea where they were, but somehow he knew deep down, if they got on that chopper, it would be the end for them. There was no way in hell he was going to allow that to happen.

  “Don’t go far,” one of the men teased, before opening the back door and hopping out, quickly followed by the other two. He slammed the door shut, leaving Chase and the girls alone in the dark.

  The driver glanced back at them as he opened his door, the overhead light flashing for a brief moment. Chase watched an evil grin spread across his face as he said, “Say your goodbyes now while you can. Soon you will be in the air, and once you reach your destination, one will go one way, while the others go somewhere else.” With a harsh laugh, he stepped out of the van, slamming the door shut behind him.

  “No,” Jade gasped. “They can’t split us up, Chase.”

  “They won’t have to,” Chase told her, leaning down to place a kiss on the top of Hope’s head as he hugged her close. “We aren’t going to give them the chance.”

  “What’s your plan?” Jade asked, her voice filled with worry and resolve.

  “Easy,” he said with a grin, leaning over to place a kiss on Faith’s cheek, and then Jade’s. “When I tell you to, you run. Take the girls as far away as you can. Get the hell out of here. I will do the rest.”

  “No, Chase. I won’t leave you.”

  “You can, and you will. That’s a direct order from your alpha.” He knew she was going to argue, but he stopped her before she could. “Jade, you girls are my first priority. I will fight like hell to get free and follow you, but if I know you have your sisters, if I know you are all safe, I can withstand anything. You get to your mother, and then she will find me.”

  “But I have no idea where they are taking you!” she protested. “I can’t use my gifts. They’ve blocked them with their drugs.”

  “Angel will find me,” Chase promised. “I have no doubt.”

  “Daddy, no,” Hope whimpered, pressing closer to him. “Don’t leave us.”

  “Jade will take care of you, honey. You have to listen to her. Do everything she says, okay?”

  Faith looked up at him, her big blue eyes full of fear, “No, please.”

  “It’s going to be okay,” he told her, running a hand gently down her cheek. “Now, I want you all to shift quickly. And when they open the back doors, run. I will take care of the rest.”

  “How?” Jade asked incredulously as she looked at the chains wrapped tightly around his wrists. They hadn’t bothered to chain up Jade or the twins, thinking they were no threat, but there was no way to break the bindings on Chase.

  “Just do it,” he ordered. “Trust me.” The bastards had wound the chains around his wrists tightly, but left his legs free so that he could walk to the van. There was no way he could shift, but that didn’t mean he was unable to fight. Hearing a noise just outside the back door, he urged, “Hurry!”

  Hope and Faith shifted first, leaving their nightgowns on the floor of the van. Jade reluctantly was next. He knew there would be guns trained on the van. There was no way they had left it unattended. But this was their one and only chance, and he refused to give up until his daughters were free. “Get ready,” he said softly, “and run fast. Really fast. Follow Jade.”

  Jade whined plaintively, and he smiled at her. “Take care of your sisters, sweetheart. I love all of you, so much.”

  The door swung open, and Chase sprang from the floor. He was out of the van and half-way shifted, swiping his claws across the man’s throat. He cursed, wishing he could fully change, but the chains prevented it. He was aware of Jade and the girls slipping out of the van and underneath it while he distracted the men that came at him. He needed to keep the soldiers distracted. He knew Jade was looking for the best way out without drawing attention their way.

  Men came at him from all directions, but Chase didn’t back down. Fighting with his hands bound was difficult, but not impossible, and he would do whatever it took to get his children free. He refused to let the General have them.

  Chase felt the first bullet enter his leg, and he dropped to one knee, but blocked out the pain, getting right back up and taking out two more men. The second bullet went through his shoulder, and the third in his upper arm. They weren’t messing around. No tranquilizers this time. These bullets tore through his flesh, causing excruciating pain, but he fought on. A loud roar left him as he sprang on his next victim, pulling him to the ground and snapping his neck, before rising again to go after the next one. It wasn’t until the fourth bullet hit him that he fell to his knees, struggling to get back up. Blood flowed from his wounds, and he roared again in pain and anger. He’d managed to take out six of his enemies, but he wanted more. He wanted them all dead.

