Hunger Awaits
Chapter 21

Kendra's POV

"Order up Kendra!" Leo hollered out. I walked up to the counter and grabbed the plates of food.

"You know we have this thing called a bell for a reason," I said pointing to the bell sitting up on the counter next to the plates of food. Leo smiled at me.

"I know, but I just like to yell your name." On my god, he is such a goofball. I knew it was a playful flirt, but I just rolled my eyes at him and took my food to my table.

"Alright gentlemen, here is your food. Anything else I can get for you?" I said to the three men sitting at the table. There was an older gentleman who seemed familiar to me, but I just shook it off. Then there were two other young men with him. They just shook their heads and I walked back to the counter to ring up one of my customers.

The day went by pretty quick and I was excited to get home. I had the weekend off and was expecting Audrey, Bree, and Paxton for a visit. I said goodbye to everyone and walked out towards the truck. I got to the truck and fumbled in my purse looking for the keys. It was already dark and I hated driving in the dark. I finally found the keys and started to unlock the door, when I felt a hand come on my shoulder. I jumped and turned around ready to punch whoever it was. I turned to see Leo with his hands held up in a defensive way. He looked completely ridiculous which just made me start laughing. "Damn it, Leo. You scared the crap out of me." I said hitting him playfully in the chest.

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to make sure you made it to your car and tell you to have a good weekend." I smiled and said thank you to him and then got in the truck.

I started to back out and happened to see the three men from earlier watching me. The older gentleman just stared at me intently and it made me nervous. I shook my head and started driving home. The road was dark and isolated but it wasn't that far to get to the cabin. I turned on the radio and I guess I took my eyes off the road for a moment. When I looked back up I saw something in the road and I swerved to miss it. I came to a stop on the side of the road. I took a deep breath as I regained my composure. I turned my head to see what was in the road and saw the black wolf staring right at me. Oh no, not now. I said to myself. I started the truck again and watched as the wolf started towards me. I put the truck in gear and drove away and watched as the wolf faded away behind me.

Damn it! Why can't he just let me be? I pulled into the driveway of our cabin fast and Matto came to the door as I ran to him. "Hey, Hey. What's wrong love?" He said as I clung to him.

"I saw a black wolf in the middle of the road on the way home. I am pretty sure it is Ryker. I am just so over this." I started to cry a little, but not because I was scared, but because I was mad.

"Kendra, look at me. Nothing will happen to you. Let's get through the weekend with your friends and I promise you that I will handle this." I was looking up at Matto and I don't know what came over me, but I didn't like his response.

"No, we will handle this together. Matto, I'm not a helpless little human girl anymore. We are a team and we will work better together." I felt Matto breath deeply.

"Okay, love. We will handle it. For now, why don't you go hang out with Tenaya and let me and the guys just take a look around? I just want to make sure that we are safe for the weekend."

I agreed and we walked over to the other cabin. Jace and Koda joined Matto outside and I went into Tenaya. I smiled at Matto as him and the guys shifted and took off into the woods. I turned to Tenaya. "Alright, now that they are gone. We need to prepare ourselves because I think they are going to need our help very soon." I explained everything that was going on and she agreed that we all needed to work together. So we started to work on our attack plan for when the time came. The guys weren't gone long, but they said that they thought we were safe for the weekend. We decided that at night the guys would do a patrol before we all went to bed. Matto and I headed back to our cabin and went to bed. Even though I was itching to go for a run I wanted to get enough rest. We had to pick up everyone at eight in the morning and then we had the whole weekend planned out. Tenaya and I planned a big dinner for everyone and we were going to do some skiing and then hit the club. I couldn't wait.

We stood at the terminal gate waiting for my girls and Paxton. I was standing on a chair watching the people unloading from the plane when I saw one of my favorite people. I jumped down and ran into her arms. "Oh my god, Audrey. I have missed you so much." I damn near made her fall over as I hugged her tight. She started laughing.

"Okay need to breathe here," I said oh and let her go.

"What about me am I just chop liver here?" I recognized that voice immediately. I turned and saw Paxton standing behind us.

"Of course not handsome." I reached up and gave him a huge hug. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Matto just standing there silently watching me and smiling. "Matto babe, come say hi." He walked over and said hello to everyone.

"It's good to see you again Matto," Bree said.

"Nice to see you all too. Come on let's get back. We have lots planned for the weekend." He said with a smile and everyone smiled back and we headed out to the car.

After we dropped everyone off at the resort we headed back to the cabin and Tenaya and I made dinner. The first night we all got together and ate dinner and laughed and talked. I found out that Bree was in love, apparently, with some cute blonde that started coming into the bakery after I left. Although, she hadn't asked him out and he would only just smile at her every time he came in, which was every day she was at work. "Girl, just ask him out! What's the worst thing that could happen?" She laughed at me.

"Oh, I don't know. He could think I'm desperate." Now I laughed.

