Filed to story: Cara Nelson The Guardian: Werewolf Book PDF Free
I watched as Anders moves to stand beside Clint putting his hand on his shoulder. I thought Clint was going to break down right there. I’m not sure how I would feel if I found out my mate, if Angel, gave her life for me. It’s definitely something to consider, because when she realizes that she’s my mate, it’s exactly what she will try to do.
“If you will all excuse me for a moment, I need a minute.” Clint turns and rolls himself down a hallway and into a room that I’m guessing is his bedroom.
Angel stands and comes to me. “Should Alessia not have said anything? Lily wanted him to know.” She looks to me and I’m not sure if she needs comfort or confirmation, but I give her both.
I cup her face in my hand as I respond. “He’s waited 13 years to know what happened to her Guardian spirit and now, not only has he met Alessia, but he found out that Lily gave her life for him. It’s a lot to take in all at once.” I say and look to where Rik is holding Cara as she cries into his chest.
Rik looks at me and an understanding passes between us. These women, these Guardians, give their lives for those they love and protect. It’s not something either he or I am willing to live with. I’ll have to find a time to speak to him to see if he’s found a way to keep Cara from taking a bullet, real or metaphorical, for him.
Anders goes to follow Clint. They have been friends most of their lives. I pull Angel in and kiss her forehead. “Let’s open the wine. Would you like some?”
Cara dries her eyes. “I’m sorry, it’s a lot to find out that your mother made such a sacrifice for you.”
Rik runs his thumbs across her cheeks helping to wipe her tears. “Yes. It’s very difficult to know that someone you love would trade their life for yours.” He says to her and gives her a meaningful look. So, this isn’t a new conversation for them. I definitely need to speak to him about it.
Cara reaches out her hand. “I won’t be having any, but I’m happy to pour wine for everyone.”
Angel steps away from me. “I’ve actually never had any.” She looks at me and shrugs as I hand the wine to Cara. “I never really had the opportunity.”
I step up to her again, putting my hand on the small of her back. “Why don’t you try it and see if you like one of them, there’s a white and a red, since I didn’t know what we were having for dinner.”
Rik turns to me and smiles. “Oh, Thursday nights are always steak nights. It’s apparently a thing that our fathers have been doing for years. It’s only since Cara and I started dating that I was invited to attend as well.”
“Joke’s on you Alpha, because tonight it’s ribs for dinner.” Cara says to Rik and I can see the love in both their eyes. I look at Angel. Yeah, I want that in our future.
“I hear congratulations are in order.” I say to Rik.
“Yep.” He says giving Angel and I each a glass of wine. “I can’t wait to meet my little Peanut. Did Cara tell you we’re having a girl?” I see Cara roll her eyes behind his back.
“We don’t know it’s a girl yet.” Cara says and Rik looks at us and mouths silently, ‘It’s a girl.’
Clint and Anders walk out, Clint still sniffling and looking like he just sobbed his
$15 BONDS heart out, which I’m guessing he did.
Angel walks over to him. “I’m so sorry.”
Before she can say anymore, he stops her. “No, I’m glad you told me. Lily wanted me to know and it makes some things that happened in those last couple of days make sense. And before we get to our dinner, I want you to know that I’m so thankful that we’ve found you, or that you’ve found us. I know that the bond that we shared when you were Andra is no longer there, Donovan can feel that the bond is different, but there is still a familial bond. I hope that Alessia can feel it too?” Angel nods her head. “Good. We are family. I don’t know what has happened to you or why no one could find you for so long, but you are here now and you are not alone. We are all your family now.” Clint gestures around the room.
Angel looks around and sees everyone nodding in agreement. I see her eyes well with tears and I walk to her, running my hand over her hair. She sniffs and looks up at me. “I’m okay, it’s just been so long since I had anyone to call family.”
I had no idea when I agreed to come to Cara’s house for dinner that it would be this emotional. There’s so much going on, so many emotions, so many memories that are coming to the forefront. It’s a bit overwhelming.
Liam has been very supportive. I’m glad he’s here. I’m not sure I could do this without him.
“Anders, you want to help me with the ribs? Cara, are you ready with everything else?
“Yep, we’ll get the table set while you go pull the ribs off the slow cooker.” She says to Clint before looking at us. “They’ve been cooking for several hours. They should fall off the bone.”
I follow her to the kitchen. “What can I do to help?” I ask.
Rik goes to the oven and begins pulling out what looks like twice-baked potatoes, some sort of vegetable casserole and something else that smells like mac and cheese.
“It all smells delicious.” Liam says, coming up behind me and putting his hand. on my hip. I’ve noticed that any time I move away from him, he makes sure that he moves close again, touching me. I don’t mind, it helps me to feel relaxed in this new environment.
Cara hands us some platters and tells us to put them on the table. We’re all moving to the table when Clint and Alpha Anders come in with a huge amount of ribs.
Clint and Anders sit at each end of the table, with Cara and I sitting beside Clint and across from each other and Rik and Liam sitting beside Anders and across from each other.
When we’re all seated, Anders speaks up. “So, Angel, we didn’t get a chance to be formally introduced. I’m Alpha Anders, the previous Alpha for Canyon Ridge Pack and this fine fellow is my son, Rik, the current Alpha.
“It’s nice to meet you both.” I say as food is passed around and I watch as all four men pile so much food onto their plates that I don’t see how they will be able to eat it all. Cara isn’t too far behind them, filling her plate to nearly overflowing. By comparison, my plate looks practically empty. No wonder Liam keeps telling me to eat, if he thinks this is how much I’m supposed to be eating.
Clint looks at me. “You are welcome to have as much food as you want. There is plenty.”
“I’m fine, thank you.” I say and bite into the ribs. The familiar taste hits my tongue and I close my eyes enjoying the memories of sitting around a campfire, eating this meat.
“This is bear, right?”
Every head at the table looks at me. “You know what bear tastes like?” Rik asks me.
I shrug, not sure if I should say anything. I am in a room with three Alphas. “My family and I were rogues for six years. During that time, my father caught a few bears, which was great because it fed us for several days.” I said, watching their reactions to me being a rogue. No one said anything or looked like they were going to kick me out.
“Your father must have been quite a strong wolf to kill several bears.” It’s Clint that comments.
“He was the lead warrior in our pack. After we left, our Alpha searched for us for years. We had to move frequently when they’d find us or get too close. It wasn’t until one of my father’s friends found us and realized that my parents left for me that we ended up with a stable home.”
“What do you mean? How did his friend finding you give you a stable home?” It’s Alpha Anders that asks this time.
I explain the meeting with Jude and how he let us use his cabin, provided us with a burner phone and kept us informed of the search. “It gave us a few years of peace before everything fell apart.”
Clint reaches out and takes my hand. “Let’s finish dinner before we get into the heavy details.” He says and I’m grateful. I’m having a hard time swallowing thinking back to those days.
It’s quiet for a moment before I pick up another rib. “So, who caught this bear?” I ask, taking a bite. When I realize no one has answered me, I look up to see everyone looking at Liam. He’s looking uncomfortable.
+
He turns to look at me. “I did.”
I frown. “You caught a bear and brought it to Cara and Clint?” I ask. Why wouldn’t he take it to his pack?
I see Rik lean back in his chair, a smirk on his face. Liam scowls at him before turning back to me. “Cyran killed it for Artemis.”