•Mara's POV•

"My... Father?" I mumble.

He nods, "I'm sorry to just barge in like this."

"I-"

"Mara! What's taking so long?" I hear Josh shout.

George frowns and looks down the hall, "You have company?" He asks.

Before I can answer a hand wraps around my waist and I get pulled into Ryder.

"Yes, she does." He replies.

Mandy comes up and smiles at me, then turns to George and frowns a little, "Who's this?"

I sigh, "Ryder, Mandy, this is my biological father, George."

"Biological father?" Mandy repeats.

"Yep." I reply, popping the 'p'.

Ryder growls and pulls my impossibly closer.

George looks at us, "Are you mates?" He asks.

"H-how do you know about that?" Ryder asks.

"My step-brother was a werewolf, he found his mate a few days after he moved to live with us." George replies.

"Why are you here?" I ask.

"Can I come in?" He gestures to the house.

I nod and step aside to let him in. I lead him to the living room and see everyone's eyes glued to the TV screen.

I find the remote and switch off the TV.

Josh throws his hands in the air, "What was that for?"

I ignore him and look to George, "This is Josh, Layla, Trent, and Cole." I point to them.

They turn around, realising there is someone there.

"This is George, my, uh, real dad." I explain.

They whip their heads to me now and gape.

"I need to talk to you Mara, I believe I have some explaining to do." George says.

I look at him to continue.

"Alone." He adds.

I guesture to the people in the room, "Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of my friends. They know I'm a tiger and I'm sure that's why you're here."

He sighs and looks at me, "Firstly, I'd like to start by telling you that I am one hundred percent human."

I frown, "But then, how am I a tiger shifter?" I ask.

"Your mother was a tiger shifter you, her genes were passed down to you." He says.

"But, isn't it like werewolves? Don't you need two tiger shifters?" I frown.

He shakes his head, "Aparently not in this case."

"Where's my mother then?" I ask.

I averts his eyes from mine, "She's, no longer here."

I look down at my hands, "Oh."

"I came because I saw the article in the paper about your sighting. I went to Valleyfield to find you, but someone told me you moved here." George says.

"Why do want to see me, you obviously didn't want me." I say coldly.

I see something between regret and hurt, "You have to understand Mara that we did what's best for you." He says.

"What's best for me! By leaving your newborn child on the doorstep of a strangers house? That's what's best for me?" I shout, Snow coming out a little bit.

It surprised me a little because I didn't know she could be that powerful.

He puts his hands up, "Mara, we were protecting you. We made sure Katrina and Richard were suitable parents for you before we left you there."

"What were you protecting me from?" I ask.

"Hunters." He replies.

I see him glare at my friends and I eye him suspsicously, "Do you not like being in a room full of werewolves?" I ask.

He looks back to me, "Not particulary."

"Why not?" I push.

"I can't stay here long Mara, they'll know something is up." George says.

"You're leaving? Who will know something is up?" I ask, stepping forward.

He sighs, "I'm staying the night, in the motel down the road a little. But I'll come talk to you tomorrow before I leave." He says, turning around toleave.

"Wait! You didn't answer my other question!" I shout, running after him.

He turns around as he opens the door, "Goodnight, Samara."

I watch as he closes the door and slide down the wall, resting my head on my knees.

"We'll, uh, leave. See you tomorrow Mara." Josh says as he and the others wave.

The door bell rings and I smell the pizza from where I'm sitting.

"Take the pizza on the way out, I've lost my appetite." I say.

They nod and let themselves out, except for Ryder of course, and take the pizza with them.

He comes and sits on the ground next to me, sliding his arm around me.

"Why now?" I whisper, a tear slipping out.

He sighs and shifts his position so that I am leaning on him, "I guess because of the article."

"This has just made everything so confusing." I shake my head.

"I'll be here." Ryder says.

"Thank you." I whisper.

We stay like that, talking quietly to each other, for most of the night.

••••*••••

I wake up in my bed, even though I don't remember getting in it, and push the sheets back. Stretching as I get up, I sleeply walk to the bathroom and hop into the shower.

We have school today, but there is no way I'm going until my 'dad' shows up.

I get out and change into some clothes, some blue jeans and a knit sweater, and head down the stairs.

Mum and Dad are in the kitchen, continuing their normal routine of dad reading the morning newspaper and mum cooking breakfast.

"Hiya." I say as I come in.

"Good morning sweetie." Mum smiles.

Dad flashes me a smile and then turns back to his newspaper.

"We were thinking we could go car shopping tomorrow, I think it's time you had a car of your own." Mum says.

"For real?" I ask.

They nod.

"Thank you!" I squeal.

"Did you want a lift to school?" Mum asks.

