Bear Shifters (Book 3)

Chapter 5-Max

"Are you ready?" Kai asks from beside me.

"I think so," I nod.

"Okay, let's go," Kai says against my head as he places a kiss on the top of my head.

I push open the back door and find a large mass of people in the back yard, laughing and talking with each other. The smell of barbeque reaches my nose, making my stomach growl. The conversation stops as I step out of the house, and all eyes turn to me, making my squeeze Kai's hand tighter.

"Everyone, this is Maxine King, your Luna, and my mate," Kai introduces, making people whisper amongst themselves.

"The same Maxine King that was kidnapped by humans?" someone from the crowd asks.

"Yes," Kai responds simply, tugging me down the back steps, towards the others.

I lean closer to Kia as we near the crowd. I needed to do this if I was ever going to move on, but I was still suspicious of others. I was not a people person, at all!

"Luna," they greeted me, bowing their heads as I passed.

I smiled at them, nodding in return. Hopefully, they didn't notice how forced the smile was and thought that I was comfortable. A few girls glared at me, before looking over at Kai—my mate!—and biting their lips as they looked him over. I growled at them, letting all of my anger and authority seep out.

They flinch away from me and move back into the crowd, making some of the older woman roil their eyes and smile warmly at me. A hand was placed on my shoulder, making me spin around, ready to attack, but Kai had already grabbed me and pulled me to his chest. I was staring up at an older looking man.

He looked very similar to Kai. He was Kai's father! I had nearly attacked my mate's father! Beside him, stood a tall slender woman, with soft features. They both smiled at me, but it looked forced. Their eyes flicked up to Kai questioningly.

"Mom, Dad, this is my mate, Maxine King," Kai says wrapping his arms around my waist.

"Maxine King, as in the Maxine King from the North Pack that everybody was looking for and was taken by humans," his dad exclaims, making me flinch at the mention.

I didn't like to be reminded that everybody knew who I was, just because I was taken by humans. I didn't even know who told everyone about us. All I knew was that I was famous due to my kidnapping.

"Yes," I answered for Kai in a small voice.

Their eyes widened as they looked down at me. Everyone was silent for a moment, before the whole crowd erupted into loud chatter and chaos. I turned around to look at Kai, but I was pulled out of his arms before I can utter a word.

In panic, I elbow my attacker and shove them off, before pushing myself through the crowd. Other people reach out to touch me, but I either punch them, or ruffle shove their hands away. People were getting angry and I was getting more panicked. This was a terrible idea!

I didn't realize I was crying, until a big fat tear landed on my lip. I wiped my eyes and elbowed my way through the mass of people, trying to get some space, trying to breathe1 I finally made it out and sprinted for the woods, panting heavily from panic.

I leaned against a trees and closed my eyes, taking in deep breathes. The sound of a twig snapping made me open my eyes and look around frantically, but all I found was Ava, standing in front of me in a muddy sundress.

"Are you okay, Max?"

"Yeah...I, um, I just needed some air,' I say casually, wiping my eyes.

I hated that I was weak, but I was finally free and I didn't have to be so distant and cold, but I was still unsure of everything. I didn't trust people, other than Kai. I could barely stand being in that crowd. What is my family going to think when they realize that I'm damaged and afraid of everything.

"We're outside, there's air everywhere."

"Yeah...but..."

"Don't lie to me, Max. I may only be six and three quarters, but I'm not a complete stupid face. I can tell that somethings bothering you and it has to do with what happened before you came here. I'm young, but you can tell me stuff if you want," Ava says, walking over to me.

"Oh Ava, come here," I chuckle, and she comes running into my arms.

I smile and pull her in tighter as I bend down to her level. She gently rubs my back, making me smile. I close my eyes, inhaling her rain scent. As I open my eyes, a glint in the sunlight catches my eyes.

As soon as I realize what it is, a loud bang sounds through the forest. I throw Ava down on the ground and shield her body with my own as bullets rain down on top of us. I shift into my wolf, while Ava, lets out a small scream.

More screams can be heard from the pack, but I'm too worried with keeping Ava safe to worry about them. I let out a low growl and looked up from my crouched position, spotting three men with guns.

I look back down at Ava's tear stained face and she only nods at me. I leap off her and barrel towards the closet man. All of their fire follows me, piercing my skin, but I ignore it. I have spent the past eleven years enduring pain, I could take this.

I ripped the gun out of the soldiers hand and then I tore into his body. I slammed into the next one, killing the fragile human upon impact as his head hit the tree. The last one made to run away from me, put I pounced on him, ripping his head off.

I limp over to Ava's bleeding form and kneel down beside her, motioning with my head for her to get on my back. She buries her face into the fur on my back as I rise, getting ready to head back to the pack, when another pair of soldiers appear.

I make sure Ava is balanced on my back, before bolting at them. I grip one in my caws before he can even pull the trigger and throw him at the other, but a bullet from the soldier pierces my side.

I let out a loud roar and slam my claws down on the pile of men, making their bodies rip open and bleed. I pull myself off and move towards the direction of the pack, careful of Ava.

As soon as I reach the picnic area, Ava lets out a sob at the damage done to her pack. I freeze and look at the damage.

Bodies litter the floor and blood soaks into the ground. Bullets covered the ground along with guns. A few wolves paced around the scene frantically, most likely searching for their loved ones.

I look around for Kai and spot his black wolf on the other side of the area. I sprint over to him, but a few of the wolves snarl and attack me. Unprepared, I fall over, but not before turning my body so that Ava won't get crushed. Before I can get up, their jaws sink into my already wounded flesh.

"Stop! That is your Luna!' Ava screams at them, climbing off my back and punching two of the wolves in the face.

They release me, and walk back, whimpering with their tails between their legs. A black blur appears in front of me, before I finally focus and see Kai's wolf standing above me.

His snout nudges my bleeding side, making me purr as I lift my head up slightly to rub against his side. Fatigue slowly takes over my body, making my head fall back to the ground with an echoing thump.

The last thing I see before the world goes black, is Kai shifting into his human form.