•Mara's POV•

I decide it's best to stay in my tiger form.

I poke my tiger's head through some bushes and see about four guys, muscular topless guys, in a circle talking. Something seems strangely wrong about them.

I let out a little growl and instantly their heads pop up and look around.

Surely they couldn't have heard that?

I slyly come out of the bush and keep my eyes on them as I approach, keeping low and my lips curled showing my large, sharp teeth.

One of the guys turns and his eyes widen when he sees me. Like they somehow communicated, the other three turn around too. All their eyes widen in shock.

I continue to approach and listen to the quiet conversation they are having.

"Isn't that the tiger everyone's talking about?" One of them asks.

"I think so." The other one replies.

"Guys, there's a one hundred thousand dollar award if anyone gives it in. They said dead or alive, we could take it out easily." Another grins.

They really think they could take me?

Soon, a grin creeps on all of their faces and they start to come forward as I stop.

There is still a fair amount of distance between us. If they want to fight, they come to me.

But, then something unusual happens that I don't expect at all.

They all leap in the air and shift.

Into wolves.

'Werewolves.' Snow gasps.

'I didn't think they existed!' I reply.

'Well, nobody thinks we exist either.' Snow replies.

'Now we're in danger. I'm facing four werewolves, the book said we have close to the same qualities.' I say.

'Yeah, but the difference is, we're a tiger Mara. A tiger. We can beat them easy, just aim for their throats." Snow replies.

I let out a roar as they get close.

'Lets do this.' I smirk.

One leaps at me and I use my head to throw it off me, it falls to my side and whimpers as it hits the ground. I don't waste time and jump on it, holding it's head down with my white paw as my teeth bite down on it's windpipe.

'Well that was easier than I thought.' I say.

'One down, three to go.' Snow grins.

But this time, two of the wolves leap at me. I run towards them as they're in the air and duck under them, leaping at the last wolf, taking it completely by surprise. I don't waste time to sink my teeth in it's throat.

I notice the other wolf has shifted back into human form and is now laying lifeless on the ground.

The other two start circling me like sharks and I growl and keep my eye on them.

I hear a loud growl from the outside of the clearing and look up to see a large, black wolf with five others around it.

It's the group of wolves I meet before.

I look to the black wolf to see it watching me.

Bad move Mara.

One of the wolves surrounding me notices my distraction and pounces on me, it's about to bite my throat, but I move my head away and it gets my shoulder, sinking it's sharp teeth into my fur and breaking the skin.

I whimper and try to scratch the wolf away, but a black blur passes my vision and the wolf is suddenly off me.

I stay lying on my side as I feel dampness sliding down my fur and a striking pain in my shoulder.

I watch as the six wolves kill the remaining two wolves and they turn to me. Then they disappear behind some trees and come back.

As Ryder, Josh, Trent, Mandy, Layla and Bailey.

Oh my freaking god.

They're werewolves, my friends are werewolves.

They rush to me and sit down next to me.

"She's loosing blood. We need to take her to the pack doctor." Ryder says.

"But she's not a werewolf." Trent adds.

"He can still help her. We take her to my house, it's closer, and I'll mind-link the doctor to meet me there." Ryder instructs.

"Yes Alpha." They reply.

Alpha?

They all lift me up and carry me.

How are they carrying me?

'They're werewolves Mara, they have better strength.' Snow reminds me.

'Right.' I reply.

'Damn it hurts.' Snow complains.

'You know I'm going to need to shift back soon right? It's the only way to heal properly.' I say.

'Maybe we'll just have to. They're shifters too, they'll understand.' Snow says.

I just nod and see we are approaching a house surrounded by forest and no other houses in sight.

This must be Ryder's house. He told me on our date that he lived away from everyone.

Ryder.

What will he think of me if I shift back? He'll realise I'd been lying to him.

But, then again, he was lying to me too.

We enter the house and they lay me on the couch. Ryder instructs them to get things and they all reply with 'Yes Alpha'.

Soon, it's just me and him. He knees next to me and pats my fur, it feels nice and I get out a little purr. Ryder must notice the tingles, because he pulls his hand away a little before continuing to pet me.

