•James's POV (Hunter)•

It didn't take me long to find Ryan. I made sure to attach a tracking device to the dog tag he always wears.

Ever since Ryan started questioning me more and more about why I was so keen to kill this tiger, I knew I had to watch his step.

It's true; Ryan isn't really my son. But he's Karen's son, Ryan's mum, and I've brought him up like my own blood.

I stop and keep a safe distance away when I see him, he's at a house and talking to a girl. I squint, for some reason she looks very familiar.

Another guy comes up, looking quite territorial.

I can't hear what they're saying, so I go a little closer and hear the girl speak.

"Well at least he had the balls to tell me what was going on!" She says to the other guy, while pointing to Ryan.

"Don't you see? I was waiting until the ceremony was over so that you wouldn't have it on your mind!" The guys replies.

Did they get married or something?

She groans and then spins around and goes into the house, leaving the door open.

Ryan makes a move to enter but the other guy stops him, "Where do you think you're going?"

I go to make a move forward but stop myself, Ryan knows he can handle this on his own.

"Mara left the door open for both of us." Ryan replies.

Mara. That name is so familiar, it's starting to bother me.

"You have nothing to do with Mara. You've said what you need to, now leave." He orders.

"I'm trying to protect her Ryder, obviously something you can't do!" Ryan replies.

Ryder moves back a little like Ryan just hit him, but then frowns, "You don't understand. I tried, I really did try to tell her but she was so angry. She wouldn't listen."

"Then isn't it a good thing I told her? Now she knows, now she can be more prepared." Ryan says.

But Ryder still looks angry, "So what? So you can tell her you're in love with her?"

Now Ryan looks like Ryder just hit him, "What?"

"I see the way you look at her, the way you're so protective of her." Ryder replies.

"Ryder, you're wrong-"

"Don't try to deny it!" Ryder cuts in.

"So you're just going to interrupt me like Mara did to you then?" Ryan asks.

Ryder sighs and then motions for him to continue, "I don't love Mara like that, not the way you think. But we need to focus on her right now, because as soon as the hunters figure out the she is the-"

But I can't hear anymore as a car horn blares and turns into the driveway that Ryder and Ryan are in.

They break out of their serious conversation and smile and wave at the people in the car.

I knew Ryan was up to something, he's told this Ryder guy that the hunter's are here, but I guess most people know already. I need to know what Ryan was going to say to Ryder about Mara, it sounded important.

The car doors open and a woman and a man get out, when they turn my way to close their doors, I get a glimpse of who they are.

I frown and step back a little, Richard and Katrina Banks?

That means that was Mara Banks.

What are they doing here?

•Mara's POV•

I lean against the bottom of the staircase as I listen to the bickering boys outside.

Ryan loves me?

No, he said he didn't love me like that, whatever that means.

I hear a car horn and peek outside to see Mum and Dad getting out of the car.

Soon, everyone enters the house and I smile and go up the stairs to my room, shutting the door behind me.

I lean against the door and sink to the floor, holding my head in my hands.

"Claire?" I mind-link her.

"What's up Mara?" She responds.

"Are you doing anything?" I ask.

"No, but guess what? I got a memory!" She says.

I smile, "That's great Claire! Do you think you could come over to my house, I need to speak to you in person."

"Of course! I'll be there as soon as I can." She replies.

"Thanks." I say.

It'll be much better when she gets here.

•Claire's POV•

I grab my bag and some pyjamas, incase Mara wants me to stay over, and shut my bedroom door.

When I turn to go to the front door, I crash into someone's chest and their arms wrap around me. I panic for a second but then a tingling rushes through my body and I know who it is instantly.

"Josh, I need to go." I mutter into his chest.

He steps back, but keeps his arms around me, and looks at me with wides eyes that travel to my bag and then to me.

I mentally slap myself at how wrong I put that sentence, "No! Not go go. I mean I need to go to Mara's house." I correct.

He lets out a breath and visibly relaxes, "Oh, that's okay then. I'll come with you."

"I don't think-"

"She'll be fine with it, I'm the Beta after all." He replies and shifts so that his arm is around my shoulder and he's walking with me to the door.

I sigh in defeat and walk with him.

"Car or bike?" He asks.

"Car, definitely car." I reply.

He chuckles as I scramble to it, "One day I'll get you on my bike."

He unlocks the door and I hop in, "Yeah, well you'll have to drug me and say it's a rollarcoaster."

Josh just laughs and shakes his head as he backs out of the driveway.

