8. Sloane

Ereni and Grunter emerged from the trees just as I was pulling a clean shirt over my head having used the tap outside to clean the blood off my hands. They were carrying two bags packed full of Kandras stuff, well most of it at least. I knew she would have to leave her easel behind among other things that were too big to carry. My heart sank at having to tell her that Ver was planning on taking her back to Charlotte to live in the pack house.

To keep her safe he'd said. Yeah right like I believed that bull. He only wanted to keep her as his prisoner since for some reason the Lunar eclipse pack wanted her for themselves. I clenched my fists wishing more then ever that I'd never insisted she come back here. She was safe while she wasn't in North Carolina. I should've left things the way they were.

I should have known there was a reason she had no memory of her past and judging by what that monster did to her I can only guess he was part of that reason. There had been no trace of the alpha since he'd run off. The others were still out looking but We all knew he was long gone. These lunar wolves were masters of disappearing we had no hope of finding him. No we'd have to wait until he decided to show himself again.

"You alright?"

I turned as Owen walked out of the diner looking tired beyond measure. He'd done an amazing job at stitching Kan up. He was the pack doctor and I'd be forever grateful for what he'd done for her. I shook my head at his question.

"No I'm not fine Owen. This whole situation is fucked. I've known Kan for years nothing like this has happen before."

He stepped closer his hand running through his hair.

"Listen Slo I don't like it either considering what he did to her I doubt she's our enemy but you have to admit there's some kind of connection there otherwise way try take her?"

I sighed sliding down the wall of the diner to sit on the ground my arms resting on my knees. Staring at the ground I was at a loss for how to help her. Owen crouched beside me his hand gently squeezing my arm.

"It's going to be alright Sloane your a good judge of character. if you believe she's worth helping and that she's innocent in all this then trust your gut have faith that everything's going to work out."

I shook my head smiling sadly as I returned his gaze.

"Ver always says your the optimistic."

He chuckles standing back up.

"Come back inside It's time you told your brother the whole story."

Owen stretched out his hand, groaning i grabbed it as he helped me up leading the way back into the diner. The others sat around one of the tables that had now all been set back to where they were before Ver lost it.

Avoiding Vers red eyes I sat down next to Ereni Owen taking the other seat next to Ver. Grunter had disappeared into the kitchen to make us all some food. I suspected he didn't like Ver very much which was probably made worse after he'd attacked all of us only a couple hours ago.

"Well start talking Sloane."

I finally met Ver glare for glare. Guess the best way to do this was to plunge right in like ripping off a band aid.

"There's really not all that much to tell Ver. I met her about four years ago on a full moon night just inside of the Charlotte boarders. She was out of control I just assumed she'd been bitten and was going through her first shift. So I stayed with her made sure she didn't hurt anyone. The next morning I asked her what her name was and she told me she didn't know. She'd been found a few days before by some campers in the woods. She had no memory and no one to claim her. So I offered to help her. Whenever someone would call in about a missing wolf I would send her their way. That's pretty much it.

This whole time she's been travelling around trying to find out what happened to her. It was only a few months ago that she wanted a break from the constant dead ends. So I convinced her to come back to North Carolina."

Ver waited for me to continue but when I remained silent he growled.

"That's all? So you offered to help this she wolf with no knowledge of who she was and no prof that she wasn't lying."

I groaned.

"Seriously she's been my friend for four years don't you think if she wanted to do harm to us she would have done it by now? Not to mention do you really think that I didn't check her story out before I helped her. I tried to find out about her I scoured through the records there was not one mention of a wolf missing with her description. Believe me when I say it's like she just appeared out of thin air. She knows nothing about where she came from. Her name isn't even her real name we chose her name together. I'm telling you Ver whatever is going on with the lunar eclipse pack and Kan she doesn't remember any of it."

Ver shook his head.

"If this is all true then why hide her why not tell me about her? If not back then at least when she came back here to live."

How do you tell your own brother that his reputation was terrifying enough that a lone wolf would risk death just so she didn't have to stand before him. The hurt in his eyes told me that he already knew why. He sighed the weight of his power seeming to weigh more then ever on his shoulders.

"It's alright Sloane I get it."

