Chapter 9 The missing girls

Kain could hardly sleep tonight, he's mind was chaotic, jumping from one topic to the other. Perhaps he needed to wolf out, run through the woods in his natural form to clear his mind, except he couldn't risk it, he was too dangerous in his wolf form, which is why he only transformed when he sensed real danger. As a matter of fact, he was on a potion that kept him from shifting even on a full moon.

He needed control to prove himself, to prove his innocence, and to prove that his father was a failure. No one knew this, but his father experimented on them as a child, wanting them to have the same immortal abilities as him. Except that in Kain's case, his wolf was triggered way too early, making him unstable and responsible for some questionable -actions.

But that didn't mean he was the mad Alpha, the rumour had been his father's plan. Doing of all it because Kain had been very disobedient to all of his weird demands. Even Kyle did not know how evil his father was, except the rumours laid on his brother, supporting the Pack's decision to get Kain exiled because he was indeed a monster.

His phone buzzed, and as much as he hated calls, when he saw the caller ID, he picked up.

"Wesley? What is it again?"

"Two young girls are missing. They're my cousins. Did you take them?"

Kain's face cooled to the accusation, making him shake his head in a way that gave him a slight headache. Why did he pick the call in the first place? Perhaps it was because he wished Wesley was still his best friend, his Beta. But even he believed Kain to be the mad Alpha.

"I didn't..."

"Kain! We both know you cannot control your wolf. I'm sure you're angry that your brother has your girl, but..."

"Stop! Whoever he has is not mine... As a matter of fact, he can fuck her everyday, get her pregnant, enslave her. I do not care!"

Wesley sighed in frustration. "Stop lying to me. Stop it. You can't lie to me. I know you! I've see what you do up close. You're a..." He stopped himself with a grunt.

Kain flinched, but not obvious enough to Wesley. "Perhaps I should rip your heart out and do myself a favour, right?"

"Kain!? Return my cousins, or I'll find every way to help your brother finish you off, even if I die trying."

Wesley had never threatened Kain, so it bothered him a little, not because he feared Wesley, but because he knew that if Wesley tried anything stupid he would hate to hurt him. And maybe, he worried about the man's cousins. As much as he didn't want to concern himself with the Pack's darkness, he made a decision within himself to find those girls before anything happened to them. After all, he still cared for his former beta and best friend.

"I don't have your cousins." He said instead and cut the call. "Shit." He swore painfully, biting his bottom lip until he drew blood. "Now I have for look for these stupid girls."

First, he needed to get help, so he dialed the number of the only person that he somehow trusted with this kind of matter.

"Veronica?"

She groaned and grumbled sleepily, probably swearing at him silently for disturbing her beauty sleep.

"Better be good. Calling me by this hour of night is not just outrageous but..."

"Calm your horses." He said, literally calm. "I need to find Wesley's cousins. He claims they were taken, says I took them."

She was silent, almost like she didn't hear him or had fallen back asleep.

"What did you say?"

He rolled his eyes at her surprised tone.

"You heard me."

"No you're not hearing me. I came to you asking for help with the elders. But Wesley does and you're..."

"I have my reasons. And if you're not going to help me get them, you might as well..."

"Stop it! You know I'll help you..."

"Great. I mean that's good news. So how do we do it?"

"You could put the elders in a room and torch them up?" Veronica joked, but Kain found himself considering the idea, it made sense, but that would not help him find Wesley's cousins.

"Sounds alright but, we need information from the elders. For reals Veronica, I don't want to go back there, I don't even know why I'm doing this."

She smiled on the other end of the phone, more than excited he found her worthy to be his partner. Perhaps she had the hope of getting him back after all.

"Cause you're good at heart. I've told you countless times, but you choose what to believe. Listen, I can go home, since their meetings are always held at home, I could hear something. But I think we need to see in person, tomorrow of course. You should... Come to my place."

Kain frowned at the suggestion, not safe for him, not safe for his heart.

"Actually, I think we should meet at my restaurant."

