Kissing Jacob was a refined ritual that got better and better every time our lips locked and the slow back and forward of our mouths began. The bliss I found inside his arms made me forget about my problems. He was gentle and passionate. He was patient. I felt safe.

The next morning, I found Jacob doing laps in the outside pool. It seemed to be his morning routine. Exiting to the garden, I sat on the chair and waited for him to finish. Meanwhile, I was replaying in my head the kisses we shared by the lake and outside my bedroom door. I wasn’t sure how we were able to let go or get home.

Before I realized what I was doing, I was hugging myself and nibbling on my lower lip while Jacob was standing in front of me, dripping water from his sexy and ripped body. The towel caressed his hair and circled his creamy skin. I gulped and bit my lip harder. A huge blush tainted my cheeks. I was acting out of character. Normally, I wasn’t brave enough to check a guy out like that. I couldn’t help myself, Jacob was too hot to resist. Jumping into that pool and doing a couple of laps to blow off steam seemed more and more enticing as the seconds passed by, and I kept ogling him.

“Camille?” His face was close to mine as his eyebrows knitted together in a questioning expression. “Are you okay?”

I gulped. “Yes?” My body shivered with our closeness and my eyelids felt heavy.

Jacob’s lips curled into a grin. His cold hand stroked my overheated cheek.

“You look sexy when you blush,” he whispered. His husky voice touched my skin as goosebumps traveled down my spine and circled the rest of my body.

My throat dried. I never liked when my red cheeks gave away my most intimate thoughts and state of mind.

“Se-sexy?” I stuttered, my hands clutching the arms of the chair.

“If it makes you feel better, I wonder how you look wet… inside your clothes.”

I breathed out and sank further in the chair. “What?”

I just died right there. Only to be brought to life when his lips touched mine and all the abundance of internal heat that circled within my body exploded into a wave of pleasure.

Daintily, my unsteady arms wrapped around his cold neck. The remaining water on his body transferred to my clothes, and I welcomed it until I realized that our bodies were creating enough heat to turn the liquid into steam. Jacob’s mouth was bombarding mine with an untamed passion. With my eyes closed, after a while, I stopped fighting my irrationality and gave in to my own fierce need to touch and kiss him.

Jacob lifted me from the chair as if I was a feather, snaked my legs around his waist, and walked to the pool. Before I could protest, he was descending the stairs and water surrounded us.

“You are so naughty,” I complained against his neck, shivering with the cold.

“It’s only fair that I can look at you wet, too,” he whispered in my ear, nibbling my earlobe and offsetting the low temperature with his kisses.

His lips kissed feather-like patterns along my collarbone and down my throat. His hands caressed my ribs and narrowed the space between our chests until it was hard to breathe. There was a little voice inside my head, claiming that Jacob was mine and all I could do was agree with it and keep holding on to his shoulders while moaning in pleasure as the water beneath us seemed to swirl into a vortex.

“If you keep that up, soon, there won't be any water in the pool,” a male voice said.

Jacob withdrew his lips to search for the owner of the voice.

I looked behind and saw a tall and blonde man smirking at us with his hands in the pockets of his khaki pants.

“Alpha Jerome, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?” Jacob asked. He maneuvered me to hide behind his back as any possessive wolf would do in the presence of a rival. I guess angels had a few things in common with the werewolves.

“If I recall, you asked for my help,” the man retorted. “I bring news.”

“Good or bad?” Jacob's muscles on his back tensed under my hands.

“Not very good.” The smile vanished from his handsome face. “You better get dressed.

Jacob nodded. “I'll be right back.”

Jacob turned around and faced me. His gaze landed on my cleavage, and he grinned as his tongue wet his lips.

I knew why he was smirking. The shirt was glued to my breasts leaving little to his imagination. Instead of feeling shy, I liked the way his eyes approved of what he saw. It felt nice being wanted.

“Hold on to me and don't scream,” he requested in my ear.

“Why?” I gazed up and, before I could blink, we teleported to my bedroom and wet the carpet under our feet.

“You have powers!” I gasped.

He nodded. “We kissed. Our angel forms have been activated.”

“Do they speak inside our minds?” I wondered with squinted eyes.

“Yes. You may hear voices until you become a full angel after the ritual.”

“That explains a lot.”

“That’s good news! It means your angel also activated.”

I grinned at his excitement. “Does that mean I will be able to teleport?”

He nodded.

“Will you teach me how to do that?”

“I’ll teach you once I find out what Jerome came here to tell me. Agreed?”

Nodding, I tiptoed and kissed his lips. When the kiss became deeper, Jacob spread kisses along my face and then kissed my forehead before disappearing to get dressed.

