Hunger Awaits
Chapter 17

Matto's POV

It's been a week since Kendra and I returned home and she still hasn't told me everything that happened while Ryker had her. I have tried not to push the subject but I have noticed that she has been lost in thought most of the time. Today was going to be the first day that I was going back to work and I was nervous about leaving. Tenaya has the day off and was going to stay with Kendra, but I still was nervous especially since we had no idea where Ryker was. "Ok Tenaya, I am just a call away if anything happens. Are you girls sure you will be ok?" Tenaya was standing in the kitchen making some breakfast and Kendra was sitting at the table drinking coffee. They both looked at each other and then laughed.

"Would you just go Matto. We are fine." Tenaya said as she ushered me out the door.

I laughed as she pushed me out the door. "Will you see if you can get her to talk a little to you. I know something more happened but she won't tell me." I asked Tenaya and she just gave me a smile and closed the door. I shook my head and walked to the truck. Jace and Koda were already at the resort and from the looks of the clouds coming in it was going to be a long day. When I pulled into the resort Jace was already loading some things into the other truck. "What's up Jace?" I asked, as I got out of my truck and walked over to him. He turned to me.

"Nothing yet. I just want to be ready. The storm is coming fast and I just know that some poor souls are going to get caught in it." I laughed because I knew he was right.

"Well, that is what we get paid for," I said through laughter. I grabbed some more supplies from the storeroom and put them in the truck. I heard the familiar crackle of the radio come to life.

"Alright everyone look alive. We have a code 561, I need all available personnel to meet at the end of the hiking trail immediately." Jace and I looked at each other and jumped into the truck. We started it up and I felt Koda jump in the bed of the truck. A code 561 was always the one I hated the most, a missing child.

When we arrived at the meeting place there was already a large crowd ready to help search. I could see the mother of the child crying and huddled close to her husband as I walked over. The manager of the resort saw us walking over and flagged for us to come to him. "Matto, the child is a young girl named Kerry. She is six years old with long blond hair and she is wearing a pink snowsuit. She was last seen in this area playing near the trees there." He pointed to the tree line in front of us.

"Alright, boys lets go replace this little girl and quick," I said, as I turned to Jace and Koda. They both nodded and grabbed some equipment from the truck. I walked over to the parents and assured them that everything would be fine and that their daughter was probably really close. I walked back to the tree line and followed Jace and Koda into the trees and started the search. This was definitely going to be a long day.

Kendra's POV

After Tenaya chased Matto out the door she came back into the kitchen and sat down with me at the table. I could tell she was worried about me they all were. I really was fine I just was having a difficult time not wondering if Ryker was telling the truth about me being adopted. I had thought about asking my parents, but after I had been found everyone was just so relieved that I was safe that I didn't want to upset them. "What's going on in that mind of yours girl?" Tenaya's voice brought me back to the now. I shook my head.

"Sorry. I was just thinking about something that Ryker had said to me." I saw Tenaya lift her eyebrow in curiosity and it made me laugh.

"Oh really? What did he say to you? You can tell me, Kendra, I promise I won't say anything to Matto if you don't want me to."

I took a deep breath and looked at her. I knew that I could talk to her about this and something about her made me trust her. "While Ryker had me he told me that I was adopted and that my real parents were from the same pack as him. I don't know if I believe him or not, but honestly, it would make a lot of sense with everything that has been happening." Tenaya's lips curled into a smile.

"Well Kendra, I can tell you one thing, it would make sense. I usually am very good at reading people and with you, I sense that you have some characteristics that we have as wolves." I looked at her and my curiosity was getting the better of me.

"What do you mean? I have never turned into a wolf that I know of."

Tenaya sighed and looked at me. "Kendra, just because it hasn't happened doesn't mean it won't. If you were adopted and know nothing about your heritage then it is perfectly understandable that you have never shifted. However, I think that the more you are around us then maybe it will help you. I also believe that you should talk to your parents and replace out the truth. If only to clear your head." She had a good point. Talking to my parents about this would give me some peace of mind.

"Maybe your right. I really would prefer to talk to them in person about this, but I need to know the truth now." I grabbed my cell phone and walked back into mine and Matto's room. I sat on the bed for a few minutes fighting with myself on how to approach the question. I finally decided that I was just going to come out and ask.

