Sighing, Chase got out of bed and dressed for the day. There was a slight pain in his chest, but he’d shifted several times since they’d gotten home, and he felt almost normal. A little more tired than usual, but Doc Josie said that was to be expected after everything he had gone through. Rubbing his chest absently, Chase left his bedroom and went down to the kitchen for some breakfast. An hour later he was bored as hell, and decided screw the doctor’s orders. He was going to work. He needed to take his mind off everything that had happened, he wanted an update on where everything stood with the General, and he wanted to see his damn mate. Where the hell was she?
Deciding to stop at the park and check on the girls on his way to the office, Chase left his house and walked slowly through the compound. It was bright out, and just a little chilly, but that was the way Chase liked it. Not too hot and not too cold. Shoving his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, he rounded the corner of one of the apartment buildings, and stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. His girls were having fun at the playground in front of him, but they were not alone. He swore half of RARE was with them. Phoenix pushed Faith on the swings, while Serenity stood next to him clapping as Hunter pumped his legs and went higher and higher on his own. Nico and Jenna were with Lily on the slides, and Jade held Hope in her arms nearby. He also noticed that Steele and Storm seemed to stand guard on one side of the playground, while Aiden and Xavier were on the other.
Frowning in confusion, Chase walked over and sat on the bench beside Jade. He let his gaze wander around the compound, noticing the added security features, including cameras and an actual gate that had to be raised before anyone could drive through the front entrance. What the hell had been going on while he was stuck at home? Who had authorized all of this?
“You are supposed to be resting,” Jade teased him, stroking the soft fur between Hope’s ears.
Chase reached over and took Hope from her, cuddling the pup close. A soft whimper left her muzzle, and Chase whispered, “You are safe, sweetheart. Daddy’s here now.” Hope looked up at him with wide, sad blue eyes, and he leaned down to kiss her on top of the head before asking, “What’s up with all of the security?”
“Angel says it is necessary to protect the pack from the General, and anyone else who wants to threaten us.”
Chase glanced around the area again, noticing two of his enforcers in wolf form patrolling near the fence. “This is all Angel’s doing?”
Jade smiled, “She’s been very busy since you came home.”
Yes, it would seem she had. Giving Hope one last kiss, he handed her back to Jade and stood. “Do you know where she is now?”
Before she could reply, he heard someone calling his name. Turning, he was surprised to see Alanna and Fallon walking his way. “Hello, Alpha,” Alanna said, smiling at him. “I’m glad you are out and about. We were getting worried.”
“Thank you, Alanna.”
She laughed, her brown eyes sparkling with a hidden humor he hadn’t seen from her before. “You didn’t expect to see us still here, did you?” When he shook his head, she said, “Your wonderful mate got permission from the council for us to stay. She is a woman sent by the Gods.”
“Yes, she is,” Chase agreed, wondering just where the hell his woman was.
Alanna reached out and touched his chest, whispering softly, “May you be free of pain, Alpha, and know how much I appreciate you and yours.”
Chase gasped, wonder filling him as a bright light seemed to enter his chest, moving through his chest, over his arms, then down his waist and legs, until it had swept throughout his entire body, wiping all pain and stiffness left from his captivity in its wake. He looked at Alanna in shock. “What did you do?”
Alanna smiled a gentle smile. “Now you know my secret, Alpha. One I have already shared with Angel. It is why the council sent you to rescue me. In the wrong hands, I am not just a healer, but I could be used as a weapon.”
Chase covered the hand on his chest with his own, smiling in understanding. “Your secret is safe with me, Alanna.”
“I have more secrets,” she whispered, lowering her eyes to the sidewalk.
“They will wait for another day,” he told her.
Nodding, she and Fallon said their goodbyes, and Chase looked around to see if anyone had caught on to what had just happened, but no one seemed to be paying attention. No one except Steele Maddox. He met Steele’s gaze, and taking a deep breath, walked over to the other man. Josie had told him that Steele and Storm had refused to leave his daughters’ sides while he and Angel were gone, guarding them with their lives. It was something he would expect them to do for Jade, but not Faith and Hope. They may have just been doing their job, but they deserved to be thanked for it.
