16. Kandra

When Cora asked King Vericus if she could take me for a walk outside I knew instantly what she was after. I mean honestly it wasn't hard to tell by the way she looked at Slo and if I'm honest the way he looked at her. From what little I had observed during breakfast I could tell her red hair wasn't the only thing that was firey. It wasn't til we were outside that she even said a word and only when she knew Ty was out of ear shot not that that was even possible in wolf form but he did try to stay back far enough to at least give the illusion of privacy.

"So Kandra I need to know something..."

She stopped walking about half way to the tree line as she chewed on the side of her cheek. I could tell that she was working up the courage to ask me what I knew she wanted to know. So to save her the trouble I said it first.

"Slo and I are just friends."

Her head tilted like she was still unsure.

"Slo?"

I chuckled.

"Oh yea it's just a nic name Slo poke cause he's never been able to run faster then me."

I smiled in an attempt to reassure her since she still seemed to have her doubts.

"So you two havent..."

I laughed.

"I'm sorry it's just Slos like a little brother to me. Trust me there's has been nor ever will be anything like that between us. My tastes leans more towards..."

Red eyes flashed in my mind making me shake my head.

"Well anyway you don't have to worry he is all yours."

My words seemed to make her flustered.

"Oh no don't get the wrong idea I wasn't asking because I want to be with him it's just..."

I laughed it was hard to tell who was in denial more her or Slo but it was obvious that they liked each other. It made me wonder what was holding them back. I'll have to remember to ask slo about it later.

Grabbing her hand I threaded my arm through hers.

"Don't worry I'm not one to pry but just know there's nothing to worry about once this whole business with the wolf that attacked me is over I'll be out of everyones hair. That is if his highness let's me leave."

My voice went quiet towards the end just thinking about Vericus. He was so hard to read. On one hand he was scary as fuck but on the other hand he could be kind as well. I just didn't get him. The sooner I got away from here the better. Packs they were just too much drama for my liking. As if on cue the door we'd used to come outside burst opened. It was Slo and judging by the look on his face he seemed upset but before I could get a better look he shifted and ran towards the trees.

"I wonder what that was about?"

The words were barely out of my mouth before we heard a crash inside the house. Both Cora and I shared a look then as one started to rush back but before we'd gotten two steps Ty blocked our path.

"Ty what the hell? Get out of the way!"

Ty growled at Cora the meaning clear as another crash sounded then Vericus's wolf completely obliterated the back door. In the blink of an eye he disappeared between the trees. I turned to Ty growling.

"Let us go inside I promise I won't leave your side but we need to see if anyone's hurt."

Ty seemed to be mulling it over then in a huff he stepped aside letting us rush inside Ty bounding after us.

The door to Vericus's office was open as we ran inside. None of us prepared for what we saw. The room was destroyed. What was a lavish emasculate room when I'd left it this morning was now in pieces. The desk split in two papers scattered everywhere. Just inside the door one of the red eye pack members was unconscious. Cora bending to check that they were all right Ty just beside her.

I took in the room again as my eyes landed on a picture on the floor. As if in a trance I bent down to pick it up. My eyes widened at the female inside it. She looked like me albeit a younger version but her features matched mine perfectly. Who was this? And why would there be a picture of me in Vericus's office?

I didn't get a chance to question it though as a moan sounded in the corner. Quickly I tucked the picture into bra and rushed to the sounds of moaning. In the corner under a chuck of the wall the had broken was Owen. He must have shifted from wolf form while he was knocked out since he was now naked. I reached out to him as his eyes opened.

"Owen! Are you alright? What happened here?"

Owens eyes widened like he'd just remembered as he tried to rise. I put a hand out to stop him as blood pooled from a wound on his neck.

"Don't try to move the wound is deep."

He shook his head which only made him groan in pain again. Grabbing my hand urgency in his voice he growled.

"Where's Ty?"

Ty's wolf appeared at my side after hearing his voice.

"Ty! Take the others you need to go after Vericus he's lost control. We need to stop him before he hurts anyone else."

Ty looked my way torn between following orders to watch me and stopping Vericus. I put my hand on his side.

