Her Guardian Angel (Fire and Snow)(5)

"Don't know that I ever want to be mated if I have to look like you do right now bro--you look like a damn love sick kitten." Conner told him in an amused tone.

Dominic's lips quirked into a lopsided grin as he remembered his mate’s nickname for him.

"That's what she called me, you know? 'chaton'... Looked it up this morning. It's French for kitten."

That had Conner instantly roaring with laughter, Dominic couldn't help but join his brother, as he hoped like hell that he didn’t have to wait too long before he would meet his mate in person.





Chapter One

Four years later...

The gravel crunched under the soles of Adele's shoes as she walked through the cemetery. Some days she still couldn't quite believe she was gone. Her tears started before she left the path to walk down the row toward her mother's grave. She swiped at her eyes with her free hand, frustrated at herself that she still fell apart whenever she thought about her Maman. Adele wasn't really looking where she was going, not that it mattered. She was quite sure she could find her way blindfolded at this point in time. When she reached her destination, she set about cleaning the tombstone off and neatening it up. Then she carefully placed her six deep purple roses, her mother's favourite, in the special vase built into the top. As she sat down in front of the tombstone, she buried her face in her hands and cried. Four years later the wound to her heart and soul still felt so fresh, like it had remained open and continued to bleed.

"Ma mère précieux, tu me manques tellement."

My precious mother, I miss you so much.

After several minutes she managed to rein in her emotions. She pulled out a tissue, dried her face, blew her nose and took a few deep breaths. She had things to tell her mother but she couldn't afford to sit here all day in the sun, she had studying to do. Opening her eyes, she looked up at the tombstone, reading the words she had so carefully chosen four years ago:

'In Ever Loving Memory Of

Fleur Petit

26-5-1972--20-11-2007

Loving Mother of Adele

As a mother you cared for me,

the Lord will now care for you'

In a quiet whisper, Adele began to tell her mother about everything that was happening in her life.

"I'm nearly finished Maman. My last exam is on Thursday, then I'm all done with Uni. You'd be so proud. I got my honors completed too. Your petit fille will soon be a qualified nurse and paramedic. If only I could find a job. I really don't want to be stuck working inside a hospital all the time. I think I'm going to have to leave here, Maman."

Adele let out a sigh. Leaving was going to be hard but staying here surrounded by memories and reminders of her mother wouldn’t be any easier. It had been unbearable at times over the last four years. She’d been feeling the beginnings of depression claw at her. She needed to get away, get a fresh start or she would remain stuck in her mother’s shadow, forever grieving.

"I've found a few openings coming up in Tasmania. They're in Devonport, Strahan, Rosebery and Hobart. I'm sure I'll be able to land one of them. I think I'll like Tasmania, it doesn't get as hot in the summer, for one thing. You know how well me and summer heat get along. Most of the jobs aren't going to start until the new year so I've got time to finish up before moving over. I figure, new year, new start--what better time to go."

Tears pricked her eyes again as she thought about not being able to come for her weekly visits with her Maman.

"I'm going to miss being able to come. I thought maybe if I take a photo, I can still sit and talk with you. I spoke with Chrissy and she's going to come visit on your birthday each year and tidy up for us."

Adele glanced down at her watch and discovered it was later than she had thought. Time always seemed to fly when she was with her Maman.

"Okay, Maman, I've got to get moving, I need to study for my exams. I don't think I'll be able to make our weekly visits for a few weeks, but I'll make sure I come and visit again before I leave."

Adele stood and stretched out her muscles that were cramping from sitting down for so long. She laid a kiss to the top of the tombstone before heading back towards her car.

As Adele reached for her door she got a strange feeling like she was being watched. She turned back toward her mother's grave and stopped still as she tried to wrap her mind around what she saw. Was that a leopard under the tree near her mother's grave? She rubbed her eyes, looked again and this time nothing was there. She shook her head and climbed into her car, thinking to herself that she was getting too caught up in her dreams if she was now seeing leopards in real life.

~ * ~

He didn't get to do this nearly as often as he would like to. In his teenage years after Dominic first shifted at fifteen, he would go for runs through the mountains regularly but now he was an adult and had responsibilities, he simply didn't have the time.