Best Friends Mate

chapter 18

Dustin is going to kill me for wearing this. You know that right?" I looked at Keely as we raced in her bmw back to the packhouse.

"Maybe, but Ryan is going to think you're sexy as f**k" as she pulled up to the compound. We gave the guard our IDs and even he checked us out as he returned them to us.

I just shook my head in amusement and watched as we pulled up to the packhouse. The guys had already made it. Keely didn't understand our concept of time management. We have this saying "if you're early you're on time and if you're on time, you're late" and Keely was late in our standards. I see Alyssa with my brother hanging onto his arm. I was so happy for my brother for finding a good woman.

Ryan is leaning up against his truck, back to us not talking to anyone and poor Zach just stood there

awkward probably feeling a little out of place. Students and Instructors did not "hang out" together.

Keely parks and gets out walking up to Zach giving him a short peck on the cheek. Their relationship

seemed odd. Yeah they were mates but I could tell Keely was indeed not in love with him, at least not yet. I step out, fidgeting with a spaghetti strap. Dustin was caught up in Alyssa and Ryan was digging in the back of his truck. For a moment they were in their own little worlds and I was invisible. I heard Keely cough and I braced myself.

"wow Kiara! You look beautiful!" Alyssa said eyeing me from behind my brother who had buried his face in her neck. I saw Ryan look up from his truck and drop whatever it was he was fiddling with, it sounds loud. He walked out from behind the truck, not taking his eyes off me. He elbows Dustin in the shoulder.

When Dustin turns around you'd think he was acting like his eyes were on fire.

"Nope. No. Absolutely not! Go back to your cabin and put some clothes on!"

I knew he would act that way. Keely and Alyssa laughing and Ryan looking confused as to if he should be turned on or also pissed that other men would be seeing like this.

"oh come on babe, she looks beautiful. Your sister isn't a little girl anymore. Besides its not even revealing" Alyssa held onto Dustin's arm coaxing him.

"I agree with Dustin" Ryan says arm crossed. Well that answers that.

"Thank you!" and Dustin throws his hands up.

"This is what im wearing and we're leaving now." I commanded. They weren't going to boss me around.

"Keely, Zach and I will ride with Ryan in his truck and we'll meet you and Alyssa there" I walked towards Ryan's truck.

"your ass looks fantastic" said Keely.

I turned to catch Ryan staring at my ass and Keely winked at me.

"Im gonna fight somebody tonight, I know I am. Thanks Keely" Dustin said annoyed and crawled into Alyssa's Lexus.

The entire drive there Ryan had his hand on the gear shift, so close to my leg. I wanted so badly to grab it and enlace my fingers in his but I couldn't. He didn't speak to me much but the stolen glances and occasional smiles were enough for me. If it was just Keely I wouldn't have refrained from the pda but Zach was with us and it wasn't necessary for him to know anything. I knew Keely would keep our secret.

We arrive at this sports bar called Garrisons. For a weekday it was pretty busy. People flocked in to watch the game, play pool, and meet up to destress after a work day. Garrisons being a human bar, Keely and I were too young to have a drink which didn't bother me. I wasn't much of a drinker even

though werewolves can drink at an earlier age than that of humans. Even without our wolves our bodies were built differently and we could handle our alcohol. We all sat down at the bar with everyone in between Ryan and I. He looked at me giving me a bored look but before I could return the expression,

the bartender walks up to Dustin and Ryan, smiling at them like she knew them. My suspicions were correct because next thing I hear is her smooth voice.

"Hudd, Blackstock. Long time no see" and she gave them a sly smile flipping her long chocolate hair.

I saw Dustin shift in his chair and Ryan put his hand to his forehead turning to give Dustin a raised brow and awkward cough. Even more entertaining was Alyssa maintaining eye contact with the brunette.

"Hey Heather" Dustin said under his breath. "This is my wife Alyssa" Alyssa held her gaze without saying

a word. I chuckled behind my glass of water.

"Dustin, I didn't know you got married" She said, surprised, then turned to look at Ryan.

