Chapter 30

Shade's POV

"I didn't even know that the war happened!  None of the wolves who live here in New York belong to a structured pack.  In fact you're the first alpha I've met," Amanda said while leaning back in her seat, I chuckled.

"I can't exactly say I'm surprised, since you aren't in a pack the people who organized the whole thing probably have no record of you existing, so they wouldn't have contacted any of you," I stated with a shrug and crossed my legs.

"I suppose.  Well, now that that is out of the way, let's get some food into you shall we?  I have a few places picked out we can discuss over lunch," she smiled at me and got up, picking up some folders and walking out the door, me following close behind her.

"There is a nice little restaurant around the corner if you want to go there," she suggested with a glance over her shoulder.

"Sure, sounds good to me," I smiled as we left the building, people walking in front of us as we fell into the stream of people.

We continued to talk as we walked, my eyes roaming around until I saw copper hair and my heart fell, my palms becoming sweaty and hands shaking.

"Shadow, are you okay?" Amanda's voice sounded distant and echoey, my eyes tracking the person who was to occupied with their phone to look up and see me.

She was way to short to be Raven, but ask she walked by all I could worry about was her attacking me.

"Shadow!" Amanda shouted, bringing me back to reality.

"Ah, s-sorry, lets go," I said in a shaky voice, quickly making my way away from the copper headed girl.

We made it to the restaurant in record time, my nerves just starting to calm down.

We ordered our food and sat down, Amanda giving me a serious look.

"Okay, what the hell was that all about?" she demanded and I scoffed.

"Nothing, I just thought I recognized someone, thats all," I said with a role on my eyes.

"You thought that was Raven, didn't you?" Amanda smirked and leaned back in her seat.

"And what proof do you have of that?" I shot back.

"Oh, just the fact you were pretty much starting to shut down, you started sweating, your breathing increased and so did your heart -"

"Okay, okay I get it," I interrupted with a sigh.

"Thought so, damn she must have done some crazy shit to you if you were that scared," she chuckled and I rolled my eyes again.

"She tried to kill me when we were younger," I stated simply with a shrug and her laughing stopped dead," in fact, I probably would have died if my mate's pack hadn't saved me.  Actually I had a brother who I watched her murder, along with the rest of the pack I was staying with."

Amanda's eyes went wide and she took a sip of her water, shaking her head and swallowing.

"It's times like these I'm glad I don't have to worry about being in a pack," she said with a low whistle, earning a sharp laugh and snort from me.

"Yeah."

Our food came to the table and we began to eat, I got a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich and within five minutes the entire plate was empty and I leaned back in my seat, satisfied.  Amanda just stared at me with big eyes as she ate a bite of her blueberry muffin.

"Do... do you want more to eat?" she asked hesitantly and I smiled, shaking my head.

"No, that was plenty, thank you.  Now, abut these places you've found, can we narrow them down to the one's in Canada?  Oh, and my moving there is no problem, I've got a Canadian Citizenship so the country doesn't matter," I put my elbows on the table and looked at the manilla folders.

"Oh, yes, there are two condos that you can look at, both have -"

"This one," I interrupted for a second time," ah, sorry, I like this one."

It was perfect, overlooking Toronto was the bedroom, and the master bath also over looked the city, all the windows being made out of one way glass, I could see out but no one could see in.  The kitchen was fairly large with all the new cooking supplies.  The Living room has sleek, stain-free white furniture and a large flat screen TV.

"I was hoping you'd pick that one," Amanda smiled and finished her muffin, picking up the files again and swiftly walking out of the diner.

I left a tip and followed after her, bumping into someone as I ran out of the front door.

"I'm so sorry," I apologized before running after Amanda, I heard the person take a photo of me and I turned back to look but they were already gone.

"Shade, you coming?" Amanda called behind me.

"Yeah, coming," I turned around again and ran after her.

~

"I've booked a flight and hotel for us both leaving in two days, do you think that you can survive here for two more days?" Amanda's voice snapped me out of my thoughts and I smiled with a nod.

"Yeah, I'll be fine, what time is the flight?"

"5:30 in the morning."

I groaned like a child, but smirked and nodded.

"Okay, I'll meet you at the airport at 5:30 then," I smiled and stood up, shaking her hand.

"Have the speed of the moon goddess with you Shadow," she said with a bow of her head as she took my hand in hers.

"As should you," I replied and left briskly.

~

The next couple of days passed quickly and before I knew it I was lying on my bed in Toronto and staring out at the city.

This place is ours Veana, we're finally safe... I thought to my wolf who was more relaxed than ever.

It's nice... Here we don't have to worry about anything, other than living a normal life. She replied and I could feel her smile before she cut the link.

In the days leading up to buying the house I got my hair dyed black, which it now went down to my shoulders and contacts that were icy blue, I looked like a completely different person now. And finally I was safe.

How do you think Raven is doing? I kinda miss her. I confessed, startling Veana.

Shade... I know that she was you cousin and would have protected you at all costs but she was going to kill us, and maybe not on propose but Ira would have, no question. The sooner we got out of there the better. She reasoned gently.

Yes, I know... I know, but I still love her, I always will. I stated in a disappointed tone and again cut the link

I walked into the bathroom and looked out over the city, now all that was left was to get a job, my money wouldn't last forever and I needed to find a way to support myself.

My phone buzzed, it was Amanda.

Hey Shade! I'm just wondering how everything is going for you! I hope to hear from you soon. Her and I had decided to keep in touch these first few weeks I was in Canada.