As much as I hate what the power did to him he was still my brother. The power might have changed him in recent years but he wasn't always quick to temper. When we were younger we were very close. Everything changed the night our parents died. I was too young to remember but after it happened Ver was never the same. But it was only in the most recent years that he'd turned into the tyrant king. His anger towards the lunar eclipse pack the reason for his new reputation.

The haunted look in his eyes told me he knew what everyone said about him. It was that look that reminded me of the old Vericus making me add to the reasons for Kans hesitation in meeting him.

"It wasn't just that Ver she's so desperate to find out what happened to her that she was scared if she came back she'd be forced into pack life. She thinks that if she's forced into a pack she won't have the freedom to find the answers she seeks."

Ereni took my hand in hers lending me her courage as she added her part to this recount.

"When Sloane came to me asking for us to take this female on I also did what I could to make sure she wasn't a threat to our pack. Like Sloane I came up empty but after having her here for the past few months I can honestly say I trust her. I don't know about her past how could any of us know but the she wolf she is now is innocent. There's not a mean bone in her body. that you can be sure of. She doesn't even know about the war between our packs. She barely knows anything about the supernatural world. She didn't even know there was such a thing as bear shifters til she met Grunter. If she's been acting this whole time she's definitely got me convinced."

I could tell Ver was trying to keep a cool head. So far he was winning over his power but for how long I wasn't sure. Standing up he walked away from the table to stand before the window. All of us remained silent waiting for him to process everything we had told him. After awhile he turned back leaning against the window frame his hand rubbing his eyes. Looking up arms now crossed over his chest he sighed his eyes meeting each of ours resting on Owen last.

"Until we know for sure that she isn't a threat to us we'll stick to the plan of taking her with us back to Charlotte. If the lunar wolves really do want her then at least it will bring them to us."

He shrugged pushing off the wall.

"Who knows it might even give us a chance to finally end this war."

I watched as he headed towards the door of the diner. I growled my chair scrapping across the floor with how fast I'd stood up.

"You can't use her as bait!"

Ver paused turning his head slightly so that I could only see half his face.

"She wants to sneak into my territory I'll do what I want with her."

I made to follow him out but Owen stopped me. His blues eyes met mine telling me with a slight shake of his head to drop it. The door slammed shut behind Ver as I slumped back down into my chair.

"Sloane I know you don't want her to get hurt again but this maybe the only way for us to keep her safe. I know your brother he would never willingly put someone in danger whether they be pack or not."

I looked up from the table to meet her eyes my voice holding more emotion then I wanted it to.

"That's where you have it wrong Ereni you only knew my brother. What he is now is as far from the Vericus you knew ten years ago. Just look what he did this afternoon. You can't tell me you would trust her around him as he is now."

She frowned her mouth opening as if she wanted to deny my words. After awhile she shut it again knowing she couldn't. There was no denying that Ver was no longer what he used to be. The power he had was taking him over one day at a time. Pretty soon there would be nothing left of the brother I once knew.

Grunter started handing out plates chock full of steak burgers. I thanked him then grabbing two burgers I headed towards Ereni's office. The others said nothing as I climbed the stairs. If Kan was going to be forced to come to Charlotte then I was going to be the one to tell her.

Once inside the office I took in her small frame that fit on the couch perfectly. She still had the blanket Ereni had covered her with. Putting the plates down on the desk I grabbed another blanket off the back of the couch and draped it over her. Her eyes fluttered open as the fabric touched her skin. She smiled sadly up at me.

"Thank you Slo."

I shrugged forgetting about the food I slid to the floor next to the couch. Taking her hand in mine.

"How you feeling?"

She groaned.

"Like ive been hit by an anvil."

She chuckled at her own joke letting out a Yelp as pain crossed her face. It broke my heart to see my friend hurting knowing I was about to add to it.

"Kan I need to tell you something."

She stopped me squeezing my hand.

"It's alright Slo I already know."

I shook my head but she reached out with her other hand trapping mine a single tear escaping her eyes.

"Your alpha already told me."

I growled hating my brother even more in that moment knowing he would've told her in that dick way of his.

"So you know he's taking you back with us?"

She nodded.

"Yes he didn't say it out right but I got the gist. Not like I have a choice right?"

Reaching out I wiped the tear that had made its way down her cheek.

"I'm sorry Kan."

I could tell she was trying to hide her true feelings from me but I could see the despair in her eyes. This was her worst fears coming true. She was loosing her freedom and we both knew it.