My Best Friends Mate

Chapter Twenty Three- Invictus

I’m gold? Is that what I just heard? I looked at them both standing before me staring at me like I was something in a Ripley’s Believe it or Not museum. I watched Keely pull her compact out of her make up bag, she walked over to me slowly and cautiously and obviously just as surprised as my color as my
brother and Ryan were. I saw my reflection and sure enough I was gold, like golden statue gold not Crayola box color gold and somehow my eyes had become greener. Id never seen a gold wolf before.
There were few silver ones, and they were rare but never have I heard of a gold werewolf. I smelled the air and focused my hearing on the sounds around me. I thought things were heightened before, but this was truly magnificent. I could both see and hear further and sharper than before.

“Want to go for a run?” Ryan mind linked me and Dustin. I looked at my brother who still appeared visibly pissed.

“We’ll talk about you two later... but now let’s see what you’re made of sis” Dustin smiled at me.
We ran through the woods for what seemed like hours but when we returned, the sun had just gone down. Alyssa and Keely were sitting by the fire talking. Ryan stayed beside me the entire time during our run, guiding me between trees, over boulders, and up and down the ravine. He was pushing me and
testing my limits. We were all surprised by my speed and agility, Dustin commenting that most newly
transitioned wolves required time to adjust. Transforming back into my human form was effortless and
pain free. Ryan had transformed and he walked up beside me, nudging my shoulder with his.
“It gets easier every time and eventually you feel nothing”
I could only smile.
I heard my brother clear his throat. “Can you put some clothes on Kiara?” I turned, completely forgetting my nudity and saw my brother with his head down attempting to avoid seeing me. Keely tossed me some clothes and she laughed at the surprised look I had gave her.
“Seriously Kiara. we all knew you were transitioning tonight. I brought spare clothes” Keely said proudly.
I was so thankful for the friendship I had with her. I quickly put some clothes on while Dustin and Ryan did the same. Apparently, they carry an extra pair of clothes in their vehicles. Mental note taken. I hugged Keely and Alyssa who bombarded me with questions, especially Keely as her 18th birthday was
coming up in a couple months. Getting one’s wolf was a rite of passage, it was special.
I watched Ryan stand beside Dustin who just stood there watching the fire with a beer in his hand. They remained silent until Ryan finally spoke. I eavesdropped on their conversation utilizing my new and improved sense of hearing.

“I’m sorry brother” Ryan said his gaze not faltering from the fire. Dustin took a swig of his beer.

“Do you really love her?”

“Yeah man, I do” but this time he was looking Dustin straight in the eye.

“Are you her mate?” He asked Ryan.
Ryan was silent.

“I take that as a no” He said throwing his beer bottle in the fire and looking Ryan in the eye.

“I don’t know Dustin” Ryan sounded sad.

“What the fuck do you mean you don’t know? She’s 18 now, you’re about to be 24. The mate bond would have revealed itself by now” Dustin was trying to whisper but his voice struggled to contain his anger. He got in Ryan’s face staring at him for a moment. “Why would you do this to her and yourself when you aren’t mates. She already went through this shit with Tyler, having her heart broken. She’s already lost so many people she’s loved”

Ryan straightened himself and took a deep breath.

“There is something there between us. I don’t know if it’s a mate bond, but the moon goddess has visited us both, revealing to us that our fates our intertwined and that we are meant to be in each other’s lives. I feel it in my soul brother, I’m supposed to protect her.”