SWNOVELS Chapter 42: Firing Squad
Angel’s POV
She stood in the middle of the street a few steps forward of the bar door. It hadn’t been an easy fight to stand out here alone, but it was the right one. Every passing minute in the quiet street still made her nerves worse, but she was resolute in her decision. This would work. This would work.
She saw his gray hair cresting the hill, then two more heads of brown hair. Alpha Logan had donned a maroon collared shirt with only two bottom buttons done up. Following two steps behind were Falkner in only his dragon tattoo and shorts and an older shirtless male in sweatpants who was a younger clone of the Alpha. There could be hundreds of Pack hidden around, but she kept eyes on the head of the snake. Angel clasped her hands in front and gave a tiny nod to the mirrored window to show they had arrived. Seeing herself and not the back-up inside though made hand fidgeting and lip chewing increase. She WAS on her own.
She dipped her chin as he got very close to her, the effects of the protection charm worn off. “Alpha Logan.”
“Miss Alpha Blackfang. I hear you have met Falkner.” He gestured to the snarl on his right. “And this is my oldest son Alex. You two would be cousins.” He head gestured to his left. The man there nodded once. Angel smiled. More family! Alpha Logan spoke again, his voice louder as if trying to tempt out an ambush. “I am suprised to see you stand so alone Angel?” He crossed his arms over his chest while the other two assumed fight night poses.
“I am not alone. Out of respect for you, I didn’t want you to feel like you were walking up to a firing squad.” She turned to look at her reflection again, nodding deeply to it. “Alpha Logan, please meet all of the faction leaders who support our view of peace.”
As each body exited the bar at her left, she introduced them and their faction. They came out one group at a time, stone-faced acknowledging the trio and forming a leader line with Angel in the middle. Castiel and Dai stood tall with her on either side. 3 demons, 3 angels, 4 vampires, 3 humans and 3 nekos stood proud.
She watched the Alpha’s face steadily grow more surprised with each added group, while Falkner’s face and body language dropped into almost fear. She looked to Taala and Alastair, who were both smiling. Perhaps the wolves’ auras matched their faces? Alpha Logan’s deep voice eventually broke the tense silence.
“I will call off the attack, Alpha Angel. You have proven the challenge.”
She smiled wide and bowed her head. “It will take time, but this is the way forward Alpha. Thank you.”
The wolf stiffly nodded and all three turned to head back the way they came. A collective exhale washed over those remaining while Angel watched the retreat.
Silence was broken by Dax. “Well shit son, that was anti-climactic! Who am I going to test my new 4BORE rifle on now?!”
“For a small favour I’ll let you shoot Alastair here?” Alastair stomped his foot and Taala let out an ‘OOF’ sound as Alastair must have hit him for his suggestion.
Dai made a whiney sound. “Aw, wait a minute.. ALPHA? That was gonna be my title someday. Guess you’re giving up the Sexy Spy title then?”
Angel laughed and relaxed herself, but Castiel wrapped arms around her and spun her in the middle of the street with a surge of emotion. “Brilliant girl!” She squealed and clung to him until her feet were back on the floor, giving him a chin kiss.
“Alrighty, who needs a damn DRINK?!” It was Dai again heading back to the bar door with kittens now under his arms who both had raised hands. He pointed backwards toward Castiel and Angel. “It’s on them!”
Sat on a bar stool after getting everyone served, she watched the scattered conversations with a smile. The nekos were asking the lust demon to come for dinner and a show. Eva and Ellie were affectionately calling ‘Dai-Dai’ brave as he worked on his ‘Yes, I’m a hero’ speech. The Blood Guards as a team were playing the checkers game against Marshal. She sat proud of herself and proud of all today in starting to overcome their preconceptions.
Castiel and Taala joined her at the bar, clinking their glasses against hers in silent cheers. Taala smiled at her. “You’ve done well my dear.”
She smiled back and nodded. Castiel leaned on the bar, his bottom half touching along Angel’s legs. “So tell me Taala? Why did the only wrath demon in attendance last night disappear just when things got good?”
Taala shook his head, smile disappearing. “My dear Castiel, I couldn’t witness the fury of the Lord in the middle of the Yard, so I thought I would make myself useful instead and ask the almighty down for an overdue chat.”
“You.. spoke to God?” Angel knew she sounded naive, but the concept was still a reach for her brain.
“I did. Castiel has always been a favourite of His. Many angels have been punished for less defiance, so I knew He was already giving Castiel time to repent. I wanted to ask for how long.”
“What did He say?” Castiel was in serious mode too and didn’t seem to want to address that he most certainly hadn’t yet repented. Taala moved to the bartending position and leaned on the bartop with both elbows and arms crossed.
“What do you know of soul mates?”