Best Friends Mate

chapter 25 family reunion

pUNKNOWN POV

I watched her and six others leave. Seeing her made my heart hurt but in a good way. I wanted to reveal myself to her but I couldnt. I thought she had seen me last night in the storm.I had been following her since the attack at Shasta Lake and the situation regarding MIchael and the hunters for much longer, being very careful to remain undetected. Id listened in on the conversation between Dustin and the Alpha and at that point decided to follow. I wouldnt let anything happen to her. I shifted and made my way to the Paiute Reservation staying hidden in the forest.

Craigs POV

Damnit. How did I slip up? Maybe Genevieves information was wrong? All I knew right now is that the few rogues and hunters Michael had recruited would arrive at my mothers reservation and Luna Jasmines home pack this evening.

I was relieved to hear that Ryan would be taking a handful of warriors to handle it.

"f*****g coward!" I yelled referring to my father and I punched the steering wheel of my chevelle. Its genius really, making it look like something other than it was all the while dividing and conquering. Apha Wyatt and Ethan were smart making an alliance between their packs and a couple others. I just wished theyd done it sooner.

I could drive to my mothers reservation but I'd arrive too late I thought. Ryan would have already have cleaned up the mess. I put my car in drive and headed in the direction of the Redwood pack.

Kiara’s POV

We had all transformed with the exception of Keely, Ryan and Zach. I watched Ryan toss his keys to Zach before transitioning into his wolf form.

"oh this is gonna be fun" she squealed throwing my holstered knives on the back seat. Zach and Keely would drive since Keely hadnt got her wolf yet and of course her mate Zach wouldnt leave her side. I watched them drive off, getting a head start.

"lets go" Ryan said.

I didn't care if Natalia came along just as long as she didn't try to kill me in the process. I told myself I would ask Ryan about her later. Right now we had more important things to worry about. I had observed her muscular body in the arena and I knew that no matter how ridiculous she acted, whether it be natural or a facade, she was at the very least, strong.

It felt like we had been running for several hours I wondered if Keely and Zach had arrived. It was only a two hour trip by car. The scenery was changing and we should be quickly approaching. A few miles back I thought I saw something in the trees, like flashes of fur but when I smelled the air around us, the only scents I caught were of ours and the forest.

"stop" I hear Ryan command.

Ahead of us, about a mile we saw a sign that said Pyramid Lake Pauite reservation and cars entering and exiting across a large cattle guard.

"do you see Zach and Keely?" I mind linked Ryan

We all peered into the reservation I noticed a flashing light coming from the east.

"Keely must be using her compact" and I laughed.

Ryan signaled for us to enter through the heavily wooded area to the east about a mile. There, standing beside a thicket of briars covering a fence stood a young woman with long black hair that shone brightly when the sun hit it. Her eyes were a deep brown and her skin reminded me of copper. She wasnt a werewolf, I would have smelled it. She was a human. Ryan had told me that these people were friends to us. She clipped the barbed wire and without saying a word, stepped away smiling, disappearing into the woods.

Ryans POV

I watched her walk away and disappear as quickly as she had appeared. She looked a lot like Craigs mother and I told myself to ask him when I saw him if his mom ever had a little sister.

We entered the reservation through the densley wooded area that connected to the pack territory. Going through the reservation rather than around it, was the fastest way. We made our way through it and arrived at the west border of this packs territory. The Tokada pack Craig had once told me its name was native american for "friend to everyone". Made sense, they were small and valued peace. They were all "international amity and goodwill"

I saw Zach and Keely waiting for us where the forest met the valley. I could see through the trees small cabins and past that, the Tokadas packhouse. Finally.

Kiaras POV

I looked over the valley laying before me and everything looked fine. So far. I saw kids playing, omegas working and wolves visiting or talking amongst themselves. I was about to step out from the protection of the trees when I saw a wolf patrolling about a mile away. Taking a deep breath, I took a step back careful not to be seen and I focused on my senses, dissecting every sound and scent around me.

We all returned to our human form in order to communicate freely with everyone. Natalia stood there proudly in her nudity. Thankfully Keely brought clothes. After getting dressed, I attached my holstered knives to my hip belt.

"Everything appears to be fine" Keely said.

"just because it appears that way doesn't mean it is" Natalia snapped, her eyes looking sad for a moment.

"I know that, thanks." Keely sneered.

"stop" I heard Ryan use his alpha voice and a wave of silence swept across us all.

"I need to speak to the Alpha but we need to be careful. Natalia is right" Ryan said his gaze fixed on the packhouse.

I heard Natalia smirk. Im sure she enjoyed that.

While everyone slowly began walking towards the packhouse, leaving the woods. I stayed behind for a moment, watching and observing every inch of the pack boundaries.

Something didn't seem right.

Unknown POV

Were these wolves really that stupid? I watched them all leave the woods without assessing their surroundings, pretty much making theirselves an open target. Everyone except Kiara. That's my girl, I thought, proud of her. I sat perched up on a limb not even 500 feet away from her to her left. I watched her descend down the hill very cautiously, as she should be. To my left about a mile and a half out, I could hear and smell two hunters and four wolves. My stomach turned. I looked back between them and and the redwood/silvermoon pack members being escorted into the pack house, most likely to meet the packs Alpha. They had no idea they were being watched. It wasnt time yet for me to show myself but I would not let Kiara get hurt.

Ryans POV

"Thank you for having this meeting with me Alpha Kai" and extended my hand to him.

"It was unexpected but not unwelcomed" he sighed as he sat down.

