Braden

Ever since the night of Ash's birthday when I found out that she was my mate I have not been able to stay away from her. I don't think my wolf Mark would be like this if she was a supernatural. He wants to make sure she is safe and no harm comes to Ash. We are confused on why we can smell her scent. Humans have a faint scent but since she is my mate, it shouldn't matter. Mate or not, she should smell like something. I can't smell her at all. I have no idea how I am going to explain to her that I am her mate. She doesn't seem to notice the bond but that is normal for humans. It is harder and we have to form a relationship first for the bond to be shown to the human mate.

I don't like how close Ash and Jax are. I can feel myself easily get riled up when they are together. I know that they have been friends for like..ever and I don't have the right to be jealous since he is her friend. Just her friend. Better not be anything more. I take a deep breath to calm myself.

After breakfast, I follow Ash out back where she meets up with Jax. I watch her run and jump on his back as he carries her into the woods. I feel a low, threatening growl rip through my chest at the sight. Neither of them seem to notice as they continue heading into the woods.

I follow at a safe distance behind they as to not be seen. After a minute or so, Ash asks if Jax wants to race and he agrees. They get ready and I stop walking, hiding behind a tree. Their footfalls begin again as they take off to only they know where. I try to follow but find it difficult to keep up. How does a human keep up with an abnormally fast werewolf? That shouldn't be possible. More and more questions with no answers to be found. I need to go see Mom soon to ask her some questions.

Coming out of my thoughts, I realize that I have lost track of Jax and Ash. I follow Jax's scent outside of the territory. I follow cautiously only to find it disappears abruptly in no man's land. I start to panic and so does my wolf.

No, no, no. Where is she? What if she was taken my rogues? What if they kill her? Mark starts worrying.

I don't know. I-I...we need to go get the pack to help look for her, I decide and sprint back towards the pack house as fast as I can. I need to save my mate.

I see the pack gathering out back for training, perfect. This way they are ready to fight. I walk up to Alpha Hayden and Sam.

"Hey Braden, what's wro..." Alpha Hayden begins but I cut him off which I realize is extremely rude but considering the situation I think he will understand.

"Ash is missing. I mean Ash and Jax. They crossed the pack boarder and then I couldn't smell them anymore. We need to send out a search party for them. I think the rogues got them."

Alpha Hayden looks at me with an unimpressed look instead of the expected panicked look.

"Are you done?" He asks and Sam gives his father a confused look.

"What? Come on, Alpha Hayden. We have to go now if we have any hopes of finding her!" I shout with frustration of him not taking this as seriously as I am.

"Calm down Braden. There is no need to be upset. Both Ash and Jax can take care of themselves. They are the best trained people around. Have faith in them," Alpha Hayden tries to sooth. This just makes me more angry.

"What do you mean! They are gone! Poof! No scent trail! We need to go out and search for them, now!" I burst out.

Alpha Hayden opens his mouth to say something but is cut off my her voice. A wave of relief spreads through me.

***

Ash

Jax is currently driving towards Qalton in a Jeep we borrowed from Hayden and we are getting close to John's house. When I see the sign saying 'Welcome to Qalton' I start breathing faster. What if John yells at me, what if he tells me to leave and never come back, what if...

Jax breaks me from my thoughts with the two words I dreaded, "We're here."

I take a deep breath and slowly open the car door. I notice John's car is in the driveway. I stand in front of the door with my fist raised to knock but I can't bring myself to do it. Jax looks at my expectantly and I take another deep breath to gather myself and I left my fist collide with the door twice before waiting for an answer. I can hear the footsteps from the living room grow closer and my breath hitches in my throat as the door swings open.

John's eyes fill with tears, "Ash?"

My eyes fill with tears as well, "Hi John," I give him a weak smile.

John takes a quick two steps toward me and embraces me in a bone crushing hug which I gladly return. I feel the wet tears fall on my shoulder from John as mine fall on his shoulder as well.

"I have missed you so much! I have been so worried but I knew that you had to do this for you. You look so beautiful and strong. I'm so proud of you."

This makes me cry a bit harder, "I have missed you so much John and I'm sorry I lost touch with you, it won't happen again, I promise."

We pull away from the long hug and smile at each other. John then notices that I am not alone and looks over at Jax who is patiently waiting for our moment to pass.

"Hello, I am John, Ash's Dad. Who might you be?"

Jax shakes John's hand and smiles, "I'm Jax, a good friend of Ash's. We have been travel buddies for the past year and a half."

"Oh really? How did you enjoy travelling, Ash?"

"It was lots of fun. I definitely needed it."

"Oh, that's wonderful. Come in, come in!" John leads us into the living room I remember all too well.

"Have you heard much from Cress since I left?" I wonder.

John looks sad, "I heard some things over the year since you have been gone. She wasn't doing very well in the beginning. She was very upset with you leaving and she was depressed. Recently she has been leaving her home at night and not coming back until morning. She is avoiding everyone, making her parents very worried."

That doesn't sound like the upbeat, giddy Cress I knew. I will have to go find her while I'm here.

"I will pay her a visit while I'm in town," I tell John and he smiles.

It's starting to get late and John calls us into the dining room for dinner. As I sit, I remember the last time I was sitting in this same spot. The day I found out that I was something not human. The day I ran out on the only family I ever had. God, that day seems so long ago now. I have changed so much over the last year and a half. It makes me wonder what everything would be like if I wasn't a Mura. Would I be in college for my nursing degree? Would I have a boyfriend to love me? Would Cress be the same happy and hyper friend I had? I guess I will never know.

"Hey, are you okay?" Jax asks.

