The Were-Tiger's Mate

                                                                                 Prologue

The annual packs meeting was today, it was the reason they were here, again. It was amazing how, by having the same genetics, they were all considered family. Keely snorted and all the more refused to exit the car at her parents request.

"Please, Kee. It's not every day that you get to see the packs." Her mom, the peacekeeper of the family, tried to coax her out before her father interfered.

She snorted again, "Feels like everyday."

"Keely." Her father's sharp authorative tone had her scrambling reluctantly out of the car.

"Sorry." She managed to sound contrite while not feeling it. Her parents sighed in exhasperation and shooed her along to the front door. Keely glanced around and noticed that the flowers were in bloom and the tree that they exploded last year was cleaned up. She looked forward again as her parents rang the doorbell by the cherry red door.

Her father turned to look at her with a stern look, "Promise me you'll stay out of trouble this time. No exploding trees and, especially, don't fight with Abel. You two could destroy the world."

"But Pa-"

"Promise me."

"But Pa-"

"Now Keely before I take away your martial arts lessons for a week."

A growl escaped her and she said, "I can't promise you that, " At her father's expression she held up her hands,"but what I can promise you is that I'll try my hardest to stay away from him. How's that?"

His eyebrow quirked and he opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by the door opening. "Well if it isn't my favorite family!"

After pleasantries were exchanged, her parents stepped inside the house and walked toward the ruckus coming from the living room. Laney stopped Keely from going inside, "Kee, I've missed you, darling."

Keely was gathered in for a hug and giggled, "As I you, auntie." Aunt Laney was probably the only person, besides her parents, whom she loved and trusted very much. Aunt Laney was her confidant. Laney drew away to look soberly into Keely's eyes, "Now, you know that these gatherings are important don't you?"

At Keely's nod she went on, "Not only is today a very important day, it's also Abel's birthday. Now don't give me that look child. I'm only telling you what I know. Promise me you'll behave."

Keely's face still had the sour look but she made a genuine promise, "I'll try auntie, you know I will."

Laney sighed, "I guess that's as good a promise as I can get. Now run along. The children are in the backyard."

As if the word conjured them out of thin air, they rushed down the stairs and swept her up into their frenzy and deposited her in the backyard. When her equilibrium returned to her she observed the scenery. The older kids were throwing water balloons at eachother, blasting eachother with water blasters, and daring eachother to jump off the cliff into the ocean ten feet below. She noted the burnt tree was gone and the right side of the house was painted over...again.

"Oh look girls, it's Keely. Be careful or else she will go crazy and light you on fire."

Keely turned to face her tormenters and snarled, "Careful Jude, or I just might." 

"Oh please." Jude's face contorted into a mask of anger, "If you come near me, I'll rip your throat out."

Keely rolled her eyes, "Jude, you're so dramatic."

Then she walked away from the she-devil and went to her favorite hiding place. There was a snarl of fury that sounded from behind her, but she ignored it, and like a gymnast, climbed the tree. Safely invisible behind the broad leaves, she sat back against a sturdy branch and observed the festivities.

"Looking for me, eh?"

Keely tensed, "Not on your life, Knight."

"Aw, come on Keels, you don't have to hide it. I know I'm your most favorite person in the world."

She snapped her head towards Abel and growled, "Get away from me, Abel. I promised my father that I wouldn't rip you to shreds."

"And I promised my mother I wouldn't toss you off the cliffs out back. So what?" He paused for a beat, "Anyway, you wouldn't get close enough to touch me."

"Oh, but we've proven that theory wrong."

He kept going as if she hadn't spoken, "I'd suggest you be a good little kitty and respect upper authority."

She seethed, "You're not upper authority you...you...arsehole!"

Calmly, he stroked her cheek, "I love it when you speak dirty to me." Then he gently grabbed her chin with one hand, "Don't forget that one day I'll be alpha, kitten. If your lucky enough you could be my mistress."

Something inside her snapped, she snarled, and sprang to attack. Later she'd contemplate why he had such power over her emotions.They collided, fell through leaves, and got caught on a branch that happened to be right in front of the window where the council meeting was being held. Abel was pinned beneath Keely, she had one hand around his throat, and the other was pummeling him on every open spot of skin she could get to.

The window was thrown open at the same time she shouted, "Don't you ever call me kitten ever again!"

Chuckles came from the room causing her to glance up from between her fiery red curls. Her fist stopped in midair, which gave an opening for Abel to toss her off of him. She fell off the branch and plunged to the ground. Too caught by surprise, she didn't have time to maneuver herself to make a safe landing. The floor came up to meet her and when they met it was with a sickening crunch that caused a sharp pain to ride up her wrist.

Struggling to get up, she hissed in pain when she jarred her right arm. Feet landed in her vision and knelt to help her up. Abel's hands were inches away when she hissed, "Don't touch me."

Without help she jumped to her feet and turned away from him so he wouldn't see the tears the pain caused. Adults came pouring out of the house and rushing towards them. Keely sucked up her tears and put on a stoic face.

Well there goes my karate lessons, she thought miserably. Her parents stepped out from the crowd to examine her injuries. Her father test her right arm and she could barely contain her groan of pain.  

Her father looked up at her, "This hurts?"

Keely nearly nodded but instead said, "I'll live."

He nodded and sighed come on lets go get your forehead stitched up. What? She touched her forehead, then examined her fingers. It was a lot of blood apparently. She glanced one last time at Abel and gave him her best, you're screwed look. Dismissing the throbbing pain in her arm and forehead, she marched right after her father and contemplated her revenge.