••••*••••

"Where's Mara?" I ask as I enter the house.

Ryder and a guy I've never seen before pop their heads out, "Upstairs." Ryder replies.

"I'm Ryan, by the way." The guy says.

"Claire." I reply as I go up the stairs.

I open the door and see Mara staring absent-mindedly out the window while sitting on her bed.

"Hey." I say as I close the door behind me.

She flicks her gaze over to me and smiles, "Hey."

"Okay, what's wrong?" I ask as I sit next to her.

She sighs, "Get comfy, it's complicated."

I laugh and nod, "Good thing I'm a great listener."

•Ryder's POV•

"They've been up there for ages, what do you think is taking them so long?" Josh asks.

"They're girls, give them time." I reply.

"How are you not barging in there right now?" Trent asks, I'm not really sure when he came.

I sigh and shrug, "She needs Claire right now, they'll talk and sort it out. Then I'll talk to her."

Trent runs a hand through his hair, "You sound like you have this all under control."

I let a huff of air out of my nose in a half-laugh sort of way, "Trust me, I really don't."

A phone rings and Ryan shoves a hand in his pocket to fish out his phone.

He clenches his jaw and then picks up the phone, "Hello?"

There's muffled speaking on the other end.

"You don't have the right to call me your son." He sneers.

I listen closely as I hear what the man has to say, I pretty sure I picked up, 'Please come meet me'.

I stand up and give a signal to Ryan, he frowns at me.

I mouth to him, "Meet him."

Ryan pauses for a second and then nods, "Fine." He replies in to the phone.

He hangs up and then looks at me.

"If you meet with him, he can give you updates on what they're doing. You need to know what's going on so that one of us has an idea." I say.

He nods and looks out the window, "I need to speak with Mara."

I frown, "So do I, but I don't think you will be."

He looks back to me, "You don't understand."

"Then please tell me!" I reply.

"Would you guys stop fighting." Mara says and she and Claire walk down the stairs and turn into the kitchen.

We all share a glance and then get up and follow them.

"We can't let them see us then." Katrina says as she and Richard study Mara and Claire.

"What's happening?" I ask as we enter.

Richard looks at me, "Most of these hunters come from Valleyfield, if they see us they'll get suspicious because we seem to be everywhere the tiger might be."

"It could just be a coincidence." Trent says.

Richard purses his lips, "Maybe, but they'll still keep a trainned eye on us."

Ryan turns around, "My dad wants to talk to me. I'll see what he wants."

Mara looks at him, "Why do you say it like that?"

"What?" He asks.

"Dad." She replies.

He gives a half-hearted laugh, "He's not my real dad."

Then he walks out.

•Ryan's POV•

"James." I nod as I sit down at the table.

The werewolves that are part of Ryder's Pack eye the hunters in the diner.

Luckily, Mara texted me that she got Ryder to tell the Pack that I am on their side.

He looks up at me and nods, "Are you over your mood swing yet?"

"Don't push it." I reply.

He leans forward, "Where did you run off to? Did you see anything?" He asks.

"That's none of your business." I reply.

Ryder's words run through my head about how I can get information from James, "But no, I didn't see anything. What about you?"

His lips twitch up a little, "No, no sightings yet. But we've found some fur, we must me close."

"Hm." I say and look out the window.

"You remember the Banks, don't you?" He asks.

I look at him and see some of Ryder's pack look too.

"Rings a bell, why?" I ask.

He rests his head on his chin, "I saw them today, isn't it a little unusal how wherever they are, the tiger seems to be too?"

I do my best to keep my pokerface, not giving away any emotion, "It's most likely a coinicidence."

He nods, "Maybe, but I think we should talk to them."

I frown, "Why?"

"Ryan, you're about Mara's age, maybe you could invite her over for dinner." He says.

I stand up, "You're not bringing her into this."

He laughs and gets up too, "I knew you were going turn your back against me! I saw you talking to them!"

"I was going to turn my back against you because you're not my dad!" I shout.

"How many times have you used that Ryan? I don't even know why I cared for you after all that time. Your mum never settled down with anyone, she hardly even knew your real dad, you know that? You were a mistake, you were a drunken mistake!" He shouts back.

"You barstard." I sneer and lunge for him.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Hey!

So I'm on work experience this week at a primary school, little kids are too cute! :D

Anyway, sorry if I'm not updating as much as I used to. I'm really trying but others things get in the way all the time.

Okay, well I hope you're all having a good week!

Please vote and comment!

Thanks! You guys are awesome xx