Angel Blackwood (27 page)

I look down at
the wooden dock beneath my feet as I rub my palm across my
face.
“Not in the
mood?”
I mumble, ever so
softly.

I look up at him
scowling. “I don’t want to argue with you, Tyler.” He crosses his
arms over his chest as he stands firmly. I swallow and force myself
to look at his sparkling eyes.

“I hate arguing with you.
I hate everything that has gone on between us. I hate what our
relationship has come down to.” I wave my hands in the air
gesturing towards the two of us. I watch as the tension in his body
disappears slowly, the hard glare he had on me moments before
evaporating.

“I get what I did to you
and Talon while I was with Drake…” He growls and I watch his jaw
flex. “…was wrong. I get that, I really do. If I could go back and
change everything I would. I don’t know how many times I’m going to
have to apologise to you or him.” I nod my head in Talon’s
direction when I see him walking out of the woods and towards us. I
know he can hear everything I say, so I don’t wait for him to get
to us as I continue to let it all out.

“I’ve done all
I can do and I’ve said all that was left to say, but you continue
to treat me like I’m a piece of shit. I know what I did hurt you
and I know I pushed you away, but not
once
did I
ever
mean
to hurt you.” My voice rises with emotion as I
swallow the lump in my throat. When Talon reaches us he extends his
hand out to me, but I take a step back and lift my hands up shaking
my head. I can feel the pity radiating from them.

I gesture my
hands to the Pack house.
“This
is the first place that made me feel like I had a home and a family
again, but it doesn’t feel that way anymore. My parents aren’t even
around anymore, they’re always busy with pack
stuff. T
hank God for Nixon.” I shake my head when I hear the low
growls coming from their throats.

“I don’t know
wha
t I would have done without
him,” I say, looking from the one to the other.

“You would have been fine
without him,” Tyler scoffs.

I shake my head.

“You did fine without him
before,” Talon says.

“I had you
two
then. Even after the
attack and the way I distanced myself from both, I still knew you
were there for me. The moment I came back and you two found out I
was your mate, you both totally shut me out. The roles are diffrent
now, yet I still crave your acceptance.”

Tyler takes a
step forward
, but Talon pulls
him back and away from me.

“You never
talked to us! You kept so much from
us and you’re still keeping shit from us now! Did you think
you could just walk back in? That everything would be sunshine and
roses?” Tyler’s voice echoes over the lake, but I refuse to cower
away.

“Not once did I
ever expect
sunshine and
roses,
Tyler. I told you why I
did what I did back then, why I kept my distance from you after the
“
attack
”, but you have it drummed into your stubborn
head that everything that comes out of my mouth is a lie. As for
the secrets I’ve got now, they’re none of your damn business, you
don’t need to know shit!” I glare at him as my anger rises, but
Talon’s angry tone interrupts.

“Everything that concerns
you is our business. I know you don’t think that, but you need to
start. We are always here for you, whether you believe it or not.
Even after everything that’s happened, Angel”

My eyes
go wide as I try my best to contain
the energy that is circulating and seeking release. I can feel the
tingling start to build, and I blink away hoping my eyes don’t
shine. I know I’m seconds away from loosing my cool.

“Here for me?” I look at
Talon then Tyler. “Here for me? Where were you when I started to
turn for the first time, Huh?” I look at Talon and watch him gulp,
then again at Tyler. “Where were you when my bones were breaking as
I lay on the muddy forest floor scared out of my mind not knowing
if I was going to survive?”

Looking back at
Talon I say,
“You weren’t
there when I had to learn what heat was…” I look back to Tyler.
“…and you certainly weren’t there when I thought I was going to
burn from the inside out. I thought it was gonna kill me. Either
that or I was gonna jump Nixon, with or without his permission.
Thank-you, Talon for at least being there for the short time that
you were. I know you couldn’t give a shit, but your presence did
help a little and for that I’m grateful. Even though you felt it
necessary to tell me
every
fucking minute
that you didn’t
want to be there.” Talon’s eyes are now glassy, he doesn’t look
like the big tough guy he usually portrays. I want to hold him and
tell him not to be sad, but that’s our bond talking, so I restrain
myself from jumping into his arms. Tyler stands firm, and even
though I can feel his sadness, he continues to portray that stoic,
perfect and unfazed appearance that he has down pat; his attitude
only increasing the anger i am feeling.

I let out a deep growl as I
reach to pick up my shoes.

I move to run fast them but
Talon grabs my arm.

“Angel.”

I can feel the
wind
in my hair and know it’s
time to leave; if only for their safety. I look up to meet Talon’s
eyes. When he see’s mine his jaw drops and so does his
hand.

“What?” I
growl
, feeling my eyes shining
at their brightest.

I shake my head
and lift my head up to look at Tyler. “I’m done with this.”
I
turn and run my hardest into
the woods, clutching my shoes in my hand.

“Wait!” Tyler’s roar
doesn’t stop my hurried steps as I run. I can feel them running
after me, but it only fuels my desire to pick up the pace and run
as fast as I can in the direction of Noelle.

I may be a
physically weak she-wolf when I’m up against other
wolves
, but I know I’m one of
the fastest runners in this pack, both in my human
and
wolf form.

I’m aware of
the
moment I lose the twins
when I hear Talon and Tyler’s howls in the distance. I know they
won’t come near the witch’s camp, so this is my safest bet. Taking
my usual route, I climb over the wall and make my way towards
Noelle’s. Her door is always open and I walk right in to find her
waiting with a cup of sweet ice tea.

“You knew I was coming?”
I ask, breathlessly but smiling as I try to catch my breath from
the long run.

