•Ryder's POV•

I walk down the hallway and stop when I see Claire studying some photos hanging on the wall. I slowly walk up to her and smile when I see the photo she's intently looking at.

"You were so worried about your hair that day, we couldn't leave until it was perfect." I say.

She jumps a little and steps back from the photo.

"Sorry," I apologise, "I Didn't mean to scare you."

She gives me a weak smile, "That's okay, I was snooping around."

I shake my head, "You're in that photo, I think you deserve to look at it."

She nods and looks back to it, "How old was I?"

"Eleven, I was ten. It was our first family photo with Finn in it." I reply, pointing to the five year old in Dad's arms.

"Josh is taking me out tonight." She says.

I smile, not only because I'm happy for her and Josh, but because I'm glad she's starting to open up to me.

"That's great, he'll take you somewhere speical." I reply.

She smiles back, "I'm glad Mara has you, she needs someone like you."

"She's pretty great." I reply.

"I just can't believe everything she does. I was trapped in that place for nearly two years and she was only there for a week, yet she still got out." She shakes her head.

I smirk, "She's a thinker."

She turns to me, "That's what I'm afraid of. Josh is the Beta of this Pack, I need to be strong and ready to take things on with Mara as the Beta's mate. Yet, my wolf has been trapped in a cage for so long and I can't remember any defensive moves."

"Then I'll teach you." I state.

"Really?" She asks.

I chuckle a little, "You're my sister, I'd do anything for you."

Her lips turn up a little, "I wish I could return the favour."

"You can, just by being here." I reply seriously.

She lets out a breath through her nose and nods, "Thanks Ryder."

"You know you can talk to me about anything." I reply.

She nods, "I know, it's just hard starting from scratch again."

I sigh, "We'll get there, I feel confident that things will start to come back."

She looks back at the photo, "I really hope so."

••••*••••

Mara laughs as she runs in front of me, turning every now and then to look at me.

The late afternoon sun casts a ray of sunshine on her face, making her blonde hair shimmer.

The grass under my feet crunches as I run after her, the field perfectly green and open.

"Come on Ryder!" She laughs.

"You're too fast!" I reply smiling.

She throws her head back and opens her arms out, spinning around and closing her eyes.

I come up to her and wrap my arms around her waist, tucking my head in the crook of her neck and breathing in her beautiful scent.

"Got you." I whisper in her ear.

She giggles and then it all goes black.

I grip Mara tighter and try to see something, anything.

"Ryder? What's happening?" Mara asks, panic in her voice.

I just keeping trying to look around, hoping to find some sort of light.

Fast shadows start flying past, so quick you can barely see them.

"Ryder, I'm falling." Mara says.

"No you're not baby, you're right here, with me." I reply.

"I'm falling, I'm falling." She continues.

"You're fine Mara, everything's alright." I try to soothe her.

I feel her slipping out of my arms.

"I'm falling Ryder, I'm flying." She says.

"Mara! Don't let go of my hand!" I demand.

But her fingers don't tighten on my hand and her body loses contact with mine.

"I'm going Ryder, I'm falling." She keeps going.

"You're not going anywhere!" I shout.

Then her fingers slip from mine, leaving my hand cold.

Then she screams.

I gasp and shoot up, sitting on the bed.

Running my hands over my face, I wipe off the sweat that must of occured during my nightmare.

A hand grabs my arm and I jump and whip my head around to the person.

"Hey, are you okay?" Mara asks in a husky voice, her eyes squinting from sleepiness.

"Yeah, just a nightmare. I'm going to get some fresh air, go back to sleep." I reply as I caress her cheek.

She yawns and then closes her eyes, "Alright, don't be too long."

"I won't." I reply and get up, staying in my boxers but grabbing a pair of sweatpants to put on after.

I exit my house and lock the door behind me with the spare key on top of the doorframe. I don't want any unwanted vistors while I'm out.

After Claire left with Josh, Mara and I came back to my house and had some 'fun', if you know what I mean.

We need to keep Mara away from the town because Mara's parents think she's in Florida with me, which was the story we made up to keep them from wondering. Although they were a bit confused as to why she didn't say goodbye to them, Layla sent fake messages as Mara to her parents.

It also means the rest of the Pack can't know, as it could leak to Mara's parents that she's back already.

I shift into my wolf, my boxers shreading, and run into the forest. I'm burning to tell the Pack that Mara's back, their mood has been dreary and dull without their Luna, and it's been so long that the humans in the town are starting to notice.

I dodge the trees as I sprint, my giant black paws blending in with the ground.

I pick up a familiar scent and howl, running towards it.

Soon after, I hear a howl in return and my werewolf hearing picks them coming towards me too.

Josh's wolf emerges from the trees and I nod at him when we meet eyes, him nodding in return after.

"How did it go? The date with Claire?" I ask.

His wolf nods and shows a wolfy grin, "Great, I think she's warming to me."

