•Mara's POV•

"Luna, you shouldn't be out here." One of the warriors say as they emerge from the forest.

"Do you know what's happening too?" I ask annoyed.

They frown and shake their heads, "Alpha Ryder instructed us to patrol. Can we escort you back?"

I huff and shake my head, "No, I'll be fine. Keep up the good work." I then turn around and start walking back to my house.

As I'm walking, something fluorescent catches my eye and I retrace my steps and look to my side to see something on a tree.

I walk up to it and trace the bright pink cross with my fingertips. The spray paint still damp and leaving a light tinge on my fingers.

I frown and look around, seeing if anyone is near. When I know no body is, I shake my head and continue on.

'It's probably just some people cutting down trees.' Snow says.

'Probably.' I reply then sigh, 'Do you think I was too hard on him?'

She doesn't reply for a second, 'I think you were in the right place, but you didn't really give him any time to explain.'

I scoff, 'It didn't really seem like he was going to.'

I can feel Ryder trying to mind-link me, but I've sort of turned off our connection, not letting him get through.

'I'm sure Caleb is telling him off right now, he'll have to come clean so that his wolf is happy.' She replies.

'I don't just want him to tell me because his wolf is upset, I want him to tell me because he loves me.' I reply.

'You should at least tell him you're alright, he deserves that much.' Snow says.

I sigh and nod, 'Fine.'

'Good.' Snow replies.

I switch on the connection again, "Ryder, I'm fine. I'm going home, don't send anyone out to look after me."

"You have no idea how worried I am, I need to talk to you." He replies.

"Do it tomorrow, I just need some space." I say.

But Mara, I-"

I don't let him finish as I switch off the connection again. I see the house in the distance and speed up as I walk to it.

Even though I'm a little annoyed with Ryder, whatever he's worried about I'm sure I should take care with what I'm doing.

I enter through the door and am not surprised when nobody is home, Mum and Dad are probably still at the Pack House.

'Looks like it's just me and you Snow.' I say.

'At least we finally get some time to talk.' She replies.

I giggle, 'Yep, finally.'

•Ryan's POV•

As James and I walk through the forest, I glance at him and purse my lips at the way he walks, holding so much pride.

"It's great to have so many hunters behind us, ever since that reward has come out, we've got so many more people."

"Yeah, great." I mutter.

He averts his eyes to me, "You know, I'll still give the money to you if you can kill it."

I grunt, "You can't bribe me with money."

He just sighs in response.

I look around nervously as we enter Ryder's Pack's territory.

My 'dad' clamps a hand on my shoulder, "What are you so nervous about son?" He asks.

I shrug off his hand, "I just don't get why you're so determind to find this damn tiger, it's obviously not harming anyone."

He stops and pinches the bridge of his nose, "Not this again. Ryan, you don't understand." He replies.

"Thank tell me! Tell my why I bloody don't understand!" I yell.

"It was that kind of tiger, that snow white fur, bright amber eyes, the height, the largeness of it that did it." He replies.

"Did what?" I shout.

"Killed your mother!" He shouts back.

My anger vanishes and I frown, but if my mother was a werewolf, why didn't she do anything? Shift at least?

"I was there, I saw it all. The tiger pounced, your mother tried to get it off, and then just like that," He clicks his fingers, "Her lifeless body lays on the ground."

I shake my head and step back, "That's-that's not true, it can't be the same one."

Mara wouldn't do that.

He shakes his head, "It wasn't, I found that one and killed it. She must of had an offspring."

"Mum wouldn't want this." I say.

"Well your Mum's not here to say, is she?" He asks.

I frown, "My Mum? Yes, my mum. Because I'm not your son, am I?"

He steps back, shocked, "What?"

"I'm not your biological son, am I?" I repeat.

He frowns, "How did you-"

"Find out?" I finish for him, "Isn't it obvious? I'm nothing like you, we're completely different. I see the way you look at me, like I'm not your own."

He sighs, "You're right. You're not my biological son, but I've raised you as my own Ryan. You've gone all those years with me, believing I'm your actual father. Don't you trust me?" He asks, staring intently into my eyes.

I take a step back, "I don't know anymore, bascially my whole life has been a lie."

"Ryan." He pleads, stepping forward.

But I shake my head and keep stepping backwards, "Did you even know what Mum was?" I ask.

He frowns, "What are you talking about?"

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, "I need some time, I'll be back."

