1 1. Kandra

Do you ever have one of those days where you could swear your being watched? The hairs on the back of your neck stand on end and shivers run down your spine. Yet when you turn around there's no one there. Well I was having one of those days.

I was walking home from work, a little diner just outside of Asheville North Carolina. My boss Ereni an older woman her greying hair rare for our kind since we lived far longer lives then mere humans. Meaning she was at least a couple hundred years old. Even with her age her body toned to the max. something in the genes just made everyone of us built like fighters. Guess that doesn't come as a surprise though considering we're werewolves.

Yup you heard me right. Werewolves do exist though we're not like what you see in movies or read in books by werewolves I mean part human part wolf. It's not just that there's all manor of supernatural creatures all living amongst humans. Some towns are even made up of all sups like Charlotte.

Charlotte was the home of the werewolf king. His pack inhibited the whole town. That was Slo's pack , my best friend. He never said much about them but I'd heard stories. The kings temper was something to fear, which was why when I felt those eyes on me I was worried. You see Being the king the whole of North Carolina was his territory. Charlotte was merely home base for him. If he ever found out that a lone wolf, an omega was living here without permission I'd be dead.

Which was why I was so grateful to Ereni for giving me a job. Even if she did sometimes scare the shit out of me. I would definitely hate to challenge her in a fight not that I would ever do that but I can definitely tell you she would win. Her words on my way out a testament to her higher status to not be late tomorrow or she would have my tail for dinner. I shivered at the thought. I was grateful to her though if it weren't for her and Slo for introducing me I would probably have moved on by now.

I smiled just thinking about the goof that was my best friend. He was younger well at least I'm pretty sure he was younger who could really say it's not like I knew what my age was. You see as much as I hate it I have no memory of my life except for the last four years.

Now I know what your thinking obviously I suffered some sort of traumatic event that one either caused my self conscious to forget or two that traumatic event caused some sort of brain damage. Well since I can't remember I wouldn't know. You see werewolves heal fast if there was damage it had healed by the time I was found. Though even healing didn't make me regain my memory. But who knows it could be just something I was born with that righted itself four years ago. All I know is that I've spent four years trying to find out.

Imagine waking up in the middle of North Carolina deep in the forests. Not a sign of injury or any trauma yet no memory of what happened to me. I was found by some people camping completely butt naked. Yup embarrassing right? Though what's worse is the not knowing. Not knowing what happened to me. I had thought of all the worst scenarios from kidnapping to attempted murder.

The only thing I could rule out was rape since I was examined at the hospital when I was found. And let's just say not my most shining moment the last thing you want is some glorified doctor looking at your vagina after being found in the woods but there you have it. Protocol he said, blah blah blah Yea while I did tell him he could shove his protocol up his arse. Let's just say that didn't go down very well. Suffice to say I lost the argument and he still managed to examined my vagina taking swabs only to find out I was untouched in every sense of the word. Yup that meant I was still a virgin, go figure right.

The police tried for awhile to find out where I had come from but since no one had reported a missing person there wasn't much to go on. So I took up my own search travelling all over America checking missing persons reports and any leads that Slo would hear over the supernatural grape vine only to find myself right back where I started four years later back in North Carolina. I was currently staying in the town of Asheville North Carolina. A town that sat in the centre of two national parks the Nantahala and the Pisgah.

I had hoped that I would find something that I missed when I first searched though even I knew it was unlikely. I mean it had been four years since I had been here, four years for the trail to go cold.

I didn't hold up much hope. Deep down I knew that my travelling to find answers was merely me running away from my problems. There's only so much of the constant dead ends and disappointments a person can handle. It was Slo's idea to come back. He had been hounding me for years to return to Asheville until I finally gave in. Even with the risk of the Alpha king possibly finding out that I was here I knew it was time to stop running.

