Hunger Awaits
Chapter 27

Ryker's POV,

"I think it's time to make our final move. I want this over now." I said, looking at my father and the other men. My father looked up at me.

“What is your plan? How are we going to finish this?" He asked. I thought about it for a moment. Then I heard Leo speak.

“I think you should use her as bait. Make Matto come to you. It would give us the upper hand." I looked at him and was a little shocked honestly. I had been worried that he was going soft.

" I like that idea, but you are going to be the one that delivers the message to Matto." I said. I watched Leo for any sign of remorse or weakness, but he showed none. He just simple nodded at me.

“Then it's settled. Leo you will deliver the message and we will get prepared. Let's end this tonight." My father said. I nodded and we decided on the perfect place for this to happen. Somewhere off the beaten path, a few miles up the mountain where no one would see or hear us, in fact Leo suggested it. Even though we are rogue wolves, we still no the importance of keeping our secret.

Once we had decided everything, Leo left to deliver the message to Matto and I decided to pay my little white wolf a visit. When I entered her room, she was asleep on the bed and curled into a ball. The sheets were tossed on the floor in a pile. She truly was more beautiful than I had expected in her wolf form. I almost regretted breaking her spirit the other night, almost. I had to prove to her that I was taking what was mine and that she would submit to me in every way. She had to know her place. "Wake up Kendra." I said, walking over to her. Her eyes opened in a panic and she sat up and backed away from me.

“Please don't touch me. I can't deal with the pain anymore." She said in a broken voice. I smiled because I knew that I had almost broke her all the way. Watching Matto and his pack die would just finish the process and then she would submit to me.

“It's time to go and see Matto now. Get dressed we leave in an hour." Her eyes widened and I knew she was putting everything together. I watched her for a moment and then walked out of the room to finish preparing.

Matto's POV,

There was a knock on the cabin door and Tenaya opened it. Leo walked in and nodded at us. "The plan is set. He took every suggestion I gave him. Kendra will be there and he also agreed to the location I suggested as well." I smiled.

“This is great Leo. You are starting to earn my trust, but the battle will be the real challenge. If you can follow through with your side of the deal than we will follow through with ours." Leo nodded.

“I will do whatever it takes to help Kendra and you all. I have to get back, but we will all be at the spot in an hour. Is everything set up?" He asked. I nodded at him.

“Yes, everyone is already up there except for us. Now get back to Ryker and we will see you soon." He nodded and left. I turned to Tenaya, Jace and Koda. "Tenaya, I want you to stay here. It might get really bad up there and I don't want to lose you." Her face hardened and her tough side came out.

“I am not staying here. You need me. I am completely healed and I can be the perfect distraction, since they think I am dead."

I knew that from the look in her eyes she wasn't going to listen to me anyway. "Fine, but if it gets to bad up there you are to grab Kendra and leave do you understand me?" I said. She nodded and wrapped her arms around Koda. We grabbed our things and started to head up the mountain. Chayton and the rest of the pack were already waiting for us. The only ones that stayed behind were a few of the woman and the children so we had about twenty or so people with us. I approached Chayton and he wrapped his arms around me.

“We are all set here brother. They won't know what to think when we all come out." He said to me. I nodded.

“Good. Remember when Leo gets Kendra away from the rest of them he will need some back up. I want Tenaya, Kaya and Honaw to back him up." I said and they all nodded. Once everyone was in place we all shifted and waited.

I immediately caught her scent as they approached and also her fear. I walked into the open field with Jace and Koda next to me. We had Tenaya waiting with the rest, because we needed her to be a surprise as well. Ryker and a few other men including Leo approached us and then shifted. Kendra was held back by two other men. Ryker only had maybe ten or so people with him, so we definitely had him outnumbered again. "So, we are finally going to finish this Matto. I see you are missing one of your pack. How is the little woman, Koda?" Ryker's voice entered all our minds and I heard Koda snarl next to me.

“Easy Koda. Not yet." I said. He grunted in acknowledgement and kept his eyes on Ryker and his men.

“All right Ryker, I see you brought your men with you, but why should other's die? Let's you and I finish this." I said. I heard him laugh.

“It will be you that loses this time Matto, and Kendra will watch you die." He said.

I looked up at her and saw her eyes. They were fixed on us and wide. I knew she was scared, but I knew she would be safe. I caught Leo's eyes as well and he sort of gave me a nodded. I looked back at Ryker. "We shall see who is the loser. Are we doing this or not?" I snarled out. Then a new voice entered my head.

"Matto, why must there be more blood shed my boy. You have already lost so much. Must we make your whole tribe extinct now. Just let her go and we will leave." I didn't recognize the voice, but Chayton did.

