My Best Friends Mate

Chapter Forty Six

GABRIELS POV

I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration. Pacing back and forth upon the slanted rock that overlooked the river I racked my brain on how to help Kiara and Dustin transform to their lycan at will. It had been like breathing for me, Benjamin and Selene but then again, it was something we'd had since infancy and we did have more lycan in us than Kiara and Dustin.
I scoffed thinking about my sister and that werewolf she chose. I guess she couldn't help it. Your mate is your mate. As much as I wanted to hate Eric, I actually liked him. He was good to my sister. My train of thought changed quickly to my niece, Craig and Ryan. I still hadn't completely connected what the purpose was behind her duo destiny. Janeen could only see so much. Time was running out. It had already been a month. Janeen warned me in a month maybe two months time, everything would come to head.
I punched a tree out of frustration.

"I haven't seen you this frustrated in a while" said Lennox from atop a tree behind me.

I looked up to see her and my fists came unclinched.
"I thought I heard you.." I admitted.

She jumped down landing but only a foot in front of me and looking around she took in a deep breath, finally returning to face me and fixating her eyes to mine.

"We're getting closer" she said.

"I hope you're right " and I sighed. Only Lenny saw this side of me.

"We need to get to the training arena. There's somewhat of an excitement happening. I can hear it. "

I tuned in and she was correct, I heard it. I heard Kiara.
We quickly transformed and ran to the arena.

KIARAS POV

I could recognize the facade without hesitation.
"Do I know you?" I asked with an unethusiastic tone. I didn't sleep well last night and I was tired. I didn't want to deal with any drama today. I already reminded myself to ask my brother why he failed to mention Ryan's surprise appearance. Despite my heart strings tugging when I saw him, I would have stayed home to avoid this awkwardness. I couldn't stay home and I felt ashamed for thinking I would have. I am a warrior, I am an elite special operative. I was born into this and I was made into this. I couldn't and deep down wouldn't stay home, EX or no EX.

The shewolf in front of me smiled. She was shorter than me and slimmer and this game she was playing was very clever.
She clasped her hands together and exclaimed "no but everyone knows the huddlestons" as if we were some famed legends. I rolled my eyes internally then looked over to Craig who was staring at Ryan. He turned to look at me as if he knew how perturbed I was at that moment.
"You ok love?" He mindlinked me.
"Yeah, I'm good. You ok?" I returned.

"Oh, this must be your mate!" She interrupted our mental conversation removing her gaze from me and onto Craig. He didn't even look at her but instead kept his eyes on me then grazed my hand with his.
"I'm sorry, did I catch your name?" Craig asked, still keeping his eyes glued to mine.
"My name is Sumiko, and it's great to finally meet you both. I've heard great things. I'm really looking forward to training with you today"
Craig and I both let out a light chuckle.

"Unfortunately Sumiko, I'll be training elsewhere today. Maybe another time" I said and began to walk past her but she repositioned so that when we passed by, her shoulder hit mine.
Stay calm Kiara. I looked over my shoulder to find her smiling at me innocently.
Craig stepped in front of me.
"You look awfully familiar Sumiko. Have we met?" He asked.

By this time, Dustin casually walked up to us to intercede. Ryan not far behind him.
"You both met Sumiko, great" Dustin said with a failed attempt at enthusiasm.
Ryan and Craig stared at eachother until my brother spoke again.
"Sumiko has some valuable intell, I'm told. I've designated one of the Zetas to take over training today while we all take this to the Alpha and look it over." Dustin spoke to all of us but it was as if no one was listening. Sumiko had planted herself between my brother and Ryan. I stood opposite of them with Craig who continued to exchange stares with Ryan. We all looked at them and then looked at the other. Grabbing Craigs hand and squeezing it, I broke him from his trance. He turned to face me and then looking at Dustin said "we better get going. You and Kiara have to meet with Gabriel right?"

"Yes, we do." Dustin deadpanned.

"We'll be there in a moment" Ryan spoke up. Craig let go of my hand and mindlinked me. "I'll see you soon love".

CRAIGS POV

"What are you doing Ryan?"

"I'm here doing my job. A member of a neighboring pack brought me some intell and I need to discuss it with my general and this packs Alpha. While you've been playing house with Kiara, WE have been preparing for your father"

I looked up at him attempting to contain my frustration. Playing house? My father?

"Jealousy is unbecoming, brother" I replied calmly.

I watched Ryan's chest rise and his mouth slightly open as if he was about to say something but he stopped.

"I'm going to ask you again,what are you doing?" I wasn't referring to why he was here. Something had changed in Ryan. It's like the part of him I knew years ago had returned. The cold, shut off wolf aching to release his anger on some poor miserable soul.
"Cleaning up your mess, again" he huffed and attempted to walk past me but as he passed me, I grabbed his arm, my hands griping tightly around his huge bicep.
"I've had to clean up plenty of yours too and you know it!" The words came hissing through my teeth as I attempted to stay at a whisper.
He stopped, looked at his arm and then back at me.
"Careful brother" He warned me.
Fuck. I hated that he was an alpha. I knew I could give him a run for his money but the fucking Alpha in him made him superior to me.

I gripped his arm tighter "How could you do this to her?" I asked as I looked over Ryan's shoulder to see Kiara talking with Keely, clearly waiting for me.
I returned my gaze and saw the fury in Ryan's eyes. I let go of his arm and steadied my rate of breathing.
"How could you do this to Kiara?" I repeated with a sigh.
"I did nothing. I did nothing, for YOU so you could be with her. I did nothing for HER so she didn't have to feel torn between us. I walked away for both of you. I let go of the only woman I ever loved and you, who I call brother" He replied, anger and resentment dripping from his lips.

"And you think bringing a woman back here while she's still healing from this, this thing she can't control is helping her? Don't kid me Ryan. She didn't have to come. You have the Intel. You're lonely, again. You're being prideful, again, and I'm picking up the peices of Kiaras heart, that by the way, I just about finally got back together, AGAIN. Don't bullshit me. I KNOW YOU and I know KIARA better than you, otherwise you wouldn't have brought Sumiko here with you. That's not love, brother."
I barely got the words out when he punched me,landing the hit square on my jaw. He rocked me back a few feet but I rebounded and dropped him with an Uchi Mata. After a few rolls, he found himself in my mount and right as I was about to attempt a Kimura, I saw it out of the corner of my eye. Ryan did too. Kiara had transformed into her lycan and she was coming right for us.