Creed

Chapter One

Twenty-four years later

Angel parked the rental SUV next to her parents’ home and turned off the engine. It had been only four months since her last visit but she still wished she could see them more often. It was tough finding work in the middle of Nowhere, Alaska, so she’d moved to Washington state. She’d already used up her two weeks of a

She removed the keys from the ignition and slid out the driver’s side door. Her gaze instantly turned toward the cliff that overlooked their valley.

Was he up there watching her?

She glanced at her watch, seeing the time. It was just past noon. She’d managed to snag an early flight, catch a bush plane, and the drive was only three hours from the small airport. He was probably still sleeping, since he kept guard at night.

The front door of the cabin opened and a grin split Angel’s face. “Mom!”

The woman with waist-length black hair ran down the steps and gri

Angel closed her eyes and held on tight. “What’s wrong? I got here as fast as possible. Is Dad okay?”

“Yes. He’s great. He’s out hunting with the men. I told you we were fine on the phone.” Her mom eased her hold around her middle and leaned back, still smiling. “Thank you for dropping everything.”

“You called and said it was important. My boss isn’t happy but he’ll survive. I put in enough overtime to deserve an emergency family visit. I told him I had an uncle who died. And I reminded him that I have a bunch of unused sick days.”

Her mother shook her head but looked amused. “Lies are bad.”

“So is getting fired. You have to play their games when one is in the human world.”

“I wish you lived closer.”

“Me too but I love my job. The winters are way better there than here. That’s an upside. So what’s wrong?” She glanced around. “Where is everyone?”

“The younger ones are hunting and the older ones are all at Joe’s, enjoying his air conditioning and satellite television. I think they are watching some kind of sports game.”

That amused Angel. She forgot how out of touch with the world everyone in the village could be. “A sports game? Any hint of what kind?”

“Who cares?” Her mother reached up and touched her hair. “When did you stop dying it black?”

She’d been so worried when she’d gotten that call that she’d forgotten. “Um…”

“It’s beautiful blonde. I’m not complaining. It’s just that you’ve kept it black since you came to us.”

Angel decided to be honest. She hated to lie to her mom. “I only darken it when I come home. The rest of the year, I let it be natural.”

“Why?”

“Um…”

Her mother arched her eyebrows.

“I know we had to dye it when I was a kid so no one became suspicious of a blonde little girl living here with black-haired parents. But I got tired of keeping it up and decided to just let it be. I didn’t want to hurt you or Dad’s feelings, so I use temporary coloring that lasts a few weeks before I visit every summer.”

Sadness crept into her mother’s features, and Angel wanted to kick her own ass.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I would have dyed it but I forgot. You called and I literally shoved stuff into a pack and drove to the airport so I’d be on standby for the first flight this way. What’s going on?”

Rava held out her hand. “It’s fine. Come inside. Your father can bring in your bag when he gets back. I’d like to speak to you before he does. This is woman talk.”

“Oh no.” She clasped her mom’s hand but it was with dread. “I know I’m turning thirty at the end of the year, or at least what we think I should turn thirty, but please don’t tell me you want to set me up with more men to see if I’ll hit it off with one of them. I’m happy being single. I have the worst luck with men. Besides that, I tried the whole date-a-Werewolf-from-one-of-the-packs, and it didn’t work out. Remember? I’m human, and they don’t let me forget it.”

Her mother chuckled, opening the door and leading her into the kitchen. “Sit. I’ll get you milk and cookies.”

“Shit.” Angel collapsed into a chair. “That’s bad. You always go for the cookies and milk when you want to share upsetting news. Don’t tell me you and Dad listened to the elders and arranged for me to mate a stranger from some pack in Washington. I won’t do it. I heard it from them before I left, and they say the same thing every time I visit. But it’s outdated thinking when they claim it’s wrong to be without a mate and children after the age of twenty-five. Modern times and all that.”

Her mother placed two glasses of milk and a plate of chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven on the table. She took a seat across from her. “We’d never do that. We love you and want you to be with someone you can be happy with. We realized long ago that you probably wouldn’t settle down with a nice Lycan.”

Angel picked up a cookie and took a bite. She’d missed them. “Yum.”

It gained her a smile. “I know they’re your favorite.”

“So what’s up? Cut to the chase.” An inkling of fear rose. “Is this about A

Anger tightened Rava’s features. “I wish I knew where they were. I would have killed them.” Tears filled her eyes. “You were half-starved and covered head to foot in bruises. Bugs had feasted on your little legs and they were infected from the bites.”

Angel reached across the table and gripped her hand. “You saved me. I love you so much. You and Dad are the best.”

“You were and are our greatest gift. We wanted you so much.”

Angel blinked back tears. “Stop or we’re both going to end up bawling. It will upset Dad when he walks in.”

“You’re right.”

“So, what’s going on and why am I here if it’s not that?”

Her mother bit her lip. “Did I ever tell you how wild I was before your father came into my life?”

“You’re a Werewolf. No need to explain. All those crazy hormones and no mate. You had game going on with some hot guys.”

Rava laughed. “Lycan. You’ve spent too much time in the human world, but yes, I did have game, as you call it.”

“Uh-oh. Did some old lover show up and you need me to help you talk Dad out of killing him because he still has the growls for you? Is this Were trying to lure you away from your mate? Is he that stupid?”

“No.” She laughed. “That’s not it. I just wanted to remind you that I did have a life before your father. I was twenty-one when I met him. I knew he was the one the moment I saw him. It’s what happened when I was nineteen that we need to discuss.”

“Okay. You have me very curious,” Angel admitted.

“We’ve had a guardian for a long time. It wasn’t always Creed.”

The mention of his name made her heart beat faster. “I know the story. The pack made a deal with his people a long time ago. They guard our valley to keep everyone safe at night from Vampires or other things that might want to do this pack harm, and in exchange, any of the unmated women will consider traveling to where they live to meet some of their single men to possibly take them as a mate.” Her stomach clenched. “No. I’m not going there to meet guys.”