Miakoda

Home Coming

Ryder's POV

The pack and the rescued group have been walking for a few hours. All very glad to see the last of that compound. All except my brother.

His pain is in total contrast to that of the group, the pack warriors surround. They're happy, skittish but happy.

"Bro... We will find her. The Moon Goddess wouldn't take her from you like that if she knew you wouldn't find her again." I do my best at brotherly support.

I look at him and then at Logan who is now glued to his mate's side instinctively growling at anyone who comes within 10 feet of her. If anything had to happen to Savanah, I'd go on a killing spree. She's my world. My life force. My absolute everything. I glance back at my brother who hasn't said a word since we left that place. My heart pulls. I look down.

"I'm so sorry, bro." I say sadly. "I won't leave until we've found her."

"You need to get back to Savanah." Is all he manages to reply.

I look at Michael, he has an unnatural nack for cheering people up, no matter what they're going through. He might seem like a complete, adolescent, goofball at best but his tactics work.

I grunt to catch his attention, which works. He can never miss an opportunity to tease someone who sounds distressed. I can't help but mentally laugh at his pradictability.

Michael's head snaps in my direction about to bark when he sees me motioning to Hunter. He nods in understanding and I watch him saunter over to my brother.

I can't listen in on what they mind link each other as I'm not a part of their pack, but I watch their body language and listen to all the grunts and growls trying to piece together what's being said. My brother is hurting more than any of us can imagine. Almost rejected. None of us knows why she took off. Maybe she didn't understand what was going on. Together, I internally promise my brother that we will find out why she ran and we will fix this. My brother deserves it.

Michael's POV

"You OK my friend?" I cautiously ask my alpha and best friend. Knowing he's been bitter since watching his mate run off.

"Back into position, Michael." Wow, grumpy doesn't even come close.

"Nope, not unless you wanna play tag." I tease him. Knowing full well how childish that sounded and that I'm about to work on his last remaining nerve.

"Tag? Really... You want to play games out in possible rogue territory. After a fight..." He seems irritated more than irate and he's talking, so I plan on pushing my luck as far as I possibly can.

I puff my fury chest out and raise my head up. "Yep."

Hunter shakes his head.... I smile at myself. "Tag?" I say but it ends up sounding more like a question.

"No." Hunter says hoping I'd leave. Does he not know me? After how long? I roll my eyes and yap at him.

"Michael." He warns me...

"Yes, buddy." I say giving him the most innocent expression I can muster with my fury face. And then smile wide. Not that I can say my wolf, Gage, can look anything but stupid trying to smile but I smile none the less.

"You're annoying me." He says while shaking his head in disbelief at Gage's toothy grin.

"Well, it's either you talk to me or Gage will keep grinning at you. Pick your poison buddy." Gage's smile gets wider, looking more like he's either in pain or he's got some peanut butter stuck in his furthest back tooth. One eyeball squinting at the other pulling a wonky, lobsided face.