Chapter 8 : always here

Sloane

“Mom!” he shouted. “A little privacy, please.”

She stopped mid-track with just enough time for me to stick my head out of the water, breathe properly, then shove it back under.

“All right then, I'll be waiting for you downstairs,” she said and walked out of the room. The moment she was gone, I stood up; the water splashed around the tub.

“That was close,” Logan said, smiling up at me. I scoffed and got out of the water quickly, just in case I got stunned by anyone else.

“Where are you going? I thought we were having fun?”

“Fun?!” I laughed painfully. “You call me almost dying fun?”

“I took care of her, didn't I?”

“Well, you also didn't tell me your mom was here. I'm leaving,” I said and turned on my heels.

“Wait, little one!”

I didn't wait for him to say anything; I walked straight out and down the stairs. Logan called after me as he sprinted behind. I walked so fast I didn't notice when I bumped into someone.

Logan's mom stood in front of me, eyeing me as she took in my wet appearance from head to toe.

“Wait—” Logan stopped the minute he spotted his mother. Her eyes ran over me and then back to her son, an angry scowl spread across her face.

“Mom,” he said.

“So there was a girl after all. Who are you?” she asked. I looked down at the cluster of servants staring up at us. Dean and Hunter entered the sitting room, their eyes on us the minute they walked in.

“Are you suddenly deaf or can't you speak?!” she spat.

“Sloane,” I said, sticking out my hand and waiting for her to shake it, but she just stared at it in disgust.

She rolled her eyes and looked back at Logan, who had nothing on but a white towel wrapped around his waist.

“Deal with whatever this is,” she said and walked downstairs, everyone returning to their chores as if they weren't watching a show.

Dean and Hunter walked up to where we stood, and I didn't wait for anyone to say anything, I ran to my room.

___________________________

A knock came at the bedroom door.

“It's open,” I announced, and the door opened to reveal Dean. He walked in holding two big shopping bags.

“Hey, I brought you some clothes.”

He walked to the bed and dropped them while staring at me.

“What?”

“Nothing…you just seem calmer. Here.” He handed me the bags and took a seat on the bed.

“Logan told me you left earlier.”

“Yes. Hunter and I had something to sort out.”

There was a pause. It felt as if he wanted me to figure it out myself. After a few silent beats, I spoke.

“At my pack, right?”

“Yes,” he answered.

I moved closer to him with interest, hands on my knees while I waited for any news from home.

“What did Kris say? Did he say he wanted me back? Did he finally catch Barry and Kylie? Was there finally evidence against those muttheads?”

Dean swallowed, eyes not meeting mine.

“What's wrong, Dean? You're scaring me.”

“There was no evidence,” he said.

I froze this time, ears pricked as I listened to everything he had to say.

“There was no evidence against Kylie and Barry because they are innocent. They didn't plan anything against you.”

That's not true. If they weren't the perpetrators, then who is?

“I don't think you did your findings well. Barry betrayed me, and they sure enjoyed watching me get dragged out of the pack.”

“Yes, I know, but if you think about it, everyone enjoyed it. There was nothing tying them to the scene; in fact—”

“In fact?”

“We think it's someone from inside. Maybe one of the council members planted the evidence against you.”

“What evidence?”

He took out his phone and showed me a picture of laundering and stealing from the pack's wealth. Another picture showed me giving information to the enemy pack.

“That wasn't me! I have never met that man before.”

“Well, it may not be you, but this is what we saw. It will be hard to convince anyone, but we are still gathering facts.”

I looked down, eyes on my hands as I fiddled with them. Someone was plotting against me, and for what? I had only cared for that pack as if it were my own child.

I had advocated for them and taken care of every patient as their doctor.

“What did Kris have to say?”

Dean didn't look at me this time; his eyes were on the door. It didn't take long for me to understand the situation at hand. I might as well kiss Crimson Pack and everyone in it goodbye. No one was going to believe me now.

Even if I tried, this was fake but clear to them. Who would do this to me? Who would want me gone?

If it wasn't Barry or that sly bitch Kylie, then who was it?

Dean placed a comforting hand on my shoulder and it relaxed me a bit. I warmed into his touch, eyes on him while I waited for him to speak.

“You don't have to worry. We'll get to the root of this and stop whoever wanted you exiled, okay?”

I gave a small smile. “You keep helping me and I can't thank you enough.”

His eyes softened and something like care and concern flashed through them. He swallowed softly, eyes trailing down to my lips before he spoke.

“It's because I care about you. I always have, Sloane.”

My breath hitched as I waited for him to continue.

“Ever since you became an adult, I couldn't get you out of my head. I guess,” he laughed, “I have always had a thing for you.”

“I didn't think you—”

“Liked you that way. I know. It's not easy to come out and say you have feelings for someone who's old enough to be your little sister.”

“I—” I stared, speechless.

“You don't have to say anything right now. You can take your time to process it, okay? If you ever need anything, I'm right here.”