Hello Amanda! Everything is going quite well and I'm looking for a job currently, I'll text you in the morning, its getting late where I am. Goodnight. I replied and turned off my phone, beginning to charge it

I collapsed onto the bed and stretched, noticing I was beginning to gain weight again. Some of my scars were fading but I wondered if i would ever be able to go out in a crop top and shorts again.

My scars were never something I was subconscious about until now. But so is the way that things work when you enter human culture.

~

About a week later I was ready for a job interview, it was at a law firm in the down town area, my hopeful job was a secretary. They would give me the recordings of a case or an interrogation and it was my job to make a transcript.

The car ride to the building was calm, despite some traffic on the main roads I got to the firm on time and paid the taxi driver, who wished me luck, and stepped inside the building.

The person at the front dest sent me up to one of the manager's rooms where shockingly the interview went quite well. My first day was set for tomorrow.

Not wanting to go home yet I stopped off at a bakery and got a cup of apple cider and a lemon poppy seed muffin.

"Oh, hello Shadow, nice to see you stopping in today," a girl names Valerie said from behind the counter

"Hi Val," I smiled at her and waved, pulling out a couple dollars and handing them to her," I'll have my usual today."

"I'll have that right out," she smiled back and I went to sit down. Pulling out my phone I aimlessly played games for a few minutes before my food arrived in a small to go bag and a cup with my drink.

"Thank you so much Val, I'm sure I'll be seeing you again here soon," with another smile I stood up and left, taking a sip of my cider and walking down the street, lots of people were out today and the side walks were somewhat crowded as every one bustled around.

I had gotten used to the loud sounds of the city but every time I'd hear a police car or any siren it would send my senses into over drive.

For a few hours I indulged in some shopping, one of my current favorite past times.

I stood in a dressing room, a long sleeve tight fitted crop top on with skinny jeans and three inch wedges on which were a clean white.

I admired my figure as I had more or less filled out, you could only see my ribs if I took a deep breath but I couldn't help but judge my scars.

One of my arms crossed over my stomach as the shirt up off just below my breasts. The fabric was a faded rode gold pink color and was fairly thick but not like some of the winter shirts I had also purchased.

The scars, though some had faded, still stood out immensely and it was all I could focus on. I was snapped out of my trance when there was a knock at the door.

"Hello? Shadow are you changed? I want to see," one of the consultants said from beyond the door.

"Oh, yeah, sure, come on in Debra, the door is open," I called out to her and I saw the door handle twist as she walked in.

Her eyes lit up when she saw me, clapping her hands together her green eyes shone brightly in the lights.

"You've got such a beautiful figure Shadow," she complimented and I bit my lip, blushing.

"Thank you so much... I just wish I didn't have all these," I sighed, motioning to the marks all over me.

"Now young lady, I don't every want to hear those words come out of your mouth ever again do you understand?" she gently scolded, shaking a finger at me. Debra was a middle aged woman who was very much a mother figure I could tell.

"You are gorgeous just the way you are, those scars only tell how strong you are and that you've got a very interesting story to tell, so I don't to hear those words grace my ears every again heaven forbid," she smiled at me as I shrunk back slightly in defeat.

"Okay, if you say so..." I whispered and glanced at the mirror to my right for a moment.

"Now, you've got a few more outfits I'd like you to try on, are we keeping this is the 'for sure' pile?"

"Yes, if you would be so kind as to bring in the other outfits I'll just try them on really quickly, I've got to call someone later tonight," I smiled at her, remembering I had to call Amanda before dinner, I had two hours to get home and call her, and with traffic during rush hour I needed to leave in at least an hour.

The next outfit I tried on was a pair of shorts with a fluffy, over sized knitted sweater, thigh high stockings, shockingly it was one of my favorites, a lazy day outfit would be perfect for the weekend.

The rest of the outfits I purchased, rushing out of the store to a waiting taxi. Half way through the ride I pulled out my phone, I had seven unanswered calls from Amanda.

Hey is everything okay? I'm five minutes away from my condo. I texted her, I had a bad feeling in my gut as I got into the elevator and still didn't have a text.

Listen to me closely Shadow, do not call me, Raven and Xavier have found me, they are in my building, I can feel their power from my office. She replied, my heart dropped.

Oh my god, Amanda get out of there! They'll hurt you!

I can't, they are guarding all the exits with wolves, I told my secretary not to let anyone in and I locked the door, it should hold them off for a little while.

I felt tears prick at my eyes as I got into my condo, panic was setting in.

Amanda, please try to get out of there! I was shaking so much I could hardly type. You don't understand, they will torture you to find out where I am.

I won't tell them, from what you've told me they will kill me either way, please stay safe in Chicago, remember if you need to go to Washington, I've got people there who will keep you safe. She texted me, immediately beginning to type again. Oh my god they just killed the person at the front desk, there was a scream and a gun shot.

She was throwing them off my trail, she was lying to keep me safe, there was no doubt in my mind that she was going to die.

Whatever you do Shadow, do not listen to them! Block my number! She hurriedly typed me.

I was sobbing at this point, in my bedroom I felt my legs going weak.

Shadow, we have your friend, if you don't do as we say we will kill her, think wisely about your choices, we will find you. - Alpha Xavier

I fell against the foot of the bed as I read the last text, tears blurring my vision as shook violently, going into my contacts I blocked Amanda's number. My strangled cries echoed around the room as Veana howled in despair.

My arm rested on the white comforter of my bed, my phone in hand as I bent over on my knees, tears streaming down my face.

Raven was cruel, and so was her mate, relentless killers, murderers. Blood thirsty and ruthless. They had built an empire on the blood of their enemies.

And yet, I couldn't hate Raven, I loved her, I loved my cousin.

I loved the person who would stop at nothing to spill more of my blood.