Chapter 5

POV Eric

JoAnn looked up at my father. "Have Candice meet us at the clinic."

"Dr. Stevenson is closer?" Aiden responded with a questioning look.

"Yes, I know but Candice has a wider range of expertise."

He sighed but I could see him reaching for Brent, Candice's mate.

The pack has two doctors, Dr Elijah Stevenson has been the main doctor for over 20 years and Dr. Candice Isaacs. Dr. Isaacs is another reason more traditional packs looked down on us because Candice is human.

When Brent first meet her, she was working her way through veterinary school. He returned to his pack and told his family he had found his mate and that she was human. His Alpha and family forbid him from seeing her again, but he wanted his mate. Sneaking off to see her she eventually fell in love with him, and he told her everything. Breaking wolf laws telling a human about us and going against his Alpha, he was exiled.

When JoAnn found out about them, she sent scouts to find them. Convincing Aiden that she could be an asset to the pack. The pack helped finance her way through medical school and they moved into a house just outside of the human town. Candice is the local veterinarian for the town and a second doctor for the pack.

Rumors of more wolves mated to humans and rogues looking for packs has JoAnn convinced that the pack needed a neutral territory. Letting someone into the pack is risky. She wants a place they could stay and be protected without putting pack members at risk.

After a few moments Aiden looked at me. "Candice will meet us there. Once the child is tended to, you and I are going to have a talk." He said tossing a pair of shorts in-front of me and walking over to the patrol members.

JoAnn stood closing her robe and made her way over to Aiden. Tucking her arm into his and resting her head on his shoulder.

"You're going to have to let me shift." I told Braxton as he continued to nuzzle the girl. "You can't drag her back there." With one swipe his tongue licked half of her face. "Ok, can you not do that. It's weird."

His concern throbbing through the bond making my heart hurt. Who is she I wondered? Was this why he came through the veil early, acting strangely and asking so many questions.

"I can still hear you; you know." He rolled his eyes.

"So, I just think something, and you hear it."

"Yes, unless you block me out. I've had to for the last few days. It's difficult but it can be done." I felt him release control and we shifted back. "I don't know who she is." He said finally. "I just know she's important and I needed to find her. I can feel her. She's been scared and alone."

Throwing on the shorts my father gave me on I wrapped her in the blanket and lifted her in my arms. My mother was right, she had a high fever. Her cheeks were flushed, and I could feel the heat of her skin through the blanket. "How long has she been out her." I asked.

"I don't know that either." Braxton said with a heavy sigh. "I don't know much more than you do honestly. I could feel her when I was coming through the veil but before that all I remember is running. She was terrified of something, and I needed to get to her. After that I got a sense that she was nearby. A few hours ago, it got strong again like a buzzing in my head that got louder the closer to her I got." After a long pause he asked. "Why did your father seem concerned about the doctor."

"Candice is human, she isn't bound by wolf laws like Dr Stevenson. Laws concerning children are strictly enforced and there is a whole set of laws for dealing with rogues. Dad is far more concerned with pack traditions than mom is, and I don't think he fully trusts her." I explained as we walked over to where everyone else had congregated.

"What do you think."

"Hmmmmm." I thought before answering. "They both have good points. She isn't one of us so she can do things that Dr Stevenson can't, which could be good or bad. I've only known her for a year, but she seems to care about our kind and mom trusts her completely. She will do everything she can to help, I know that much."

I had barely made it to everyone when Aiden turned around. "Brent will meet us at the road and drive us in Candice is almost to the clinic and will start getting everything ready."

My shoulders sank. "Can't mom…" I started to ask before he cut me off.

"No! You know pack rules better than most. If you weren't my son, I'd exile you right now. You left pack territory, alone, in the middle of the night, through human lands to the only area we are forbidden from going." He drew in a large breath. Concern coming over his face. "You could have been hurt or even killed. There's a reason no one is allowed here." He looked back towards the mountain as we broke through the trees onto the road. "You have one chance to explain your reasoning to me and it better be good."

We walked a quarter mile before Brent's blue truck came into view. I told dad what Braxton had told me. Pushing through the veil and his urgent feeling to find her. Opening the passenger door so I could climb in. "You're not going to ride in with us?" I asked.

"No, I'll run back. I need some time to think. I do have one question though." His brow crinkled. "Why didn't you ask for help or at least tell me what was going on." I could see the hurt expression on his face. "I could have sent scouts or Darien out to look."

"Braxton didn't tell me until we found her. I don't think he knew how or what to tell me. He didn't know what he was even looking for until we found her. Hopefully he's done keeping secrets from me."

Throwing his shorts on the floorboard he turned before shifting and heading back the way we came. Looking at the tree line I could see pairs of glowing eyes dotting the tree line.