Authors Note:
First, I want to apologize to all of you. I am beyond sorry for making you wait THIS long. I know how annoying and frustrating it is waiting and waiting for a chapter to be posted. With this said, I really don't have much of an explanation. To be honest, I simply lost my inspiration/muse/focus...whatever you want to call it. It seemed like I was stuck at this point of the story—where I had simply no idea how to proceed. I know what 'should' be written in this chapter—I just didn't know how to tell/describe it for all of you to enjoy the read. I didn't want to just post out a chapter—and for all of you to be completely disappointed in it.
I believe I found a little inspiration (many thanks to my reader's emails and messages) and also to my sister—since this is the only way to shut her up finally, because she is just dying to know what's going to happen to her in the story (lol).
So, without further ado, I hope you enjoy this everyone... :)
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Chapter 20
Angel started to head out to the barn. She smiled down at the bag of treats she just had to go back for Cadifor and Aislinn. This routine of hers became so important to her in a very short time, that without it, she thought that she may blow up on more people in her pack. Being a were and also pregnant didn't mix too well. Her hormones were going completely wild. And riding either Cadifor or Alainn helped vent some of those crazy emotions.
As Angel made her way back to the barn, she called out to Isobel, "Ok, finally I'm here. I swear, I think I am walking slower and slower each day. If I begin to waddle like a damn penguin, please just sh...". Angel paused and looked around. At first she didn't see Isobel where she should have been.
"Hey dork! Where did you go now?" Angel continued to look around the barn. After a few minutes, she said, "If you're planning on popping out and trying to scare the shit out of me, I should warn you, that you are about to pop out at a hormonal wolf that will probably go ape shit on you".
Still nothing.
Angel just shrugged it off. "That bitch! She left me after asking to come along for the ride."
Angel went back to Cadifor and Alainn.
"So which two horses have been good today?" she asked them.
Angel couldn't help but smile when it seemed like Cadifor was stumping his one foot. "Yes yes yes. I know Cadifor. You're just a perfect Angel, right?" Again Cadifor stumped his foot. Angel shook her head. "That's not what I heard today from the help—especially when they tried to put reins on you."
Cadifor just stood still, staring at Angel. Angel couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, of course I heard about that! And of how you grabbed the harness and tossed it aside; and then began to chase the poor guy. I know you have a rep to protect, but could you not try and be a little civilized?"
Again Cadifor did not move a muscle. Just continued to stare at Angel—as if he was thinking over what she said.
Angel then added, "for me sweety? I am not telling you to be a push over and be easy to handle—because that's just not you. But if they are trying to put the reins on you, that's because either I or Cullen requested it. Besides, if Cullen hears from others that you are too dangerous, he may restrict me from coming to see you. Now do you really want that?"
This time Cadifor neighed loudly and shook his head.
"That's what I thought. So be at least somewhat civil, and I will be able to continue coming here and giving you both goodies. Now, let me get you saddled, and we can go for a ride. I'm sorry Alainn, due to your pregnancy I am afraid of putting the saddle on you. You can still come with us—since we have to go slow because of me as well—but at least we all can get out of here for a little bit."
With that, Angel slowly got up and seated herself on Cadifor, holding onto the reins lightly. There was no need to hold on tightly, because today they were going to go on a slow pace. As she was exiting the barn Angel sent Cullen a message,
'You can tell Owen that he better tell Izzy that I am upset with her! She stopped and asked to go for a ride with me, and then she doesn't. She really needs to learn how to make up her mind. Ok sweetie, I am off now. I won't be out long tonight'.
Angel took off into the night—enjoying the sweet gentle breeze against her face. Yup, she knew that she could get used to doing this for the rest of her life.
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Cullen just shook, laughing slightly. He knew that Angel tried to pretend that she was upset, but there was no way that she could be upset with Izzy.
"I have a message for you Owen from our sweet Angel," said Cullen while having a smirk on his face.
"For me?" Owen was a little bit perplexed why he would be getting a message from Angel through Cullen. "What does she want or need?"
Smiling, Cullen continued trying to use a voice that a little boy would use, "Angel told me to tell you to tell Izzy that she is upset with her."
Both men just busted out laughing. If anyone walked into the room, they would have seen Cullen leaning back in his chair, holding his stomach. While they would be seeing Owen bent over laughing so hard tears were coming from his eyes.
Once they had calmed down slightly, Owen wiped the tears that formed from laughing so hard and said, "I will be sure to tell her that."
Cullen just shook his head. "Can you just imagine how they will be once you get Izzy pregnant?"
Owen thought for a moment. He couldn't help but smile at the thought. "I simply can't wait for the day when she is. Just the thought of her getting round with my cubs," Owen faded off while in his own thoughts.
Cullen again chuckled. "Let's get back to focus at what is in front of us, and then you can run off to your mate before Angel gets a hold of her. "
Owen seemed to come back to reality at that. "Ok, so basically we narrowed down the list. We tried to look at everyone that could possibly want to hurt you or Angel—or both. The motive obviously is power."
Cullen growled. "Tell me something I haven't figured out already! Don't tell me after all this time; my betas were only able to figure out this much information?" Cullen demanded.
"You need to understand that this is not like any other situation. Usually in the past, when someone wanted to have you removed, they always made it known—which resulted in many of our past wars. There were a few times, where our past enemies were stealthy, but we managed to always figure out their intentions. I admit Cullen, this is completely different. Why go after Angel when the person can just go after you?"
"Because everyone knows Angel is my only weakness," Cullen pointed out something that should have been common sense.
"Yes, but eliminating Angel doesn't reach them to their goal. They still need to take those extra steps—further planning and actually completing the task of getting rid of you. Why do all this extra work, when it would be easier to just get rid of you and take over?"
Cullen sat there for a moment. He could see that Owen had a point? Why not go directly after me instead of Angel?
Both Cullen and Owen sat there for a while longer, both going over a few more things. After an hour or so, Cullen stood up and stretched.
"Angel should be coming back slowly by now, so I may meet her actually in the barn. Why don't you go and run off to Izzy. I'm sure she is waiting for you."
"Shit, you don't have to tell me twice," as Owen quickly stood up and was already practically running out of the office. He couldn't get the thought out of his head, of Izzy finally getting pregnant as well.
Owen did his rounds quickly, and made sure to bring up some snacks and drinks just in case it was needed. He already knew that both of them were not going to get much sleep tonight. Owen just hoped that he wouldn't scare Izzy with this whole topic of babies and pregnancy. He knew that they just mated, but if she would come into heat, there is no way that he would be able to stop himself. Perhaps it was time for him to explain a few more things to her. Owen couldn't help but think that someone should make a 'Were 101' book. It would have been so much simpler.
As Owen made his way to his room, he noticed right away that Izzy wasn't in there. He thought it was odd, but didn't put too much thought. He decided to get everything ready before she arrives. He did though decide to send her a little something;
'Hurry up little one. I have a surprise for you. Don't keep the wolf waiting too long.'
Owen went and turned down the bed, laying a red rose on the pillow for her. He popped the champagne bottle and poured some into the two flute glasses and set them on the nightstand. He looked around to make sure everything else looked good. And then a thought occurred to him. He quickly ripped off his shirt and messed his hair up a bit, to make it that 'messy-roll out of the bed' type of look that she seemed to like a lot.