Silence again, she was probably mad that he refused her, and she definitely knew why.

"You own a restaurant?" She sounded surprised.

"Oh I do. Many businesses actually... Keeps my head above water."

She was impressed, disappointed indefinitely, but impressed.

"Okay. You text me the address and I'll come."

***********

Lucy couldn't get a hold of anything-apart from the fact that she needed money and refused to stoop so low as to ask Kyle. He had been too nice, a little distant, like he'd found new interests or now saw her as a pest.

He often looked angry too-perhaps he was tired of her staying in his house. Maybe the night she had refused him still left his ego bruised.

But what confused her most was that night Wesley had come to pick her up from school. He had brought flowers, courtesy of Kyle, and for a moment, she thought Kyle was going to ask her out when she got home-not avoid her completely.

It really bothered her. So much so that she decided to find a job and leave the house as soon as possible. With Wesley watching her like a hawk, her time in Kyle's home was definitely over.

She was just about to leave the house to search for a job when Kyle stopped her at the door.

"And where do you think you're going? Wesley said you didn't have school today."

He didn't sound like the Kyle she thought she knew. He sounded angry-disappointed and disinterested.

"I'm sorry, sir..."

"Sir?" He frowned, as if the word disgusted him. "When did I ever ask you to call me sir?"

He sounded truly intimidating, almost like one of her professors.

"Err... I'm sorry. I just wanted to apologize for staying this long. I'm going out to look for a job."

She pulled off the band-aid and watched as Kyle's stern expression softened into one of pity-and maybe even care.

"Oh Lucy, I'm sorry. I've had issues at work and haven't been paying attention to you..." He sighed, ruffling his disheveled hair. He looked a little unkempt, dark circles under his eyes.

It certainly wasn't because of her, she realized.

"Come, come sit with me."

She obeyed without question.

"Lucy... what would you do if you had a monster for a sibling? Someone working so hard to destroy everything you're trying to build. What would you do?"

She looked confused, unsure of what to say-maybe because she'd never been in such a situation.

"I'd... I think I'd fight back?"

It sounded more like a question than advice.

Kyle, though, seemed oddly encouraged by her response. He lit up.

"Exactly! Fight back! But what if you can't even find them? They keep evading you, destroying everything from the shadows. Cowards!"

He shouted, causing Lucy to flinch. She wondered what was really going on-and why he wasn't talking about her decision to get a job and leave his house. Did he not care?

"I'm sorry you're going through that. And I'm sorry I've stayed this long in your house. But for some reason, I feel like I've overstayed my welcome."

He turned to her and smiled-a brief, soft smile that made her words seem unimportant.

"I like you staying here. And you don't need a job. I can take care of you."

"No!"

She flared up, an emotion she hadn't meant to show. But something about his tone made her feel like he wanted to possess her.

"No, wait. Lucy, I saved you from the woods. It's my duty to-"

"Your duty? What are you talking about? You don't even know anything! Who do you think you are-some kind of superhero? I was in the woods for a reason. Yes, I might have been in trouble, but not the kind you could ever understand. Not in a thousand years of your mundane life. The more I stay here, the closer the people who chased me into those woods get.

You think you know evil? You've seen nothing."

Kyle's anger vanished entirely. He watched her with a strange mix of amusement and respect. He almost forgot-she thought he was human. Maybe it was time to tell her.

"Lucy, you might not know this, but I'm a-"

"A good person I've taken advantage of," she interrupted. "Which is why I have to find a job and leave your life as soon as possible."

He wanted to argue, but decided to let her believe what she wanted-for now. He would tell her the truth when the time was right.

It was surprising she didn't recognize him-he was the alpha of her pack. As for the job, he'd let her get one... but not without placing a tracker on her in case she got into trouble.

"I understand, Lucy. And I wish you the best. I got you a gift."

She looked puzzled. "A gift?"

He reached into the couch and pulled out a new phone.

"Here. Call me anytime. I'll answer-I promise."