Chapter 18: CHAPTER 18
After a twenty-five minute journey, Daniel was turning the hulking seven seater Toyota Highlander into a wooded area. Angelina's father's pack territory was a ranch that spanned six acres of land on which sat a main house wherein he, his Fighter, his bodyguard, and his enforcers lived. Surrounding the main house were several converted barns for the other pack mates.
Cerberus Pack territory…was nothing like that.
For a start, it had a perimeter fence with an access/exit gate.
"We didn't bother having security on the gate until those human groups formed that call us abominations and like to stand outside pack houses with their 'Die Demons' banners," explained Jasson. "Only pack is granted admittance or guests-by-invitation. It's guarded twenty-four hours. He waved to the shifter on duty who strolled out of a little security shack and approached the Toyota. "You remember this wolf, right?" Jasson asked her. "Ryan's one of the pack's enforcers."
Angelina smiled at the apparently not very talkative Ryan – or Grumpy, as she had branded him a few days ago – who was eyeing her curiously. He made her think of one of those bionic soldiers in sci-fi movies. His movements were a little robotic and he had a real Terminator snarl going on. A guy who wouldn't hesitate to kill if the need arose, she deduced. Still, she didn't feel intimidated. In fact, she was determined to see that impassive expression falter.
"Are you miserable by choice?" As she'd hoped, he was so taken aback that his guard dropped for a split second; his dark eyes widened and his lips twitched. "It's fine and everything. I was just curious about whether you were born looking like you were sucking on a lemon or if the whole gloomy attitude is a lifestyle choice."
When Ryan's lips curved the tiniest bit at one corner, Jasson inwardly gaped. For the mostly mute and anti-social Ryan, that was a gushing reception. "Everything went as planned with the claiming," he said to Ryan. "I'll tell you more in the morning at breakfast." Ryan nodded then patted the vehicle before returning to the shack.
After a short drive over a rocky trail, they finally arrived at Bedrock – there was really no other word for it, was there? She found it amazing that even with light coming from some of the windows it didn't stand out at all. It was one of those things that unless you were looking for it, you'd probably miss it. "Who did all this?"
"Apparently the ancestors of the last pack started it yonks ago. It's been added to and modernised over the years. We did a lot of improvements to it ourselves."
"There are actually hotels in places like Turkey that are luxurious cave dwellings just like this," Daniel told her as he drove through an opening in the bottom of the mountain which Angelina soon realized was actually a concealed parking lot.
As she hopped out of the Toyota, she noticed Thom parking her Hyundai Tucson a few spaces away. His sulky expression as he got out of the car was the same one he had worn when Jasson ordered him to drive it here for her. "I need to get my bag out of the trunk," she told Jasson as she took a step toward her car.
"Thom will get it."
The Head Enforcer froze and a muscle ticked in his jaw. Begrudgingly he retrieved her bag and Angelina couldn't help smirking at his petulant behavior. The ass shook his head when she went to take the bag from him and stormed past her, following behind Jasson and Daniel as they strolled out of the opening they had just driven through. Smiley gestured for her to go before him and Burly. Sighing, she removed her high heels and headed for Bedrock.
The night was dark, cool and silent. The earthy smell, the little sounds of small animals, the wonderful night-breeze, the rustling of the tree branches…all of it called to her wolf. She wanted to explore this new woodland, wanted to find out what those unfamiliar scents and sounds were around her. Instead Angelina was hiking up several narrow flights of steps that had been carved into the mountain wall.
They came to a large door that appeared to be at the centre of the other entrances. Then they were going through an indoor maze of tunnels that took them deep into the mountain. Angelina was pretty sure she would get lost if left to wander anywhere alone. Eventually they came to a black door that led to the same kitchen she had sat in only a few days ago.
Realized that she had been pretty much dismissed as unimportant right now, Angelina hopped onto the black marble counter and grabbed herself a peach from the fruit bowl. Munching happily on it, she listened as all five male wolves sat around the table discussing strategies for when his uncle made his challenge. They were so cool about it that anyone would think they were referring to an X-Box game or something as opposed to an actual life or death situation. There was even a kind of child-like excitement there.
Rolling her eyes, she dug out her cell phone from her purse and read the dozens of text messages she had received from several members of the pack. All were asking if the rumor that she had mated Jasson Alex was true. Joel and Jase had sent several, both expressing concern about his reputation and trying to convince her that she was wrong about him being her true mate. She knew she would have to respond to them soon, but right now she was feeling too raw.
Aware that all had suddenly gone quiet, she looked up from her cell to find several pairs of eyes focused on her. Surprised, she pulled her finger from her mouth having sucked off the peach juice. "What?"
Jasson cleared his throat. "Nothing." Not liking even the thought of the other males ogling her, he shot them all a cautioning look. Of course he couldn't blame them. She was so damn sensual and so damn unaware of it.
"By the way," said Daniel, grinning from ear to ear, "welcome to the pack, Angelina."
She snorted. "You might not be saying that when Reynald appears on your territory."
"Are you kidding? We're looking forward to it."
"Yeah, we have to thank you for bringing a bit of life to things round here," agreed Smiley as he leaned back in his chair – or Michael, as he had introduced himself as on the drive here. Although he didn't seem any more accepting of her than the others did, he wasn't as antisocial toward her as they were.
"You have to understand, Angelina," said Daniel, "we don't get a lot of challenges. This is the most excitement our pack has had in a while."
"Why were your dad's enforcers following you around?" asked Jasson.
"When Reynald came to visit I wasn't very nice and they considered me a flight risk. The mating ceremony was supposed to take place in a few days."
"Do you think her dad will keep fighting this?" asked Burly. His name was Patrick, remembered Angelina – or 'Trick' for short.
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