“I had
a hunch,” she shrugs, with a small
smile on her face as she sips her own ice tea. I quickly put on my
shoes, not wanting to track dirt into her house with my now dirty
feet. Once I’m done, she guides me along to sit by the kitchen
counter.

“You’re eyes are still
glowing.” She pats my cheek with a frown on her face.

“They are?” I frown. “I
can’t even feel it. I usually feel it.”

“Well it’s a good thing
you haven’t tried to kill me yet, because usually when those eyes
are shining it means you’re about to do some damage.” She refills
my glass just as I hear the sound of voices heading our
way.

“I am
done
tutoring your little sleaze ball hang-around! You should
hear the things she says to me when you’re not looking, Fabian.
She’s hideous!”

I
smile to myself and my mood is
immediately calmer and at ease when I hear Phoenix’s
whining.

“Phee, just a few more
days I swear. After I get it in, you won’t have to put up with
her.” Fabian’s remark has Noelle instantly turning around and
frowning at her son with disapproval.

“Get what in?” Noelle
asks with a raised eyebrow.

My loud
outburst of laughter has Fabian’s
humiliated face now looking at me. His red cheeks instantly
disappear and disgust takes over.

“What’s she
doing here
again
?” He says to his
mother, taking the bottle of ice tea from her hand and pouring
himself a glass. Phoenix waves at me with a big smile on her
face.

Fabian sits on
the chair opposite to me and glares. “Don’t you have a home? Or
should I say
doghouse
?” He smirks
.

Rolling my eyes
at him I say, “I think your mother asked you a question,
Fabian
.” I rub my fingers across my jaw dramatically. “You were
talking about getting something in?” I smile at him knowing my back
is to Noelle.

His glare deepens and I
spot movement at the corner of his lip. It’s the closest thing to a
smile I’ve got from Fabian since we met, so I’ll take
it.

“Angel, Noelle doesn’t
need to know the details of her son’s man-whorish ways.” Phoenix’s
sweet voice filters through the awkwardness in the room as she
skips past me and takes a sip from Fabian’s glass.

“Do we need to have
another talk, my boy?” Noelle says seriously, as she stands with
her hands on her hips.

Fabian breaks
the tension as he starts laughing,
followed quickly by me and Phoenix. Noelle walks out of the
kitchen shaking her head in amusement. I think she knows she won’t
be getting an answer from Fabian anytime soon.

“So what are you doing
here? Couldn’t stay away from me?” Fabian asks, once our laughter
has died down.

“I came to
visit your mother
actually
. I uh… was
also kinda using your magic-scare-away-wolf charm that is
surrounding this place.” Phoenix frowns. I know she’s probably
gonna want to hear all about it later, she knows everything that
has gone down between the twins and I. Fabian doesn’t know that
Phoenix and I have been hanging out, she doesn’t want him to know
and I can understand why. The dude hates wolves, he doesn’t care
that I’m only a half-blood.

“A wolf using
our m
agic that warns away
other wolves? Who would have thought?” Fabian says
sarcastically.

“Anyways, I’m out. Got
shit to do and people to see.” He pulls Phoenix in for a hug and
kisses her forehead.

“Don’t stay up
to long
, Phee. We leave early
in the morning,” he says, glaring at me.

In other
words
, he’s telling her he
doesn’t want her to be alone with me. She gives me a sad smile then
leaves the kitchen.

“How about I walk you out?” he
says over enthusiastically.

“That’s okay, Fabe. Angel
and I have to talk,” Noelle says, entering the kitchen
again.

“You have a
good night now,
Fabe.”
I smile at him sweetly and just
because I can’t help myself I say, “Don’t forget, wrap it before
you tap it.” Then I wink. I swear I can hear him
growling.

“You and I will
be having
a talk in the
morning young man,” Noelle says with raised eyebrows and a serious
tone. Fabian leaves the house with a glare that promises
revenge.

“That boy is just like
his father,” Noelle mumbles as she sits down on the sofa alongside
me. I can’t help but feel the sadness radiating from her after that
one sentence. I need to change the subject, I’ve had enough sadness
for one day.

“Phoenix you
can come out now,” s
he calls
out, her sadness fully disguised by the little smile that forms on
her lips when Phoenix comes skipping into the room.

“Is he gone?”
S
he quickly peeps out of the
window, closes the curtains, then quickly shuts the front
door.

“He’s gone. Have a seat
Phoenix, I wanted to speak to you both,” Noelle says. Phoenix sits
down on the sofa and crosses her legs Indian style, facing us
eagerly.

Noelle turns to face me.
“Phoenix is one of the strongest young witches around here, Angel.”
I look to Phoenix and she nods her head
enthusiastically.

“It’s true,” she says
smiling. I can’t help but laugh at her honesty.

Noelle continues, “She
helps a lot of the teens to grasp and find their basic magic. I
think we need to teach you the same way. I’m not sure to what depth
your magic goes or what you’re able to do. I know you have healing
abilities, maybe Phoenix should start on that. But Phee…” Her
concerned eyes find Phoenix’s. “…if you think you’re unable to
protect yourself or if you can’t help her control the magic, you
run and you find me right away. Okay?”

Phoenix
nods
, but I can feel the
nervousness now coming from her.

“I know you wouldn’t try
to hurt Phoenix purposely, but we don’t know how well you can
control that magic of yours. I think it’s best we all be careful
until we know you can control it for certain.” Noelle speaks to
both of us.

“When do we start?” I ask
them.

“Tomorrow evening? I
think it’s best you find somewhere you can both meet in the
evenings. Fabian already has a problem with Angel coming here. I
don’t think the other witches will be too happy if they learn that
we’re teaching a wolf our magic secrets either, so let’s keep it
between the three of us.”