My Best Friends Mate

Chapter two- now what?

JoAnnas Pov
“oh shit!” I said looking at Kiara and Tyler. This was not what I expected. I always thought Tyler was a
good looking guy, we all did but he was dating my best friend. A feeling of insatiable desire swept over
me. This feeling like I had just found what ive been searching for and I had to get to it right now! I saw
Tyler walk towards me, letting loose of Kiaras hand. He hugged me and nuzzled his face into my neck.
“its you” he said with such gentleness yet full of desperation.
I couldn’t let go. Next thing I know Kiara walked out the door with a look of anger, disappointment and
hurt on her face.
Tylers POV
There she was. JoAnna. My mate. Why did I never notice her intoxicating scent of cinnamon and orange.
I had to get to her. I let go of Kiaras hand as fast as I could. As much as I felt bad for her, I realized I only
dated her in the past because of her looks and the fact that shes our fiercest warrior. There never felt
like much of a connection. I think the humans call it chemistry. I should have told her before we spent
anymore time together but I just didn’t. There were no excuses. I ran to JoAnna, like she was about to
drift away from my life and I had to grab her. When I got to her, everything felt right. Everything except I
was still trying to shift. Shit, I gotta get out of here. Then I hear JoAnna break my hold on her and yell
“Kiara wait!”

Kiaras POV.

I can’t believe it. I thought to myself. I mean really?! I got to get out of here. I was feeling so many
different emotions. Shock, embarrassment, hurt, disappointment and yet relief. Relief that I knew Tyler
wasn’t my mate and I could move on. It always seemed like Tyler and I were always… whats the word?
Superficial. Like there was no depth. I never talked to him about the loss of my parents, being a warrior,
my dreams. This hurt like hell but maybe it was for the best. That’s what I kept telling myself but I was so
tired of having to be strong. I get out the door and hear Jo Anna yell “Kiara wait!”
I turned “What Jo?

“hes shifting..”
“yeah?”
“Kiara im sorry, youre my best friend but I need your help”
I didn’t want to be a part of this but how could I not help my best friend?
“lets get him in the woods” I said
We took him to the forest not far from his house. I had Tyler under one shoulder and Jo had him under
another. Sweat keeps pouring from him and hes shaking and his breathing has become more labored.
We finally get to safe place far enough away and lay him down. Neither Jo or I had shifted because we
weren’t 18 but I saw my brother shift. Now we just wait. We finally hear it, the cracking and snap. His
spine pops from his back and Tyler arches it and his head falls. Like falling dominos, his muscles and his
shoulders, biceps, forearms are next. Then his legs lengthen and his quads, and calves enlarge. His nose
and mouth began to lengthen and in like one final rush his fur emerges and his whole body has
straightened bringing him to his hind legs as his full wolf emerges. He quickly falls back to all fours and
there he stood, Tylers wolf, a light brown with specks of dark brown. Jo Anna runs over to him and hugs
his wolf. Tyler nuzzles her neck and licks her. They were lost in eachother.That was my cue. They don’t
notice me leave. I run as fast as I can through the woods. I don’t want to go back home, obviously I don’t
want to go back to the party. As im running I hear howling. Tyler howled indicating he had officially
shifted and found his mate. The pack howled in return acknowledging a member receiving their wolf.
I blocked it out, running faster. I decided Id go to the swimming hole that only myself and my brother
knew about. Our mom would bring us here to swim when we were kids. It was a natural spring, small
but with beautiful fresh blue water and a mossy area where one could lay. I made it and collapsed on
the moss, looking up at the sky. The trees opening just enough for me to see the stars in the sky. I would
fall asleep there.
I felt the light trying to break through my eyes. I open my eyes and its sunrise. The same trees that
parted for me to see the stars, were allowing the sun light to hit my face. Before me stood Emily. “so this
is where you’ve been all night” she said not even looking at me. She stared at the water and seemed
sad. Before I could even say anything she turned to me.
“Did you know your mother and I swimmed here as kids?” she looked sad
I shook my head.
“I miss her too. She was my best friend. You look like her for the most part you know, your blonde hair
and green eyes. You have your fathers height and build.” I just kept looking at her and as if she knew she
said it
“I know about JoAnna and Tyler. He wasn’t right for you honey and you have to know that the moon
goddess knows that. Don’t be mad at JoAnna. It isn’t her fault.”
She then stood up and gave me a hand up. As we both stood up, she told me about how Tyler shifted on the actual hour of his birth because he had already found his mate and that’s probably why Jo wasn’t feeling good that day either. She explained to me that wolves will still shift at 18 but if they find their mate itll be on the actual hour. I heard her laugh and make a comment about a party she attended when she was 18 and some guy shifted on the hour, in the party and in front of everyone. It was a memory she’s never forget. Then her face became serious and she said they’d probably complete the mating process within the next week or two. I just looked down not saying a word. We walked back in silence.
Emily became a second mom to me and at that moment, I loved her for it. We made it back to the house and just like a mom would she said “im here if you need me” and walked into the kitchen. I made my way up to my room. It was Sunday and I wanted to be alone to mentally prepare myself for how id handle tomorrow. Jo kept calling me and leaving messages but I ignored them. Emily respected my
space too. At one point I went for a walk and ran into Markus on one of his jogs. He stopped and looked at me not saying a word. I stood there waiting for him to say something. After a moment of silence he just smirked and went back to jogging. “arrogant ass” I said to myself He was probably waiting for me to worship at his feet or hit on him like the other she wolfs do. Probably why at 22 He hadn’t found his mate yet. I made it home at dark. As if Emily and John knew they had made a plate for me and put it in my room, not wanting to push my space. I went upstairs, ate, showered and went to bed, mentally preparing myself for Monday where id see Tyler, Jo and goddess knows who else at training.