CHAPTER 2
KENDRA's POV -->
I blinked, slow and sluggish. The world around me was a blur of white light, sharp and sterile. What's going on? My head hurt and mind is groggy. The last thing I remember was being at that dinner party till…
The memories flood back in, I remember the goons and how they…. Kidnapped me. I panic. Where am I?
I try to stand up but my legs give in and I fall to the ground. What on earth did these people do to me. That's right I remember I had scraped my palms and knees waddling through the broken glass that night. I look down to my knees, they're covered in bandages. I glance at my palms, they've almost completely healed, almost as if someone tended to my wounds. My visions back as well, aside the mind-blowing headache I have now I'd say I'm almost in perfect physical health condition. Who are these people anyways? World most polite Kidnappers? Puh-lease.
A voice, deep and steady calls out from the distance. I turn to see to whom it belonged; I couldn't quite make out the stranger's face. His face blends in the shadows. The tall stranger takes a few steps forward and into the light. He doesn't look familiar, what could this guy possibly want with me.
He crouches down to my level to maintain eye contact. I readjust myself to try and at least maintain some dignity, as much as I can considering I had just fallen on my ass some minutes ago.
The stranger speaks, voice deep and raspy. "Hello Mrs. Banks, glad we could meet again"
"It's Mrs. Langford" I correct. Yes I may be married to the guy but no way am I dropping my last name for that asshole, especially not after everything he's put me through.
"And I don't ever recall ever meeting you or asking to be KIDNAPPEDDDDD" I yell.
The stranger chuckles lightly, an air of arrogance surrounding him
"Listen, calm down okay? I mean no harm. Besides you'd like what I have to say once I'm done"
I don't like the situation I've found myself in but I won't lie, I am curious to see what he has to say.
"I'm Zack, Zachary Young" He starts
I tilted my head to the side, arching my eyebrows-the universal sign for him to go on.
"Hate me if you wish but you and I have a common goal Mrs. Langford"
"And what might that be?" I ask
"To kill Aaron Banks…"
Damn, I mean I despise the guy but not enough to kill him.
I let out a loud laugh, one to mock his ridiculous idea but really it's just to cover my anxiety. I mean sure my kidnappers have been fair to me but this guy is clearly insane. He wants to kill Aaron, Aaron freaking Banks?? Really the Alpha of the Crescent pack. He really thinks it'll be that easy.
"Laugh as you may Mrs. Langfield but it will happen Kendra, with or without your help"
"Asking you for help just makes things a whole lot easier, faster" He continues.
"You know that's a suicide mission right? You really think Aaron is just going to sit there and let you have your way?"
"Whatever your reasons are, count me out. You're clearly suicidal" I add
"Come now, sweet thing. Don't be difficult" he says rising up from his crouched position. He lifts me from the floor and places me on the bed I was previously on.
"Look Kendra, I know you despise Aaron. You always have since the moment you two got married"
"I'm offering you a way out. Think of the way he's treated you, your unborn child"
"Your father pawned you off for power. I'm offering you your freedom"
"Join me and we'd get rid of Aaron. I can offer you and your father protection when it's all over"
This guy seems pretty convinced he can actually take on Aaron.
I look him in the eye "And what's in it for you. You may have a sinister vibe to you and all but I don't see any pack birthmark or branding, you're clearly human. How do you plan to take on an alpha?"
Zack rolls up his sleeve to reveal a claw shaped mark on his skin.
"It's a birthmark" he says
So, he's an alpha. Wolves of royal bloodline are born with a birthmark while members of the pack are branded. To a regular individual you really can't tell the difference between the two but to a keen eye you can if you look hard enough.
A birthmark is natural and blends in with the skin more but with a branding you can see the scarification of the surrounding skin. The older one gets the more a branding blends in with the skin making it less obvious but you can still tell.
"I'm the alpha of the Claws, the Crescent's have been calling the shots for decades. It's high time there was a change of leadership"
I roll my eyes.
Great it's just a power move by another power-hungry alpha. Where have I heard that before.
