Ch. 10

***

"Why the Hell is the Epsilon here? Are you alright?"

"I...I'm fine. When she showed up I was completely blindsided and wanted to rip Kye to pieces but because of her showing up I learned more about what happened to my father."

"That's a good thing?"

"I used to hate Viviana completely now, I don't know if I can hate her anymore but I don't think I can forgive her either."

Silence descended in the clearing and I wanted to move closer but I was a good quarter of a mile away from the clearing any closer and I would risk being discovered by Andrea and Matthias or Matthias's two escorts. I hadn't meant to follow them it was an accident I came upon them on my way back to the barracks but since I had been given the opportunity I wasn't going to pass up a chance to see just how Matthias treated Andrea.

"The wolf who was ready to attack me? What does she have to do with the Epsilon?"

"Kye has a past with her I am not even entirely sure what it is. Kye doesn't say much about herself or what she is thinking or feeling."

"What is her issue anyway?"

"Issues." Aspen called loudly from the other side of the clearing, somewhere next to her I also scented Sadie.

"Issues?" Matthias asked confused.

"Yup, Kye is probably the most complicated and possibly fucked up wolf here with way more than one issue." Aspen said.

"Aspen." Sadie chastised, "Kye isn't fucked up. Complicated however is the best word to describe her."

"Who is she?" Matthias asked.

"She's suppose to be a NightShade pack member. She is a beta wolf, the temporary third of the pack. She was my sworn Servari, and she may very well end up leaving the pack." Andrea said.

"Suppose to be a pack member? Was your sworn Servari? What do you mean by that?"

"We had a fight about Viviana, I lost control and attacked. Viviana stormed in and released her of her vow to me along with an order I placed on her."

"Viviana also announced that there was a possibility of her claiming Kye when she left." Aspen tossed in.

Andrea growled and I hear a soft whimper from Aspen.

"She is not taking Kye." Andrea growled out.

Warmth shoot through my stomach. With the mate proposal having been removed by Viviana my hormones have started to come back full force and they seemed to be reacting strongly to Andrea. That was the only explanation that made sense to me as to why I have felt so odd around her the last few days.

"Is there something going on between Kye and the Epsilon?" Matthias asked.

"Maybe." Andrea said.

"I don't know." Sadie said.

"Of course not!" Aspen yelled.

All three answered at once and surprisingly Aspen was the only one who seemed to realize there was absolutely nothing going on with me and Viviana. Why did there have to be something going on between me and Viviana. Werewolves were not the most picky or overly conscientious when it came to who they slept with, that didn't necessarily mean that there were serious relationships between all bed partners.

"Aspen, Kye has carried Viviana's scent on her skin more than once since she has been here. She is always defending her and the amount of time they spend touching and comforting each other is akin to mated wolves." Andrea argued.

"You seriously don't see it do you?" Aspen asked.

"See what?" Andrea asked.

Aspen's laugh echoed throughout the forest. Unlike me she seemed to find the situation funny.

"You know I just had a conversation like this with Raiza the other day." Viviana's voice floated into the clearing interrupting Aspen. "I must say I really don't understand all the speculation if you want to know something Andrea just ask. There was only one thing I kept from you but with that out I am an open book."

I knew from the tone of her voice Viviana was up to no good. The playful tone was back and anything she said would only stir up more trouble. Cursing Viviana I debated whether or not I should step out and shut the conversation down but if I did it would only look more suspicious to Andrea and company. I didn't want Andrea to think there was anything truly between Viviana and me maybe this would be the perfect chance for this topic to be settled once and for all?

"Well tell her you haven't slept with Kye." Aspen said.

"I'm sorry Aspen darling I can't do that, it would be a lie. Kye and I have shared a bed together more than once in fact. You know she kind of gives off this tough exterior but she really is quite docile." Viviana said.

Rage ripped through me and fur erupted along my arms. Why did Viviana have to try and make it sound worse than it were. I had sex with her once, and it would never have happened if she hadn't used a vampire as a supplement for a rookie.The only other times we shared a bed we both just slept but of course she wasn't going to mention that.

"Wait, you mean there actually is something between you and Kye? How can that be she is completely head over heels in love with-"

Viviana's laugh drowned out the rest of Aspen's sentence. "Kye, in love? Really darling are we talking about the same person. Kye doesn't trust anyone enough to fall in love with them. Haven't you noticed? That is why she seems so distant since she returned it's not that she dislikes any of you, hell I sure she would love to get to know you better the problem is she doesn't trust you."

My nails dug into the bark of the tree behind me. Viviana wasn't lying but she was making it seem like I had no heart.

"Why wouldn't she trust us!" Andrea demanded. "We're her pack, her family."

"No. You're Kylie's pack, Kylie's family. She may have Kylie's memories now but Kylie is dead. That is a distinction everyone here hasn't seemed to understand. Tell me what do you know about Kye? How many towns has she lived in since her father joined the arm? Does she still keep in touch with any of her human or supernatural friends from across the country? Who was the first girl she kissed? Has she ever been drunk? Tell me Andrea can you answer any of those questions because I can."