For the next thirty minutes I told him everything about Michael and his pack of fellow lunatics, his alliance with hunters, and his desire to take over packs which is the reason why we were here. I also informed him of my Intel. I watched his gaze steady and his eyes become shady. Next thing I know his beta is at the door entering his office.

"This is Cody, my second in command" said the Alpha. I looked to see a young werewolf not much older than Kiara or Keely. Tall, thin, but muscular. He looked young and inexperienced but determined.

"Cody, dispatch a dozen more wolves to patrol the parameters and without causing panic, issue a statement that I want everyone in the packhouse." commanded Alpha Kai.

Cody only nodded. Kiara stood there beside him, silent. I mind linked her.

"whats on your mind?"

"something just doesnt feel right" she said. "we're going with him" and she turned to leave taking Kiara, Natalia and Zach with her. The other warriors from redwood staying behind with me.

She wasn't asking permission. A part of me laughed inside at that. Kiara was the only person who came close to being my equal and she didnt need to ask. I had begun talking to Alpha Kai about making an alliance when I heard a gun shot.

Shit!

Kiara’s POV

As we walked through the hall and down the stairs I asked Keely to head back to the forest the way we came. I gave her a knife and asked her to comb the woods making sure to remain undetected. Keely was sneaky and possessed stealth that admittedly surpassed mine. That was her gift. I watched her casually walk back the way we came as if she was leaving and disappear into the woods. As we exited the front door of the packhouse, I lifted my nose to smell the air and all I smell is dirt and leaves. I couldn’t help but smile. Keely is smart, she mustve covered herself in dirt and leaves to mask her scent. I turned, about to ask this Beta a question about the pack territory when suddenly I hear a gunshot. It came upon so quickly and unexpectedly I couldn't register which direction it came from and it was so loud, my ears and heightened sense of hearing rang for a moment. I looked around only to see in front of me the beta with a bullet hole to his right chest, blood seeping from it and soaking his shirt. He dropped to his knees. Behind him I saw a hunter with a rifle aimed right at me, walking quickly in my direction. Behind her, I watched four wolves disperse, two in each direction. They were large and each wearing the death mark of Michaels bloodmoon pack.

We quickly dropped and low crawled back to the house where I saw Ryan and Alpha Kai in their wolf form running down the stairs. I watched the other wolves from redwood leave, directed to gather up any remaining Tokada wolves and make sure they're safe.

"Natalia, go with them" I ordered her. She was about to object but something stopped her, she looked at the young body of Beta Cody outside, struggling to breath and losing blood quickly. She nodded and transformed into her wolf. I watched her break through a window out the side and run south.

I couldn't just let him lay there. I could smell the hunter close and I could hear the Tokadas wolves fighting with the rogues. I looked at Ryan,Kai and Zach and they nodded. I ran outside to Codys body, seeing that he was still alive but losing blood quickly. As I got behind him and wrapped my arms under his and around his chest ready to drag him to safety, I saw the hunter above me, gun pointing in my face. This is why we feared them. She smirked and began to raise her rifle up to her to sight me in when Ryan comes from beside her and attacks her in one clean sweep. I dragged the Betas body back into the house taking my shirt off, holding it to his wound. I told him to apply pressure and id be back. I needed to get him to the infirmary wherever that is. The Alpha was two steps ahead of me and stood over the betas body and nodded. I watched as the pack doctor arrived.

Returning back outside I see Ryan had torn out the hunters throat. He stood over her with her esophagus in his mouth, blood all over his face. I turned to see Natalia and Zach gathering the last remaining omegas and straggling children locking them in the pack house. I see the four rogues still fighting our two redwood warriors near the east and west boundary line. I look at Ryan who nods and we each make our way to the wolves, me in one direction, Ryan to the other.

Running, I transform into my wolf quickening my pace. As the rogue and redwood are mid embrace on their hind legs I slide under the rogue digging my claws into his belly. He falls releasing his grasp from the redwood. He looks at his injury and then back at me, showing his teeth and growling sinisterly. I see that the redwood is injured and I nod at him to leave. The wolf begins to circle me, eyes glowing and blood dripping from his mouth. I watched him dig his legs into the ground and prepared for him to attack.

RYANS POV

Between the two of us, taking down this wolf was easy, too easy I thought for a moment. Before I delivered one last blow, I looked over my shoulder to see Kiara in wolf form circling the other bloodmoon. I watched as he dug his back legs in, a sign meaning he was putting all his energy on his back legs preparing to attack. Come on Kiara... I thought. Surely she sees that. I watch him lunge at her and Kiara grab him rolling back and tossing him against a tree. It looked though that he had managed to get his claws into her shoulder when she tossed him. Damnit. I returned my stare to the wolf in front of me, his head bowed and bloodied. I signaled for him to be gagged and chained. Maybe id get something out of this one. He looked weak. That made me question this whole situation too.

Leaving this wolf in the custody of the redwood warrior I make my way to Kiara only to see that she has her opponent in a headlock. I watch her guide him, her arms still locked around his neck and slam his body against a tree, a protruding branch going through his heart. She returns to her human form holding her left shoulder, blood on her hands. I stand there in the middle of the valley, her eyes catching mine and she runs towards me.

I transform back into a human just in time to catch her in my arms. I wrap my hand around the back of her neck and put the other on her shoulder as I look at her wound. She smiles giving me an "its fine" look.

Im just about to kiss her when an unfamiliar voice interrupts me

"Bravo" I hear a deep voice about fifteen feet to our right. I look over to see a tall, muscular blonde slow clapping his hands and wearing a smug grin.

(music recommendation. "animal" by badflower)