Rik looks at me and an understanding passes between us. These women, these Guardians, give their lives for those they love


    and protect. It’s not something either he or | am willing to live with. I''ll have to find a time to speak to him to see if he’s found a


    way to keep Cara from taking a bullet, real or metaphorical, for him.


    Anders goes to follow Clint. They have been friends most of their lives. | pull Angel in and kiss her forehead. “Let’s open the


    wine. Would you like some?”


    Cara dries her eyes. “I’m sorry, it''s a lot to find out that your mother made such a sacrifice for you.”


    Rik runs his thumbs across her cheeks helping to wipe her tears. “Yes. It’s very difficult to know that someone you love would


    trade their life for yours.” He says to her and gives her a meaningful look. So, this isn’t a new conversation for them. | definitely


    need to speak to him about it.


    Cara reaches out her hand. “I won''t be having any, but I’m happy to pour wine for everyone.”


    Angel steps away from me. “I’ve actually never had any.” She looks at me and shrugs as | hand the wine to Cara. “I never really


    had the opportunity.”


    I step up to her again, putting my hand on the small of her back. “Why don’t you try it and see if you like one of them, there’s a


    white and a red, since | didn’t know what we were having for dinner.”


    Rik turns to me and smiles. “Oh, Thursday nights are always steak nights. It’s apparently a thing that our fathers have been


    doing for years. It’s only since Cara and | started dating that | was invited to attend as well.”


    “Joke’s on you Alpha, because tonight it’s ribs for dinner.” Cara says to Rik and | can see the love in both their eyes. | look at


    Angel. Yeah, | want that in our future.


    “| hear congrattions are in order.” | say to Rik.


    “Yep.” He says giving Angel and | each a ss of wine. “I can’t wait to meet my little Peanut. Did Cara tell you we''re having a


    girl?” | see Cara roll her eyes behind his back.


    “We don’t know it’s a girl yet.” Cara says and Rik looks at us and mouths silently, ‘It''s a girl.‘


    Clint and Anders walk out, Clint still sniffling and looking like he just sobbed his


    $15 BONDS


    heart out, which I’m guessing he did.


    Angel walks over to him. “I’m so sorry.”


    Before she can say anymore, he stops her. “No, I’m d you told me. Lily wanted me to know and it makes some things that


    happened in thosest couple of days make sense. And before we get to our dinner, | want you to know that I’m so thankful that


    we''ve found you, or that you’ve found us. | know that the bond that we shared when you were Andra is no longer there, Donovan


    can feel that the bond is different, but there is still a familial bond. | hope that Alessia can feel it too?” Angel nods her head.


    “Good. We are family. | don’t know what has happened to you or why no one could find you for so long, but you are here now


    and you are not alone. We are all your family now.” Clint gestures around the


    room.


    Angel looks around and sees everyone nodding in agreement. | see her eyes well with tears and | walk to her, running my hand


    over her hair. She sniffs and looks up at me. “I’m okay, it’s just been so long since | had anyone to call family.”


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