Chase stopped beside Steele, folding his arms across his chest as he stared at Faith on the swing. “Thank you,” he said gruffly, “for taking care of my girls while I was gone.”
“It was nothing that you haven’t done for me,” Steele replied.
Chase turned to look at him, into eyes so much like his son’s. “I wanted to bring Jinx home. I failed.”
Steele shook his head, “No, Chase, you didn’t. You gave my son something he has never had before. Love and acceptance. A place to come home to when he is ready. You were willing to give your life for him. Loving him, even knowing who he is and the life he has been forced to live, is a gift beyond measure. You have failed at nothing.”
Steele held out a hand to him, and after a moment Chase clasped it with his own. “We will bring him home someday.”
“Yes,” Steele agreed, “we will.”
Saying goodbye, Chase left, crossing the street to his office building. So much had happened since he’d been taken, that it was a lot to take in. And it all seemed to be centered around Angel. She had done numerous things for not only her team, but his pack. Giving of herself, just as an Alpha’s mate should.
Lost in thought, he opened the door to his office, and froze. There, sitting behind his desk in his black leather chair, was his beautiful mate. Her long blonde hair flowed freely down her back, her intense blue gaze on the woman in front of her as she said, “Jaxson has done a background check, and as far as I can tell everything is legit on this one, but I want you to personally check it out before we accept the mission from the council, Sable. Take one of the other enforcers with you.”
“Are you sure?” Sable responded. “Chase normally likes to check everything out himself first.”
Angel’s gaze left hers and connected with his, a small smile crossing her lips. “Your alpha is going to be busy for the next few days. Look into it, get back to myself or Chase with your opinion, but don’t be gone too long. One of the council members will be here on the next full moon, and I expect you to be back by then.”
“Yes, Angel,” Sable said, rising. “Thank you for trusting me with something like this. I will take Aiden with me, if you approve.”
“Of course.” Chase was surprised to see Angel get up and come around the desk, giving Sable a quick hug. “Be safe.”
Sable returned her embrace before turning toward him. “I hope you are feeling better, Alpha.”
“I am.” And he was. He felt remarkably well after everything he’d been through, thanks to Alanna and whatever healing powers she possessed. “I will see you when you get back from your mission, Sable.”
With a grin of anticipation, Sable nodded and left the room. Chase slammed the door behind her, turning the lock before facing Angel. “You’ve been running from me.”
“Never again,” she promised.
Chase frowned, “You haven’t been to see me in days.”
“I was taking care of things here so that you could rest…and I was waiting.”
“What the fuck for?” he growled, slowly stalking toward her. He was done waiting. She was his, dammit, and it was time she realized that.
He saw the excited gleam in her eyes before she responded, “For you.”
Chase could not
stop the low growl from erupting, and he knew his eyes had gone wolf. His sharp fangs lengthened, biting into his bottom lip. Stopping in front of her, he slipped his fingers into her hair, fisting it to hold her still. “Tell me again,” he growled. “I need to hear it.”
He did not have to say what it was that he needed to hear. Angel already knew. Her features softened and she leaned into him. “I love you, Chase Montgomery. I am yours, now and forever. Heart and soul.”
Chase’s eyes went to her neck, and he couldn’t look away. The need to mark her, to claim her as his, clawed at his insides. The zipper of his jeans bit into his hard, straining cock, and he wanted to sink balls deep into the beauty in front of him. “We need to go home where I can do this right,” he rasped, giving into the need to stroke his tongue down the length of her neck, gently raking his fangs over the soft skin. “Fuck, we need to go now before I take you here on my desk.”
Angel tilted her head to the side, sliding her fingers into his thick, dark hair and pulling him closer, “I don’t need a bed, Chase. I need my mate. Now!”
