•Claire's POV•

I watch in shock as Mara shifts into a giant white tiger.

She leaps at Cam, who is too panicked to shift or even move, and smashes him against the wall.

She keeps her paws on his chest as she shifts, causing her hands to be there instead. She grips his t-shirt and growls at him.

He just smirks in reponse, "I knew that you were powerful Luna, I was waiting for you to show me why."

Mara growls, "Well, I'm glad you know, because it's going to be the last thing you ever see."

"Mara, Mara, Mara. You don't understand how-"

"No. You don't understand how much pain you've caused Cam. You lied about Claire being your mate, made her brother believe she's dead, you were the reason Trent almost died, and you took me away from Ryder. Those are things I will never let you get away will." She sneers.

My brother thinks I'm dead?

"Confused Claire?" Cam speaks up.

"Don't you dare talk to her." Mara warns.

"But she deserves the truth, doesn't she?" He asks.

"What's the truth?" I ask.

Mara turns her head and looks at me quickly, but this sparks Cam's attention and he flips her over and bashes her head against the wall.

She cries in pain and slides to the floor.

Torah grabs on to me and I'm on the verge of crying.

That was my fault.

"Don't hurt her." I cry.

"But you want the truth, don't you?" Cam asks, taking a step towards me.

Torah steps in front of me, "And she'll get the truth, just not from you."

Cam glares at her, "I did what's best for you Torah."

"What's best for me? You pretended someone was my mate and then killed an innocent person! You're sick and a murderer!" She says.

"Sick." Cam sneers, "How many times I've heard that word pointed at me. I am sick. Watching people like you," He points to a cringing Mara, "Waltzing around all lovey-dovey with your mates, makes me sick!"

Torah growls, "I've had enough of you Cam, you're a problem for everyone and we're tired of dealing with your shit."

"What are you going to do?" He smirks.

Torah shrugs, "What everyone does when they have a problem." She replies.

Cam's face changes to confusion.

"Find a solution." Torah says and lunges at him, changing into her wolf and smashing him to the ground with so much force, I'm sure he's broken his spine.

Even so, he stills struggles against her wolf, trying to push her off him.

She just shakes her big head and clamps her sharp teeth down on his throat.

I see his body go limp and I rush over to Mara.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

She nods and swallows, "I have to tell you something."

"Not now, you're not okay." I reply.

She looks up at me, "Claire."

I know I can't stop her, she's determind to tell me this secret and I'm going to listen.

"My mate is Ryder." She says.

I nod, "I know that."

"But," She continues, "Ryder is your brother. The one that thinks you're dead."

I just look at her blankly.

•Mara's POV•

I can't tell if she's angry, or sad, or even happy I told her.

Claire looks at me with a blank face, she doesn't even look likes she thinking at all.

"Claire?" I ask.

She takes a breath and exhales slowly, then nods and gives me a smile, "I'm glad he's happy, and has found someone like you Mara. You're strong, diligent, and brave. But, he will know now, he can see me and know that I'm okay." She replies.

I sigh in relief and pull her in for a hug, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, I was confused and didn't know how you would take it." I say truthfully.

She pulls away and smiles, "Now lets get out of here."

I nod and she helps me up, I ignore the throbbing in the back of my head, knowing it should go away soon.

'Are you okay Snow?' I ask.

'Neve better now that he's gone.' She replies.

I look over at Torah who is now changed back to human form and looking down at Cam.

I walk back down to the cells and grab some clothes that Cam kept in an old basket for Claire, not that he gave me any, I'm still walking around in this red dress, which is now destroyed.

I grab two outfits and jog back to Torah giving her the clothes, she smiles gratefully at me and puts them on.

I basically pull my dress off, since it's pretty much ripped down the side.

I put on the leggings and a baggy t-shirt. I would have rathered some sort of sexy-yet-comfortable combat outfit, you know like the ones they wear in those spy-slash-action movies, but I guess this will have to do.

I push the button for the elevator and we all look at Cam one last time, I walk over and close his eyelids over his eyes.

He may not have been the best person, but I think everyone deserves to rest in peace.

The elevator dings and the doors open, I stand up never taking my eyes off Cam, and let a tear slip from my eye.

I know that it definitely wasn't for compassion. No, this was a tear of relief, we were finally free and safe.

I walk into the elevator and nod at the girls, they nod back and we break into giant smiles.

The elevator goes up and we come to another hallway, except this one isn't dull and creepy like the other ones, this one is completely white, actual sunshine is shining through the skylights, but I can see it's either getting closer to dusk or it's just been dawn.

We literally sprint to the door at the end and barge through it, I look around and see that we've come out into the open forest.

I look around and catch sight of something familar.

The house that Cam was in.

I look back to the door and see that we just came out of the shed around the back of the house.

I turn to the girls, "It will be faster if we shift and run back in our other forms."

They nod and I give them time to strip down and tie their clothes around their ankle before shifting, that way they won't loose their clothes if they have to shift back.

We shift and about ten minutes I spot a river in the distance, I turn off our root and jump into the water. Snow and I need a clean and also it's just great seeing the outdoors again.

I hear Claire and Torah howl and they soon join me, we jump around in the water for a bit, using our big paws to splash each other.

When we finish we start walking back up to our path when I'm stopped by a certain scent.

I look around and take a protective stance when I feel we have company.

Claire and Torah must notice too, because I see them in the corner of my eyes taking the same position.

A giant black wolf comes from around a tree, four others, a bit smaller, back him up behind.

I pause and look at the black wolf, who's obviously an Alpha.

I realise we are near the house Cam was staying in.

I shift back to my human form in front of them and look to the black wolf.