"It's gonna be okay girl, the pack doctor will be here soon and he'll fix you." Ryder says.

I close my eyes to try to distract myself from the pain, not that it helps.

Everyone starts to come in with different things. When Mandy comes with a damp towel, she starts cleaning the wound and my fur.

Everyone just sits around and watches as Mandy does her work.

The front door closes and a 'pack doctor', whatever that is, comes in and Mandy gets up and stands by.

"Oh my. It's a lovely tiger, I'm just hoping whatever I can do will help." He says to Ryder.

"She was bitten by of wolf in her shoulder." Ryder replies.

The doctor comes up to me and inspects the wound. He grabs something out of his bag and starts applying some sort of cream on it.

'I don't know how much longer we can stay in tiger form Mara.' Snow says.

'I just need to get out of here.' I reply.

The doctor finishes whatever he is doing and turns to everybody, telling them what's happening.

I use this as my chance and I slip off the couch, I land on my paws but my wounded shoulder makes one leg collapse a little. Everybody looks to me and stands up.

I look to the door and start walking to it, when I get there I realise it's shut.

'Nice Mara. Now what?' Snow asks.

'It can't be that hard, can it?' I ask.

I push onto my hind legs and put my front paws on the door. I can feel everyone's eyes on me, but I try not to let that distract me.

I move my paws so that they enclose on the door handle and try to swivel them so that the door opens.

'See, wasn't that hard.' I smirk and push the door fully open with my head. I squeeze through the door, making me wince when it hits my shoulder, and continue down the small stairs.

I hear footsteps behind me and I know they've come out.

I start feel shivers running through me and I know I'm about to shift.

I try to run, but my shoulder is too painful. I walk at a fast pace until I'm almost at the forest, but the shivers a too much and I know I can't go anymore than where I am.

I crouch my tiger so that my head is tucked in and the shivers turn into a few cracks.

And I'm me again.

I hear gasps behind me, I stand up and turn around.

Everyone looks shocked, Ryder steps forward.

"Mara-"

I hold up my hand to stop him.

"Please, just. I need time." I reply.

I feel dampness run down my cheek and I realise I'm crying.

He steps forward again but I shake my head.

I turn around, and run.

•Ryder's POV•

I watch as she takes off into the forest. I'm about to go after her, but I feel a hand on my shoulder.

"She needs time, just let her go for a second." Trent says.

"But she's hurt." I reply.

"She'll be fine, she's a shifter like us. She should heal." He says.

I nod and Trent starts to go back inside, as does everyone else.

I stand there for a second and look back to the forest. I need my mate, I need to see her.

I take off into the forest and follow her fresh scent, she can run fast.

She knows I'm a werewolf now.

But maybe it's a good thing. We have our secrets out now, no more lying.

I find her leaning against a tree, her eyes closed and tears running down her cheeks.

Caleb growls at the thought of our mate being hurt, those rouges weren't meant to be in my territory and they ended up hurting Mara.

"Mara." I say as I approach.

She opens her eyes and looks at me.

"I'm sorry." She whispers.

I go to her and cup her face in my hands.

"Why on earth would you be sorry?" I ask.

She purses her lips, "I don't know. I don't know what you would think of me, I feel bad for lying to you, I think that maybe-"

I cut her off by pressing my lips to hers. She takes a second to respond but then her hands travel to my neck and she wraps one hand in my hair.

I grab her waist and press her to me, slipping my tongue into her mouth.

She moans and I smile, happy that I have that effect on her.

I break away and rest my forehead on hers, looking into her eyes.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, okay. We are both shifters and we can protect each other from now on." I say.

She nods and smiles, "Okay."

I pull away and take her hand.

"Come on, lets get back and we can see where we go from there." I say.

She pulls back, I look at her.

"What do the others think?" She asks.

"Mara, stop saying this to yourself, it's not helping. I'll be right by your side." I smile.

She relaxes and continues with me.

"Um, Ryder. I need to ask you something." She says as we walk.

"Sure." I reply, looking over to her.

"What's a mate?" She asks.

I stop and look at her, bracing myself for what I'm about to tell her.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Yay! Secrets are out!

Picture of Mara to the side (Played by Chloe Moretz) ------------>

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