•Ryder's POV•

I can't believe I saw the tiger.

It was right in front of me, it nodded at me.

It amazes me even more that it's in our town. I just hope that none of the other packs do anything to it, but I think once they look into its beautiful eyes, they'll see it's just like us.

But, I stopped thinking about the tiger after it left. I need to find Mara, I feel terrible, I actually forgot about missing her when I saw the tiger.

"Let's just go back to her house and wait there." Mandy mind-links me.

I sigh, but agree.

We run a bit closer to town and then shift back, going behind trees to get changed.

They must realise my discomfort, because Josh pats my back and Mandy gives my arm a reassuring squeeze.

I notice her parent's car isn't in their driveway, and I can't smell Mara's fresh scent, meaning that she isn't home.

The others sit on the front porch, while I pace around.

"Chill man," Trent says, "She'll be fine. It's Mara we're talking about."

The others smile at the comment.

She's that amazing. She brings so much happiness where ever she goes, you just feel compelled to get to know her. Her smile, her laugh, her eyes, everything draws you in when you see her.

All I can think is how lucky I am to be her mate, out of all the seven billion people in the world, it's me. I smile at the thought and shake my head.

I'm so whipped.

"I can't believe we just saw the tiger." Mandy says in disbelief, focusing on something on the ground.

"I know." Layla joins.

"I don't get why people want to kill it. It seemed so friendly, so tame." Josh furrows his eyebrows.

"We were in our wolf forms remember. It probably didn't see us as big of threats because we were aniamls too." I reply, leaning against the post supporting the roof.

"Yeah, that's true." Trent nods.

A car pulls into the driveway and Mara's parents get out with half a dozen shopping bags in their hands.

"That's Mara's parents?" I hear Layla whisper.

Katrina notices us smiles, she sees me and her smile gets even bigger.

"Ryder, what a pleasant surprise. And Mandy, how are you?" She asks, focusing her attention to Mandy.

"Good thank you." She replies.

"And who are you?" Richard asks, looking at the other four.

"This is Layla, Bailey, Josh and Trent. We're all Mara's friends." I point to the four.

"Well, she'll be home soon. Come on in." Katrina smiles and opens the door for us. When we get inside Katrina and Richard introduce themselves to the three.

We follow them into the kitchen where they start unpacking the bags.

"So Ryder, I heard you had lunch with Mara today?" Richard asks.

I frown, "No, I don't think so."

Richard and Katrina share a confused look. I look to my friends who give me the same look.

"She got a letter today from someone asking to meet her for lunch, it wasn't you?" Katrina asks.

"No, it wasn't." I shake my head.

Katrina frowns and moves around some pieces of paper at the end of the kitchen counter, she nods when she finds the one she looking for.

"Here it is, it says 'Hello Samara. I need to talk to you about something. Meet me at Sal's diner at noon. -R'" Katrina finishes the letter.

"Did someone pretend to be you or something?" Josh asks.

"Mara would know lots of people starting with the letter R wouldn't she?" I ask.

Katrina purses her lips.

"Mara didn't really have any friends in our old town. She stuck to herself a lot." Richard replies.

It angered me that I didn't know who sent her this.

It is a threat? An ex-boyfriend? Some crazy girl that Mara insulted?

I chuckle at the last one, but stop when we hear the front door open.

No one gets up, or says anything. Mara needs to go past the kitchen to get to her room, so I just stay here and wait until she goes past.

When she does, she stops and looks in the kitchen. A large frown forms on my face at the site of her.

"Mara? What happened?" Her mum and dad walk to her.

She was all wet, soaked from head to toe and there were rips and tears in her clothing. I couldn't smell blood, I sigh in relief that she's not hurt.

"I fell in the river and my clothes caught on some branches in there." She replies.

Her dad shakes his head and chuckles, "Mara, you and your coordination."

"At least it's not as bad as last time." Her mum laughs and they disperse and reveal us.

Mara looks at us and gives us a small smile, we all return big ones.

"Mara, whose R?" Katrina asks.

"What?" Mara looks at her mum.

"We read the letter you got this morning." She confesses.

Mara looks deep in thought, like she is thinking whether or not to tell us.

•Mara's POV•

I shrug and walk into the kitchen, going around everyone and to the fridge so I can get a water.

"Do you remember Ryan from Valleyfield?" I ask.

I should tell them, I'm doing the right thing by telling them.

For some reason, Ryder looks a little angry.

"Hm, rings a bell. Was he the one that played the flute at the Valleyfield Fair?" Mum asks.

I laugh a little, "No mum, that definitely is not Ryan."

"What's his last name?" She questions.

"Kunder, Ryan Kunder." I reply.

Mandy pipes up, "Like, as in that lead hunter dude?"

Mum and dad give me a questioning look.

"Um, sort of. It's his son." I reply.

"Did he see the tiger?" Dad asks.

"Yeah. He was in the group of hunters when they saw her." I reply.

"Her?" Layla asks, "It's a girl?"

I purse my lips at the mistake, "Uh, yeah."

"We saw it just then!" Mandy squeals.

"What?" My parents and I say together.

"Yeah, we were on a run and we saw it. It approached us and then ran off, it was beautiful." Josh replies.

Mum and dad give me a look, which a return with a confused look.

Yes, they could have seen me, but approached them? The only things I approached were those wolves.

The wolves.

"Did you guys see the wolves?" I ask.

They all look a little shocked and panicked for some reason.

"Wolves?" Trent asks.

"Yeah, there was like six of them and they were huge. Like the size of a horse, and they had really pretty fur, I wouldn't have even thought they were wild, they were so well groomed." I reply.

"When did you see them?" Ryder asks.

"Um, a few minutes in to my run." I reply.

My friends look at each other like they're somehow talking to each other.

"I'll be back." I say as I go up to my room.

I close the door and lean against it, taking in a deep breath. I walk into my bathroom and take a quick shower, I still smell a little like egg and I'm a bit dirty.

When I come out, only wrapped in a towel. I jump when I see Ryder sitting on my bed.

He growls a little, what's with him and growling?

He stands up and comes over to me, I step back a few steps when I see how dark his usually bright green eyes are.

He continues coming towards me and I feel the cool surface of the wall hit my back.

Ryder stops so that our bodies are almost touching, he puts his hands on the wall beside me, trapping me in.

Next thing I know, he smashes his lips to mine and I respond immediately. I tangle my hands in his hair and he takes his hands off the wall and pulls me closer by my hips.

Unlike the last kiss we had, this one is full of lust and want. Ryder kisses me with a passion that I can't explain, he wraps his hands around my waist and holds me to him. I take my hands out of his hair and move them to wrap around his neck.

He licks my bottom lip, asking for entry. I smile and keep my lips sealed, making him groan. One of his hands travel down and give my butt a small squeeze. I gasp and he slips his tongue into my mouth, I smile loving the feeling of his lips on mine.

We break apart when we need air, but Ryder starts kissing down my neck.

"Why do you have to look so sexy?" He whispers.

I blush and push him off me.

"Let me get changed." I giggle.

He smirks at me and runs his eyes down my body one more time before walking out.

I laugh and shake my head, bringing my fingers to my lips.

How can one boy make me feel like this?

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Hi!

Oh my god! I love everyone who is reading my book! Words can't explain how much you guys have made me feel so happy.

I'm still thinking of a cast, so I not putting any photos up just yet :)

And this chapter is dedicated to my awesome friend tylajadee. You should go check out her book Entirely Damaged it's amazing and I love it!

Thanks! Please vote and comment xx