Angel Blackwood(76)

I pull up my sleeve, showing him the scar that marks my skin. I point to the pink scarred teeth prints he left at the ceremony. “It looks as if I’m still part of this pack,” I say sarcastically, allowing my anger to fuel my words.

Gasps fill the table as Jacob reaches for my hand, inspecting the scars.

“She hasn’t healed. Why?” He looks to my father, whose eyes are glued to the pink markings.

Grimacing he says, “Clearly her human gene is still very much intact.”

“No shit,” I mumble.

“Angel!” Alex scolds.

I look up at her, showing all the hurt I feel.

“I’m not marrying him. I’ll cut this marking right off before I do that. Hell, I’ll even cut my whole arm off. I’m not marrying him!” I force the words out pointing to the markings.

My father stands up as my mother gasps at my words all teary eyed.

I stand up too.

“You’re willing to leave the pack? You dare disrespect your family like that? Disrespect my pack?” He roars. Alex pulls at his arm begging him to calm down, but he pushes her away.

I look up at him feeling the tears falling. I then calmly look at Alex, then back into his eyes as I speak the words I feel.

“What family? I don’t see any family here, Alpha?” Alex cries harder as my words hit her. The glare that was on Johnny’s face is gone, his eyes lighten and he looks around the room realising what he’s just done and said.

I back away and head back out of the kitchen door. I hear the sound of chairs scraping against the floor.

“Angel!” Johnny calls out to me, making me run harder and faster than I’ve ever had to, away from the pack house and into the solitude of the woods. I hear Alex’s cries and the twins calling my name, but I don’t stop. I run and run as I make my way to the High school. My hair is a mess and my face is all blotchy, but I don’t know where else to go. I pull up my hood, covering most of my messy hair and face from onlookers. I can sense the wolves in the crowd; they’re probably linking with my father right now. I look through the fence at the crowds that fill the stands, looking for the person who has become my rock.

I find Nixon standing with a younger woman. He’s laughing at something she’s saying, looking so happy. I can’t bring him into the middle of this. He’s content in this pack, he’s finally found his happy place... a place to call home.

I hang onto the fencing for a few more moments watching him chat to the pretty lady in the distance. He lifts his head a little and I watch the movement of his nostrils as he smells the air. His smile is gone, I know he senses my presence. I drop my hands from the fence and back away before he has chance to see me.

I can’t go to the witch’s camp, my father will know to look there and I don’t want to bring danger upon them. I send Phoenix a message warning her about my father and what just transpired. I switch my phone off when my mother starts ringing me. When Alex starts trying to get through our pack link I let her in.

“Angel! Come home, let us talk to you. Explain everything better,” she says, sounding worried.

“That place doesn’t feel like a home anymore, Alex. What more is there left to say? You want to ship me off to marry a man I have no desire to marry, all because Johnny wants to make our territory bigger?” I say, heading back into the woods.

“It’s not about making the territory bigger. Caspian can protect you, your human side is weak, Angel. You’re not healing like you should. Even though your special and one of a kind, you don’t appreciate how many people will use that weakness to take over your territory. You need a strong Alpha, your human side just isn’t strong enough,” she says sadly. “Come home, Angel. This is your home!”

“The Wicca side of me is powerful. I don’t need any Alpha to protect me,” I say.

“What?” She says, sounding breathless.

“I know that my grandmother was a witch. I know that if you hadn’t been changed that you would have been a witch too.” I move the branches out of my way as I make my way through the forest.

“What? How? Noelle?”

“Yeah, she was the one to give me the little history lesson that you should have. You and Johnny say there are no lies between pack members. How many lies have you kept from him?” I question.

“Angel, that’s the only thing I’ve kept from him, he wouldn’t understand. Johnny hates witches. Why didn’t you say something at the table?”

“Because I didn’t wanna throw you under the bus. I wanted to hear your explanation first.”

“Ohmigod, I didn’t stick up for you. I’m so sorry, honey. Your father was angry, he wasn’t thinking straight. Please come home. Please. I’ll explain everything to him.” She starts crying and it’s enough to bring tears to my eyes.