"Oh, I'm not going." I reply, grabbing one of the pancakes mum's prepared.

"And why would that be?" Dad asks.

I sigh, "Because my father turned up last night."

Mum drops the egg-flipper she was holding and Dad tenses.

"What?" Mum asks.

"Yeah, he came up to the door and started explaining stuff to me about my tiger, and then he said he would talk to me today before he left again."

"Do you want one of us to stay?" Dad asks.

I shake my head, "If I want answers, I think I have to be alone."

Mum frowns but nods, "Alright, just call me if you need me."

I smile, "Thanks mum."

She finishes her pancakes and grabs her handbag, "I'll see you both tonight."

She pecks Dad and kisses my forehead, "Good luck." She winks.

When she exits, Dad closes his newspaper and finishes his coffee.

"I best be off too, if you need one of us to come home, don't be affraid to call."

"Alright Dad." I reply.

He gives me a hug and walks out the door too.

Now, I wait.

••••*••••

About two hours later, there is a knock on the door.

I get up off the couch and walk down the hallway to the door.

When I open it, George gives me a smile, which I return with a nod.

I gesture for him to come in and close the door behind me, I lead him to the kitchen and he sits at one of the stools by the kitchen counter.

"Do you want something to drink?" I offer.

"A coffee would be nice." He smiles.

I nod and boil the kettle.

"So, are you going to answer me this time?" I ask.

He sighs, "I'm sorry Mara, I can't answer everything."

"Why?" I ask.

"That's one of the things I can't answer." He smiles apologetically.

I roll my eyes and concentrate on the coffees I'm making, "What can you tell me then?" I ask.

"You need to know that the hunter's that saw you are bad, they will stop at nothing to kill you and you need to be on guard when you're in your tiger form." He tells me.

"I know that. But we're way out of their sights, they'll never find me." I say.

"Do you have anything else to ask?" He asks.

I give him his coffee and sit down next to him, cupping my own coffee in my hands.

"What was my mum like?" I ask.

He smiles sadly, "She had the same blonde hair as you, she was bubbly and kind, everyone loved her. She loved you, with all her heart, and it killed her to let you go."

The smallest smile creeps on to my lips, "She sounds wonderful."

He nods.

"How did she die?" I ask.

"An attack." He replies.

"That's quite vague." I reply.

"That's all I can give you." He says.

"Why won't you tell me anything?" I whisper, looking at my coffee.

"I'm sorry Mara, I really am. But, the less you know the more safe you are. Your mum and I have a tricky past and the reason we left you with another family was to escape that." He says.

I just nod, understanding a little now.

He sighs and puts down his now-empty cup of coffee, "I should go now, it was nice to meet you Mara. You've grown into a lovely young woman." He smiles.

"Thank you." I reply.

He stands up and walks to the hallway, "Oh, and watch who you're friends with Mara. You never know exactly who you're talking to."

That's that last thing he says before he disappears.

I sigh and finish my cup of coffee.

My phone rings and I look at the ID before I pick it up.

"Hi Ryder." I say.

"Hey babe. Has he come yet?" He asks.

I nod even though he can't see me, "He just left."

"Are you okay?" He asks.

"I think so, I just need a minute for it to all sink in." I reply.

"Did he tell you much?" He asks.

"A little, but still not enough." I reply.

"I'm sure he had a good reason." Ryder says.

I hear a school bell ring in the background, "You better get to class, I'm just going to hang around here for the day." I say.

"Alright, I'll come over once school finishes." He replies.

"Thanks, love you." I say.

"Love you too." He says before hanging up.

I put the phone down and walk into the hallway, planning to go to my bedroom until I hear a knock on the door.

I turn around and walk up to it, when I open it I roll my eyes.

"What do you want Cam?" I hiss.

He smirks, "Calm down, I just want to chat."

"About what exactly?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

He looks past me into the house, "Nice house, I used to live here you know?"

"Don't change the subject." I retort.

He cocks his head to the side, "I just want to make sure you're keeping those lips of yours sealed."

I nod, "I am. But you might want to be more careful, Ryder may get on to you without me even mentioning anything."

He smirks again, "And why would that be?"

I shrug, "He and Josh think they have seen you in public."

"Well then you're not doing the job of persuading them it's not me, are you?" He shakes his head like he's scolding a child.

"Last time I checked, that wasn't part of my job." I reply.

"You're being awfully snobby today. I hope you'll tone it down by the next time I see you, or you'll be sorry." He say, then turns around and walks down my driveway.

I clench my jaw and close the door.

Why is everything so complicated?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Hello!

Sorry if there are any mistakes, I'm working through from the start to fix any.

I hate having to get up early, I'm really not a morning person :(

Anyway, please vote and comment!

Thank you! xx