"What about you Ryan, are you off the market too?" Well that caught my attention. Suddenly Dustins

phone rang and he stepped outside to answer it. I instantly felt like I was dizzy but shook it off as having not ate. I looked over at Ryan and the conversation him and "Heather" were having. By the looks of it, its not one I was too excited about.

Alyssa leaned over me. "Something tells me her and I wouldn't be good friends". I just laughed and turning my head I said "but she seems so friendly", sarcasm dripping from my words.

"oh she's friendly alright" Keely interjected and nodded her head in Ryan's direction. We all looked to

see Heather serve Ryan a drink and place her hand on his. Dustin returned and whispered something to Ryan and he only nodded. The rest of the night consisted of us watching the game, Keely and Zach playing a game of pool and me suffering through the desperate attempts of Heather to flirt with Ryan, but

Ryan not acting like it even bothered him which of course bothered me. This was all too familiar. Here I was again, Dustin's kid sister tagging along. I sat in silence, keeping my eyes glued to the big screen

above me until a very cute blonde found a seat beside me. He smiled at me without saying a word at first. The minute seemed like an hour. I was horrible at making friends. I wasn't like Keely or JoAnna who were natural social butterflies. It took me time to warm up to someone before my "charm" revealed itself and I blame it all on my adolescent years, my world revolving around being a warrior, no I was worse, a trained assassin.

"Max" he says offering his hand. I take it offering a smile and giving my name.

"so... come here often?" he said unassured of what to say. We both laughed at his desperate attempt to make conversation.

He turned his body so that he was facing me. "im sorry, that was awful" resting his hand on his cheek.

"yes, yes it was but its better than how my past hour has been"

He was about to respond when I saw him look past me, his smile fading. I turned and saw Dustin glaring at him.

"you know my brother?" I asked

"Hudd is your brother?!"

At that moment Dustin appeared beside us placing his hand on Max's shoulder.

"Max, its been a while" Dustin said smiling. My brother actually looked like he liked this guy.

"yeah man it has. I didnt know you had a sister" Max looked at me before turning back to Dustin. He leaned over to whisper to my brother.

"there's an event in the underground tonight "

My brother sighed and placed his drink down. "im married man now" and he nodded towards Alyssa.

"shes a beauty, Hudd" Max complimented

"and so is your sister..clearly she got the looks in the family " He looked at me smiling. Dustin was about to retort probably some smart comeback when Ryan walks up placing his hand on Dustins chest.

"Its time to go" he said flatly and looked at Max and then me. He didnt say a word to Max. I watched as they silently had a d**k measuring contest.

Dustin put his arm around me and looked at Max.

"we better get going. it was good seeing you again. Kiara?"

I shook Max's hand again and told him it was good meeting him again. I watched Ryan walk out and Dustin give Max a "sorry" look.

As we're walking out the door I ask my brother what that was all about.

Dustin seemed hesitant but he finally told me that Max is part of the fight clubs called "the underground". Max and Ryan didnt have good history.

I could tell he was trying to distract me when he asked, "Ready for this weekend?"

He was referring to my birthday. Id give him this get out of jail card this time and not push the issue.

"Actually, yeah. I'm excited" Transitioning to ones wolf was a mark of growth and maturity. Humans have their quinceanera or bat mitzvahs, we have our wolf transition.

"Ill be there for ya, you know that right?"

"Yeah brother, I know" and gave him a hug.

"Ill see ya tomorrow?" he asked stepping into Alyssa's Lexus.

"actually, no I think im going to explore the some more" I saw Ryan glance at me when I said that.

"I don't blame you. Have fun and call me if you need me. Love you Kiara" Dustin said sweetly.

"Love you too Hudd" and poked his shoulder. I waved at Alyssa and told her good bye. Keely and Zach were already in Ryans truck and Ryan was leaning against the grill waiting for me so he could open the door. I crawled inside but before he closed it he looked at me, trying to read me. I kept my gaze ahead

refusing to look at him. After a moment, he sighed and closed the door.

The entire ride home was silent except for Keely and Zach talking amongst themselves. For once I didn't

pay attention to my surroundings but leaned my head against the window looking at the stars. Arriving back at the compound I hugged Keely good bye. Watching them leave, I turned to see Ryan waiting for me.

