Stranger Yet

Chapter 24

Ayra needed to be at the pack house.

She knew she should be helping in some way and she couldn't from where she was in town. Traveling back and forth wasn't a viable option as the more time she spent going back and fourth, the more trails she would be leaving for strange wolves.

Richard had arrived two days later, and was stunned to find that Ayra had been transferred to an online school...

As well as WHY she was transferred there.

He was much more difficult to convince than Sarah had been. They went to a different place to show him. He reacted worse than Sarah, which had surprised both of the women.

Sarah kept him grounded.

Even after he'd been shown, even after the truth was shared, he had a much more difficult time digesting the news.

Once he was adequately convinced that werewolves were real, he still had a hard time accepting that his little girl was one.

He ended up taking an extra two shifts to give his mind a rest from it, give him some space, and to fill his time while absorbing it all. It was a necessary reprieve, and would give him to take his mind off of his little girl leaving the house "prematurely". He didn't want her to go, but telling her no had been fruitless.

He loved her and always would. But his world was rocked and he just didn't know what else to do but work.

It wasn't a happy truth for the family. But the two women accepted it as well as they could.

Ayra would only been home a couple of days before she left again.

She was headed towards Tiernan and the pack.

Home. Ayra felt guilty when she found that she agreed with her wolf on that choice of words, but she DID agree.

She was headed home.

***

Tiernan had met with the Red Moon Pack. Things had went as he knew they would. The only thing he hadn't anticipated were the questions about Ayra. He thought back to it.

(FLASHBACK)

Tiernan and Xavier were seated in an extended, short Limo style Suv, facing each other. They had agreed on their terms and it was time to wrap things up. Tiernan was looking down at some of the paperwork.

"I heard you found your mate."

Tiernan's head snapped up, and he couldn't stop the surprise from flashing across his face momentarily.

"I'm not sure where you heard that, but you were misinformed."

Xavier laughed. "Ah. I see... One of those cases."

Tiernan's nose flared. "What do you mean, 'one of those cases'."

"Well, its not my place to tell you about your own soulmate. Speaking of mates, I look forward to introducing you to mine, when this is all said and done." The downpayment had been set to go into the Red Moon Pack. The rest would be paid after the situation was taken care of, then a celebration would be planned.

"Hey. One last thing. A wise man and a great leader knows when to bow to his pride and when not to. I appreciate you reaching out to me on this and not allowing your pride to stop you. This action is for the benefit of both of our packs, and it shows that you are capable of putting your pack before your own ego, enough so to ask for my help. I believe we will rekindle a great alliance through this. I have a newfound admiration for your leadership, Tiernan. I want to add though that this sort of "Pack before pride" mentality works in all areas of ones life. Thanks for meeting today."

Before Tiernan had been able to respond, the door on the Limo had been opened, and he'd been asked to step out. It felt like he'd made a deal with the Mafia.

Now home, Tiernan felt himself grated from the experience. He didn't ask for advice and he didn't like the way that Xavier had spoken to him. But he knew he'd been right.

But he didn't have the time to ponder just how right Xavier had been. He had more important tasks to attend to.