"Kris what the hell are you doing here?"

Did my wolf and I perceive this wolf wrong? Has he been watching me? Is he here to turn me over to my father? Bowing his head, angling his neck – his wolf is still submitting to me. He's staying loyal. "Luna Maya, I mean you or the woman no harm. I swear it."

"Then state your purpose, immediately." I know if he meant harm that he would be writhing on the floor in pain. Arabella's fingertips lighting up slightly for defensive purposes. Shaking my head at her, she simply sighs while rolling her eyes but doesn't let her defensive tactic down.

Keeping my eyes above his chest, he seems relieved I don't accuse him of the worst. "Luna, I followed you because I was worried you were going to Crescent Moon." My shoulders dropping, and I'm releasing a breath I was unaware I was holding. "I can't let you do that Luna Maya."

Shaking my head from left to right, stepping towards Kris. "I wasn't going to do that… yet." His posture stiffens once again. "But your mother is in there because of me."

Immediately he physically disagrees, Arabella interrupts him before he speaks. "So this is the wolf whose mother you plan to rescue." Sizing him up she arches her brow, enjoying what she's seeing.

He growls, immediately I stand in front of him. Lots of males despise it when they are mated and another woman has sexual intentions towards them. I wonder if Josh is that way. "Arabella, stand down he is mated."

"Not marked." She smiles. Flashing my teeth, showing her what she'll have to go through to get to him. Not that it would be a challenge but I'd put up as much fight as I could. "Ugh, fine." She groans, "You're no fun Luna. How do you ever entertain your male?"

Oh if only she knew, taking a few steps away from Kris' naked frame. Posturing myself towards him, "Did you tell Josh?"

"No Luna—"I growl and his worry dissipates off of his face, replacing it with a smile. "Maya." He corrects and continues, "No Maya. Though he is sending out search parties. That was the last I heard before my connection disappeared. He woke up the entire pack house when he found out you were missing. I followed your scent past those apartments after Beta Lucas, Alpha and Gamma Zay broke in. They didn't follow right away, I'm sure they were trying to make a plan." Oh great, I wonder how they broke in. "As far as I know he's losing his mind to sum up."

Fair enough. I've been so busy wheeling and dealing with Arabella I haven't hardly talked to Amber. "Well good."

"Maya, you know as well as I that he was just mad because he couldn't kill me."

Arabella makes an 'oo' sound and sits down on a log. "Gossip." For a 426 year old witch she finds interest in petty things.

We both ignore her comment, "His stubbornness as an Alpha knows no bounds. He was trying to prove a point even though it came off as him just being a jerk. And please do not repeat my words to the Alpha, I'd prefer to keep my head. He's already looking for a way to rid me of it."

Shrugging, because I can't quite disagree he juts out his lip in a small pout as if he wants me to assure him otherwise. "Either way, I needed time to think and I was sick of that damn brace. Arabella." Gesturing for her to come to me she just arches her brow.

"I'm not a damn dog unlike you two."

'Friend of yours?'

'Besties for life.' I quip. "Grab her shoulder. It's still dark and it is unsafe here."

Arabella isn't happy about bringing another wolf into her home and she makes that clear but doesn't protest… too much. Teleporting back to her front doorstep, Kris is a little dizzy which is normal. Arabella saunters into the back of her home and comes back with a pair of shorts to which he gratefully smiles and slides them on. "Wolves you have until daylight." She warns and sits down on the couches.

"So much hospitality it is almost overwhelming." She glares at me while Kris stifles a laugh.

Shaking her head, snapping her fingers the fire blazes high again as it was slowly starting to simmer. "We were discussing your plan to save that she-wolf."

I notice Kris' posture stiffen. "Yes well, secret tunnels. My father's secure in the thought of his dungeon, so he's not going to have a lot of wolves on patrol down there." Pulling out my knife, the silver glistening makes Kris' heart race. "Quick and easy stab to the heart, or slit to the throat while breaking their neck in the process. It's quiet, then I steal the keys and get her out."