"Go I'll stay with Owen I promise, if I break it you have permission to kill me."

I could feel Owens eyes on me surprised by my words but it was enough to convince Ty as he ran out of the room. Turning back to Owen I grabbed his hand to help him up but the moment I did he growled in pain. I looked closer and realised he shoulder was dislocated. A glance at Cora and the other pack members told me they were fine. The male now standing on his own a three pronged scratch down one side of his arm. Deep but not enough to be life threatening.

"You there help me get Owen out of here."

The male nodded then took up Owens other arm around his shoulders. As he walked passed I turned to Cora.

"Get me a first aid kit and a bowl of boiled water."

She nodded then rushed off without a word. The male carrying Owen gave me a strange look but continued to carry Owen out into the living room depositing him on the couch.

Going to Owens side I tore a strip of the seam of my shirt and put pressure on Owens neck. Turning to the other male i spoke with authority in my voice.

"Give me your arm."

He stared at Owen who nodded slightly. The male presented his arm allowing me to see the scratch down his biceps.

"It's not too deep if you shift again your wolf will heal it in no time."

Again he turned to Owen.

"She right Callum shift now and go help the others."

The pack wolf that I now knew as Callum shifted and made his way outside. Turning back to Owen he was smiling up at me.

"What?"

He slowly started to sit up ignoring my protests.

"Your good at this."

I frowned grabbing his good arm as I made him hold the cloth to his neck.

"Well when you travel alone for four years you get used to dealing with injuries. Not all lone wolves like it when you enter what they think is their territory."

He chuckles.

"Indeed."

I inspected his arm.

"I'm going to have to relocate it."

He sighed.

"I figured as much. Don't worry do what you have to my wolf won't come out."

I nod as I grab his hand bending his arm at the elbow I rolled his shoulder til a resounding pop clicked it back into place. He groaned but remained still the whole time.

"Your good at this ever thought about becoming a pack doctor."

I laughed going back to his neck.

"Fuck no. I never want to be in a pack."

Owen who was about to say something else closed it the second Cora returned with the first aid kit and bowl of water.

"Thank you."

She smiled as she sat back to watch me as I lifted the cloth off of the wound in his neck. The bleeding had stopped but it needed to be cleaned and stitched. As I worked on Owen neck i tried to get what had happened out of him.

"I don't expect you to tell me but I figure I'll ask anyway what happened in there?"

Owen remained silent causing me stare at him in between stitching up his wounds.

"I'm sorry Kandra."

I shrugged.

"Don't be. I figured that'd be your answer."

"Kandra-"

Owen was cut off as Vericus entered the living room followed closely by Ty who was now in human form. I had just finished stitching up Owen who upon hearing Vericus's voice grabbed pants off a pile at the end of the couch. Seems in a house of wolves having pants stashed every where was a must.

"Ty for fucks sakes leave me be."

Scolded Ty stepped back as Vericus grabbed a couple of pants off the pile and threw a pair at Ty. I watched as Vericus put them on awkwardly with one hand. That's when I realised the way his arm bent at a strange angle.

"Oh my god your arm!"

Vericus waved my outburst off his voice all hard edges.

"I'm fine."

Turning to Owen his voice softer.

"Are you alright?"

Owen nodded.

"I'm fine don't worry Kandra took good care of me. You should let her see to your arm I won't be of much help til my own shoulder heals."

Vericus growled at the thought which only served to piss me off.

"I don't need her help it'll heal on it's own."

Clenching my fists I growled.

"For fucks sakes would it kill you just to except my help! Or do you not trust me that much you'd rather risk loosing the use of your arm?"

Taken back by my outburst Vericus and everyone in the room went silent. Clearly not many people dared speak to the king like I just did. But right now I didn't care he deserved every word. Slowly he stuck out his arm.

"Fine do what you must and be done with it."

Stepping closer I inspected his arm. It was a clean break which was good but it had already started healing. His regenerative abilities were off the charts even in human form.

"Sit down it needs to be rebroken then set again."

He grunted a reply but did as I asked sitting next to Owen who put a hand on his shoulder. I gave him a questioning look.

"I can keep him calm so his wolf doesn't come out."

