Chapter Fifty-Five

Candy moved to the door, pulling it open and stepping into the hallway.  “Dev, wait up.” 

“Candy,” he said, turning to look back at her.  His green eyes filled with worry. She wished that there was something she could do, some words she could give him that would ease his fear. If it were Annie she had to protect, she’d do the same. Candy didn’t think she’d ever need to protect Stolas, but if she had to, there was no doubt that she would protect him just as fiercely.

“Wait to talk to Drake before you go.” She said, as she moved closer to them. Anna’s eyes were unseeing, and she worried about what had happened to the girl when she was with Nash to make her close off like that. 

“I don’t want to put the pack in danger, bringing the dragon elders here...”  Dev paused, running a hand through his hair. “That would do it.”

Normally, he’d be the one to tell Candy to talk to Drake, it felt strange for her to be saying it to him. He wished that his mate would say something, anything to give him a hint of how she was feeling. The brief flash of panic was gone. Now there was a nothingness where he knew she should be.

“Promise me?” Candy said, pressing her lips together as she walked closer. She didn’t want to think of him being gone, they’d been friends for so long, the three of them. 

Of course, things had changed when Eli found his mate. And she had found hers. But things would settle down.  It was just all so new, and there was so much she wanted to share with her two best friends.

“Candy, I can’t.”

Candy looked away. She didn’t want to let him know that it hurt her. She could understand the need to protect your mate was strong and one that was ingrained in them.  “At least call if you need us.”

“I will.” Dev nodded before heading down the hallway and towards the stairs. 

Candy watched him go, her heart heavy before she turned away, walking back towards the door to the clinic. Heavy footsteps stopped her and she turned to look back, half hoping that it was Dev coming back but knowing that it wasn’t.

Drake turned down the hallway with a glaring Abby clutched against his chest.  “Candy, can you get the door for me?” 

“Drake, I already said that I’m fine.” Abby said through clenched teeth as Eli, Owen, and Sam trailed behind him.  

“Sure thing, Drake,” Candy said, pressing her lips together to try to hold back her smile. 

He nodded towards her before walking into the clinic,  his pace brisk. Owen gave her a tight lipped smile as he passed by. Sam not even looking at her, she wanted to let out a growl as his burnt scent filled her nostrils. She didn’t know why Stolas’ scent didn’t make her cringe like Sam’s did.

 She breathed deeper, trying to fill her senses with the others. Her eyes widening at the smell of sex and mixed scents as she realized that more than one claiming had taken place.

Her hand shot out as Eli moved to follow the others and she tilted her head towards the side, her eyes flickering to the now empty hallway.

With a sigh, Eli nodded, stepping back as she pulled the door closed.

“What’s up?” He asked as he shoved his hands into his pockets. 

“Dev, he found his mate.”

“What?” Eli said, a slow smile spreading across his face, “Good for him.”

“It’s one of the dragon elder’s pets.”

“Well, fuck.” Eli said, pulling his hand from his pocket and dragging it through his hair.

“Yeah, they’re upstairs.” Candy said, worrying her lower lip as she thought about her next words. “I think he’s planning on running.”

“Fuck.”

“Same, maybe you and Drake can talk him out of it.”  Candy asked, lifting her shoulder up as she looked down at her bare feet, “I tried, but-”

“We’ll talk to him.” Eli said, stepping closer to the closed door, “Thanks, Candy.”

Nodding, Candy stepped closer to the door as Eli held it open. She walked inside the clinic, moving to where she could hear Drake and Doc.

“She’s fine, needs some rest.” Doc told her eyes meeting Abby’s before she looked over at Drake.

Sitting up and crossing her arms, Abby looked over at Drake.  “I told you I was fine.”

“Babe, you passed out while we were-” Sam said before Abby cut him off.

“I know, there was a lot going on.”  Abby said, placing her hands on her cheeks, trying to hide her blush. Eli stepped closer to her and she buried her face against his chest.

Candy shook her head as she moved closer to Annie and Stolas. She felt drawn to them like a magnet. They both stood beside Amelia, Annie’s hand holding her free one that her mates didn’t have. Her eyes closed.

Candy peeked down, sucking in a gasp. Already Amelia’s skin was healing. She glanced over at her mother as she looked up at Drake. Her hands on her hips as her eyes met his.

She’d never seen someone stand up to the alpha as much as her mother did. Drake let her get away with it, she knew.  He knew how much her mother cared for the pack. 

Annie swayed slightly and Candy looked back at her. Stolas gripping her hand, she could feel them through the bond. She wasn’t sure what Annie was doing, but she was pretty sure that it was helping Amelia given that neither of her mates had pulled her away. 

Though Louis looked like he wouldn’t be able to even if he needed to. She wondered where his mate was. It was the first time she’d ever seen him without the handsome, tall, dark haired man. 

“Drake, we need to go talk with Dev.” Eli said, kissing the top of Abby’s head as he stepped back.

Drake let out a soft growl, not wanting to leave his mate. This was pack though, he looked to Owen.  “Make sure she gets rest.” 

Owen nodded his head as Drake turned to look at Sam, “Leave her alone, Freddy.”

“Stop calling me that.” The words contained less venom than normal, and Abby’s eyes widened. Were her mates finally getting along?

Eli laughed as he pulled away from Abby and the two headed to Dev’s room.