Arabella laughs, okay so my plan isn't remotely full proof. "Such a foolish wolf you are!"

My claws descending instantly, fur standing on edge. Amber knows I can shift now. We don't appreciate her words. "I think you forget, I'm your ticket to my father. Your magic does nothing to him, I don't think insulting me will do you any good."

Kris' eyes shifting from me to the witch who is glaring at me as if I was the one who killed her love. "How do you plan on keeping the other prisoners quiet? Do you honestly think you can get in and out undetected?" Standing up, I meet her head on. Amber hates that we've been nothing but nice to her and she's done nothing but be hostile to us. We also hate when no one has belief in us.

"She's right Maya." Flipping my gaze to Kris, I stifle a growl not wanting to ruffle any fur. "I'm sorry to disagree with you but you can't get in and out safely. I can't risk your life."

Arabella stares at the male before her, taking him in but not in a lustful way. "Are you her guardian?"

"What?" We both voice in unison, staring at her with bewildered eyes.

Guardians haven't been around for… well a long time. I don't know the exact time and they are given a specific person to guard, to protect at all costs. "That's not possible. We would know, we would know if he was my guardian."

Kris blinks at me, processing the information in his mind. "It's possible." He whispers under his breath, "I've felt close with you ever since we met. I've felt the need to protect you – but I just thought that was the Luna bond. I wasn't close with the previous Luna, she along with everyone else wasn't a huge fan of me so I have nothing to compare it to."

"It is." I reassure him, "Amber – my wolf – she would have known that he was my guardian. Same as your wolf Kris it wouldn't be a guessing game."

Arabella sits back and observes us with a smile. "Just a thought." She whispers, "There hasn't been guardians in centuries. Kris earlier you said that Maya wouldn't let her mate kill you." He nods in affirmation, "Did Amber disagree with your decision Maya?" Shaking my head, 'no' her smile widens. "So there's a reason why Josh wants to kill him. But you still trust this wolf who is not your mate?"

Glancing at Kris my mouth hangs open, "After you tried to kidnap me I stood up to Josh. I made sure you made it into this pack—

"You trusted me even after you heard us speaking in the hallway. I wanted to join the warriors when I found out you were possibly hurt." He finishes off, "Even when you thought I was the mole and the reason you died you believed me, defended me even."

Arabella stands up and claps her hands together, "Great story. Have you two touched?"

"No." We reply in unison, "We're not mates."

Rolling her eyes mumbling about, 'stupid werewolves'. "You only have to touch hands once, you'll feel a surge of power. The need to protect her will grow, your trust in him will grow and he'll get a guardian tattoo! That's it. BAM! POOF! MAGIC!" She shouts while Kris snickers.

Glancing into his blue eyes, I shrug. 'You in?'

'As long as I don't get my head torn off by Alpha.'

'I could take him.' Now I'm just curious could I actually hold my own against my mate? I plan on taking down my father but I'm pretty sure he's weaker than Josh. Years of alcohol even as a wolf can do some damage, holding out his hand, I do the same.

Smiling to each other we grip one another's wrist. A gust of wind blew over me, knocking my hair back. Not much had changed for me, I already felt like I could trust Kris no matter what, he wouldn't lie to me that much was obvious. But, now Amber wholeheartedly trusted him—though she was worried what our mate will say knowing we had a guardian.

Kris' transformation wasn't as pretty. You could hear his skin sizzling as the guardian tattoo was etched into his forearm. This is so weird and unexpected, hardly ever did the moon goddess find it necessary for someone to need a guardian. Guardians would die for you without thinking twice about it, and now that I process that thought I can't believe I let him do this.

He has a mate. "Well shit." He cursed while glancing at the tattoo. It looked like a tribal version of an angel. It was beautiful in a simplistic way. Though the redness of his skin doesn't go unnoticed, that probably didn't feel too great. "At least it isn't too girly."

