Chapter 41: All Together

Angel’s POV

Angel broke into a full tilt sprint once she was past the tall buildings and growls. Her heart felt full! Besides still being alive, she could stop the war! It wasn’t like lycans were lining up to be blood pets yet, but it was a huge leap for a new City of Lost Angels! The cherry on top was that she had actual walking blood family who recognized her as kin!

She knew where Taala was and would recruit him first. She was a veritable blur on bare feet past the bar. 5 strides past and the door swung behind her and her name yelled. Turning, Castiel stood with door ajar and eyes panicked. She smiled huge and backtracked even faster to pounce hug him at full speed.

He caught her with a grunt. “OOF! Are you all right?! Jesus, where’s the fire?”

“I DID IT! I’ve stopped the war! I carried Hurricane’s legacy! The lycans won’t attack if we show we are all in this together!”

“You— what? The lycans?! Did you leave me naked and alone to talk to WOLVES on your own?! Lord have mercy love, you WILL be the death of me!”

She nuzzled her nose into his neck and kissed his throat. “I have some lives left, you can have one. Plus Taala owed me a favour so I was protected for the talk anyways.” It wasn’t a complete lie.

He exhaled a breath and squeezed her tight. “Oh my brave girl. Holy Hell. Ok, so what do you need?”

She recapped the standoff briefly and Castiel nodded with his instructions for angels and Syndicate. He kissed her once deeply then took to the sky. Angel ran to the demons, seeing first a very surprised Taala and then a grumpy Alastair who graduated to angry when he learned she took on the Pack singlehandedly.

She jogged to the hospital next and entered through sliding doors without fear. Blood Guards brought her to the new Coven leaders; Twins who simultaneously hugged Angel. It was a longer visit than Angel had intended as the pair certainly loved to talk and had many updates of their own to give.

Her final recruitment task was Dai. At the Yard she found him in an elaborate nest of pillows and blankets by his blaring iPod. “Wow Dai! There’s a joke here somewhere about being the King of Nothing. How are you feeling?”

Dai grinned like a Cheshire cat and did stretching grabby hands. “Pretty kitty!” Angel laughed and stepped close enough to be grasped and tugged into Dai’s lap in the fluffy pile. “Good good! I’m SO glad to see you! Shit went crazy last night!” He kissed the bandage on her shoulder and then laughed, twisting to lift up his rags and show a dirty bandage just below his ribcage. “Look! Twinsies!”

“Ouch. Does it hurt?”

“Like balls! But girls dig scars! Especially when they have a kick-ass battle royale story to go with them, right?!”

“Yes, you’ll be even more irresistable to kittens everywhere now. Lord help us all!” He beamed. “Anyways I come bearing bad news for your warm bed, I need you come with me to the bar.”

He pouted dramatically and slumped back, scooping armfuls of pillows to try and hide under. “Do I HAVE to ma?”

“Hah, sorry sir. It’s a show of allegiance between the factions. Alpha Logan of the Pack will call off the war if we show it would be him against the whole city. Sooo.. doing this will actually get your broken bum a night off.”

“Cool! Hold hands and sing Kumbaya to keep the big bad wolf away. THAT I’ll get out of bed for!”

Angel walked with Dai’s arm over her shoulder. It was more of a supportive walk for the weak tomcat, but he would never admit it. They walked into a crowded bar, Angel mentally taking attendance. Parker, Marshal and Dax stood with Taala and Alastair in their normal couch spots. Castiel and Gabriel were walking her way, and the Coven twins rushed with pets for the smiley Dai. Blood Guards were in the corner speaking with David from the Church, and two pretty neko sisters lo that had trailed from the Yard bounded to a busty lust demon at a table. It would make for an impressive display!

Angel smiled wide as Castiel took her hand and gave it a big squeeze. “The gang’s all here Angel, as instructed.” She hip bumped him and smiled wide to Gabriel who gave her a slow clap.

“Did’ya hear? Castiel is firin’ our Peacekeeper over there and hirin’ you instead!” Castiel laughed and shook his head.

Taking deep breaths she turned to look out the window in the direction Alpha Logan would come. She didn’t want to show him intimidation right away. She tried to imagine how the Alpha was feeling. Would he come alone, or with numbers?

Gabe sidled beside her. “So what’s the plan darlin’?”

She cleared her throat loud and her friends turned to look her way. “Thank you all for coming, truly. Now, I ask that you please stay inside and wait for my signal. I want to show strength without aggression.”

Multiple faces displayed frowns, but Castiel spoke the reason. “You’re not going out there alone?”

Angel smiled, confident. “I am.”