•Ryder's POV•

I shake as I check Mara's pulse, praying to hear something, anything.

"She's not breathing." I whisper.

Everyone crowds around, except George, and Ryan checks her pulse as well.

"We need to start CPR, now." Ryan says.

He goes to start compressions but Torah stops his hands.

"Are you qualified for that? Let me do it." She says and pushes him out the way. He obeys and watches from the sides.

"Ryder, when I get to thirty, you need to give her two breaths alright?" She asks.

I numbly nod.

"She doesn't need it." George says from the side.

I look up at him, "So you just want her to die?"

He doesn't say anything, just stares back at me.

"The father that was never there wants his only daughter to die? Is that what you're saying?" I ask louder.

"Ryder, focus!" Torah says.

"Why do you want her to die? I thought you loved her?" Ryan asks quietly.

Georges gaze flickers over to him, "I do love her."

"Then why are you letting her die?" I shout.

"Ryder." Josh comes towards me, he tries to grab me but I swing my fist and connect it with his nose, he falls to the ground from the impact.

"She doesn't need it." He repeats.

"Why are you even here? I might as well kill you now!" I sneer, getting closer to him.

"Ryder!" Torah says coming over.

"Nobody wants a fight Ryder." He replies calmly.

"I'm sure I'm not the only one wanting to kill you right now." I say.

"Ryder! Shut up! We're wasting time!" Torah says.

"You better not be the reason I can't save her." I sneer.

"Save who? What's going on?" Someone says from behind us.

We all turn around and our eyes pop out of our heads.

"Mara?" I say, berely audible.

I don't let her reply as I rush over to her.

•Mara's POV•

Ryder rushs over to me and engulfs me in an embrace, his lips lock to mine and move in a firey and passionate way, I'm a little shocked at first but finally move with him.

He then breaks away and inspects me for injury.

"Ryder, what are you doing?" I ask as he lifts my shirt a little to expose a bit of my tummy.

"Where's the...?" He frowns as he brushes a finger near my belly button.

I swipe his hand away, "Stop that, what's wrong?"

"How is she standing?" Torah asks bewildered.

"I told you, she didn't need anything." George speaks up.

Ryder goes to turn around, but I lift my hands to his face and pull it towards me, "What. Is. Happening?"

He frowns, "Do you not remember?"

"I just remember going on a run with you." I reply.

He sighs in relief and his hands slide up my arms to cover my hands, "I'm just glad you're okay."

He's still not answering my question so I look to George, who I didn't realise was here, "You obviously know what's going on, will you tell me?"

He nods, "Let's go back first, make sure you're all okay."

Ryder glares at him, "So now you're worried about her?"

"There was no need to worry, I'll explain." He replies.

We walk back to my house, Ryder never letting go of me the whole time.

As we walk, I try to think back to what happened, but all I remember was running through the forest.

Suddenly, part of it comes back to me and I remember staring into James's eyes as he pulls the trigger.

I stop abruptly and gasp, pulling my hand to my stomach.

Ryder immediantly turns around and grips my arms, "What's wrong?" He asks, eyes locked on my stomach where my my hand is resting.

I shake my head, "Nothing, I'm fine."

"Not here." I say through mind-link.

He doesn't even flinch, for a moment I don't even think he got my message.

"Okay, well just stay close." He replies.

But as he turns around to continue walking he gives me a small wink that only I see.

I take his hand as we walk, he grips it tight like he's never going to let me go.

I realise that I could have lost Ryder, or in other terms, he could have lost me.

And that means he could have lost himself. I couldn't deal with him turning into someone like Cam.

As I'm thinking all this, Torah comes up and hugs me, "I'm so happy you're okay."

I laugh and hug her back, "Sorry."

She rolls her eyes, "You're apologising?"

"I scared a lot of people." I reply.

I look around and frown when I see Josh, "Josh, are you okay?"

He looks up, "Oh yeah, just a bit of blood. It'll heal by tomorrow, no problem."

"How did it happen?" I ask.

"Oh, about that buddy. No hard feelings right?" Ryder asks and slaps a hand to his back.

Josh chuckles and shakes his head, "You pack a hard punch man."

"I'm Alpha, what did you expect?" Ryder replies.

"Wait, you did that too him?" I ask, pointing at Ryder.

He rubs the back of his head, "Yeah, I was a little out of it."

"A little out of it? You were a mad man." Trent replies.

"I was-"

"Ryder! Apologise right now!" I interrup him.

Everyone looks at me and Ryder raises his eyebrows.

"What?" He asks.

"He's your Beta," I gesture to Josh, "Apologise. You punched him in the face."

Ryder frowns, "He's okay about, we're good right?"

Josh goes to reply but I interrup again, "I don't care if he's okay with it, you apologise right now."

I rolls his eyes and sighs, "Sorry Josh."

"Sorry for what?" I say.

Ryder sighs again, "Sorry Josh for punching you in the face."

"Better." I say.

"You're forgiven mate, now I get bragging rights." He smirks.

We start to continue walking again.

"Oh so you're not going to stop that, but you'll stop me not apologising?" Ryder asks.

I nod, "Yep, you were being mean."

"And that's not?" He asks.

"When he actually does do it, maybe I will. Then he can apologise to you." I reply.

He smiles and shakes his head, wrapping his arm around my waist and resting his head against the side of mine as we walk, "I love you."

I smile as well, "I love you too."

We finally get back to my house and I'm surprised to see my parents car gone.

We enter the house and sit down on the couch while George stays standing. The Pack doctor comes in and Ryder stands up, pulling me up too.