Shifting his gaze to mine, a slight smile on his lips. "You will not die for me." I made sure to lace my words with Alpha command, but the seriousness of the situation wore off whenever Arabella laughed. Her chuckles bouncing off the walls.

"You silly wolf. Your Alpha Female voice won't work on Guardians. It isn't your choice whether they live or die, but he will die for you should it become necessary."

Kris doesn't seem remotely phased by this, his smile remained on his face and the scent of pride was rolling off of him in waves, slapping me in the damn face. "Kris, you have a mate."

"Maya, this is no different than if you were just my Luna. I'd die for you then, I'd die for you now. It's just more probable that I'd die for you since I'm your guardian." He tries to joke. How could anyone dislike him because of the way he was conceived? That's not his fault and quite frankly it pisses me off. He's so nice. "Plus when my mate figures out I'm her mate, and then finds out I'm a guardian and for the Luna she strongly admires well, she'll be so proud of me."

"Seriously I'm going to vomit." Arabella states with disdain on her face.

The sun was slowly starting to rise from its slumber, light pinks and oranges hovering over the hills. The trees towering over the house look black from the contrast. "So you got your knee healed?" Nodding my head and making a show of it, he grins.

"Did you tell anyone you were following me?" When he doesn't answer immediately, my first question is "Who?"

"Riley. She approved it, as much as she could. She knows that Alpha couldn't go deep into the rogue territory without more backup, not when the rogues working with Crescent Moon could use him to lure you in. They didn't want to risk you getting captured no matter how much Josh argued." Of course he'd want to dive head first into rogue territory to find me. "Beta Lucas had to punch him before he could use his Alpha command to stand down."

"I bet that went over well." I mutter while picking at the invisible string on my shorts. That makes sense now how Kris found me but Josh hadn't."I just needed to get away for a little bit. Ass hole."

"Yes well, it was nice of you to stop by now get the hell out."

Placing my hand on my heart, gasping for effect she strides toward me. Her purple dress flowing behind her. "Now Arabella, surely you want to get my father as soon as possible. Even hours make a difference." Her emeralds narrow in on me, "Care to use that snap of your finger to teleport us back to my apartment."

"I do not." Lifting my brow, both Kris and I place a hand on her shoulder. Within 10 seconds we are standing in my itty bitty apartment. She looks agitated, but doesn't she always? "I will be keeping an eye on you now Maya. I will do more research on the witch or wizard who is helping your father. It will do me great justice to handle him as well." An evil smile spreads across her face before she snaps her fingers. She's gone as if she wasn't even here in the first place.

Kris collapses on the couch with a slight chuckle, "She's so nice." Sarcasm dripping off with every flick of his tongue. "So I'm your guardian." As if he's processing this information for the first time, "I'm honored Luna Maya." Waving him off, I contemplate my next move. "I'm going to be in so much trouble for not informing Alpha Josh I found you."

"Oh please, I'll let you escort me back onto pack lands and you'll be a freaking hero. But keep that tattoo hidden from your sister. We'll need you to feed her false information and if she sees that she'll know you're lying. Long sleeves." Luckily it is getting colder. Sighing to myself I have come upon a realization, "I need to go back to the pack." His face brightens up, "I need to talk to Riley to see if anything has changed in the years I was gone. You know from the layout of the dungeon and if she knows if the tunnels are still there." I had always thought that's how Cory was always able to sneak in, and I'm sure he got the key from one of the guards when I was in my cell. I never asked him though, he'd always come. It doesn't matter how.

Letting down my mind block, I realize no one is trying to contact me. After hours and hours of trying I'm sure they realized it was a lost cause. 'Riley?'

'MAYA! Oh thank Goddess! Are you okay? Where are you? Are you safe? Where'd you go? Are you hurt? Why'd you leave? ARE YOU OKAY?'