I dialed my parent's phone number and listened to it ring a few times before my mother's voice came through the receiver. "Hello, Kendra darling. How are you settling in honey?" My mother's voice was comforting to me even when I don't realize how much I need it.

"Hi, mom. I need to ask you something and I really need you to be honest with me it is important." I said and I could hear the concern in her voice as she answered me.

"Ok honey. What is going on are you ok?" I could feel myself starting to regret this already but I needed to know the truth.

"I am ok mom." I took a deep breath and asked her my question. "Mom am I adopted?" There was silence at first and I thought that maybe I had lost her. Then I heard her voice crack as she answered me.

"I knew that one day you would ask again. Kendra your father and I love you with all our hearts and only wanted what's best for you. Yes, honey, you are adopted. I am sorry we didn't tell you sooner."

My heart was now racing as I just held the phone in my hand near my ear. I could hear the soft cry of my mother. "Kendra? Honey, are you there? Please don't be mad at us. We love you just as much as we love your sister and we would never change anything." I finally snapped back from my thoughts.

"I'm ok mom. I know you guys love me. Thank you for telling me the truth. Do you know anything about my real parents?" I asked her. Again there was silence then she answered.

"Not much, just that they were killed by someone who robbed them. Luckily the killer left you alone and someone passing by found you and saved your life." Everything he told me was true so far. So there is a possibility that I may be a wolf as well.

"Thank you, mom. I have to go now but I love you. I will talk to you soon." She said her goodbyes to me and I hung up the phone and stayed in the room for a few minutes more.

I was still trying to understand everything when Tenaya knocked on the door. "Kendra are you ok?" I heard her call out, as she cracked open the bedroom door.

"Yes and no. I am just more confused and curious now." I said to her as she walked in and sat next to me on the bed.

"What did your mom say?" She asked. I told her everything including how Ryker had tried to rape me. She seemed shocked when I told her that. I thought that Matto had told her or even Koda, but I guess no one had. "He did what? Well, he truly is obsessed with you." Tenaya said to me, as she moved closer to me and placed her hand on my shoulder.

"I still don't understand why he would have tried to do that to me, especially like that." I could see her eyes soften as she started to explain this to me.

"Kendra, it is our belief that the only way to be mated for life is to mate in wolf form. So for him to try and do that to you makes me believe that either he is completely psychotic or he was hoping that you would give in to your fear and shift so he could clam you.”

"It is probably a little of both, but I am leaning more towards psychotic," I said as I let a loud laugh out followed by a snort. This, of course, made Tenaya laugh right along with me. We probably sat there laughing for about five minutes before we finally calmed down. I had tears rolling down my face from laughing so much, but honestly, it felt good to laugh like that.

"Ok ok in all honesty Kendra if you truly believe that you have wolf in your blood then only you can make the transformation happen." I looked at her and all the questions I had were starting to come to the surface. The excitement of being able to shift and finally be with Matto in all ways.

"How do I do that? How do I make the transformation happen?" I asked Tenaya. She smiled at me.

"It is just a feeling. Have you ever been doing something and either got excited or angry? You start to feel your blood heat up and it radiates throughout your body. I am sure if this has happened to you, you probably got frightened and didn't know what was happening. Am I right?" The memories from the night with Matto when I was here the first time came back to me and I nodded at her.

"I actually went into a panic attack. At least that was what Matto said was happening." Tenaya raised her eyebrow again.

"This happened while you were with Matto?" I nodded with some shyness.

"Yes, we were... well kissing and it was starting to get hot and heavy when I freaked out." I saw her kinda smile to herself but she quickly stopped when she saw me look at her.

"Well the next time you feel this way, don't fight it or get scared. Let the feeling take you over. Believe me, the first time you shift is truly amazing and you will want to do it all the time." Tenaya and I sat and talked for so long we didn't realize that the boys would be home anytime. We decided to head into the kitchen and start making dinner for them. Just as we started to walk down the hallway towards the kitchen the front door swung open and all three boys came walking in. They were laughing and smiling as they walked in. Matto's eyes fell on me and I saw a huge smile on his face as he walked over to me. He bent down and placed his lips on mine.

"I see you seem in better spirits. Did you and Tenaya have a good day today?" I nodded at him.

"Oh yeah. We figured out that I was adopted and I probably do have wolf blood in my veins." Matto's color drained from his face and a look of shock came across his face. Then as he stared at me for a few minutes he once again flashed me a huge smile.

"Really?"