“Who is extinct Andres?" Chayton said as we turned and watched my pack walk out from the trees. I turned back and watched as some of Ryker's men started to fall back and run to the woods.

“Where are you going you cowards?" I heard him yell out at them.

I watched as an older looking wolf stepped forward and then looked at us and looked back at Ryker. "I won't fight against the tribe Ryker. I told you that. The Quhalin tribe is the oldest tribe out there and the most powerful. I may have formed a rogue pack, but I will have respect for them. Boys we are leaving." I watched as half of the men standing behind Ryker followed Andres out of the field. I saw the anger in Ryker's eyes.

“Fine, I don't need you anyway." He snarled out at the others as they left him. The two men that were standing with Kendra also left and I watched as she started to come running towards us. Then in a flash I saw two wolves jump and pin her to the ground. Then I heard Ryker's sinister laugh. "You thought it would be that easy. She is mine. I will kill you and have Kendra watch me do it. Or maybe I will have Leo kill one of your other men just like he killed the woman in your pack."

"Killed who?" I heard Tenaya, as she slowly walked forward. I watched Ryker look at her as she stood next to me and then look back at Leo.

“You trader. I knew I shouldn't have trusted you." Ryker said. Leo then quickly lunged at the two wolves that had Kendra pinned knocking them off of her. I heard a growl come from Ryker as he started to run towards Leo and Kendra. I jumped in front of him.

“Not going to happen Ryker." I said, crouched down in front of Leo and Kendra protecting my mate.

“Fine, then I will just kill you now." He said as he lunged at me. I moved out of the way and grabbed his tail with my teeth and throw him away from Kendra and Leo.

“Get her out of here." I said to Leo as I watched the remaining men of Ryker's pack start to attack the men on my side. All hell was breaking lose and I needed her to be safe. I saw her quickly start to run with Leo as Tenaya came up right behind them with Kaya and Honaw. I was watching them and didn't notice Ryker start his attack.

He jumped at me and pinned me to the ground. I heard Kendra yell out and I quickly threw Ryker off of me. I turned and saw the horrified look on Kendra's face, as Ryker came at me again. We were both matching each other with claws out and teeth snarling. I could hear and feel the others around me slowly starting to defeat each of Ryker's men. I knew I needed to end this. I started to run towards Ryker and jumped, but was caught in midair by Hunter, one of Ryker's men. He caught me off guard and had me down on the ground with his teeth in my shoulder. I watched as Ryker came up slowly. "I told you that you would lose." Ryker said. Hunter had me locked in his jaws in a way that was almost paralyzing me. I wasn't sure if I could get out of this one. Just as Ryker was about on top of me I watched as a flash of white fur knocked him away from me. Then I saw Leo grab Hunter by the neck and throw him away. As soon as my shoulder was released I could move and I leaped up to see Kendra and Ryker fighting. She was amazing.

She had him by the neck and almost pinned down. She was letting all her anger out now and she was using it to her advantage. I watched her in aww as she fought hard. Just when I thought she had him another wolf came out of nowhere and grabbed her and threw her away. It must be Chase or maybe one of the others who came back. I started running to her when I saw Leo attack the other wolf. They rolled away from her and now Ryker had his eyes on her. Not this time I thought.

I ran up behind Ryker and locked my jaws into his throat. I could taste the blood and fur in my mouth as I bite down and wouldn't let go. I watched as his eyes grew big, knowing that this was the end. "She is my mate Ryker and you could never destroy that." I said as I shook him violently and heard the snap of his neck in my mouth. I held on until I saw him shift back. I let go and just for good measure I ripped a hole in the side of his neck. He was gone. Kendra was standing in front of us and I could see the relief in her eyes.

“This is finally over." She said. I nodded at her then walked over to her. We both shifted in unison as we grabbed each other and held tightly. She was my world and my everything. Nothing would ever take her from me again, especially now that I had my pack with me. We walked hand in hand back to the others who were finishing off the rest of Ryker's men. Chayton had shifted back and was starting to disperse clothing to everyone. I saw Kendra's eyes light up as Tenaya ran up to her and they hugged. "I am so glad your alive." Kendra said. We all laughed. Then I watched as her eyes caught Leo's eyes.

She walked over to him and stood there in silence for a moment. Then she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. "Thank you Leo." Was all she said. I knew that we would have a new member of the pack and even though he made some wrong choices, I was okay with it. Leo had proven himself and I knew that he would be a great addition. We have never really accepted people from other packs before, but I was alpha now and I knew that what I said went. Besides everyone already seemed to be accepting him. We all walked away from the mountain a changed pack. Stronger, wiser and we were one again. Chayton had already had some of the others dispose of the bodies and all was right again.