My Best Friends Mate

Chapter Fifteen- Craig

I jumped in my jeep and made my way to the training arena followed by Ryan. We figured it would be best to arrive separately. The storm had moved on revealing a clear blue sky and minimal clouds but the earth still smelled of wet dirt. Petrichor, the smell of the Earth when it rains. I was told this is my scent. I wondered if it would change when I got my wolf. I wondered what she would look like. I arrived at the arena to see half a pack of wolves and it didnt take long to figure out that the training today would consist of everyone being in wolf form. Back home, I still got to train with my packmates who haf received their wolf. It helped me learn how to take a wolf down as a human and it helped them learn how to move and maneuver as a wolf against humans. I see Ryan pull up beside me and we both get out trying not to look like we had just had sex. To make matters worse, I see Dustin walking up to us.

"I assume you got the group text last night" Dustin says flatly to Ryan before looking over to me.

"Youre more than welcome to stay sis, throw some wolves around. Eh? what do you say?" nudging me with his arm.

I looked between Ryan and Dustin and shrugged.

"I think ill see what Keely is up to" I said.
"suit yourself " Dustin shrugged turning around.

I turned around and began to leave when I saw Jason walking towards the arena approaching the same way I was exiting.

"leaving hudd? too bad. I wouldnt mind having my hands on you " he smiled and smirked walking past me. I turned around to see Ryan with his hand on Dustins chest. They had heard him and Dustin was about to flip. I began walking briskly to catch up to Jason and right as I passed him I turned to my brother.

"you know, I think ill stay" and kepting walking passing them both as they tried to contain their laugh. Jason stood there watching me walk. Ryan stepped in front of him, catching him checking out my ass.

"If she doesnt kick your ass, I will." Ryan said coldly yet calmly. That cold calm serious tone I had heard before from Ryan, Dustin and the other warriors from my pack. The tone that says "im not fucking around " Ryan turned and walked into the arena with me and Dustin.

They make their way to the front and I find a seat in the bleachers by the mats. After explaining to them the orders of training for the day I watched as about two dozen werewolves begin to transition. The cracking and snapping of bones followed by howls. If not for my ability to notice people sneaking up on me, I wouldn't have known Keely was coming up behind me from the other side. She flopped herself down beside me swinging her red waves over her shoulder.

"hey keely, what are you doing here?"

"watching my mate" she said matter of factly.

"wait, your mate?" I am confused.

"The caramel one with the amber eyes in the front right. " She pointed.

"but you... youre seventeen and you made that little comment about Ryan and Markus the other day" This chick is crazy I thought to myself, laughing internally.

Keely smiled. "Zach is 18.. he knows who is mate is and he told me. When I turn 18 in August the bond will become mutual "

I nodded. "are yall dating?"

"oh goddess no. im hanging onto my shred of freedom while I can "

I just gave her the side eye and a smug look.

"ok ok dont judge me just yet. Zach is a good man and a strong wolf. Clearly I think hes hot too. We've had the same circle of friends but were never close growing up. When he turned 18 I was interested in someone else. I didnt even know he was my mate. Theres this pull between him and I but I cant say I love him. Maybe that will all click when I turn 18 and the mate bond because mutual between us. For now though, I still get to have some say so. " She stared out at the pack of wolves sparring.

"you can still choose even with the mate bond" Was I trying to tell her that or tell myself?

"youre right..." she said looking at me like she knew my dilemma.
I liked Keely and I had a good feeling about her. I knew I could trust her.

"so what do you do if you love someone who isn't your mate?"

She moved closer to me as if to whisper.
"you have to choose. the moon goddess's plan for us is bigger than ours and sometimes we dont understand it. we know this but we're still given the freedom to choose"

I began to whisper when I hear my name being called.

"Kiara! you promised!" It was Jason and he had turned back into his human form. He was taunting me and he was most definitely naked. I could see the fire raging in Ryans eyes and the humor in Dustins face as he looked down shaking his head.

Keelys "Zach" runs up to the bleachers where we were sitting. At least he put shorts on.

"Hi Keely" he says sweetly.

"Hi Zach, seems one of our pack mates is wanting his ass kicked today" Keely responds. Zach laughs before turning to me and saying "Jason just likes to show off Kiara. Dont waste your energy on him"

Keely slips her arm through mine. "lets go off the compound tonight! I can show ya around. We can go shopping for your birthday and grab a bite to eat. Theres this pub ive been wanting to try out. Great irish food I hear!"

"yeah sure" I didnt even realize I agreed because all I could hear was Jason yelling my name. Im sure everyone thought I was staring at him because he was naked and I thought he had a nice body but truth be told, I was measuring every movement and analyzing any weak spot. I stood up, ready to make my way down the bleachers and stomp this wolfs ass.

Craigs POV

Staring down at the new tattoo on my left arm made me cringe and not because Id never killed before but the person I just killed was a werewolf from my father's pack in Louisiana. I knew they were heading to California and I purposely had been tracking the small unit of wolves my father sent ahead to recruit for him. I didnt just travel this way because of the scenery. It would take me a little longer to get to Northern California this way but
Arizona was big hunter territory and I could gather a lot of intel here. Being half human helped me in that aspect. When I walked into that little bar on the border, there were hunters that had no idea. I followed a wolf there carrying the brand of my father's pack. I waited and watched him converse with these two hunters. I heard them talk about passing over into Colorado and the wolf secretly passed what looked like a check across the table. Ryan taught me that trick, how to drown out all noises and focus my wolf hearing on one sound.

I flirted with this beautiful latina and made conversation with the hot bartender to make myself look inconspicuous. When I saw them leave I took my last shot of tequila and followed the wolf, keeping my distance. He was alone but where one or two hunters were, more were close by. We were more careful and strategic in our dealings with them because they usually had silver or wolfsbane on them at all times. That wolf though wouldn't make it back to deliver his message. I took care of him in the alley way behind the bar. I cut the skin off his arm that housed my fathers pack brand.
I wasnt kidding myself. I was scared of my father. I had served 4 years in the marine corps, two deployments as a marine recon, the corps top special forces. I had been a hired gun and I had fought against rogues but I was terrified of my father. This man was a psychotic maniac and the fear and panic he incited had no comparison.

On my left bicep I had a rose bud for every life. They wrapped around my bicep and tricep and down to my elbow. 17 and counting.
My left pec boasted the eagle globe and anchor and my right a scorpion, my astrological sign. My right bicep had a band in Hebrew and my left rib cage had all the names of the brothers ive lost. My right forearm held a map of the ocean and a compass. All this ink. All these memories holding significance. I was ready for peace and it was time to kill Michael and return back to the redwood, the only home id ever known.