Chase snarled loudly, opening his mouth wide over her shoulder, his whole body shaking with the need to claim what was his. He ground his aching dick into her, groaning as he slipped a hand under her shirt and up, over her soft skin to cup her breast.
“Chase, please.” He couldn’t hold back any longer. As much as he wanted to take the time to worship her body like it deserved, there was no way he would be able to wait.
“Are you sure?” He would give her one last chance, even though he knew it was futile.
Angel leaned back, her light blue eyes lit with need. “Yes.”
One word, so short and simple. It was all he needed. Sliding his hands down, he quickly undid her jeans, slipping them from her legs along with her panties. His jeans quickly followed, along with her shirt. Not giving a shit what was on his desk, he reached behind her and shoved it all on the floor. Grasping her hips, he lifted her and gently sat her on the surface of the cherry wood. Leaning down, he traced her lips with his tongue before shoving past them and claiming her mouth with his. He wanted to be gentle, he really did, but a year was a long time to go without claiming your mate.
I don’t need gentle, Angel whispered into his mind. I don’t want it. I want you, Chase, deep inside me. I want it hard, and I want it fast. I need it. I need to feel you alive, in me, over me, biting me.
It was exactly what he needed, and he was done fighting it. Grasping Angel’s hips, he pulled her to the edge of the desk, guiding his cock to her entrance, and sliding deep into the slick hotness. He shuddered when she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him even deeper.
“Chase,” she gasped, lying back on the desk and tilting her hips up. “That feels so good. So right.”
“Yes,” he agreed through clenched teeth, his eyes on the sight before him. She was so damn beautiful, laid out in front of him. Her pert breasts rose with every ragged breath she took, her golden skin so soft, her back arching off the table as she pushed closer to him. She was so gorgeous, and she was all his. Finally.
With a firm hold on her hips, Chase began to move, sinking deep inside her, before pulling back, and then doing it again. He couldn’t get enough. She was so hot, so wet, so tight. He moved faster and faster, low growls of pure lust rising from his throat, the need to bite her pushing at him. “Angel,” he growled, “there’s no going back. You are mine.”
Her eyes opened, glowing brightly with pleasure, and she raised up off the table, baring her neck for him. “I’ve always been yours.”
The words had no sooner left her lips, than Chase covered her shoulder with his mouth, sinking his fangs deep. “Mine,” he grunted around his fangs, holding on tightly to her. “Mine.”
Angel threw her head back, crying out as she came hard. Then she found her mating bite on his neck and bit down hard. He came instantly, breathing heavily as he continued to pound deep inside of her until he was spent, his mate’s voice echoing in his mind. Mine!
Angel held Chase close, refusing to remove her fangs from him. Suddenly she was enveloped with a feeling of warmth and happiness, and she literally felt their souls unite as one. Then came the power, more than she’d ever felt before, washing into her, surrounding her, then settling deep inside, as if waiting until it was needed. There was so much of it that she could not hold back her gasp of stunned surprise.
Chase gently removed his teeth, licking at the mate bite, before placing gentle kisses over it. A tremor ran through her at the sensual feel of his mouth against her skin, and she removed her fangs to return the favor.
“I love you, Angel Johnston,” Chase said quietly. “I always have, and I always will.”
Angel smiled at him, tracing his face with her fingertips. “We are one now, my love. United, and stronger than ever, just like you said we would be. I feel the power inside me. I feel you, your strength and wisdom.”
“The power comes not only from us, but from the pack,” Chase explained, kissing her fingers as she brushed his lips with them. “As my Alpha mate, you share that power with me.”
“I had no idea,” Angel confessed. While she had felt some power from her team as their alpha, this was so much more.
“I don’t expect your team to accept me as their alpha.”
“They already do,” Angel told him.
“They do? All of them?”
“Yes,” Angel said, sliding her fingers into his hair and pulling him close. “On the next full moon, one of the council members will be here to facilitate our mating ceremony. At that time, all members of my team, along with Alanna and Fallon, will be officially accepted as a part of the pack.”