I look to him and wipe off the tear that fell down my face. If what happened a year ago changed, I would have never met Jax and we would have never helped all those packs. So many more people would have died without us. In the end, it is worth it.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Just brings back a lot of memories being here," I truthfully reply.

Jax nods and John enters the room with a dish of his world famous lasagna. A big grin spreads across my lips. This is my favourite dish.

"That smells amazing," Jax drools.

"Thank you. This is my world famous lasagna after all," John brags with a smile.

We each get a piece of lasagna and I eat it quickly, so happy to finally have John's phenomenal food once again. I look over at Jax taking his third large slide of lasagna. I see John looking at him with surprise written all over his face.

"You know how to eat boy," John comments and I giggle.

"Sorry," Jax says sheepishly, "I tend to eat a lot and for people who don't know me, it's weird."

John bellows out a laugh that is contagious, causing us to all laugh hysterically at nothing in particular.

***

After getting ready for the day, I head over to the blow up mattress that Jax is snoring on.

"Jax, get up," I tell him.

He just groans in response. I huff and roll my eyes, my foot connects with Jax's stomach causing him to be startled awake. His eyes look wildly around before they lands on me and narrow. A smirk overtakes Jax's face.

"Now, if you wanted to wake me up, you could have just kissed me. It would have been more pleasant for the both of us."

I kick him again in the gut and turn to leave. Halfway out of the door I turn back around and give him my infamous smirk, causing him to cower slightly, "I don't know, Jax. I think kicking you is more fun, but if you wanted a kiss, all you have to do is ask." I then blow him a kiss and chuckle as I leave the room and head downstairs to have some breakfast. I sit down at the breakfast bar with a bowl of fruit loops. Jax appears in the kitchen and looks at me weirdly.

"What?" I ask with my mouth full of fruit loops.

"Gross," Jax scrunches up his nose.

I roll my eyes, "Really? You have done worse."

"True," Jax pauses, "Did I ever tell you that you are scary?"

I think back over the last year where it has happened on multiple occasions. I laugh, "Maybe a few times."

Jax goes through the cupboards grabbing a bowl and finding the cereal. Jax stands still with his back to me for a few moments. I go to ask him what he is doing but he slowly turns around with something in his hands.

"Your dad has...blueberry mini wheats?"

I raise an eyebrow, "Yes..."

"Your dad is my new favourite person," Jax whispers.

I fake hurt with a hand over my chest, "I thought I was your favourite person," I pout.

"But you dad can cook and has great taste in cereal!"

"I can cook," I try to defend myself.

Jax scoffs, "You try but it isn't edible."

I death glare Jax. Everyone was fine. Just a couple hospitalizations for a few hours under observation. No one died or got seriously injured. Not permanently at least.

John walks in and sees the way we are looking at each other. Me glaring at Jax and Jax looking like he will piss himself any second.

"What's going on?" John asks.

"Jax said I can't cook and that you are his favourite," I grumble.

"Well thank you Jax and sweetie, don't you remember when you just turned 17 and insisted on making me breakfast?"

My eyes widen as I remember the story that Jax does not need to hear. "Yes, yes. I remember, no need to remind me."

"I tried so hard not to laugh when you were mixing the ingredients in the pan you were supposed to cook the pancakes in. And then you didn't flip the pancakes and gave it to me with a burnt bottom and watery top."

I can see the struggle in John's eyes as he refrains from laughing but Jax on the other hand. Jax is laughing his ass off. John only lasts for a few second before he also bursts out laughing.

I roll my eyes, "Are you jerks done?" I ask and they calm down, their faces red as tomatoes. "Good, I am going to go visit Cress today."

"Okay honey, I hope you can help her out." I nod in appreciation at John's comment.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Jax wonders.

"No, I have to do this alone. I will let you know if I need anything and you tell me if you hear from Hayden."

Jax nods and I grab my phone, pull on my dark green converse and leave out the front door. I decide to walk to Cress' house since it isn't too far. On my way I think of reasons as to why Cress is acting so strange. Did she get herself into some trouble? Is she in with a bad crowd? I will help her with whatever it is even if I have to beat up a bitch. Before I know it, I am standing in front of Cress' front door. I knock three times and wait. I hear footsteps from the other side of the door approach. The door swings open to reveal Kimberly, Cress' mom. Her eyes go wide when she sees me and then embraces me in a tight hug. I hug her back.

"Ash? Is it really you?" She asks in a small voice as she pulls away.

"Yes Kimber, it's me. I came home to see John and I heard about Cress. I was wondering if I could see her."

"Oh honey, of course you can. She should be in her room...like always," Kimber sighs and I give her a small, sad smile.

I walk into the quaint house that I once called a second home what seems like forever ago. I walk slowly up the stairs that Cress would chase me down when I stole her cookies. I walk down the hallway that Cress and I sat in and did homework when Cress accidentally locked herself out of her room. I stand in front of the door that Cress and I painted a mural on without asking for permission. Hard to be mad when it is such a beautiful piece of artwork. I raise my fist to knock on the door and hesitate. What if who is on the other side of the door no longer resembles my friend? What if she doesn't want to see me? It's not like I am the same person as I was a year and a half ago. I take a deep breath and let my fist connect with the slab of wood twice. I hear shuffling on the other side of the door.

"Who's there?" I hear my best friend's voice ring out. I am slightly taken aback by this question.

"Cress? It's Ash."

Silence. I take that as my cue to barge in. I open the door and look around her room. It's pristine. Her bed looks like it hasn't been slept in, in ages. Her shelves and desk has dust on it and nothing is out of place. It looks as if no one has been living in this room at all for weeks or months. I see Cress sitting on her window sill, staring wide eyed at me. My face soon mimics hers as a scent wafts up my nose. Her scent.

"You're a werewolf!" I whisper yell.