I nodded as I took Vericus's arm, I felt his eyes on me the whole time. As I applied the right amount of pressure I pushed his eyes glowed a growl escaping his throat but he remained human. Then I reset the bone. Surprisingly their first aid kit had everything even splits which I put his arm in then wrapped a bandage around to hold them in place. Smiling to myself proud of my work my eyes met Vericus's.

his red iris's took me in as something unspoken passed between us. What was this feeling? It was Cora's voice that interrupted the spell that had come over me.

"Ver what happened?"

His face dropped his eyes darkening.

"They took Sloane."

The air in the room froze. Did I hear right? Cora was the first to react.

"What do you mean they took Sloane? Who took him."

Vericus's clenched the fist of his good arm growling his eyes glowing. It was Owen who spoke.

"Vericus what happened?"

Vericus lashed out kicking the coffee table in his anger the first aid kit spilling everywhere as Vericus moved towards the window looking out at the forest.

"It was the lunar eclipse pack. Their alpha Kearys son Driak. He's given us two days to give him what he wants or Sloane does."

Cora's voice was quiet as she asked the one question we all wanted to know.

"What does he want?"

Slowly Vericus turned to face us his eyes stared into mine.

"He wants you."

I looked to Cora her face held accusation. She blamed me for Slo being taking. To be honest I blamed me too. How could I let this happen? Ever since I came back here I've done nothing but cause problems for everyone around me. This was my fault and it was up to me to fix it.

Steeling myself my fists clenched I turned and headed outside. I barely got as far as the length of the couch before Owen grabbed my hand.

"Kandra wait!"

I growled.

"No! I'm going. They can have me for all I care as long as Slo is safe."

I tried to pull my hand from Owens but his grip was like a vice.

"Think about it even if you were to go out there you have no idea where they are. not to mention if you just walk straight into their hands Whats to stop them from killing Sloane anyway."

I growled my wolf showing through in my frustration. Turning my eyes on Vericus who for the first time since I'd met him looked at a loss for what to do.

"Where's the exchange meant to take place?"

Vericus's answer was full of emotion.

"I don't know they said they would send word with the time and place."

Despite Owens wounds he stood up facing Vericus.

"You can't seriously be considering handing her over to them?!"

I low growl came from Cora.

"Why shouldn't he it's her fault they took him in the first place."

Her words hurt but I said nothing knowing she was only speaking the truth. Owen stared at her a disappointed scowl on his face.

"Cora it doesn't matter who's fault it is there must be a way to save them both."

I shook my head.

"No! If you try anything he will kill him."

Owens eyes met mine as I continued.

"You didn't see his eyes. The alpha, Driak who ever he is he will do anything to have me. I will not risk Slos life to save my own. The only way to save Slo is if you hand me over to him."

"ENOUGH!"

All three of us turned to face Vericus he had erased all emotion from his face. There was a coldness to his eyes as he met mine.

"My priority is Sloane this she wolf is not apart of our pack. Its her they want not Sloane I won't loose him because of her."

His words were like a slap in the face but I refused to let him see that since it's what I wanted any way.

"It's settled then I'll be ready when they send word of the details."

Without looking at any of them I turned and headed up the stairs to my room fully aware that Ty was following. Once inside I closed the door behind me and leaned against it. I took in the the scratches on the floor from when Slo had lost it just this morning after hearing what Driak had said to me back at the cabin and what little composure I had left crumbled as I sank to the ground.

Wrapping my arms around my knees I buried my head as the tears flooded from my eyes. I'm so sorry Slo I wish I'd died in those woods fours years ago. Then you would never have met me. I deserved whatever Driak had in store for me and worse.

"Kandra? Are you alright?"

Ty's voice sounded through the door quickly wiping my eyes I cleared my throat not wanting it to crack as I answered.

"I'm fine."

Silently I stood up going to the bed I lay down curling myself up and stared out the window knowing that soon I would loose my freedom. A freedom that I would gladly give up for Slo a million times over.

Needing a distraction I pulled out the photo of stashed in my bra and as I silently stared at it the mental fatigue had my eyes closing, sleep overtaking me the photo falling from my hand onto the bed beside me.