I could have asked permission to enter red eye pack territory but the thought of approaching the red eyed king with such a request was terrifying. Not to mention there was a possibility he would force me to join his pack which was something I definitely didn't want to do. I liked my life as a omega. I had no one to answer to, no one to give me orders. Nope being a part of a pack meant you lost your free will. Well I say fuck that! It was a risk but a risk I was willing to take. Though given the circumstances I would find myself in, it was probably something I should have reconsidered.

My house was a few miles from the lone diner the distance between them taking more then two hours to walk if I were human. For me though all it took was a half hour run at full speed through the woods. Well even for a wolf shifter that was fast which was one of the reasons I called My best friend Slo since he could never beat me on a run.

It was during such a run that I felt it. The numbing sense of those eyes watching. Stopping instantly my feet skidding along the ground as dirt kicked up from the speed. I looking around through each gap in the trees. Lifting my head I sniffed the air. All I could smell was pine needles, nothing else. Was I imagining it? Maybe being in the kings territory had made me paranoid. There's no way I'd miss smelling someone watching me but even knowing that I couldn't shake the feeling that some one or even something was out there.

Pulling my phone out of my pocket I dialled Slo's number. He picked up after two rings.

"Hey Kan Kan-"

"Stop calling me that!"

Kan Kan was Slo's idiotic Nic name for me and it drove me nuts which is half the reason why he used it.

"Oh come on Kan Kan you know you secretly love it."

"I do not love it and you know it drives me insane when you use it. Argh."

I growled to myself as goosebumps on my skin reminded me why I called. Reeling back my wolf side Slo's voice became worried at the tone in my voice snapping him from playful to serious in two seconds.

"Kan what's wrong?"

Finally calm I chose my words carefully not wanting to alarm him any more then I had.

"Listen is there another wolf in Asheville or another sup that you know of apart from me, Ereni and her husband?"

While he answered I did another sweep of the woods with my eyes. Still nothing.

"Not that I know of why what's going on? Did you see someone? Smell them?"

"No.... it's just I'm on my way home and....I don't know it just feels like I'm being watched."

I heard him chuckle on the other line.

"Seriously Kan? You sensed someone? Kan I think your paranoia is getting out of control. If a wolf or some other sup was there trust me I would know. Now stop stressing you wouldn't be this paranoid if you'd just done as I suggested an-"

I groaned cutting him off. if I had to listen to another spiel about requesting permission form the king to be in his territory I was going to cut my own ears off.

"You know why I can't do that Slo I don't want to be in a pack let alone a tyrant kings pack."

"He's not a tyrant Kan I've told you before he's just...misunderstood."

"Yea right tell that to the wolf in Virginia that lost his head in one of those misunderstandings."

"That was different I alrea-"

"Alright already geez your like a broken record."

Sighing i took a moment to calm my breathing before i continued.

"Listen just forget it I'll talk to you later."

I started to hang up when Slos voice stopped me.

"Kan look don't hang up angry. I'm sorry. I know why you don't want to join the pack I just don't like that your by yourself all the time. We're pack animals we need each other to be safe."

His voice was full of emotion. I knew he meant well but he didn't understand that if I joined a pack it would be like giving up on my past and I just wasn't ready to do that.

"Just stop worrying I chose Asheville because Ereni was the only wolf there. King Vericus has no reason to send anybody because she's there. Your going to give yourself anxiety if you keep this up."

I sighed. Maybe he was right. Already the feeling of being watched was starting to disappear. Maybe it was all just in my head.

"I'm sorry Slo your right. I'm just not used to staying still I guess."

"I hope this wasn't an excuse to leave North Carolina again because if it is-"

"NO! Honestly Slo I made a promise and I keep my promises."

"Good cause I only just got you back I'm not letting you disappear on me again."

I smiled at the determination in Slo's voice. I met him in Charlotte not long after I woke up. I ran into Slo on the first full moon after my first shift well my first shift after waking up but still. Even though I remember it now at the time i was completely taken over by the beast side of me. Slo stayed with me and kept me from hurting any body. Once morning had come and I was back to myself I told him of my story or lack there of and he promised to help me track down my past.