"Finally, we just need to make sure she's alright." Ryder says.

He nods in return and takes me to another room, with Ryder, for a quick inspection.

"She's perfectly healthy, nothing to worry about." He smiles.

"Thank you." I reply.

Ryder nods at him.

After he leaves, we head back to where everyone is and sit down again.

"So," George begins, "I'm guessing you now remember what happen?" He asks me.

I frown, "How did you know?"

"Because, It happened to your mother too." He replies.

I frown, "What happened to my mother?"

"She got shot, I was worried sick, then she healed herself." He states.

"She healed herself?" Josh asks.

George nods, "You would have realised by now that Mara can heal people. As she can heal others, she can heal herself too."

"Then how did my mother die?" I ask.

He looks at me, "Sometimes, depending on how bad the injury is, you just can't heal yourself properly."

I look to Ryan, "So, why are you here?"

"Is that how you talk to your half brother?" He asks.

"Wait, what?" I reply, looking to George.

He nods, "It's true, Ryan is my son."

I stand up, "So you cheated on my mother?"

He looks down, "It wasn't like that, I didn't mean too. But she knew, your mother knew about Ryan."

"And that makes it better?" I ask.

He sighs, "Look Mara, I know I've stuffed up. I've stuffed up big time. But I can't just go on my life thinking that I just let you and Ryan go. You're still my children, and I need to make it right with you so that I know I've done something right."

I sigh, "Even though I don't fully forgive you, everyone deserves a second chance."

He gives me a smile, "Thank you."

"So, if you knew Mara was going to be okay, why didn't you tell me that when I was going crazy?" Ryder asks.

"Because everything is so confusing, if I told you then, you would have wanted answers and she would have been extremely confused." George replies.

I wipe my eyes and let out a yawn.

"Come on, I think you've had enough for one day, get some rest." Ryder says, pulling me to him.

I nod in his chest and he leads me up the stairs and into my room.

Without even changing my clothes, I get under the covers and close my eyes.

Ryder kisses my head and I grab his hand, "Stay." I mumble.

Soon after, I feel the bed dip and his arms wrap around me, pulling me closer to him.

I feel Ryder's fingertips brush my cheek, my nose, my eyelids, and my lips.

"What are you doing?" I mutter.

"You're so beautiful." He replies softly.

I smile, "And you're a dork."

"Hey, I just gave you a compliment and you give me an insult?" He whines.

I laugh, "Fine, you're a handsome dork."

"Get some sleep." He says.

I nod and snuggle closer to him.

"Don't ever lose yourself Ryder." I mutter as I fall into sleep.

•Ryder's POV•

When I know Mara's sound asleep, I detach myself from her and slip out of the bed.

Don't ever lose yourself Ryder.

That sentence runs through my head. Did she think I was going to lose myself if she died?

Of course she would, she's been around Cam. But I would never let myself be like him, I know Mara wouldn't want me too.

As I get to the bottom of the stairs I see George making a beeline for the door.

"Leaving so soon?" I ask, folding my arms across my chest.

He looks at me, "I need to take care of some things."

"So that little speech you made earlier was a lie?" I ask.

He shakes his head, "No, that was the truth. I just don't think now is the right time to come into her life, she has a lot to worry about."

"And what about me?" Ryan asks, coming in.

George looks at him, "You too, you've just met your mate Ryan. You need to learn to settle down before another thing comes into your life."

"You're not even going to say goodbye?" I ask.

George shakes his head, but then pulls out an envelope from his jacket pocket and hands it to me, "When Mara wakes up, please give this to her."

"Why should I?" I ask.

He looks at me, "Because she would want it."

I look down at the letter and then back to him, "Okay."

"You'll come back though?" Ryan asks.

George nods, "Definitely."

"Goodbye George." I say.

"Ryder, Ryan." He replies and then disappears behind the now closed door.

"Do you think he'll really come back?" Ryan asks.

I shrug, "I really don't know."

He just nods.

"Did you kill James?" He asks.

I look at him and rub the back of my neck, "Um."

"It's okay if you did, he was an asshole anyway." Ryan mutters.

I study him, "Yes, but you grew up with him as your father Ryan, surely there's some feeling in there."

"Even if there was, I don't want to feel it. The past is the past, I need to focus on the future now."

I nod in agreement, "And that starts with making the seal, I heard you wanted to join my pack?"

He looks at me, "Yes Alpha."

"Promise me that you'll look after Torah, and commit to this pack as if you were a leader." I say.

"I promise." He replies.

"Well then Ryan, I hereby welcome you to the Dark Moon Pack." I say.

He smiles, "Thank you Alpha."

He goes to leave, "And Ryan?" I ask.

"Yes?"

"That goes for Mara too, I think she'll be happy to have a brother." I grin.

He smirks too, "Thanks."

I look down at the letter in my hands and go back to Mara's room. I place the letter on the side table, I think she'll want to read it by herself.

But that doesn't mean I'm not interested in what's written inside it.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Hello!

Oh my gosh, I am soooooooo sorry!

This chapter took me ages to write, I'll admit, I was a little stuck. But I'm happy with the outcome anyway.

By the way, I am planning to edit the book after it's complete, but that is mostly just going to by spelling errors and punctuation.

Now, I'm not a huge One Direction fan, but this song really fitted with this chapter and it's the song You And I. If you can't watch it, look up the lyrics, they really are nice. Music video to the side ---------------->

Please forgive me and vote and comment!

Thank you for your patience and lovely comments, you guys are truely awesome xx