Evan's parents arrive about 15 minutes later with Brianna, Leah, and a small army of shifters in another vehicle. Well, five others to be exact. Four big guys, and a tough looking woman. I'm relieved to see that Burk's not among them. No way could I deal with him and everything else we have to face.

While Rick is speaking to our temporary pack members, Evan seems to sidestep me, but all of this tension and drama is stressing me out. I catch him and pull him into my arms, sinking deeply into his scent as I lean into him. As I close my eyes and begin to relax, I feel him ease up a little in my arms before he rests his chin on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry about all this," he says in a soft voice.

I nuzzle his neck. "It's not your fault."

"I know, but this must be hard on you too. It's not like I told you about Megan or even Ryan for that matter."

So her name was Megan? Somehow, knowing that little bit of information about her made everything seem that much more real. She had once been a living and breathing girl, part of a loving family, and didn't even get to finish high school.

I hesitate, feeling a lump forming in my throat, but curiosity gets the best of me. "What was she like?"

"Kind of like you. Stubborn, a worrier, and asked too many questions."

I scowl at his choice of words as he pulls away and looks into my eyes. "But also strong, brave, and caring."

I kiss the tip of his nose. "I guess I'll let you get away with it this time."

He squeezes me tightly against him and rubs his scruffy cheek against my sensitive neck, causing me to squeal and push him away.

The chiming of a phone interrupts everyone's conversations as Rick pulls out his cell phone from him pocket. "Rick," he says into the microphone.

We all pause as he listens to the message being given. The crevices in his forehead deepen before he turns his back to everyone and starts walking away. "You're sure?" he asks before his voice trails off.

I lean my head against Evan's chest as we watch our alpha walk away in search of some privacy. "Guess we're going to be leaving soon, huh?" I say.

Evan kisses the top of my head with a muffled, "Yeah."

I close my eyes, allowing myself to just enjoy the moment in my mate's arms. I wish everything could be simple like it once was. Meeting his family and the Silver Star Pack wasn't supposed to bring about such drama and shadows of the past. Even when he met my family, we didn't have welcoming response. Not that I can blame my parents for being on edge, but still. Why could we never find a moment of peace and calm to just enjoy ourselves?

After a minute, Rick calls us to attention.

"Time to move out. Leah and Mr and Mrs Crestview follow behind me, and the warriors behind them."

Vicky and Nicky grab Emily and Alicia's bags as Rick pulls Alicia to him in a single-armed embrace and kisses her roughly.

I turn away, giving them privacy, but also to avoid the sight of them tongue wrestling. Some things are better left to the bedroom.

My stomach twists into knots, not only from the alphas' public make-out session, but from knowing that I was going with everyone to meet Ryan. I can pretend to be dumb and naïve because I am still new to wolf-shifter society, but knowing me, I'll get annoyed quickly if repeatedly insulted. Keeping a cool head will be the tricky part.

Brianna climbs into our vehicle with us and sits in Emily's former seat.

"So, what's the plan?" she asks as we buckle ourselves in and wait for Rick to finish speaking with the others in our party.

I shrug. "Beats me. I think I'm going to play a stupid decoy."

Her freckled nose scrunches up. "Wow, really? That sucks."

"Tell me about it," I say with a sigh.

"You don't think he's going to come after you, do you?" she says to me as her eyes turn to Evan. "That's what Mom and Dad are worried about, anyway."

"Dunno," Evan says, "but that's a risk we're not going to pretend doesn't exist."

Brianna chews on her bottom lip, her thoughts clearly wandering from the distant look in her eyes. "I hope not. I like Zee."

Rick climbs into the SUV then and buckles up as he starts the engine. He doesn't utter a word, and we sit in silence until we've crossed over the bridge and into Portland. Then he looks at me in the rear view mirror and I swallow.

"Zara, do your parents have some place safe they can stay should Ryan look for trouble?"

My heart clenches at the mention of my parents. "You don't think he'd go after them too, do you?"

His eyes return to the road and he doesn't say anything, making me more nervous about his question.

"Mama works in a hotel that they could run to with very little notice if they needed to, but if Ryan can find my house, then he can find them there too." My voice is warbling as I finish my sentence.

"What about extended family?"

I hesitate. "Sacramento, California."

"They'll have to go there, then."

I clench my teeth together to keep them from chattering. Telling my parents that they have to go to Gram's and Granddad's isn't going to fly with them. Especially Mama. If push comes to shove, I'll have to tell them the truth of our dangerous situation and prepare myself for my mother's pessimistic backlash.

Ryan wouldn't dare go after my parents, would he? Sick freak...

"It's just a precaution," he adds, looking at me in the mirror again.

I nod, my eyes darting to the window in an attempt to evade more questions regarding the safety of my folks and myself.

Evan takes my hand in his when he turns his gaze forward. "While we're thinking about his possible actions, we should prepare ourselves for the most likely course of action that he would most likely take first, right?"

Rick nods, growling at the traffic in front of him.

"We need to figure out what the most important thing is to him, and that seems to be the territory. He didn't have a mean streak in him growing up, but that's not to say he didn't develop one," Evan says, trailing off.

"If it is as simple as claim over territory, I can easily correct that," Rick says calmly. "But if he's got wind of you and Zara being mates, there's a possibility that he might come after her."

Is Rick insinuating that he has to kill Ryan? Didn't he just say to Nicky and Vicky that he would try and resolve the matter peacefully? If all it took was an exchange of words, then I hope they can come to an agreement.

Somehow, I don't see that happening. If Ryan wanted to talk things through, then he wouldn't have snuck into the territory when he knew we were gone and it was left unguarded. It was a cowardly move.