"Look here Mr. Crazy. My husband is about to burst through those doors ready to rescue me. I'd think twice before revealing your whole evil plot to me"
"What makes you think I won't squeal my guts the second I leave this room?" I ask.
"If he really cared so much about you, why has he taken his sweet time to come rescue you then?"
I looked at him confused
"You've been in my custody for well over a week. Yet…. nothing"
No, it can't be. Does he really hate me that much?
"Don't believe me? Have a look for yourself" Zach leads me out the room and outside. My legs are still wobbly but I can support myself better now.
I look out. It's dark out
"Tonight's the full moon Kendra" Zach says
"What?" My throat dries up
I look back out. This guy can't be serious. Everyone knows humans are not allowed to be out in the open on a full moon. That's when the wolves transform. And elegant beast as they may, they don't have full control of themselves in their transformed state. Those of royal bloodline have more control but they still are beasts at the end of the day.
I notice my surroundings for the first time. I'm surrounded by goons, all manning various stations, goons I believe to be part of the Zacks pack aka more wolves.
I panic, hyperventilate.
Zack points to a nearby exit "That's the way out. If you run fast enough maybe you could get to safety before the moon reaches its peak."
He lets out a sinister laugh
"Unless your dear husband can get to you first"
"He will be out tonight, should have picked up on your scent by now. But why hasn't he come for you yet?"
He looks at my panic ridden face
"RUN!!!" He yells
I take to my heels, escaping through the exit Zack had showed me. I have no idea where I am but I just keep running. I need to get to safer grounds, a shelter of some sort.
I'm still running when I hear bones cracking in the distance, people screaming in pain. It's happening, they're changing.
I keep running, determined to get to safety. It doesn't take long before I see two wolves up ahead. Gnarling at me. I stand still, hoping they don't charge. At the side of my eye, I see a nearby tree. It looks climbable. If I can quickly climb to the top, maybe I'll be safe for the rest of the night.
I make a run towards the tree, the wolves chasing me. I quickly get on and climb my way to the top and just in time too because the wolves are just at it's base looking up at me with their teeth out. Not long after, I guess they lose interest and scurry off.
At least I'm safe now. I can't possibly make it out to any shelter not while the wolves have fully transformed. I'll hang in here till day breaks.
I think of what Crazy Zack earlier. Considering the current situation, I am in, if there really is a way to be free from Aaron forever? I am tempted to take up the offer. Assuming I can survive tonight that is…..
Those two wolves that chased me earlier? Well, they came back and they brought reinforcement. Together this mini group of 4 pound and push the base of the tree. Making me lose my balance at the top. I hang on to the stem tighter hoping not to fall. I can feel the tree getting weaker with each pounce. I don't know how much longer it'll hold.
The branch snaps, making both me and it come falling to the ground. I feel something break within me, making me immobilized. As I stare into the eye of the furry beasts, I know it's just a matter of time before my life ends. Just like that, my life would be over.
I'm scared, afraid, hoping and praying some miracle makes me survive this.
I close my eyes one last time, finally accepting my fate.
There's sudden silence.
The two wolves in front of me froze mid-step, their chest rising as if they'd just realized what was coming. I didn't have time to scream, to move, to do anything but watch as a blur of silver and shadow exploded out of the darkness.
Aaron.
Even in his wolf form, I knew him. Bigger than the others, his coat catching shards of moonlight like liquid steel.
One second he was in the air, the next he slammed into the first wolf with bone-cracking force, the sound sharp and sickening as they hit the ground.
The second wolf lunged for me, teeth flashing but Aaron was faster. A snarl tore from his throat, deep and furious, as he pivoted mid-stride, claws tearing into the attacker's flank with lethal precision.
The clearing went still except for the ragged sound of my breathing and the low, unrelenting rumble in Aaron's chest as he stood over me. Massive, bristling, a shield of muscle and fury between me and everything else.
And in that moment, staring up into those molten-gold eyes, I wasn't sure which terrified me more - the wolves who wanted me dead… or the Alpha who had just saved me.