Fated Magic (The Wolf Pack) (5 page)

Four Months Later
…

Dr. Angie Michaels leaned against the doorframe of the operating room she was leaving and grasped it with both hands, holding on to the metal frame as if it were a lifeline.  She tried to catch her breath as the room suddenly seemed to be spinning around her and her eyes weren’t cooperating either, having trouble trying to focus on her surroundings.  She knew she had been on her feet far longer today than she was ordinarily, but it wasn’t anything she hadn’t done hundreds of times before.  She’d been struggling for several months to conceal her bone deep fatigue from her husbands because they’d been harping at her to cut back her schedule.  Even though she knew they were right, she really was wearing herself into the ground, but they were being such asses about it that she just couldn’t bring herself to give in to their Neanderthal demands.  But this didn’t feel like ordinary fatigue and she hoped she wasn’t coming down with something. 

Slowly moving to the side
of the wide hall so she could steady herself with the rail, Angie made her way down the corridor toward the small waiting room.  She needed to speak with the family of the young man she’d just operated on and being tired was no excuse to keep them waiting.  He’d been injured in a very strange car accident that had killed both of his parents so Angie wasn’t sure who she would find in the small surgical lounge.  Rest was going to have to wait because she wasn’t willing to let whoever it was wait any longer than necessary to hear that Braden was going to be fine.  He was going to need physical therapy after his legs healed, but with some strength training, she was confident the fifteen year old would bounce back quickly. 

Rounding the corner of the waiting room
, Angie couldn’t have been more surprised to see her friend Kit’s mother sitting alone on the sofa casually flipping through a magazine.  “Mrs. Harris?”  She wasn’t sure why she’d asked the question because Carla Harris was probably one of the most beautiful women Angie had ever met.  Her face was one of those no one ever forgot or mistook for someone else so there wasn’t any question about who she was.  The woman was also insanely paranoid about having her picture taken and Angie smiled to herself because she knew the hospital’s security staff was probably currently clambering to figure out what the hell had gone wrong with their surveillance equipment.  Kit had told them about her mother’s affinity for scrambling camera feeds and recordings anytime she was within their range and Angie couldn’t wait to hear the “spin” the hospital administration came up with for the security lapse. 

Carla stood and smiled as she extended her hand, “Hi
, Angie.  It’s nice to see you again, although I wish it was under more pleasant circumstances.”  The minute their hands touched Carla’s smile vanished and she quickly led Angie to a chair.  “Spell me, dear, you are a mess.  Sit down and let me help before we talk.”  Angie felt as if someone was pouring pure energy into her and then she relaxed and smiled inwardly as she realized that was exactly what was happening.  She wasn’t sure how long Carla sat with her before she suddenly felt better than she had in weeks. 
I have no clue what she did, but she is my new best friend.  I wonder if Kit can do this?
  Angie was startled when Carla laughed out loud and Angie realized that she’d never seen Kit’s mother be anything but cool and distant.  Even when she’d been holding her grandchildren, who she clearly adored, she seemed almost detached.  “Oh dear, you really might as well say all of that aloud, you know, because I can hear it all.  And yes, I’m well aware that I come across as a heartless bitch, but I assure you there is a very real heart beating in my chest.  And the young man that you just worked so tirelessly to help owns a big piece of it.” 

Now that she felt more herself, Angie looked at the woman sitting next to her with an entirely new level of respect.  “
Okay, talk to me.  You know I can’t talk with you about my patient unless I know you are his next of kin or guardian.”

Carla merely nodded, “I understand and I wish more than I can say that I could tell you that.  But we both know that isn’t true and I won’t lie to you.  What I can tell you is that he is in a lot of danger.  Did you notice that every person who has dealt with him
were exhausted after?  And the fact you are so drained is something my mother and I are going to explore, I assure you.  Do you have any family in Ireland by chance?”  Before Angie had even been able to answer her question, Carla went on.  “His magic is drawing healing energy from each of you every time you touched him, so naturally you got the worst of it as his doctor, but still.”  Angie watched as Carla considered her words carefully before continuing, “The accident that took his parents was a carefully staged attempt to kidnap Braden.” 

Even though Carla’s words had shocked her,
Angie moved as she planned to head back down the hall and check on the young man who looked more like a boy than a man.  His crystal blue eyes and curly blonde hair had captured Angie’s heart and she’d felt oddly drawn to him.  Carla stood as well and reached for Angie’s hand.  “He’s safe.  At least for a while.  I won’t be able to conceal him for very long though and then I’m going to have to find a place that is safe for him to recover.  And eventually he’ll need to be placed with a magical family if I can find one that isn’t afraid to take him.”  Carla’s eyes were shining with unshed tears and she seemed lost in thought for a few minutes.  She finally continued explaining that the man and woman Braden had been riding with weren’t really his parents, but a foster family who had been trying to protect him.  Angie listened as Kit’s mom explained that his mother had died during childbirth.  The little boy had lived with his shifter father in both Ireland and Scotland until his magical abilities had become too hard to disguise any longer.  They’d moved numerous times but even with the Supreme Council’s help, it had been impossible to stay ahead of the dark forces that wanted the child. 