"No offense Zee, but I think you should've went with Aunt Vicky and Nicky too," Brianna whispers as she leans forward in her seat toward me. "I'm really worried that Ryan will go after you."

"And you don't think I am too?" Evan snaps back, giving her a hard look.

"Then you should've said something earlier!"

"Ryan needs to think that this is everyone in our pack," Rick says, over-hearing the siblings bickering. "If he suspects that we're hiding anyone, then he'll go searching for them. As far as we know, he doesn't know about Ali and Emily being in our pack. He might think they're still with the Silver Stars."

Evan nods, but I can tell that he's nervous about me being with them.

"Well, as far as we know, he doesn't know anything about Zee either," Brianna says and quickly adds, "Alpha" respectfully.

Rick's dark eyes glower at her in the rear view mirror. "As far as we know, he doesn't know about me being the alpha of this land either."

That shut Brianna up.

No one utters a word the rest of the drive home. We get stuck in Portland during rush hour traffic, and decide to grab a bite to eat before getting on the road again. No one says much, and what little talk that is said relates to passing napkins and comments on the food.

Rick is the quietest one of all. No one dares to say anything to him, knowing that his mind is consumed with thoughts on how to get our territory back without killing Ryan as well.

Maybe Ryan wants to die? Maybe that's his goal? He lost his mate already, what more is there to live for? Unless land and the power over it is the only thing driving him now.

When we pull up onto the long driveway of the pack house at the edge of the Villages of Mount Hood, it's already starting to get late with the sun beginning to set over the trees in the west.

As we climb out of the SUV, our gazes fall on the spacious two-storey house before us. All the windows are lit up in a yellow glow and two big men wearing only a pair of black cargo shorts stand on either side of the door. Their equally well-defined chests are covered in tattoos and the signature claw scar across their hearts.

Keith comes out of the shadowed treeline then, wearing only a pair of shorts as well.

"About time you guys got here," he says, rolling his shoulders and snapping his neck.

Rick grunts, muttering about the traffic under his breath.

Evan and I pause behind our alpha with Brianna on my left hand side. My hand itches to reach out and clasp Evan's, but keeping our distance might be the best thing to do right now.

"The perimeter is surrounded," Keith says. "He's in there like a king on a throne with a handful of other guys. There are ten more in wolf form in the surrounding forest, watching us as we speak."

"Yeah, I can feel that," Rick grumbles. "How does Ryan look?"

Keith glances at Evan then returns his attention to Rick. "Shaggy, a little rough around the edges. But strong with a wild look in his eyes."

Rick nods as our companions pull up in their vehicles behind us. As they climb out and gather around us, a low howl in the brush next to us warns of our arrival. A series of unconscious growls rumble from our throats in response.

A snarl to our left is simply a warning not to take another step farther.

Rick shoots the hidden wolf a glare and growls, "This is my land, and I will approach the thief as I damn well please."

There's no response, but the growls cease.

Our group assembles in in a sort of triangle formation with Rick in the lead, followed by Keith a step behind, Evan's parents behind him, Evan, Brianna, Leah, and I follow behind them, and the warriors behind us.

"Keep your gaze lowered," Evan tells me. "Don't look anyone in the eye-especially Ryan."

I nod, even though his advice isn't needed. Wasn't that the first bit of advice he told me when we first met? Looking Ryan in the eye would only catch his attention, and we don't want his attention on me at all.

It occurs to me that both Rick and Keith are park rangers. Doesn't that give them the ability to arrest persons deemed dangerous to others within the territory? Or are shifters outside of the "rule book" established by humans? Still, Ryan has committed a series of crimes. Not only did he break into our pack house, but he also killed someone in the past.

My warring thoughts are interrupted when we stop moving and Rick is addressing the two doormen guarding the entrance to our home.

"I demand to see the coward claiming my land as his and I will not hesitate to break your necks should you refuse my command."

I can't help but tilt my downcast head up to peer through my thick lashes to the scene before me.

Smirks break out on the pairs' faces, much to Rick's displeasure, but the door opens and a woman with dark brown curls, a black tank top, and black cargo pants steps out. The tank top does little to hide the curves of her body, and although she isn't well endowed, she does have a solid, athletic build. The discoloration on her left cheek and the hardness of her eyes do little to soften the aura of power and confidence radiating off her.

"Welcome," she says, her voice as soft as velvet. "We've been expecting you. Please, come inside, but your five guard dogs from the Silver Star must wait outside."

She knows about the Silver Star warriors with us? This can't be good. They might know more about our pack than Rick is anticipating.

I try very hard to keep my gaze tilted down, but I want to see how she responds to Rick and try and figure out who and what she is to Ryan.

Rick's posture and gaze doesn't waver, neither does his voice, which he projects confidently. "On the condition that your alpha will meet with us on peaceful, honorable terms."

She doesn't smile, but inclines her head half an inch. "Of course."

Rick strides forward as she steps back to give him space to enter. Her eyes look back out to us as we move to follow him in, only we can't because our path is blocked.

Keith is rooted to the ground, his stance rigid and his eyes wide as he stares ahead of him.

It doesn't take a newbie like me to decode the look on his face.

It's the look of a shifter seeing his mate for the first time.

----

Author's Note: I'm sure you all are wondering why Zara came with them considering the risks, but Rick will explain later why he didn't have her stay with Evan's aunts. Plus, Zara is our protagonist, so it's more exciting to have her there to meet Ryan too! I was going to have Rick explain, but thought, nah, that's not really his character. XD