 

 

The news wasn't reassuring. The Shadow Pack had sent men to Paris. Alpha Simon had tried to find allies among the packs to declare war against the angels. The reason? They had taken someone from him, someone he wanted back: me.

“No one will support his ridiculous claim,” Jerome assured, sitting across from us at the desk in the office.

I was seated on Jacob's lap as his hand gripped my waist. He had been acting extremely protective which I didn't mind. Being apart from him was physically painful. Plus, the little voice in my head was clingy and needed his attention. My body craved his touch.

“Camille is no longer his. He rejected her. They have a barbaric ritual,” Jacob explained to his friend.

“We are well aware of their cruelty and insanity. We don't approve. Plus, no one would be foolish enough to go against Prince Cedric.”

“Who else have his men talked to?”

“I heard rumors that they tried to approach the necromancers.”

Jacob raised an eyebrow. “Are they thinking about declaring war on us?”

“They are cowards and are outnumbered. However, they are offering a reward to whoever can tell them where to find your mate.”

Jacob clenched his jaw, and his hand gripped harder. I fidgeted in his lap, and he leaned down to kiss my cheek. “I'm sorry.”

I clutched his hand to comfort him.

“Few people know about this place. The ones who know are loyal and have no need for more money,” Jerome declared. “There's no need for concern.”

“And my brother?” I asked. “Any news about him?”

Jerome squared his shoulders and folded his hands on his lap. “I'm afraid there have been reports of packs being attacked by the Shadow Pack. One of them being yours, Camille.”

“Casualties?” I asked.

“They took more prisoners, but some were killed. The Alpha and the Beta, at least.”

I lowered my head. “I never meant for any of this to happen.”

“It is not your fault,” Jerome said. “It was only an excuse to claim more territory. But, war is coming. Stronger packs are becoming concerned with the Alpha Simon’s moves to increase the number of fighters in his pack. If the violence continues, there will be an attack and that’s when we will need the angels’ help.”

I looked at Jacob to see what was on his mind.

He gave Jerome a half-smile. “You will have our support. I'll talk to Cedric tonight, but rest assured, we are ready to offer soldiers to your war.”

“Glad we are on the same page. I have to go,” the Alpha said, getting up and smoothing his jacket. “I still have other leaders to meet today.”

Jacob and I stood as my mate reached to shake the Alpha’s hand.

Jerome addressed me with a gentle smile. “It was nice to meet you, Camille. I'm glad you have found a new home.”

“Thank you, Alpha.” I bowed in respect.

Jacob’s hand rested on my back and guided me to the exit where he accompanied his friend to the door.

“We will get more news about your brother, honey.” Jacob tried to comfort me when we were left alone.

I voiced my biggest fear. “Thierry may be dead.”

“Or captured. If so, we will free him.”

I held my lower lip captive between my teeth.

Jacob's arms secured me against his chest. “You have me now. No need to be afraid.”

I nestled my face against the fabric of his sweater. His scent calmed me. “I need to learn how to fight and use my angelic powers,” I shared with him. “I'm done running. I want to go with you if there's a fight.”

His hands stroked my hair as his chin rested on my head. “It will be dangerous.”

“War is always dangerous, but I need this to heal. Please don't deny me this. Don't make me think less of you.”

I stepped back and raised my face to gaze into his eyes. His brows drew together, and I was aware that, in a way, my words were a sort of blackmail. But, they were also true. As much as I liked to be protected and feel safe, I also needed to prove to myself, to Simon, and my former pack that I wasn't a scared, incapable weakling. Plus, my angel would never let Jacob go on his own. We didn’t want to lose him.

“We don't even know what your powers are yet,” Jacob reasoned.

“Teleporting, wings, super strength. Whatever comes with the rest of the package it's just a plus. I need you to teach me how to teleport. I know how to fight, sort of. Thierry taught me the basics, and I'm much stronger now than when I was a wolf.”

We looked deep into each other eyes for a few moments. My heart beat faster. I didn't want Jacob to undermine me. I wanted my mate to let me make my own decisions. I bit my lip harder, afraid that I might be wrong about him. Did I make a mistake in trusting and kissing him?

Securing my face between his hands, Jacob placed a soft kiss on my lips. “If we need to attack, we go together,” he assured me. “You can help, but I need to assess your skills.”

“Okay,” I mumbled, breathing deeply. “And if we need to save Thierry and there's no pack of wolves to help us?”

“We will gather our own intel and make a plan to help your brother.”

My lips stretched into a smile as I hugged him with happiness. “Thank you! Thank you!”