“This isn’t the time to explain all the particulars of his birth, but suffice to say there is a very real connection between that sweet boy and the forces that are pursuing Kit and her children.” 

“What do you mean?”  Angie had never understood all of the intricacies the magical community even though she knew there were some mystics in the more distant branches of her own family tree.  She’d been raised to embrace her shifter heritage and had often wondered about her father’s family who had come over from the same countries that Carla had just mentioned.  Just thinking about being forced to hide who she really was from the world made Angie almost shudder with disgust.  She couldn’t imagine how difficult it must have been for the young man currently swimming his way back to the surface of consciousness. 

Since
Braden’s father had been a shifter from a Celtic area where Angie had extended family, she’d listened patiently as Carla described the battle that had claimed the life of Braden’s devoted dad.  As Carla had spoken, every hair on the back of Angie’s neck stood straight up.  She had never believed in coincidences and she vowed to herself to ask Julie to look into Braden’s family history.  As the Wolf Pack’s attorney, Julie had the means to get information much quicker than Angie would.   

“That is where my mother and I were during the last weeks of Kit’s pregnancy.  We had been shuffling Braden from family to family trying to find one that was willing to take him, but most were just too
frightened.  It isn’t him you understand; he is a charming youngster.  But everyone is afraid of the consequences of housing and protecting him.  If I hadn’t been downtown today and felt the magical shift, they would have gotten him.”

Angie
's mind was whirling at the information Carla shared.  “Does Kit know about this?  Have you mentioned it Jameson and Trevlon?”  She couldn’t imagine their pack not protecting a child and she wondered if Carla had considered it.  For the first time since meeting her, Angie saw vulnerability in Carla Harris’s eyes.  And it was in that moment Angie got a glimpse of a protective mother buried deep inside Carla Harris.  She was worried about exposing her daughter and grandchildren to danger and Angie felt her opinion of Carla reverse itself.  Grasping Carla’s hand in her own, Angie asked, “Do you mind if I talk to my pack about Braden?” 

After a series of calls, Carla had arranged for Braden’s
continued protection at the hospital then Carla and Angie headed to the Wolf’s country estate.  The car had barely stopped when Angie’s door was pulled open and Nick pulled her into his arms.  He didn’t say anything.  He just pressed her tightly against his chest.  Despite the fact they were mated, Angie knew Nick and Tristan regularly locked her out of their mind link because they worried about adding to her burdens by letting her hear their problems.  Angie had tried to explain that not knowing and feeling excluded was actually more exhausting, but she never seemed to be able to convince them.  After several moments, she finally felt his shields begin to ease.  ‘
I was so worried about you.  You were being drained and there wasn’t anything we could do.’

Angie pulled back and looked at him completely shocked at what he’d just revealed.  “How did you know?  Who told you?”  Her words had come out sharper than she’d intended
, but she didn’t bother trying to retract them. 

Nick cocked his head to the side and raised his brow at her in question,
probably more at her tone than the actual meaning of her questions.  But it was Tristan who answered from behind her.  “Love, do you really think we aren’t checking on you all day—every day?  Do you honestly believe we reluctantly let you leave here in a stupor every morning and then we don’t watch over you?”  His words couldn’t have surprised her any more.  It had never entered her mind that they were watching over her.  Her heart suddenly felt like it would burst with love for the two men she’d married and then had obviously shamefully neglected. 

Tears streamed down her cheeks and she
stepped forward into his arms and pressed her cheek against Tristan’s chest, letting his warmth comfort her.  When she finally pulled back he tilted her chin up and smiled.  “We have some things to talk about after this meeting.  But for now, come along, let’s see if we can’t help a young man that I believe has captured your heart.”  That had been all it took to push her fragile emotions over the edge and she felt like she was in a free fall into an emotional abyss.  Nick picked her up and they made their way up the wide steps.  When they walked through the front door, Carla reached for her hand and her touch stilled the roar of emotions swirling in Angie. 

“You’re going to be fine, Angie.  You’ve pushed yourself much too far and then the drain on you today was nearly your undoing.  I’m sorry things went so far, but I couldn’t get to you.  Those nurses that guard the operating rooms missed their calling, they’d
have made damn fine prison guards.  One of them actually called me a witch and thought it was an insult, the twit.  She probably won’t be at work for a few days by the way, I’m fairly certain she isn’t feeling all that well.”  The glint in Carla’s eye was pure Mistress of Mayhem and Angie laughed despite herself.  “There, that is much better.  Now, let’s get into this meeting before my son-in-laws add another black mark to my already heavily scarred card.”