Angels POV
I had woken up and was terrified to see faces I didn't know staring at me, only calming down when I saw Jake's face and that of my aunt and uncle. The last thing I remember seeing was Jason about to mate with me. I remember screaming and feeling this pressure building in my head that I was able to release. The force sent Jason flying as I was again submerged in total darkness. Aunt Marie rushed over to me, tears in her eyes. I could tell she truly feared I had been lost. As we comforted each other, Jake attacked a man whose name, I think, was Henrik. I could sense strong, powerful waves coming from him, but I wasn't sure why.
'He's a witch, and finally, we are back!' Star stirred in my head.
'Oh my goddess, I have missed you. How can you tell he's a witch?
'I can't sense wolf in him or anyone he's standing with. The only beings with power like that are witches. Strong witches. We need to calm Jake down. I can sense his wolf trying to take control."
I walked over to Jake and instinctively placed my hand on his chest. Almost instantly, his breathing steadied at my touch. Suddenly, an older man appeared in front of us, holding the witches in place, stopping them from retaliating. I told Jake I wanted the pleasure of killing Jason myself for what he had done to me. And I didn't mean just physically but mentally. The older man looked at me with a stern, cold look and outright refused to allow me near Jason.
"Who are you?" I asked him as confusion washed through me.
Who was this man that was telling me he didn't want me anywhere near Jason? He had no authority over me. He was neither my guardian nor was he, my mate. When I asked him who he was, he looked hurt. I felt guilty, but how could I hurt someone I hadn't met before? Aunt Marie walked over to me and hugged me before telling me we needed to talk. Jake had asked everyone to leave the room except for us. Even the unknown man waited outside.
"What's going on?" I asked them.
"Angel baby, that man out there he.... he is your dad." Squeezing my hand, Aunt Marie gave a small smile.
"No, my dad's dead!" I looked at Uncle Nick. "You told me yourself; you said he died not long after you got him to the pack hospital!"
"I did what I was asked, Angel. While he was unconscious in the hospital, the Moon Goddess summoned his spirit to her magic lake. She told him he needed to play dead to save you and eventually defeat Jason."
"What about me? I have grown up without a dad. Clearly, I didn't mean anything to him; otherwise, he wouldn't have left me. I love you guys, but I've always wished I could have my mum and dad back, you know that. You could have told me. I can keep secrets. I've done it my whole life!" I struggled to hold back the tears as I opened up.
Jake came and sat beside me, placing his hand on my knee. I felt the sparks I had felt back at the waterfall. They instantly calmed me down. There was no doubt whatsoever in my mind. Jake was my mate; I could feel it stronger now that I had turned eighteen.
"Baby, your dad regrets leaving you. He's been keeping tabs on you. He has had someone watch you to keep you safe. Granted, he was very successful in that department, but his intentions I believe to be good. And it was your dad that found you in that hotel. He got there minutes before us. You can sense I'm not lying to you, Angel. I will NEVER lie to you." Jake told me, his eyes never once leaving my own.
"Bu... but why would Selena make him do it." I again broke down, crying into Jake's chest as he held me tight. This was too much to take in at once.
A knock at the door, and William ... my dad, walked in. He looked at my distressed state and dropped to his knees, tears of his own cascading down his face. I crawled over to him, and he gently grabbed me. He stared at me through his water-filled eyes and smiled.
"You are so beautiful, my darling daughter. You look so much like your mother. She, too, was a rare beauty with extraordinary gifts, which you also possess. I couldn't be prouder of the young lady you have become, and I know that your mother would be too. I know I have let you down by not being present in your life, but I swear on my life that I only did it to protect you. If the world knew I survived, you would have died. Selena told me, even though it went against her rules." He began to cry again. "Please forgive me, my daughter. I will spend the remainder of my life making it up to you."
His embrace felt warm, and a familiar calmness washed over me. One I hadn't felt since I was a child. I didn't remember much about my dad, but I remembered what his hugs felt like. I felt safe.
We spent the next hour just talking. I was shocked to find out he hadn't spoken to Uncle Nick since the day he 'died,' but I guess that was how they had to be. What shocked me, even more, was that he didn't tell Aunt Marie my dad was alive. She always saw straight through him, but even she missed this.
"Shit." Jake growled. "Angel, I need you to go with Sid for me. As your gamma, he will keep you safe. Sid, I need you to take her and Marie to the safe room on my floor."
"Yes, Alpha. Follow me, please, ladies." Sid gestured for me to take his hand.
"Jake, wait, what's going on? It's Jason. Please don't send me away." I begged him as I sidestepped Sid.
"Angel, it could be. Border patrol has spotted rogues on the south side of the territory. Please, I promise you will be safe."
"Jake, if I may be of assistance." Uncle Nick wanted to fight.
"Stay with Angel. It's your job as gamma, after all, is it not?" Jake replied with a knowing smirk.
Before Uncle Nick could respond, Jake left the room and headed to the border. Aunt Marie began following Sid, waiting for them to reach the stairs. I bolted in the other direction.
"COME BACK!" Sid shouted after me.
As we headed to the border, three rogue wolves appeared behind me and began to growl.
'Let's do this!' Star snarled, forcing her way forward.
As soon as I shifted, the wolves lunged for Star, but they didn't stand a chance. She leapt to the side faster than we had before, making them barrel into each other. While they lay there unconscious, a sandy colour wolf ran up behind me, bowing its head. Sticking her snout in the air, Star knew this was Sid. Star took off again, trying to find Jake, only to find him surrounded by wolves. Seeing our mate in trouble, Star growled, distracting them long enough for Jake's wolf to kill two of the wolves. While Jake's wolf leapt onto another, Star grabbed one by the back leg, shaking it with such mite that it came off, causing them to shift back into their human form.
While watching him begin to heal, a chocolate-coloured wolf took advantage and jumped on my back, biting the scruff on my neck. Star whimpered as the wolf stuck its teeth into the back of her neck and began spinning around, throwing the wolf off. The wolf whimpered as it hit a tree shifting back to reveal a dark-haired woman. She couldn't have been much older than me. She came at me, picking up a silver knife that was thrown to her by a rogue who had been fighting in his human form. Star shifted back, giving me control as I stared at the unknown she-wolf.
"CRYSTAL, PUT THE FUCKING KNIFE DOWN!" Jake roared, coming up behind me.
"So, this must be the slut that you chose over me. Well, no matter, I have my mate, and he wants her dead!" Smiling, she turned her neck, revealing a mark.
"Who is your mate?" Jake snarled while looking at the mark on her neck.
"Jason is your mate. Do you know what that animal did to me? What he tried to do to me?" I shouted at her through gritted teeth. How could anyone want to be with someone capable of such things?
"If you mean mate with you for your power, then yes. Please don't pretend you didn't enjoy it. From what I've heard, you practically writhed under his touch, begging him to take you."
"LIAR! HE TRIED TO RAPE HER. YOU DELUDED SLUT!" Jake roared.
With that, Crystal ran toward me, aiming the knife at me but was knocked aside by Jake.
"AH!" She screamed as she realised she missed me, and the knife ended up grazing her ankle.
Before she could stand, Jason appeared out of nowhere by her side. Jake stepped in front of me, preventing him from looking at me. Jason growled at Jake for his move before turning to help his injured mate off the floor and carrying her away.
"CRYSTAL!" Jake shouted, getting her attention. "I, Jake Anderson, Alpha of the Moonlight Pack, hereby banish you, Crystal Baxter making you a rogue and enemy of my pack!"
As Crystal began to scream from her link to the pack breaking, a witch appeared and teleported them away.