Authors Note: If only I could place in some eerie music at the end of the last chapter...lol. I want to thank you all for you comments and for your votes. I never would have thought that this story that was always in the back of my mind would take off like this. But it all is thanks to the readers. Without your comments and encouragements, I probably would have stopped with chapter 3โwhere I made big mistakes with the POV.
I hope you continue to read this story and make comments. Never realized it before how the comments really help inspire the writer and encourage the author to write the chapters faster. :)
Well enjoy this chapter. What will happen now? *eerie music inserted* lol.
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Cullen was enjoying his pack members smiling and having a good timeโeven if they had to share their meal with the MacNare pack members. Cullen was reaching for his cup of ale, when he heard the scream. He spit his ale out, letting the cup drop, and was up on his feet running to the door. He knew right away, that it was Angel. Cullen never felt this cold sweat before, and this fear gnawing his insides.
When he arrived near the stair case, he saw Glynis bent over Angel, who was lying unconscious on the floor. His heart probably stopped right there. He quickly dropped to his knees, to try and check for injuries.
"What the hell happened," Cullen ground out through gritted teeth.
"I know not Sir. I heard milady's scream, and came running here, and this is how I found her," explained Glynis.
Cullen leaned over Angel. "Come on Angel, wake up," said Cullen while he was tapping her cheeks lightly. He noticed already the bump and bruise forming on her forehead, and knew she must have hit her head. "Sweetie, wake up, you can do it." Cullen was able to detect everyone was gathering around them.
That's when Edana stepped through the crowd. "Is she alright? Poor dear, must have slipped on the stairs."
Just then Angel began to stir. She moaned out in pain, when she felt a set of hands on her arms. She began to struggle right away, thinking she wasn't out of danger. Then she heard his voice...
"Angel, calm down. Stop it, I got you," Cullen tried to reassure her.
Angel slowly opened her eyes, and was shocked to see the number of people around her. She closed her eyes for just a moment, before she tried to get up. She felt sore as hell and her head was killing her.
Cullen helped Angel to stand up right awayโkeeping an arm around her, just in case she needed the extra support. The fear he felt before, was now turning into anger.
"Angel, are you alright," asked Cullen.
"Yes, I am fine, I guess. Just perhaps a bump or two," answered Angel.
When Cullen realized she was alright, that cold fear he felt earlier begin to turn into anger. "How could you have been so clumsy? I warned you before about these stairs."
Angel was astounded at this coming from Cullen. What did she do wrong now? She was beyond confused. "Excuse me?"
"You were told to be careful going up and down these stairs."
At that moment, Angel couldn't hold back anymore. "I was pushed you asshole!" Angel screamed in total frustration and hurt. Did he honestly think she was this clumsy?
Cullen was surprised at the venom that came from her. But he would be able to take care of that. "Angel, you slipped. The corridors were dark. Speaking of which...GAVIN!"
Gavin soon appeared right next to them.
"I thought I told you earlier to make sure these lights were lit and made brighter," accused Cullen. He would not tolerate a simple task not being done.
"But Sir, I did do that. I was even here personally to see to it that it was done immediately."
"Cullen it is not his fault, it was someone else that did it!" yelled Angel.
"Who Angel?" Cullen asked, still angry.
"How the hell would I know!? I don't have eyes glued to the back of my head to see who pushed me!"
"Angel for the last time, you were not pushed and it wouldn't be right for you to accuse someone like that!" Cullen just couldn't believe that someone could have entered his home and would have done this to his mate. That was totally out of the question. His pack is not so careless as too allow a stranger to just wonder the halls. Cullen didn't even think of what he said next until he said it. "You really are just prone to accidents, aren't you?"
The look on Angel's face could have broken everyone's hearts that were gathered there. But then everyone took a step back at the anger that just exploded. Angel pushed Cullen hard away from her. "You stupid stubborn bastard! I did not slip on the stair case. I was pushed. And I do believe I know the difference from slipping and from feeling a pair of hands on my back!" Angel continued to yell. This time though she couldn't stop the tears from sliding down her cheeks. "And all these accidents didn't start happening until YOU came into the picture. You said I was safe with you, and that you would keep me safe," Angel looked straight at Cullen, with a deadly, accusing and saddened look, "but did you Cullen? No. I still ended up getting hurt, even though I flew across the fucking ocean to another country! You promised you wouldn't let me get hurt," said Angel, placing her hand over her heart making what she said have double meanings, "but I have yet to still see it happen."
With that Angel turned and left right away from Cullen, heading outside toward the stables.
Everyone in the room could not believe what happened. Half of them were angered with how Cullen treated his mate, and the other half were completely saddened at how hurt Angel was. But when they saw the pained look Cullen had, they didn't know what to feel. To see the strong, powerful Alpha, being hurt like that, made their wolves want to howl.
Cullen knew what he said hurt Angel like nothing before. He didn't even know why he said it.
How could I have done that to her? How could I have done that to my Angel?
Cullen felt his wolf wanting to howl in pain and to go after his mate, but Cullen knew that Angel needed time to calm down.
Just then, Quilliam, the stable master here, came running into the house hold, clearly shaken. "Alpha, milady, she just took off on the horse..." he tried to explain
Cullen shook his head, "She probably decided to go off on a ride on Alainn to calm down."
Quilliam shook his head, "But my Alpha, she didn't take Alainn," stated Quilliam.
Dread once again took Cullen. "Then what did she take?"
"Cadifor..."
Cullen immediately ran to the stable to check it out for himself. He saw Alainn in her stall, eating her meal, and then saw Cadifor's stall emptyโnot only that, he saw the saddle still in its' place. "She is riding bareback?" Cullen screamed the question.