“You’ve been busy, my mate,” Chase growled, lowering his head to lick his mark again.
“Yes,” Angel whispered breathlessly, arching into his touch as his fingers skated over her body.
“I think I am going to keep you very busy in the future,” Chase rasped, shoving deep inside her again as he bit down.
Angel screamed, unable to hold back, as she raked her claws down his back. “Chase!”
“Very busy,” he groaned.
23
Three days later, Chase and Angel stood under the full moon, facing each other. They had just completed the ritual that bound her team, along with Alanna and Fallon, to the White River Wolves, making them a part of the pack. Now it was time for their mating ceremony, but Chase felt the sadness in his mate. She looked up at him, trying to hide her emotions behind a brilliant smile, but he knew better. There was a part of her missing tonight, on a night that should have been one of the happiest in her life, and she felt it deeply.
She was dressed in a long white gown, the same one his mother had worn when she mated his father so long ago. The same one Jenna wore in her mating ceremony with Nico. It was a tradition in their family, and it had meant the world to him when Angel agreed to wear it. Her hair was left loose, falling down her back in gentle curls, with a wreath of white roses adorning her head. She wore a blue necklace that matched the color of her eyes, and a matching ankle bracelet, her feet bare. She was exquisite, and Chase could not wait to have her to himself. But first, they needed to finish the mating ceremony. And that could not happen just yet.
Council Elder Jacques Moreau stood in front of them dressed in a long white robe, holding the ceremonial knife. Jade, Faith, and Hope stood beside Angel. Jade held Hope close, the child still in her wolf form. No matter what Chase and Angel tried, she still refused to shift. Chase looked down into Angel’s eyes, overwhelmed by the love he felt for her. They were surrounded by family and friends, but still, one person was missing. And he was going to do everything in his power to fix that.
“Chase, Angel,” the council elder said, with a small smile, “are you ready?”
“Not yet,” Chase responded, reaching out to gently run a hand down Angel’s hair, before cupping her cheek. “I will be right back, my love.” Her eyes widened in surprise, but she nodded.
&nb
sp; Ignoring the curious stares of his wolves, Chase left the clearing where everyone was gathered and quickly made his way through the trees and up a steep incline. He found what he was searching for at the top. “I’m glad you could make it, son.”
Jinx stared out over the land below, at where the three small fires were lit for the ceremony. “How did you know I was up here?”
“I felt you.”
Jinx turned, his eyes narrowed on him, “That’s impossible. I was masking my presence. Not even my dad or Angel knows I’m here.”
Chase shrugged, “You must not have been hiding from me then.” When Jinx glanced back down at the flicker of flames below, Chase took a step toward him. “Why don’t you come join the ceremony?”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“I wouldn’t be welcome,” Jinx said shortly. “I would ruin it for you. No one wants me there.”
“Not true, Jinx. Angel does, and so do I. Your sisters, your father, your aunt and uncle. We all want you there.”
Chase saw the battle Jinx was fighting before he whispered, “I’ve never been wanted before.”
Chase walked slowly forward, then rested a hand gently on the young man’s shoulder. “You are wanted, Jinx.”
“If the pack sees me, the General could find out.”
“My wolves will keep your secret if I tell them to. But what if he does find out? Worst case scenario, you come home, where you belong.”
They stood in silence for a moment before Jinx finally nodded. “We better go. Angel’s getting worried.”
Chase laughed, “She’s probably thinking of ways to run, but it is too late for that.”
Jinx grinned, his white teeth flashing in the night. “Way too late.”
When Chase and Jinx entered the clearing just moments later, Chase felt the tension rise not only in the man next to him, but in everyone else. Raising his voice, he declared, “This is Steele and Angel’s son, Jinx. I claim him as my own son. He is a member of this pack, even if he does not choose to officially become a part of it right now. You will show him the respect an alpha’s son deserves.”
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