He told me all about wolf shifters and how to control my inner demon as I call it. Though he was always vague on any information about his pack. I didn't mind though having no intention of ever joining a pack much less one ruled by the likes of King Vericus. of course since he was in a pack he couldn't come with me when I travelled but he kept in touch often sending me places that he'd heard along the grape vine of a werewolf family looking for their long lost daughter, sister, niece whatever the case may be but always resulting in dead ends.

Hence the reason I found myself back in Asheville needing a break from the constant disappointments of getting my hopes up only to have them stamped into the ground. I mean why was it so hard surely I couldn't have just appeared out of no where could I?

Well let's just say maybe if I stopped chasing what clearly didn't want to be found then the answer might come to me. This thought made me laugh the first time I thought it when I decided to move back here. I know I should just give up and move on with my life but for some reason I just couldn't. I needed to know where I came from if there was anyone out there missing me but more then anything I needed answers. Answers to the many questions I had to fill the gap that was my past.

I knew that eventually I'd be right back out there searching for those answers but for now maybe just standing still for awhile might give the universe a chance to catch up to me for once.

Slo was ecstatic when I told him I was moving back grateful for the chance to escape his pack duties from the king to help me find somewhere to live even helping me find a job at a diner in town. The owner also a member of the red eye pack. Even though I was an omega otherwise known as a lone wolf she still took me in as a waitress.

Like Slo she didn't talk about her pack much though unlike Slo she never really went to Charlotte where the bulk of the pack lived to really know much about their goings on. While I said before I wasn't interested in joining a pack it didn't mean I wasn't curious but I never pushed for information merely listened in whenever he or Ereni talked about it.

"Kan you still there?"

Pulled out of my head I answered.

"Ye..yes sorry was daydreaming."

His chuckle was teasing.

"Always a space head nice to know some things never change."

"Oh shut up Slo like you can talk. Anyway sorry I was freaking out guess I'm just not used to staying in one place for this long."

"It's fine I get it. I'll try find some time to come visit soon ok."

"You promise?"

"I promise. I'll talk to you later."

"Sure."

I hung up smiling. It wasn't often Slo got time away from the pack to visit but when he did I enjoyed Every moment. He was the only person I trusted in our world.

I started running the last mile towards my house the feeling of being watched long gone thanks to Slo. I must be loosing my mind. I chuckled to myself as my little cabin in the woods came into view. There was only a faint trail leading from the cabins to the highway but since I never used it it remained overgrown. The cabin Slo had set up for me was one of the red eye packs safe houses complete with wards set up to protect it. That way if any humans or other sups came close they wouldn't be able to see it or smell who was inside.

I was grateful for everything Slo had done for me over the years and didn't know what I'd do without him. He was my best friend but sometimes the weight of my unknown past pressed down on my mind like I was being drowned. The not knowing who I was ripping the air from my lungs making it hard to breath.

I shook my head as I stepped up to the front door entering the cabin. Even though I still could not bring myself to call the cabin home it was my little sanctuary. Only consisting of one bedroom a small cramped kitchen and a slightly bigger lounge room. The couch with its worn out fabric and large claw marks on the back of it was surprisingly the most comfortable thing in the world to sit on as I read my books.

I didn't have a TV much preferring to either read or paint which explained the easel in the corner of the lounge room. Painting was my way of escaping those feelings. My zen if you want to call it, but sometimes even painting wasn't enough to stay away the shadows.

Nights were the worst. Going into my room I threw myself on the bed work clothes and all. Tired from a full day at work all I wanted to do was sleep. As my eyes start to close I knew it wouldn't be long before I would wake coved in sweat and screaming from the nightmares. Nightmares that never made sense. Nightmares that always left me with blood on my hands.

I told no one about my dreams not even Slo. I knew it would just give him one more reason to worry about me. No better to keep them to myself. Who knows maybe tonight will be the one night they don't haunt me. I fell asleep with that last thought even though I knew I was kidding myself.