Fated Encounters

Chapter 7: Gathering Strength

The air beneath the thick canopy of trees felt cooler, offering them a momentary reprieve from the suffocating tension that had followed them. Angela, Patrick, Will, and Rex had escaped the alien stronghold with the Andasastra, but the battle was far from over. Exhausted, they found shelter in another hidden tree spot—one of the safe havens Angela had learned to navigate by instinct.

The massive tree looked like any other, its bark thick and knotted with age, but hidden within its hollow center was a small space, large enough for the four of them to rest. As they stepped inside, the air felt fresher, and a faint glow of light filtered through the narrow openings in the tree, casting a soft, golden hue over them.

Angela collapsed against the trunk, her muscles trembling from the effort of keeping them all cloaked in invisibility during their escape. She wiped the sweat from her brow, her breathing shallow. Her powers had drained her more than she expected, and her hands were still shaking. Patrick noticed immediately.

“You need to eat,” Patrick said, his voice firm but gentle as he knelt beside her. He pulled out a small pack from his belt, unwrapping some rations they had brought along—simple bread, dried fruits, and a bit of cured meat. “You need your strength, Angela. We can’t afford for you to burn out.”

Angela nodded, her eyelids heavy. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until the food was right in front of her. Without another word, she took the bread and ate, slowly at first, letting the simple meal revive her energy.

Will, though weakened, watched her carefully from his place on the ground. He had his son’s same piercing gaze, though his body was frailer now after being held captive for so long. Still, his mind was sharp.

“She’s right,” Will murmured, breaking the silence that had fallen over them. “You did save us today, Angela. That power of yours—it’s something rare.”

Angela swallowed, her throat tightening with emotion. Will’s praise meant more than she could put into words. She glanced at Patrick, who was leaning back against the tree, his eyes fixed on her as if watching her every move. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed between them since the rescue, but she wasn’t sure what it was yet.

After finishing the food, Angela leaned her head back, feeling the exhaustion hit her all at once. She closed her eyes briefly, letting the weight of the day settle into her bones. She could feel the hum of her power beneath her skin, but it was faint, weaker than before. She needed rest if they were going to make it through the next stage of their mission.

Patrick seemed to sense her weariness. He stood up and gently took her hand, guiding her to a small patch of soft moss near the back of the hollow. “Rest,” he said quietly. “We’ll take shifts keeping watch. Rex will alert us if anything comes close.”

Angela nodded, too tired to argue. She lay down, her head resting against the mossy tree trunk. Patrick knelt beside her, brushing a stray lock of hair away from her face. His touch was light, almost hesitant, and for a moment, their eyes met. There was something in his gaze—something that made Angela’s heart ache, but she couldn’t read it clearly through her exhaustion.

“Sleep,” he whispered, his voice low. “You’ve done more than enough today.”

Angela closed her eyes, her body giving in to the rest she so desperately needed. As she drifted off, she felt the warmth of Patrick’s presence beside her, and for the first time in days, she felt safe.

---

While Angela slept, Patrick and Will sat together near the entrance, their backs against the tree’s inner wall. Rex sat by their side, alert but quiet, his ears perked for any sign of danger. Patrick glanced at his father, who looked older and wearier than he had before the kidnapping. The escape had taken its toll on him, but Will’s spirit was still unbroken.

“She’s strong,” Will said quietly, nodding toward Angela. “Stronger than you realize.”

Patrick sighed, rubbing his tired eyes. “I know. She’s been… everything.”

Will turned to his son, his expression soft but serious. “You need to protect her, Patrick. Not just because of what she can do, but because of who she is to you.”

Patrick frowned, his chest tightening. “I know, Dad. I’ve been trying.”

Will’s gaze hardened, his voice lowering. “Not enough. You’re losing time. She’s your mate—you know it as well as I do. You can’t keep holding back.”

Patrick stiffened at his father’s words, the weight of them pressing down on him. He had known for a while now that Angela was meant to be his, that they were bound together in ways that went beyond the physical. But something had been holding him back—fear, doubt, his unresolved feelings for Stephanie. It all clouded his mind, making it hard to see what was right in front of him.

But Will’s words brought a new urgency. The Hunter’s Moon was fast approaching, and Patrick knew that without Angela, his powers would start to fade, and with them, his ability to protect her and their people.

“I won’t let anything happen to her,” Patrick said, his voice steady but strained. “I promise.”

Will gave a small nod, satisfied with his son’s resolve. “Good. Because she’s going to need you—now more than ever.”

---

Hours passed, and the sun began to set, casting a dim light through the small cracks in the tree’s bark. Angela stirred, waking from her much-needed rest. Her body still ached, but the food and sleep had done wonders to revive her strength. She sat up slowly, finding Patrick and Will deep in quiet conversation.

“Feeling better?” Patrick asked, standing up as she approached.

Angela nodded, stretching her arms above her head. “Yeah, much better. Thanks for letting me rest.”

Patrick’s eyes softened. “You needed it. And we’ll need you at full strength soon.”

Angela glanced around, realizing they were still deep in the jungle, but the tension had eased slightly. For now, they were safe. But the Andasastra, now in their possession, was a target that would make their next moves even more dangerous.

“What’s next?” she asked, her voice low as she looked between Patrick and Will.

Will cleared his throat, his voice still weak but filled with purpose. “We have the book, but the alien leader won’t stop hunting us. We need to find a safe place to study it—to figure out what they’re after.”

Patrick stepped forward, his hand brushing against Angela’s. “And we’ll need to be ready. For whatever comes next.”

Angela met his gaze, feeling the unspoken bond between them growing stronger with each passing day. She nodded, determination settling into her bones. They were in this together now—no matter what the future held.

They gathered their things, preparing to leave the sanctuary of the tree. The jungle around them had grown quiet, but Angela knew better than to believe the silence would last. There was still a storm coming, and this time, they would need every ounce of strength they had to survive it.

As they set off into the thickening shadows, Angela reached for Patrick’s hand once more, her fingers lacing through his. Together, they would face whatever lay ahead.