I open my eyes and wait for them to adjust to the harsh lighting coming in through my window.

I forgot to close my curtains last night, meaning that the early sun shines on me.

My neck cracks as I tilt it to the side to check the time.

6:02, great. I sigh and sit up, looking to the empty otherside of my king bed.

Caleb is getting frustrated, knowing that our mate was in this house last night, but not in this bed.

But Claire needs Mara, I can see that she only trusts her, and maybe Torah. I'll admit, it hurts like hell for Claire not to remember us, I can't even imagine what Mum and Dad are going through right now.

I don't worry about throwing on a t-shirt as I descend the stairs, no one will be up at this time anyway.

The hems of my sweatpants drag along the floor as I slump to the kitchen.

When I get there, I'm surprised when I see someone sitting down on the ground in front of an open cupboard.

The cupboard door blocks my view of the person, so I start walking towards them.

I notice their back shake, and I realise that they're crying.

As soon as I see her long blonde hair, I recongise Mara and scramble to her, grabbing her and pulling her into my arms as I sit on the floor too.

"Shhh, Mara what's wrong?" I ask as I rock her back and forth.

She sniffles, "H-he's really gone Ryder. Cam's gone."

"That's a good thing." I reply, I brush some of the hair out of her face and wipe away an escaped tear.

She looks at me with swollen, red eyes and lowers her voice to a whisper, "We're free."

I sigh in relief and nod, "Yeah, we're free."

I run my fingers through her hair and pull her head into my chest.

After a few minutes, Mara pulls away and rubs her eyes, "What are you doing up so early?"

I look at her, "I could ask you the same thing."

She laughs a little, "I think Claire kicked me out of bed. Literally."

I smile, but deep down it hurts a little to know that Mara is spending time with my sister who doesn't remember me.

Mara must see through my smile, "Sorry." She apologises.

I shake my head, "It's okay, she'll come through."

Mara nods and makes a move to get up, but I grab her and pull her back into my lap.

"Ryder." She rolls her eyes.

"What? I haven't seen you in a week, and in that time I was going crazy." I reply.

Mara sighs and runs her delicate fingers through my messy hair to end hooked around my neck, "I missed you." She says.

I rest forehead against hers and close my eyes when she closes hers, "Yeah? Well I missed you more."

Then I close the small gap between us and touch her beautiful lips with mine, missing the feel of her softness against mine.

She moves her hands back up my neck and takes a fist of my hair in both her hands, not allowing my head to move away from her.

I nibble her lower lip and she moans a little as she opens her mouth for entry. As I slip my tongue into her mouth, my hands grip her hips and my thumbs rub small circles on the bare skin which her top has risen to reveal.

She peels her lips off me for a second, "I want you Ryder." She whispers.

"Are you sure?" I ask, even though my wolf is going crazy right now.

She nods, "Postive."

I smash my lips back to hers and wrap my arms around her waist, I stand up and Mara hooks her ankles around my back, never once breaking the heated kiss.

I carry her up the stairs, her hands moving wildly from place to place around my body. My back, my abs, my hair, my face.

Glad I left the door open when I left, I walk into the bedroom and close the door with my foot. I lean Mara's back against the now-closed door and take one hand off to cup her cheek, I then wrap the other around her back and carry her to the bed, dropping her on her back and then crawling on top of her.

"If you're not ready..."

She shakes her head and brings my head down to kiss her again, "No backing out. I love you Ryder and I want to be with you forever."

I smile, "I love you too."

From there, articles of clothing start disappearing and lets just say, that it was the best morning of my life.

I wake up a bit later in the morning and hear the running water from the shower in the en suit.

I roll over onto my stomach and hug the pillow to my head, sighing and closing my eyes again.

Memories from earlier this morning flash back, and I smile a little into the pillow.

I feel bed suddenly dip beside me and an arm wraps over my back and pulls me to them.

"Good morning beautiful." Ryder says.

"Morning." I reply huskily.

"Well your morning voice is sexy." He states.

I giggle and shake my head, still not opening my eyes.

"I was hoping you'd be awake before my shower, then you could have joined me." He says.

Now I open my eyes to see him smirking at me.

I slap his bare chest playfully, "Ryder."

He chuckles and gets up, it's then that I realise he only has a towel wrapped around his waist and his six-pack showing in all its glory.

I flush red and bury my head back in the pillow, "Get changed." I say, my voice muffled by the pillow.

"Baby, you saw everything before, there's no need to be embarrassed." He laughs.

"Ryder, shut up." I reply.

He just laughs more and I relax when I hear drawers being opened.

"Okay, I'm decent." He says.

I sit up but keep my eyes closed, "Does your definition of decent mean fully clothed or partly clothed?" I ask.

He chuckles, "Fully clothed, unlike you."

My eyes fly open and I look down to see I'm only in my lacey black underwear and sitting up, meaning that I'm basically exposed to Ryder's prying eyes.

I lift the sheet up and wrap it around myself.

Ryder pouts, "I liked you better without the sheet."