"Are you admitting to being in a relationship with her?" Matthias asked.

Viviana's laugh filled the forest and my teeth clenched. Damn harpy was stirring up more trouble than I expected.

"Please, she was a child for most of our relationship. It was only recently I got her in my bed anyway. No the relationship between me and Kye is not a romantic one, never has been never will be."

"Than what exactly is between the two of you?"

"Pain, suffering, darkness, death, trust, care, and a deep understanding of the other. When we met each other we were both broken, now we are both a little less broken but the bond that was forged between us when we first met will never go away. That's why I think it will still be best if I take Kye with me once this poltergeist issue is dealt with."

"We are not letting you take Kye!" Andrea growled out.

"Andrea, I'm afraid I've already taken her."

"She doesn't belong to you yet, and I'll make sure it stays that way."

***

I skipped dinner instead I curled up on the couch in the Rec room that was blessedly empty for the night. The large screen tv was set to some crime show and for the first time in weeks I was relaxed. At least I was until the door to the Rec room opened and Andrea walked in.

"Kye, can we talk?" She asked.

I sat up and hit the mute button on the remote. Andrea seemed nervous for some reason and her scent permeated the air, she was sweating, a lot and it drove me crazy. Her scent had been haunting me for weeks now being trapped in a room with just her and her overwhelming scent was torture.

"What?"

"Would you...Do you want her to claim you?"

"No."

Of course she wanted to talk about Viviana's conversation with her. It was surprising though she brought it up at all. Andrea usually bottled things up and didn't ask questions instead just holding on to her presumptions instead of looking for the truth. In a lot of ways she normally reminded me of a pouty toddler. The strangeness of her behavior made this conversation all the more real and important.

"I thought you didn't want to stay here? If you want to go I'm sure Raiza will let you, she only wants what's best for you." Andrea said.

"Viviana has offered to claim me before. I have turned her down before. I will always turn her down."

"Why?"

"In case you haven't noticed I really can't stand her 98% of the time."

"You trust her though don't you? More than anyone here, you've slept with her to, I don't really get it but she is important to you. Why not just go with her!"

"I trust Viviana with my life and would do anything for her. She is important to me, and she drives me insane. She can and enjoys being immature, irresponsible, and selfish. If I had a choice between a cage made out of silver or going with her I am fairly certain I would pick the cage. I have relied on her for too much in the past it is time for me to grow up. I told her earlier it is time to stop letting the past rule her, I meant that for me as well."

Andrea said nothing for a few moments silently Andrea sat down next to me on the couch her gaze never leaving mine, strangely my wolf was silent and the eye contact didn't seem to offer any challenge on either of our parts. Andrea was looking for something, she needed a certain answer for some question and for some reason I knew that answer could change everything between us, but did I want what was between us to change?

"Do you trust me?"

My breath caught and I swear my heart stopped beating for a second. Trust. It was the hardest thing for me to do. To me trust was a weapon and whoever you gave it to received the tool for destroying you.

"I could."

"You could? You could trust anyone Kye that doesn't mean anything. You should just -"

"I couldn't trust just anyone. Andrea I don't even trust my father. Trust does not come easy for me."

"How could you not trust your father?"

"He wasn't there when I needed him. I woke up with no memory of who I was. There was only Raiza and my father at first. My father was a shell of a person when I woke up I was scarred and confused and he wasn't there for me. He was there physically sometimes but not emotional or even mentally for good four years he was completely destroy by the death of my mother. I care about him but I wouldn't trust him."

"Who do you trust?"

"Viviana, Mitch, and Tarian. I guess I would say Raiza as well, though half of that trust though comes from my wolf, she is my Alpha I don't think it is possible for me not to trust her."

"Mitch is one of the wolves in your father's unit. Who is Tarian?"

"She's a friend."

I could tell Andrea was annoyed with my response but instead of questioning me further she appeared to let it go. Tarian was a mystery even to me and I had known her for years. I wasn't even sure what race Tarian was, or anything of substance about her. This conversation did not need to be derailed by the enigma that was Tarian.

"Why do you want to stay here Kye?"

"Because as challenging as this pack can be for me, it is starting to feel like home, and there's something here that I won't find anywhere else."

The truth I hadn't even fully admitted to myself slipped from my lips. This was the first real and honest conversation I think has happened between Andrea and me and I found myself being more open than I have been since I came here.

"What's that?"

I'm not sure what was driving me to be so open with Andrea, whether it was the animosity between us since Viviana showed up, her idiot of a fiancée coming, her scent that permeated the air, the conversation I overheard earlier, or the hormones and feelings raging through my body but suddenly something was driving me to actually talk with Andrea.

"It's not a what, Andrea, it's a who."