"can I take you home?

I debated accepting his offer or walking the 3 miles to clear my head. Ultimately I accepted in an attempt to avoid looking like I was pouting. I dont pout, I get s**t done. Thats how I was raised and trained to be. I took a deep breath.

"sure" and climbed into his truck. We sat in silence the entire way and the 3 miles seemed like 300. When we finally arrived Ryan made his way around to open my door and I slide out of the passenger seat and made my way to my door. Ryan followed me but stopped at my porch, one foot leaning on the steps and the other on the earth.

"Kiara..Im sorry. I had to"

I turned to him, demanding his eye contact which he granted. My alpha or not, I would be his equal at this moment.

"you HAD to flirt with her and ignore me?" I remained calm when I asked my question.

"I didnt flirt with her.."

"yeah you just let her put her hands all over you" I interrupted in a sarcastic tone not allowing him to finish.

He made his way up my steps to finally be 2 inches from my face. His expression was that of frustration and discontent.

He grabbed my shoulders and squared himself towards me.

"Kiara, I know it sucks but we haven't told your brother and I had to act like I would any other day. I had to act like I didnt have feelings for you and that I wasnt dying to put my arm around you when every guy in Garrisons stared at you when you walked in. I had to act like I didn't want to punch Max right in the throat when he was talking to you. I had to act like im not falling in love with my best friends little sister"

I just stood there, trying to maintain my defensive state but I was melting at his touch and his words. Ryan had this ability to take control of the situation, he was a natural leader and people couldn't help but trust him and follow him. He was an Alpha even if he was denying it. I knew he was right but that didn't mean it bothered me less. I knew him though and with the exception of him being an alpha, I was his equal in every way and I would not spare him silence.

"you know Ryan, it wasnt so much the fact that you allowed her to throw herself all over you, which you could have stopped lets be honest, but I guess being a man w***e comes easy for you. It was the fact that you acted like I wasnt even there. We can be friends in front of my brother Ryan. You dont have to act like im the annoying little sister again. I didnt feel like that when Max talked to me"

I felt his grip on my shoulders tighten and he let go. He growled and turned from me running his fingers through his hair and hiding his pissed off look from my face. He turned back to look at me and his eyes looked like blue fire again.

He pushed me up against my door, burying his face in my neck.

"dont test me Kiara. I told you, I am very.. territorial"

I grabbed his arms and swung him so that I had him pinned to my door, my emeralds digging into his sapphires.

I leaned in like I was about to kiss him but rather I just teased him saying

"so am I". then I released him and walked into my cabin.

I heard him hit the outside wall before grabbing my waist and lifting me, carrying me inside, my legs wrapped around him. He sat me down on my desk and stepped back to look at me. After a long stare he approached me cautiously putt one hand on my thigh and the other grazing my cheek.

"you're not that annoying little girl anymore. please know that and im sorry for making you feel that way but if you f*****g talk to Max again.."

I kissed him hard not allowing him to finish his apology/jealous diatribe. My lips retreated to see a pleasantly surprised look on Ryans face. My hands met his large arms and slowly traced them making his way to his chest and abs. I pulled on his belt buckle bringing him in a little closer.

"so you love me huh?" I said playfully, looking up at him with a teasing grin.

I expected Ryan to give into temptation then and there but he surprised me when grabbed my hand on his chest. Keeping it there he put his over mine and looked me in the eyes appearing so vulnerable.

"I love you Kiara" and pressed my hand to his heart harder. I could feel his beats harden and quicken. With that he kissed me, soft and passionately and picked me up to carry me to bed.

'stay with me" I said, my eyes hopeful

Ryan unzipped my dress and gave me his shirt. After removing his jeans to reveal himself in only his boxer briefs, he crawled under the covers beside me engulfing me in his arms. I felt myself began to doze off. I felt so safe with Ryan.

"I love you too Ryan " I said and instantly drifted off into peaceful sleep.

(song recommendation. "Never Let me go- florence and the machine)