I shake my head and stand up, taking the sheet with me, "Yeah well, unfortunately I like the sheet better, and whatever I like more, stays."

I grab some clothes that I left at the Pack House and I walk into the bathroom, blowing Ryder a kiss before I close the door.

••••*••••

I knock on Claire's door, "It's me, Mara."

"Come in." She replies.

I turn the knob and enter the room, closing the door behind me.

"Hey." She says, I look up and see her sitting crossed-legged on the bed with something in her hands.

"Hey, what have you got there?" I ask, coming towards her.

When I sit on the bed next to her, she holds up a photo.

She gives it to me and I recognise her family in it.

"That's me, isn't it?" Claire asks, pointing to the younger girl at the front. Her blonde hair is cropped short and she has a big, cheeky smile on her face. They're on the beach and she looks about twelve, she kneels in the sand next to a big sand-castle.

I nod, "Yeah, and that's Ryder and that's Finn." I say, pointing to them.

Ryder is on the other side of the sand castle, halfway through digging his hands in the sand and a massive smile on his lips. Finn is on Harry's shoulders, his hands resting on his Dad's head.

"Finn?" Claire asks.

I nod, "Your younger brother."

A trace of recognition crosses her face, "That's what I thought when I saw him."

I nod, "He does have the same hair as you."

She points to Taliah and Harry, "And that's my Mum and Dad?"

I nod again, "Yeah." Taliah has her arm wrapped around Harry's waist and is smiling down at Claire and Ryder. Her blonde hair is blown back from the wind and Harry is gazing lovingly at her.

"Where did you find this?" I ask.

She points to her bedside table, "In there."

"So, when do you want to come out. Everyone has eaten breakfast, and I think they're getting anxious to see you." I say, standing up.

Claire looks at me with wide eyes, "But, I don't remember them. I see the hurt that flashed through their eyes before, I don't want to see it again."

I nod, "I know Claire. But I've talked to them, maybe the more you spend time with them and get to know them, your memories might have a better chance of coming back."

I hold my hand out to her and look at her hopefully.

She just looks at it uneasily.

"I promise Torah or I will be by your side the whole time, she's already out there." I add.

She takes a deep breath and nods, placing her hand in mine.

I give her a reassuring smile and help her off the bed, I let go of her hand as I open the door and then link my arm through hers as we start heading towards the kitchen.

"What about Josh?" She whispers.

"What about him?" I reply.

"I'm his mate." She states.

I smile, "Then do what every mate should do and get to know him. He's a really nice guy, so sweet and friendly, and he's been waiting for his mate for ages."

She lowers her head, but I don't miss the sign of a smile that plays on her lips.

We enter the kitchen and I see Taliah and Finn cleaning up.

"Morning." I say and make Claire sit down.

Taliah and Finn look up and smile at us, "Morning." They reply.

"What would you like for breakfast Claire?" I ask.

"Um, just toast is fine thanks." She replies quietly.

I see Taliah lower her gaze and Finn look a little sad.

I raise my eyebrows at Claire and tilt my head in the direction of her brother and her Mum.

"So Finn." She says.

Finn's face lights up and he pays full attention to her, "Yeah Claire?"

"How old are you now?" She asks.

"Thirteen." He says proudly.

"Thirteen? Wow." Claire smiles.

I smile at her as I put the bread in the toaster, glad that she's doing okay.

Torah walks in and I motion for her to stay with Claire. She nods and sits down next to her.

I leave the kitchen and search the house for Ryder. As I do, I bump into Josh.

"Josh, hey." I say.

He smiles, "Hey Mara. How's Claire?" He asks.

I nod my head towards the kicthen, "In the kitchen. You should take her somewhere today." I say.

"You think so?" He asks.

I nod, "Yeah, just because you can feel the pull doesn't mean she won't."

He nods, "You right. But what if she says no?"

I grin, "I'll find a way to make her. Just do it when she's alone, she's a little nervous at the moment."

He nods and smiles, "Thanks Mara." Then he heads in the direction of the kitchen.

When I turn around, I see Ryder leaning against the doorframe, "Looking for someone?" He asks.

I shrug, "Not really."

He smirks and pushes off, heading towards me, "Are you sure? Because you sure looked excited when you saw me."

He wraps his arms around my waist and I wrap mine around his neck, "Nope, I think it's all in your imagination."

"Oh no." He shakes his head, "Other things are happening in my imagination babe." He waggles his eyebrows.

I push him away playfully, "You're stupid."

"Really? That's the best you've got? 'You're stupid'." He mocks.

"I'm leaving now." I say and turn around.

He laughs and grabs my hand, pulling me back to him, "Fine, I'm stupid. Now kiss your stupid boyfriend."

I laugh and pull his head to mine, our lips creating fireworks.

I could never get enough of Ryder.

He's protective, sweet, sometimes a jerk (In a good way), funny, gorgeous, and list can go on.

But what really mattered right now, this very second.

Was that I was his, all his.

And we're now marked as each others.

Forever.

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