With that I leaned forward and pressed my lips against hers not giving her any time to object. As soon as my lips touched hers the world around me seemed to fade away. The only thing that existed was Andrea, her hands on me, her lips on mine, and her body pressed up against mine. I felt complete and I didn't want to ever let her go. She easily lost her temper and always wanted to be in charge, she never listened and kept things to herself, she was passionate and fierce and cared so damn much about everyone around her. To me she was perfect.

"Kye." She whispered.

I wasn't sure if it was a plea or an order but either way it didn't matter, I would obey.

I was lost in the feeling of Andrea, her hair, her skin, her scent when a noise in the room tore my attention back to reality. Shifting on the couch I pulled away from Andrea and opened my eyes. All the items in the room were shaking and as soon as I shifted away from Andrea they flew into the air spiraling around us like a tornado with Andrea and me in the eye of the storm. Andrea gasped and pulled me closer.

"Not again!" Andrea shouted.

I moved positions in an attempt to shield her in case items began flying at her. Her arms wrapped around my waist and I held her close. I would not allow a poltergeist, or anything else harm Andrea.

"Call Matthias." I said. I didn't like the jerk but if he was able to see the poltergeist and confirm the identity we could continue with the exorcism.

"I already have."

A few s comes later the door to the Rec. center banged open and out of instinct is change positions with Andrea protecting her from any threat. Matthias, Raiza, and Viviana stormed into room. All the items in the air dropped at once leaving the room eerily still.

"Did you see anything?" I asked.

Matthias glanced at me his eyes hard and focused on Andrea wrapped in my arms. I wasn't ready to let her go fiancée or not last time the room was still the poltergeist than flag a knife at Andrea. I wasn't going to take any chances, and it felt good to know I was pissing the meat head off.

"I caught a glimpse. It was enough to identify her if I get a picture. She's gone now so you can let go of my fiancée." Matthias said.

Raiza pulled a photo from her jacket pocket and handed it to Matthias.

"Was it the woman in this picture?"

Matthias turned his attention away from Andrea and me to study the picture. Andrea shifted in my arms and pulled away enough to create space but not far enough I couldn't grab her in case something else did happen.

"No, the woman in this picture is blonde and way to aged to be the poltergeist. I can't tell you the exact age of the poltergeist in life but she looked more like a teenager than an adult woman."

"Who could it be if it isn't Kye's mom. No one else has died with a grudge against the pack and the coven." Andrea said.

Despair seemed to descend like a fog in the room. My mother was the only possible identity anyone could think of for the poltergeist. If she couldn't be identified there was no reasonable way to stop the attacks anything we did would be a band-aid not a solution. Poltergeist were dangerous for multiple reasons.

A jiggling feeling edged its way from the back of my head forward. There was someone else with a grudge against the pack who died violently. I just couldn't add up why she was also attacking the coven. Something about this feeling felt right , I had no proof but I knew who the poltergeist was at least I hoped. The feeling wouldn't go away so I turned to Matthias.

"The poltergeist, did she have dark brown hair?"

"Yeah."

"How about her eyes, what color were they?"

"I didn't get a good enough look,I only caught a glimpse."

"Can you at least tell me if there is a chance they were a lighter color, not brown or black?"

Matthias was silent for a moment and everyone's breath seemed to be held. I could feel the questions seeming to be pouring from everyone else in the room, prodding me for answers.

"Honestly, I don't think her eyes had any color, not a lot of poltergeist have a strong enough connection to the physical world a lot of times they don't even have any color but are like silver wisps of air. This one had more color than most but her eyes, not color. Why?"

I turned to Viviana. Excitement growing in the pit of my stomach.

"What color eyes did Gardener have?"

"The poltergeist is a woman not a man. You do realize that right?"

"Answer the damn question, Viviana."

"Silver...or well technically grey but they always looked silver to me. Just like Raiza's and Andrea. It is a wolf genetics thing, all the offspring of the Night family line inherits those...otherworldly...silver eyes..."

Viviana trailed off and turned to Raiza.

"Sadira." Raiza whispered, "You think this poltergeist is my sister? She died nearly a hundred years ago and her fight is only with the pack, not the coven. Azarias and the Last Crusade coven has been attacked three times. This can't be her."

"There is no one else Alpha. Is this any more ridiculous of an idea than thinking it was my mother the most non-confrontational omega this pack has ever had?"

Raiza said nothing and Viviana and Andrea where oddly silent for once in their lives leaving Raiza to think about my argument.

"Do you have a picture of her?" Matthias asked. Breaking the silence.

"N...No, Azarias though will. We can go visit him tonight if you want to pursue this idea."

"We should also bring exorcism materials." I said.

"It would be idiotic to not follow a possible lead to identifying the poltergeist but it isn't Sadira, there is no reason to expect a need for an exorcism." Raiza said.

"A poltergeist's identity is the main ingredient in the ritual that leads to their banishment, meaning if we are right no matter how unlikely that may be, as soon as we have confirmed knowledge of the poltergeist's identity she'll want to destroy anyone who knows."

"Fine, make sure everything is ready, we leave for the coven as soon as the sun sets." Raiza agreed before turning and stiffly leaving the room.