It was as I watched her pretty brown eyes glaze over as she clutched her side that I realised something was wrong. Help her. My lion urged. I didn’t pause to try and understand why my lion had taken an interest in her. But he had been impressed with her since she stood her ground in the gallery room. Her brothers all leapt up shouting her name as she fell off the chair, painful whimpers leaving her mouth. I glanced back over to my closest friend Wyatt for some explanation.

“I’m sorry Alex, I don’t know what’s caused this.”

I racked my brain for what might have caused her to have a panic attack this severe. Watching her brothers crowd around her without making physical contact, the pieces of information all linked in my head.

Don’t touch me…. I don’t like shifter’s either…. Forced claiming brands

Looking over at Wyatt I saw his expression was as shocked as I imagine my own was. He obviously had connected all the dots as well. Punish, my lion growled. The tallest angel, Flint I think he said his name was, turned to face the biker looking angel.

“Clay, anything?” His voice was harsh with anxiety. He obviously cared a lot for Autumn as she lay shivering on the floor. Jealously ran through me at that thought.

“Nothing.”

“Try harder!”

Just as Clay launched for Flint, the yellow eyed one – Hawk – stepped in the way. His cold voice sent shivers down my spine.

“This will not help.” He looked towards Wyatt and I, “Call our father.”

Hang on. Our father? There is no way those lot were related. They looked nothing alike at all, for one Hawk was clearly Native American whilst Autumn was fair skinned. Not to mention Clay’s hair for another. Shaking those thoughts from my head, I turned back to Wyatt.

“Any idea who he means?”

“Yes, I think they mean Cormac, the Protection Pillar’s Second.”

As I dialled the number to the Protection Pillar, I couldn’t stop myself from gazing across to Autumn who lay on the floor mumbling. She may be brazen and slightly arrogant. Hell, I was stunned that she was ballsy enough to flick my nose when I was growling at her. But I wouldn’t wish on her what I think may have happened. She really was turning out to be a strange one and if any of the shifter’s under my command had done this then they were in for a reckoning. My lion chuffed in agreement.

“Hello, you’ve reached the Protection Pillar, how may I be of assistance today?”

The receptionist’s voice brought be back from my musings.

“My name is Alexander Bakas, I’m the Leo for the North American Pack. I need to speak to the father of an angel called Autumn urgently.”

“Oh. Her.” The receptionist’s voice barely hid the disgust at the sound of Autumn’s name. “I’ll put you through now.”

It seems that Hawk’s earlier words about some believing they were abominations was true.

“Cormac.” A gruff Irish voice sounded through the phone.

“Are you Autumn’s father?”

“Yes. Whose wanting to know?” Suspicion laced his voice.

“Alexander Bakas, I’m the Leo fo-”

“Put me on speaker.”

Punching the speaker button on the phone handset, I focused on the angels in front of me.

“You’re on speaker now.”

“Autumn, baby girl, you there?” The gruff voice was softened. When he got no reply, he addressed the other angels.

“Boys, tell me what’s happening.”

“She’s having a panic attack Da and I can’t reach her.” Clay’s voice was filled with shame.

“Shifter. Can you place the phone nearer to her?”

Arching an eyebrow at the shifter bit, I disconnected the handheld from its charger station and walked around my desk to reach Autumn’s side.

“How close you want to be?”

“As close as you can get me without touching her.”

Placing the phone next to her ear as she lay on the ground, I remained crouched to see what would happened. Noticing but deciding to ignore Flint’s glare, I listened to Autumn’s father as he kept repeating the same phrases over and over to try and pierce through the haze she was in. I didn’t think it was working until she muttered.

“Daddy.” A painful sigh, “You came.”

After that she passed out on the floor, her body evidently too exhausted after the panic attack to remain functioning. Leaning forward, I gently scooped her up in my arms, careful not to trap her wings in an awkward way, silencing the angels protests with a glare. My lion sighed happily, ours. Well shit, I looked down at her, that answered why my lion was so keen on helping her earlier. This was going to be fun. Turning back to the others, I addressed their father.

“Sir, she’s stopped her panic attack and has passed out. I’m going to take her to one of the guest rooms to rest. I’m assuming you’ll be arriving shortly?”

“Yes. Take care with her. Boys you know what to do if he steps out of line.”

And with that barely veiled threat, he hung up. Rolling my eyes, I started walking towards the office door.

“Wyatt, if you could so kind.” After watching him open the door, I turned to him, “Have the guest rooms set up in East Wing for her brothers with things ready for her as well once she awakes. Oh, and be ready to welcome her father once he arrives.” I turned back to the angels, “Follow me, I’ll show you all to the East Wing.”