"Alpha Kyle, am I glad to see you." I say.

The black wolf relaxes and goes behind a tree, the others do the same and come back.

"Luna, you're a tiger shifter?" Kyle asks.

I nod, "Suprise."

He chuckles, "I knew you'd get out okay." He smirks.

I straighten my posture, "Have you talked to Ryder rescently?" I ask.

He shakes his head, "He doesn't want to make any contact with anyone unless they have information on your whereabouts."

I nod, "Care to escort us?"

He smirks, "Why I'd be honoured."

He then turns to one of the men beside him, "Tell the Beta to call the Dark Moon Pack and that we're making a visit whether they like it or not."

The man nods and shifts before running off.

"Can't you just mind-link him?" I ask him as we begin to walk.

He shrugs, "I find it cooler that way."

I laugh and usher the girls, who are still in their wolf forms to follow us.

Kyle and I shift and we all start running.

I can't wait to see Ryder.

•Ryder's POV•

I come down the stairs and walk into the kitchen, I haven't eaten much and I really should get soemthing to eat.

I know that my pack is counting on me, but with Mara missing, I just can't concentrate on anything. Josh and Trent have told me they've taken over, but the pack is also distracted with their Luna gone.

I open the pantry and pull out a macaroni and cheese sachet and tip it into a bowl, then add the amount of water and milk it says, before chucking it into the microwave.

"Oh, you're finally eating something, and you've changed your shirt." Mum says as she walks in with some shopping bags, Finn trailing close behind.

He looks up at me and then averts his eyes.

Guilt stabs at me that I haven't been looking out for anyone, even my little brother.

"Hey little dude," I say messing up his hair, "What have you been up to?"

He fixes his hair and looks up at me with sad eyes, "Not much. When is Mara coming back?" He asks.

I sag my shoulders and crouch down to his level, "I don't know bud, I really don't know. But I'll tell you now, I'm doing everything I can to find her."

He gives me a slight smile, "Really?"

I nod, "Really."

"Ryder." I hear Josh from above.

I look up and see him and Trent in the kitchen now, I've been so out of it my senses are dulling.

"Yes?" I ask.

"The Beta of the Blue River Pack just called, says Alpha Kyle is coming to visit." Josh replies.

I stand up, "I don't want any visits."

Trent shakes his head, "He said he was coming whether you liked it or not."

I sigh and get my mac and cheese out of the oven when it beeps, I grab a fork and start spiking the noodles with it.

"Did he say what he wants?" I ask.

They shake their heads, "No, before we could ask he hung up."

I shove some noodles into my mouth and swallow.

"Manners." Mum scolds from the sink.

I just give her a look and finish off my mac and cheese.

Once I've rinsed the bowl and put it in the dishwasher, nearly everyone is in the kitchen now. Josh and Trent updated Mandy, Layla, Cole, and my Dad.

Now they're all looking at me expectedly.

"Look, we don't know-"

I pause mid-sentence as I catch the scent of vanilla and cherry blossom, Caleb starts jumping around madly and I look to Josh with wide eyes.

"Ryder what-"

Before he can say anymore, I rush past them and barge out of the front door. I look around the clearing in the pack houses backyard as the scent gets stronger.

Suddenly a white image starts to come into view and the tiger starts getting closer.

I can't control my body as I start running towards her.

Mara shifts into her human form and sprints towards me, we finally meet and she jumps into my arms. I spin her around as she wraps her legs around my waist and snuggles her head into my neck.

Her beautiful scent makes me feel at ease and her body on mine makes tingles explode as they run up and down my body.

I stop spinning and pull her face away from my neck to kiss her, I smash my lips to hers and she almost instantly moans when I slip my tongue into her mouth.

I use one hand to hold her up and with the other I run through her gorgeous hair.

We finally pull away and she hops off me before pulling me into another embace.

"I missed you so much." She says.

"You don't know how worried I was." I reply.

"How worried we were." I voice says from behind us.

Mara looks up and pulls away from me to run to Mandy, that crash into a giant hug and Mara pulls Layla in too.

"We knew you would get back." Mandy smiles, tears in her eyes.

In fact, they all have tears running down their cheeks.

Mara goes around and hugs everyone before I catch a certain scent, I growl and look to the forest to see Torah stand there.

I go to charge at her, but Mara grabs my arm, "Stop! Ryder don't." She says.

"Mara, it's Torah. Who knows where Cam could be." I say.

"Cam's not here." Mara replies.

"You don't know that, he could be anywhere." I say.

"He's not." Torah says, we all look at her, "I killed him."

I frown.

Mara nods, "It's true, I saw it with my own eyes."

"But, why?" I ask.

"Cam was a lying barstard who got what he deserved." She states.

Well that's a change of heart.

"But that's not the only thing." Mara smiles.

We turn to look at her, "What?" I ask.

Mara goes to Torah and turns back to me, "Just be open-minded Ryder." She says.

I nod slowly.

Mara goes behind a large tree and pulls out a girl with wavey blonde hair, her green eyes sparkle with hope when she sees me.

I hear mum gasp from behind me and dad whisper, "Claire?"

But the thing that stands out most is what Josh says.

"Mate."

___________________________________________________________________________________

Hi hi!

First of all, sorry for taking a little longer to update. I've practically been swimming in my homework, because that's how much I've had rescently.

Also on Monday (Which was a public holiday for me) I went to a music festival and it was SO GOOD!

But anyway, Cam's gone!

And I just like to let you know that there is still some other stuff planned so the book still has a while to go.

Well, I hope you liked this chapter, hit vote and comment if you did!

Thank you! xx