  Someone slammed something into the back of his head, and he grunted as he slumped over into the dirt. Pushing back up, he swiped at the bastard behind him with his claws, but it was a weak move. He’d lost a lot of blood. His vision blurred, dizziness overwhelming him. “Stay down!” a man yelled at him, but he ignored him as he once again tried to force himself back onto his knees. “Dammit, the General wanted this one alive. Someone knock him the hell out!”

  He felt the needle go into his neck, and he struggled to stay awake. He had to know his daughters were free. Snarling, he rolled over and stared up at the sky, blinking rapidly to bring the bright moon above into focus as he listened to what was left of the General’s soldiers as they realized their world had just been royally fucked.

  “Oh, shit!”

  “What?”

  “They’re gone!”

  “What? Where the hell are they? Dammit! You better find them!”

  Chase turned his head to the side, his gaze focused on the van the men were swarming around. They were gone. His babies had made it to freedom. Letting out a sigh of relief, he finally let himself go, giving into the black void that claimed him.

  Jade and the twins hid beneath the van just until she was sure all attention was on Chase, and then they slipped out from under it, making their way quickly across the open ground to a forest of trees beyond. Stopping, she glanced back and watched in horror as Chase fell to the ground, then stumbled back to his feet. Her eyes were glued to him as he attacked one of the soldiers and then another. She had never seen anyone fight like him before. The overall power he wielded was breath-taking, and she couldn’t look away. He was fighting for his family, for them, and it showed.

  A whimper from one of the girls pulled her out of the trance she was in, and she realized they needed to get moving. Chase was trusting her to take care of the twins, and she refused to disappoint him. Nudging them gently with her nose, she pushed them away from the scene of violence and destruction. Reluctantly, they turned and scampered away.

  Jade looked back one last time, freezing when she saw Chase fall to the ground, and not get back up. Fear consumed her as she watched blood begin to pool around his body. She would have run to him if one of the pups hadn’t chosen that moment to whine softly. The decision was taken from her when she met Hope’s light blue gaze. She would not leave them, and she could not lead them back to the General’s men. They needed her. Chase had protected them, knowing full well that he would end up in the General’s clutches. She would do what she knew he wanted. Her heart breaking, Jade rushed the girls out of there, leaving behind her alpha, the man she considered her second father, praying he was still alive.

  14

  Angel stood behind Jaxson, looking over his shoulder as his fingers flew
across the keys of his laptop. He went so fast that she couldn’t make sense of half of it, but he knew what he was doing, and that was all that mattered. It was early morning, and they were no closer to finding Chase and the girls than they were the night before. They were able to rule out a lot of places, but there were so many more to look at.

  Her team was still there, as were some of the White River Wolves, but most had gone home to their families. The ones who remained were on Chase’s special team, the one he took on missions. She’d gotten to know them better over the passing hours, and was impressed with their loyalty and dedication not only to their alpha, but to their pack as well.

  When Jaxson’s hands paused, then moved slowly before pausing again, Angel whispered, “Jaxson, please, give me some good news.”

  Jaxson sighed, running a hand through his thick, dark blond hair, before leaning back in his chair and rubbing his tired eyes. “I have it narrowed down to two places, Angel, but the problem is, they are thousands of miles apart from each other.”

  “Where?” she demanded.

  “One is in California, and the other in the D.C. area.”

  “D.C.,” Steele cut in. “That’s where Jinx was the last time I saw him. Jeremiah too.”

  Angel’s eyes narrowed, “Which one do we try first?”

  “I have one more I think we should look at,” Becca said, tapping her monitor lightly. “The General has a place in Washington. I’m just having an issue finding the exact location. My gut is telling me that he took them there.”

  “Why?” Angel asked in suspicion. Why would Becca choose a place to look more closely at that Jaxson hadn’t? If he’d ruled a place out, he would have a good reason, and she trusted him explicitly.

  “I don’t really know, to be honest,” Becca admitted, “but I have learned to trust my instincts. Right now, they are screaming Washington.”

  “Jaxson?” Angel turned to him for confirmation.

  Jaxson pulled Becca’s laptop closer, then looked at her notes that she had scribbled on a tablet beside her. “I’m impressed,” he said quietly. “But I want to know how you came up with some of these things. They aren’t common knowledge. They can’t be, or I would have found them.”