"Bree, you are a beautiful woman. If he thinks that then he doesn't deserve to get to know you. Just ask him out. It's not like we are in the 1950s." We all laughed and Bree nodded at me.

"I think I will. Screw it. When we get back home I'm going for it." I smiled at her and then continued talking with Audrey and Paxton. I really missed them all.

At the end of the night, I said my goodbyes and then went back inside. I guess I must have looked down because Matto came to me and wrapped his arms around me. "What's wrong love?" He asked. I looked up and smiled.

"Nothing really, I just miss them around. I didn't realize it until I got to see them all again." He smiled at me and pulled me closer.

"I'm sorry that you haven't gotten to see them much. I promise we will try harder to either go to them or have them come out." I knew he meant it. I guess with everything that has happened in the last six months, I just hadn't even had the time to miss them until now.

There was a knock at the front door and Matto went to open it. It was Jace. Matto looked at me and smiled. "Jace and I are going to do a quick run, just to be safe. I'll be back in a little bit." I walked over to him and kissed his lips.

"Hurry up. I hate being here alone." He smiled and winked at me as he turned back to Jace and they walked out. I sighed and went in to take a shower. About thirty minutes later I was showered and ready for bed, but Matto still wasn't back yet. I crawled into our bed and pulled out a book. I started to read and I guess I must have fallen asleep holding the book. I was woken up when I felt Matto crawl into bed next to me and kissed my forehead. I opened my eyes and smiled at him. "What took you so long?" I asked him. He propped himself up on his arm and looked at me.

"I don't want you to freak out, but we came across an unfamiliar scent not too far from the cabin. We followed it, but couldn't replace anything."

I looked at him with wide eyes. "Was it Ryker?" I asked. He shook his head.

"No, I didn't recognize this scent. It is someone new, but like I said we didn't replace anything. It very well could have been someone passing through. It has happened before. Try not to worry love. Let's just enjoy the weekend." I smiled at him as he kissed my nose. I tried to let it go, but it was still a little unsettling. Matto wrapped his arms around me and I tried to fall back asleep in his arms. I closed my eyes, but my mind was racing. I was just so ready for all of this to be over. I finally fell asleep.

The weekend seemed to fly by quickly. It was our last night with Audrey, Bree, and Paxton and we were going to the club at the resort. Everyone was going including Tenaya who was frantically going through my closet trying to replace something to wear. "We need to go shopping. I have nothing to wear tonight." She said to me. Audrey and Bree were sitting on the bed with me as we laughed at Tenaya. Audrey looked at me and smiled.

"So, let's go shopping." She said to us. I looked at the girls and nodded. It was around noon so we had a few hours until we had to be ready.

"Alright. Let me just call Matto real quick." The boys had taken Paxton out snowboarding and us girls decided to just hang out at the cabin. I grabbed my cell phone and called Matto.

"Hey, love. What are you girls up to?"

"Nothing really, but we want to go into town and go shopping for tonight."

"Okay, just be safe. I will see you in a little bit. I love you."

"I love you too. Have fun."

I hung up the phone and winked at the girls. "Okay let's go. Tenaya do you have the keys for the SUV?" Matto had rented an SUV for the weekend so we could all travel together. Tenaya held the keys up and nodded.

"Yep. Let's go." She said with excitement in her voice. We all laughed and jumped off the bed to head to the car. I grabbed my purse and was the last one out. I locked the door and suddenly got a feeling of being watched. I looked around but didn't see anything or anyone.

"Come on slowpoke." Bree hollered from the car. I turned and laughed at her as I finished locking the door. I climbed into the car and we headed into town.

Unknown's POV

That was close. I said to myself. I watched the girls leave and then shifted back and walked toward the cabin. I found an open window and climbed in. I can't believe I am doing this. This wasn't what I was about, but Ryker wants something of hers. I walked into the bedroom and straight to the closet. In the very back, I found the dress that he had told me to get. I quickly grabbed it and headed back to the window. I tried my best to not touch anything. I didn't want to leave my scent to much. A few nights ago I thought I was going to be caught for sure. Matto and one of his friends and found my scent and followed it. Luckily I had been smart enough to head to the water and lose them.

I went back to the cabin where Ryker and everyone was. Hunter and Chase were at the door and let me in. "He is in the office waiting for you," Hunter said. I nodded and headed to the office. I heard the voices as I approached so I knocked.

"Come in." Ryker's voice boomed. I opened the door and walked in. Ryker looked up at me. "Did you get what I asked you to get?" I held up the dress and he came across the room and grabbed it out of my hand. "Perfect. Good job kid." I didn't say anything but turned to head back out. "Wait. It's time to bring her home. I want you to follow her tonight and as soon as you see an opportunity I want you to grab her." I stopped in my tracks and turned back to him.

"I thought you were going to have one of the other guys grab her when it was time. Why me?" He looked up at me and smiled.

"Because she trusts you."