Page 12 of Lightning Strikes

Chapter 4

Angela

__________

“Come on, little one. Time to eat.” I talk to the little deaf kitten who finally opened her eyes… and wasn’t able to see a thing. I still talk out loud, hoping she can at least feel the vibrations. I also tap her mouth when it’s time to eat so that she knows what’s going on. I’ve read that her sense of smell should be heightened and that should help her move around when she can walk on her own.

I tap the nipple of the bottle to her mouth, chuckling lightly as she attacks it and drinks it down in record time.

She’s been home with me for five days now and she’s already gained a few ounces. According to Fran, the other four kittens are also thriving and just as ravenous as this one, so that makes me happy that they’re all healthy and survived that horrific start to their lives. I made sure to call Mac and let him know what happened, but since the elderly woman, Rose, had called it last Saturday, he said they’re already searching for who did this.

I hope they can… And also hope they can find the mama cat so at least some of them can be reunited with her.

The kitten finishes up her bottle, promptly passing out in my hand. I set her back down on her heating pad before I step out onto my porch, grimacing at the sky. We don’t get a ton of snow up here, but we get enough for it to be a nuisance. Good thing we still have a month or so before it’s cold enough for any of the white stuff to stick.

I sit down on the porch and sigh, very loudly, when I see Carolina and Adam walking toward me. I lean back against my steps, keeping a deep frown on my face as they stalk closer. And closer. Why the fuck are they out here? I really don’t feel like dealing with these two idiots today.

“Angela, we’re handing out invitations to our mating ceremony for the thirtieth of next month. Hope you can make it.” Carolina smirks at me. I stay where I am and tilt my head at them. She has a prominent bump showing now under her tight blouse and short skirt. Her tanned skin is glowing in the muted sunlight, her dark hair sleek and straight down her back. She’s still wearing a pound of makeup, no matter what she wears or what she does to her poor body, she’s still gorgeous. If only her insides matched.

“Sorry, I’ll be busy. Have a great time.” I finger wave at them, waiting for them to walk away and leave me the fuck alone, when Carolina’s face changes into a sinister sneer.

“Sorry, Angela. You’ll be there, just like the rest of the pack. It’s already bad enough that he was cheating on me withyou,but we need the support of the pack for me to be welcomed as the alpha female. Everyone has ostracized me and that’s thanks to you and your whore mouth.”

I slowly raise a brow at them and chuckle. Adam’s face is pale, and he’s flicking his wide gray eyes between the two of us… What happened to that alpha wolf? “All I did was kick him out of my house, pick up my belongings from his home, and told him to never call me again. Not my fault that the mistress got knocked up. In case you’re confused… that would be you.” I wink at her, then turn and cluck my tongue at Adam. “You think you’ll be respected for much longer with an alpha mate acting like that?” I shake my head. “Good luck, Adam. I will not be attending your mating ceremony, any pack meetings… nor will I deliver your pup. You should make those phone calls for a midwife to come by soon.” I lean forward, placing my elbows on my thighs… waiting for them to take their leave.

Adam’s face crumbles as his throat bobs with emotion. Seriously, did someone drug this poor fool? “What? You won’t even be there for the birth? You’re the pack doctor…” I shrug and he frowns at me. “We’ll pay you, Ang. It’s not the pup’s fault.”

“No… It’s not, and I’ll be praying for that pup for the next several decades to hope he or she turns out okay. But you’re both out of your minds if you think I’m coming within touching distance to either of you. You can get off my property now.” I wave them off, a smirk tickles my lips when Adam covers Carolina’s mouth and drags her away.

Delusional bastards. How could he ever assume I would deliver that pup and help Carolina through the most painful experience of her life. Fuck that. Fuck them. I am shaking with rage as I step back into my cabin, settling down on my couch. I close my eyes as I breathe deeply. In and out.

I’m not sure where these new emotions are coming from, but I never would have done that before. Oh, well. Something for Mac and me to laugh at later when he stops by with Max. The pup has been great around the kitten and hasn’t tried to eat her, so I take that as a good sign.

Mac’s been coming by almost every night since I brought the kitten home, I guess us new parents should stick together. I rub my tense, pounding temples, squeezing my eyes shut tightly until it’s time to feed the kitten or unlock the door for Mac.

I hear my phone buzzing around the coffee table, smacking into my empty water glass. I slowly pluck it up and sigh when I see Melissa’s name flashing across the screen.

“Hey, Mel.”

“Ang, everything is ready for the party. West and Czar just think it’s a night out at a bar for drinks, so they have no idea.” She whispers into the phone.

I chuckle, “Sounds great. How’s the clinic?”

She hums and I hear her tapping on the keyboard at her desk. “Fine. No issues at all. Cassie called in and mentioned she will be ready to come back in two weeks instead of another month. Something about her mother moving in with them and she needs to get the hell out of the house.”

I snort as I shake my head. “I remember her. She used to show up to the clinic several times a day, trying to gossip and feed all of us that tofu shit.” We stay on the phone for another few minutes before she has to get off the phone to check in a patient.

As much as I love my clinic, I’m enjoying my new freedoms. It’s been nice pretending to be human for a bit, even if it was a fight to even go to college. I’m proud of myself that I accomplished as much as I have. It never made sense to me that themenin the pack can do as they please as long as they continue with their pack duties… while the females have to stay within the pack perimeters, raise the pups, and cook the meals. Clean, garden, and schmooze. Fuck that.

Luckily my parents and I were able to talk Adam’s father, the previous alpha, into allowing me to be the pack doctor when we arrived. We started off the story as we had planned: I had been training as the next pack doctor in Idaho and was ready to take over patients. Since the Prescott pack hired midwives and doctors from other neighboring packs, they were thrilled to have someone in-house.

Then my parents ended uptrustingthe previous alpha and told him the truth. That I have healing powers, magic that hasn’t been seen or written about in centuries. They coveted me and it was a damn fight toallowme to go to college. Then I caused World War III when I decided to go to vet school down in Glendale and proceeded to open up a clinic in town instead of signing over my life to the pack. Luckily nothing crazy has happened in years, so I haven’t had to heal anyone or deliver any pups in a while… Now that Carolina is pregnant, I’m sure they were banking on me handling everything. Delusional bastards.

Now she will be delivering without any of my healing magic, only getting pain relief from herbs and deep breathing exercises. I shrug, not my problem. The midwife can bring the pup to me to check over if they have any issues, but Carolina is on her own.

“Ang, are you going to unlock the door?”

I frown as I run my fingers through my hair. I didn’t even hear him arrive… or knock. I don’t even remember closing my eyes… I huff as I shuffle to the door, smiling as I throw it open. I lean down to rub Max’s soft head. “Hey, sorry. I fell asleep.” He frowns at me and tilts his head.

---