"That's good, maybe then she'll warm to all of us." I reply.

He walks forward a bit and then falls onto his side, rolling his back and looking up at the stars. I shrug and follow suit, staring up at the bright sky.

"I just can't believe she was my mate the whole time." He says.

"It's crazy. Cam was crazy." I reply.

Josh's wolf growls, "I don't want to even think about him. He's gone and never coming back."

I nod in agreement, "Amen to that."

"So, what are you doing out here at this time of the morning?" He asks.

"I had a weird dream, more like a nightmare, had to get some fresh air. You?" I ask.

"I was thinking about Claire too much and couldn't get to sleep. Guess I had to get some air as well." He replies.

"I feel like I should feel weird with you being her mate, but instead I'm glad she's got you." I say.

His wolf lets out a laugh, which sounds more like a choke, "Okay dude, now we're starting to sound like chicks."

My wolf laughs too, letting out the same weird sound.

"Just one more sleep." Josh says.

"Until what?" I ask.

His wolf smiles, "The Pack can see how strong their Luna really is."

••••*••••

By the time I come back to the house, the sky is starting to change colour, signaling that the sun is about to rise.

I pull on the sweatpants after I shift and grab the key from where I left it.

It takes me a while to get the door unlocked, my lock is stupid and old.

When I finally get the door open, Mara comes down the stairs and sighs, holding a hand to her chest.

"It's just you." She says, I notice how her eyes glide down to my exposed six pack and I smirk a little.

"Yeah, sorry I was a bit late." I reply.

"I was worried sick when I woke up and you still weren't back." She replies coming towards me.

I pull her into an embrace and kiss the top of her head, "Sorry again."

Her giggle is muffled by my chest, but I still hear it, "It's fine. Are you sure you're okay, you looked stressed this morning." She looks up at me, her gorgeous eyes boaring into mine.

I smile at her, "I'm fine, just woke up in a bit of a daze."

She narrows her eyes at me and then pulls away, I reluctantly let her go.

"Well, I want to make pancakes. So pancakes I will make." She says and walks towards the kitchen.

She stops at the door and turns to me, "Did you want to lie down for a bit longer?" She asks.

I shake my head, "Pancakes sound good."

She smiles and continues to the kitchen, "Do you like blueberries?"

I sit on the stool by the kitchen counter, "I love blueberries."

"Good, because I'm making blueberry pancakes." She says.

I just watch her as she collects the ingredients and makes the batter, I smile a little when she wipes her forehead to swipe away some hair and gets a stripe of flour across it without knowing.

As she's waiting for the first one to cook, I come up behind her and wrap my arms around her. She instantly sighs and relaxes into me.

"Where did you go this morning?" She asks.

I rest my chin on the top of her head, "Just ran around the territory, I came across Josh as well, and talked to him for a bit."

"How was his date with Claire?" She asks, flipping the pancake.

"It went really well apparently." I reply.

She puts the first dotted-blue pancake on the plate, "Good." She replies

"Ryder, Alpha Kyle wants to speak with you. Get to the Pack House as soon as you can." My Dad says through mind-link.

I take the pancake and detach myself from Mara, "Got to take this on the run, business calls. Do you want me to come get you later on?" I ask.

She shakes her head, "Snow wants a run, I'll meet you there later." She replies.

I purse my lips, "Fine. But don't let anyone see you, there are wolves on patrol." I say.

She nods, "Yep, got it."

"Okay," I say and give her a kiss, "See you then."

"Bye." She waves and then flips her pancake.

"And don't eat too many!" I yell as I get to the front door.

"Can't promise you!" She replies.

I chuckle and close the door, locking it again. A t-shirt is draped over the front porch railing, so I grab that and chuck it on.

I hop on my bike and start her up, then make my way to the Pack House.

Once I get there, I hop off and go through the front door.

"Oh, hey Ryder." Mandy says as I walk through.

"Mandy," I nod, "How's everyone today?"

She nods, "Everyone's good, except some of the pack."

I nod, "Understandable, only tomorrow though." I reply.

She smiles, "Yep, they'll be estatic."

I grin too and walk past, "Well, I have business to attend to, see you later."

"Bye Ryder." Mandy smiles and walks off.

I walk in my office and the phone starts ringing in perfect timing.

I pick it up, "Alpha Ryder speaking."

"Ryder, thank God you picked up. I don't have long." The voice on the other end replies.

"Who is this?" I ask.

"It's Ryan. Listen you need to strengthen your patrol." He says.

Ryan. As in the Ryan Mara knows?

"Why?" I ask.

"They found her." He says.

"They found who? And who are they?" I ask.

"Mara, they found Mara. They're coming Ryder."

"Who?" I demand, raising my voice a little.

"The hunters." He replies.

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Hello there!

I finally got to update! Hope you liked it ^-^

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This chapter is dedicated to @BridgetteJade, thanks for being an awesome supportive cousin!

Thanks! xx