Good Goddess, that girl. 'I would have answered a while back had you let me get a word in. I'm fine, I'm healed and Kris found me. We're on our way back.'

'I have to tell Alpha. Where are you right now?'

Gesturing my head towards the door he understands as we make our way to the forest. Spray bottle in my mouth I shift into my wolf. Shaking out my fur and stretching my legs, I'm glad to be able to run again. Taking off in full sprint, the wind rushing through my fur and Riley yelling at me to answer her. 'I'm running through the woods right now. Make sure Katie and her family are nowhere in sight. I have some news.'

'East, west, north, south? WHERE ARE YOU COMING FROM? Alpha is not taking well to this. How did Kris find you?'

'He followed my scent.' How else would he have been able to find me? 'He thought it was his fault I left when it was actually my mates, but he thought I was going to Crescent Moon. He was trying to stop me, that's why he stupidly went through rogue territory without backup.'

'THAT'S WHAT WE ALL THOUGHT YOU WERE DOING!'

Telling her I'll see her in a few minutes, I snort and roll my eyes as Kris gives me a wolfy grin. I'll have to lay this on thick. Jax won't take kindly to another male rescuing his female, but hopefully he'll realize he rescued me and brought me back here. Entering the clearing, Josh is already pacing around outside. Hair disheveled and clearly he's been stressed. But yet, he still looks delicious. I hate him for that.

I know as soon as he smells me, his nose up in the air I can even see the slight tremor of his body. The things I do to that male. Snapping his head in our direction he takes off, shifting mid sprint, closing the distance between us and within seconds he's beside me. He's not sure what to do first, kiss me, check me for wounds, or smell me. Nuzzling my face, he lets out a few whimpers, licking my muzzle. He stalks around my body checking for any injuries and I let him do what he needs for him to know I'm okay so he can chill out.

Jax is in control at the moment, amber orbs flashing in what little sunlight there is. Nudging my side, he has me roll on my back to check my stomach. Or that's what I thought, instead he lays on top of me. Licking me over and over and over again not a single care in the world as to who is watching. Whimpering again he moves down towards my leg, the one that was injured and licks it a few times. But realizes it is fine and cocks his head to the side. He looks so cute.

"MAYA!" Riley sprinting towards me as fast as her feet will carry. Instantly Jax is standing over me, feeling possessive over his female that he lost for a few hours. I talk of myself as If I'm a toy. He's not growling but his posture is telling others to stay away.

Standing on all fours and inevitably knocking him over, I trot towards Riley and lick her cheek. How does she repay me? Her fingers pinch my ear while I start to whine, that's a sensitive area for us wolves. "You do not ever do that again!" Her cheeks are tear stained and I hate I was the cause of it.

Jax and Kris both growl at the woman who 'hurt' me. I stand in front of her, showing Kris especially she is not to be harmed. Jax and Josh should already know. Flashing my teeth they both stand down while I nuzzle my face into Riley. Jax glances at Kris curiously, probably wondering why he was so defensive. While Kris seemed shocked by his own actions, his wolf did that completely on instinct. "Why do you smell of a witch?"

Trotting back to where Jax practically tackled me, I picked up the squirt bottle and ran inside. The door was already open, awaiting my arrival and I hear the thunderous sound of paws hitting the earth following right behind me. Most everyone is still sleeping or out trying to find me it seems, using my wolf speed I run upstairs and change into some clothes so I can tell them about my lovely trip and give Josh a what for. Probably grounding him for a day or two.

But if he was smart he'd stay as Jax in wolf form for a good while since that's the only part of Josh I can seem to stand at the moment. The door barging open as I pull my shirt down my frame, a frantic and very naked Josh stands in the doorway.

He's not as smart as he looks.

GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW

Let me know what you think lovelies.

How do you feel about Kris being her guardian?

Does their 'close relationship' make sense now?

Should she forgive Josh?