Starry Nights With You.

Chapter 7

Chapter 4

Kendrick’s POV

The journey from the airport to my pack house is a brief one. I hand the cab man some money and he gives me my change. Facing my pack house, the black mourning curtains hanging from the windows didn't surprise me. Since it's Night time, the lights are turned off. I walk into the pack house and it's a flurry of movement. Most people stop what their doing and turn to see who just walked in. When they spot me by the door. The noise increases with their greetings and bowing.

Some of the kids run to hug me after which they run inside to keep screaming, “Alpha is back” “Alpha Kendrick is back”.

In no time people are clamoring to enter the bar to greet me, I greet them right back and I search through them, trying to spot my Beta or my Gamma but I can't find them.

I reconsider asking them about where Dante and Travis are in case it's a secret. Some of the youngsters help me with my bag and I move to settle in one of the bar stools to sit with some of the few people that waited behind.

The bar is on the ground floor for two purposes; business and protection. Whoever thinks they want to attack my pack, will actually hit the first wave of my strongest warriors.

After a drink with the people that remained, one of the warriors briefs me on the things that have been going on. Some of which Travis has told me yesterday but this guy talks about some other things. Warriors feeling like they're being watched whenever they go out for training or just an evening jog. The pups complained of the same thing too.

“The pack building is getting smaller with each new member we take in. We may need to move soon,” Derek says.

“Thank you for the information, Derek.” I tell him, taking my leave from the bar. I stop by the kitchens to check on Chef Sophie but she isn't there.

I make my way through the pack house checking on as many people as I can to make sure they are doing okay. Some of my people have complaints while some just thank me and get back to what they were doing before I came.

While I continue checking on them, some kids ball bounces out of their apartment and I catch it before it can hit my face. I play with it a little before playing a game of catch with them. Not long after, their mother's voice resounds from somewhere inside. “That front door better not be open by the time I get there, Kevin.”

From the widening of his eyes I know who Kevin is. To avoid them getting in trouble, I toss the ball back to them and direct them back inside. I place my hands on my lips, signalling for them to keep this a secret. They nod back excitedly before shutting the door quietly.

As I walk away, I can faintly hear a whisper-yelled, “Coolest Alpha ever.” I hold back my chuckle and walk away quietly.

I finally reach the place I have been aiming to get to–the pack clinic. The medics don't even notice I'm there as they keep moving around with what they're doing.

I walk up to the front desk to ask about my pack healer, Ryan. The Nurse behind the desk is obviously startled by my presence.

“Good morning, Alpha. I didn't know you were back–.” She says a bit too loudly but I interrupt her before anyone can hear her or me. I have a lot of things to get to.

“Keep your voice down.” I unintenionally snap at her, adding, “Please.” To softing my words.

“Oh I’m sorry. I didn’t mean–.”

“Where is Ryan?” I interrupt her with my question again.

“He's in theater II.” She answers a bit more curtly this time.

“Thank you.” I respond to her walking away from her.

I remained uunoticed until one of the nurses carrying some supplies bumps into me and her supplies spills away.

“I'm so sorry. Are you hurt?” She says, checking my body for any sign of hurt.

“Oh no, I should have noticed you. I'm sorry.” At the sound of my voice, she stiffens, looks up at me and begins apologizing more profusely and loudly, attracting the exact attention I was avoiding.

“Hey, that's enough. It was a mistake on my part, now please stand up.” I respond, trying not to massage my temples to ease my growing headache.

I stoop down to pick up the supplies she dropped and she finally snaps out of either her thoughts or fear and joins me. After that, the attention and greetings I was trying to avoid starts pouring in, although it's more subtle than when I entered the ground floor.

I acknowledge them all while walking down to theatre II. Luckily, Ryan is almost done with the operation he was handling by the time I get to theatre II. I signal one of the nurses over. “Please tell Ryan that when he is done, I'm in his office.”

“Yes Alpha.” She says before going back into the theatre.

*****

After the operation, Ryan meets me sitting outside his office.

“Alpha, good morning. Why aren't you inside?”

“Stay inside? And miss the fan-girling of your pretty nurses? Hell no.” I wink and wiggle my brows at the two passing nurses who definitely heard my response. They giggle while walking a bit faster.

“You arse.” The exasperated shake of his head and light laughter is all I need to know that he's exhausted and he's just trying to hold himself together. I really need to get at least two extra doctors for my pack, the workload is too much for Ryan. He doesn't complain but I know the stress is telling on him.

He leads the way into his office and seats behind his desk.

“So, I'm certain you didn't just come up here to pay me a visit or make the pack nurses blush.” He leans back in his chair.

“Come on, I'm not that bad.” I roll my eyes.

“Are you sure? You practically dragged me to the United States to start a branch of your pack and now every other day you go back home without me. You know what? Forget that, how are Dr. Kraft, Melissa and everyone doing?”

“They're doing okay. Do you know Travis and Dante’s whereabouts?” I quickly change the topic because I need to get to my beta, something isn't right.

“Last I checked, Travis was out to handle the case of the people that have been found with all their blood drained.” He massages his temples.

“I'm aware but he hasn't been seen since yesterday. What about Derek? If Travis isn't around, Derek should be on ground.”

“I don’t know where either of them are. I am a doctor, not a warrior and sure as hell not one of your top ranked wolves. Derek is your gamma Kendrick, call him or something.”