Then I run before he can respond, when I feel I'm a safe distance away, I shift and make my way to the only place I know in this town.

Mara's house.

•Ryder's POV•

I slam my fist on the desk when Mara cuts off our connection again.

Why can't she just listen to me for one second?

'You need to tell her, you need to make things right.' Caleb demands.

'You don't think I'm trying? You've been pestering my for ages Caleb, she obviously isn't responding to us.' I reply.

'Why didn't you just tell her in the first place?' He asks.

I shake my head and sigh, 'I don't know, I didn't need her worrying about anything.'

There's a quiet knock on the door and I look up to see Claire standing there.

"Hey." I smile.

"Hi, uh, is this a bad time?" She asks.

I shake my head, "No, what do you need?"

"I was wondering if you knew where Mara is? I haven't seen her since that healing thing. Isn't it amazing?" She asks in wonder.

I smile at this, "It is."

"So, where is she?" She asks.

I sigh and shake my head, "I don't know exactly, I think she might be back at her house."

She frowns, "What is she doing there?"

I lean on my desk chair with my hands, "We had a little fight and she walked out, but I'm worried sick about her because of the hunters."

"The hunters?" She asks.

My eyes widen a little as I realised what I had said.

"Wait, you mean the hunters are after the tiger?" She asks.

I frown a little, "You know?"

She lets out a little laugh, "Yeah, we shifted when we ran back from Cam's prision thing."

"Oh." I reply.

"Ryder, as long as she stays in her human form and inside the house, she'll be fine." She replies.

"But she doesn't know." I say.

She frowns, "About the hunters?"

I nod, "She didn't let me explain. I was keeping it from her and she lashed out at me."

Claire purses her lips, "You need to tell her Ryder."

"But she won't let me in on mind-link." I reply.

She rolls her eyes, "Then get your butt up and go to her house."

I nod, "Thanks Clarie."

She smiles, but then gasps and stares blankly at me before I see her falling.

I reach out and catch her, kneeling on the floor and cradling her in my arms.

"Claire? Claire can you hear me?" I ask.

She blinks and sucks in a deep breath before looking up at me.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"Thanks Claire." She replies.

"What?" I frown.

"A memory Ryder, that made me remember." She smiles.

"What did you remember?" I ask.

"We were young, you were drawing with crayons at a table while Mum and Dad try to entertain a newborn Finn." She starts.

I think back and see if I can remember.

"I was just watching Mum and Dad and then you tug on my shirt, you look up at me and ask me to hand you the green crayon. After I do, you say 'thanks Claire.'" She finishes.

The memory comes back and I smile a little, "That's right, I was drawing a field with all of us on it."

She laughs and sits up, "Go to Mara."

"Are you sure?" I ask, making sure she gets up okay.

"Yeah, I'm just going to lie down." She replies.

"Alright, well you're a part of this Pack again, just mind-link me if you need me." I reply.

She nods and pushing me, "Now go."

I give her a greatful smile and head towards the door. She remembered something, it's coming back.

When I get outside I jump and shift in mid-air, making my way to Mara's house, she needs to hear the truth, especially from me.

•Mara's POV•

There's a knock on the door and I absent-mindedly go to it, thinking it's Mum and Dad.

Although when I open the door, I'm surprised to see a familiar face.

"Ryan?" I ask.

He smiles, "Hey."

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

He frowns, "You don't know?"

I groan in frustration, "No one seems to want to tell me anything."

"I thought Ryder would have told you, I notified him almost two days ago." He replies.

I sigh and close me eyes, "Will you tell me what's going on?"

I open my eyes and purse my lips.

"They're here, they're all here. There's so many of them." He replies.

"Who?" I ask.

"The hunters." He responds.

I freeze in shock.

No. That can't be possible.

How did they find me?

"Well hello Ryan, I would say it's a delight to see you, but my mother never tought me to lie." I voice says from behind Ryan.

He swivels around and I lean to the side to see who it is.

Of course, who else would I expect?

Ryder.

Things just got interesting.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Hello!

Wow! Thank you so much for all the reads!

I made it to number 324 on the werewolf genre, so thanks again for reading and voting, it's really making me smile!

I specifically made a playlist on my iPod yesterday called 'Celebration Music' and I put it on and dance to it when I get a high achievement.

Wow, I'm weird...

Anyway, please vote, comment and all that jazz!

Thanks! xx