“It's the same thing with him. They are not picking up my calls. And I told them to report to you if something like this comes up.”

“When were they supposed to report to me? Before or after the continuous hours of my duty? I can't handle the pack Kendrick, you're doing your best and you're here now so we will handle things together. For Travis and Derek not to be here right now, I'm sure they have a good reason.” He says, stretching out his arms and rolling his neck.

“Now get out of my office. I need to nap.” He points to the door.

“You prick. We're brothers, you shouldn't tell me that. What's wrong with you?” I laugh, crossing My feet on his table. “Besides if you really want me to go, you have to be nice about it.”

“Me? Nice to you? Never!!!” He suddenly shouts so loudly in my ear, it startles me.

In a few seconds, the realization of what he actually did dawns on me. “You're either truly a prick. Or a really stupid one.” I growl at him, turning to make sure the door and windows are locked.

“What if someone had either seen or heard you? You know magic is outlawed. You fool.” I reduced my voice by a few octaves.

“Relax,no one saw and definitely, no one heard. They couldn’t know whatmagic looked like, even if it slaps them on the head. It has been outlawed for too long.” He rolls his eyes, throwing one of he stuffed animals at me or like he calls them, destress animals.

“Are you crazy? You're acting like we're discussing something trivial, Ryan. It is not trivial. And I won't lose my brother because he wants to be stupid. Have you ever used it before now?” I stare him down.

“What the f*** am I even asking? Of course you have.” I facepalm myself.

“That's enough, I only use it when necessary. I am not a child and you can't tell me what to do.” He stares me down back.

“Are you crazy?” I almost scream, that's when it clicks. “No fvcking way. That's how you've been saving all those people?” I ask, trying to restrain myself from launching over the table and whacking him unconscious.

“You're welcome.”

“I'm welcome? You're acting like you don't know the severity of what is going on. If you're caught, you will be killed.”

“Well I won't be caught because I'm being careful and people are actually being saved.”

“I'm giving you the free will to stop on your own. When we're back home, you can use it, but here? Definitely not.”

“You wouldn't dare use you Alpha command on me, Kendrick. I will beat your ass.” He seethes, stands slowly with each word, gripping the edge of his table.

“Oh I will. If you don't keep yourself safe, it's my duty to do it for you.” I remain seated with my feet propped on his table.

“Get. Out.” He says this time, meaning every word.

“I wasn't joking, Ryan don't take such a risk again because when the consequence wants to bite you in the ass, it's the same people you helped that will sell you out.” I adjust my jacket as I move out of my seat, straight to the door.

“I'll deal with the consequences if they ever come.” i can feel him narrows his eyes at me.

“You won't have to because you are banned from using your powers.” I say quietly but loud enough for him to hear me, looking over my shoulder at him. He flinches like I physically struck him.

Knowing Ryan, he will never hurt me, even in his rage. I expected anger and even a little lash out. What I didn't expect when I looked at him finally before shutting the door, was the hurt on his face.

*****

‘I do not feel bad, I should not feel bad. I am helping him.’

I keep telling myself over and over again to stop the caving in my chest.

It's been two days since my issue with Ryan and he hasn't spoken a word to me since that day. We do see at occasional pack meetings but he doesn't acknowledge me. We avoid relating normally to avoid people knowing about our family ties. The last thing I need is someone knowing that I have a weakness.

That's one of few things I was able to learn from my grandfather in our short time together. He will always tell me, “I know the heart has control of its own will but don’t ever show your weakness, Kendrick, the wolves are waiting for the chance to exploit and destroy everything they get their hands on.”

It took a chain of events and a couple of years after his sudden death for me to realize that he wasn't an old man reminiscing the mistakes of his youth. No he was far from that, he was simply warning me. I'm certain he warned my dad too but it was far too late for any form of change, even before things crumbled.

After my parents death during the oust, I had to runaway to Norway with Ryan, my nanny Melissa and the few pack members that survived. I didn't know what to expect but Ryan was there for me. He had the advantage of years ahead of me, yet he was still kind.

He talked to me, he helped calm me down when I would wake up from my nightmares. Even when he went to medical school and magic school, he did not forget me. He would always write to me, saturdays were my favourite days growing up because that’s when his later would come in.

When he finally returned he was always there for me, even when he needed someone to be there for him and if the only way I can save him, is by stopping him from using his magic, then so be it. Goddess knows I've lost enough people to last me a lifetime.

“Alpha?” A knock on the door startles me. Was I that deep in thought?

The knock comes again with more urgency.

“Come in, Aiden.” I drop the paper work of the properties and pack registration that I've been staring at for the passed half hour. I look to the clock and it's already 4pm.

“I’m Brandon, Alpha.” He bows slightly.

Oh for fvcksake this is my issue with twins. “I'm sorry for getting your name wrong, what can I do for you?”

“Sir, Beta Travis and Gamma Dante, were dropped at the front door of the bar, they're badly injured and they've been moved to the clinic. They’re in really bad shape. The two guards stationed outside the door were killed.” He says, with his voice steady.

The mixture of his scent and the smell of the blood on his neck and hands drifts to me, “Have your injuries tended to, I'll be there in a minute.” I respond.

“The blood isn't mine sir, it is my twin brother's.”

“I'm sorry about–.”

“Don't worry, your entire pack will be in shambles pretty soon.” A sinister voice says from behind me.

I turn to attack who ever is there but there's no one.