howling at the moon

Eleanor Turner

Matt stalked the city boundaries in his sleek wolf form, he was the largest wolf in his pack and had the blackest fur anyone had seen. However his bright emerald eyes always shone in the light, so no matter if he was hiding in the shadows his eyes would never dull. However if he suddenly saw two emerald orbs staring out from the darkness, it would send a shiver down anyone’s spine. But right now he was protecting his territory, this had been the second time in two days that he had caught scent of another werewolf near his city. The other’s in his pack assumed the wolf was passing through as Matt had already gone around the city limits and marked it as his own, but he wasn’t so sure that this wolf was planning on leaving which is why he was silently patrolling the boundary on his own.

Being the Alpha was his dream come true, although it did come with the expectation that he would find himself a mate. He had an endless supply of female werewolves that would want to take that role, but he had grown up with parents who actually loved each other and mated for the right reason. He wanted that for himself eventually, he wasn’t in any rush to mate because he did enjoy having his own space and not having to worry about anyone else. Of course he did want to have pups of his own, but again he felt like that could wait until he mated with someone special.

---

Eleanor stepped out of the shower and grabbed her towel, she had taken another pregnancy test and was still waiting on the result. She dried her body before covering herself with a robe, the alarm on her phone sounded to signal that the five minutes were over and the test should be finished. She didn’t bother waiting for Brian, she grabbed the stick from where it rested before she tossed it into the bin and slammed the lid down. Another negative test, she wasn’t sure what was wrong with her but there had to be something if she was struggling to fall pregnant. Normally werewolves had pups easily, she should already be carrying and there had been a time a few months ago when she had. But it only lasted about two months before she miscarried and her heart shattered, Eleanor knew she was putting pressure onto herself but she couldn’t help it.

Stepping into her and Brian’s bedroom, she saw him sitting on their bed in the house they brought together after the mated. “Maybe we should go see someone,” She suggested although she wasn’t sure who they could see, and the look that crossed Brian’s face told her that he didn’t agree with that idea. “I don’t know what else I can do, it shouldn’t be this hard. No one else still struggling,” A small pout formed on her lips as she sat down on his lap and leaned into his body, a heavy sign escaped from her lips.

Brian stared down at his hands as he waited for Eleanor to get out of the shower, along with finding out the results of the pregnancy test she had taken before hand. He wasn't trying to get his hopes up or anything about this. They've been trying to have pups since they mated and for some reason they just couldn't get pregnant. It was very frustrating for the both of them and he just didn't understand what they were doing so wrong. Especially when Eleanor had her miscarriage. That day he was ready to just give up altogether but thankfully they were able to get through it even though it still terrified him that it might happen again.

Brian jumped a bit when he heard the timer go off, chewing the inside of his cheek. He winced when he heard the lid of the trash can slam shut, sighing heavily. Another negative he bet. He looked up when Eleanor came out of the bathroom, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close to him as he listened to her. He didn't want to go see someone about this, only because there wasn't really anyone that could help them. Normal human fertility treatments weren't going to help their situation at all and werewolves didn't have doctors for this sort of problem. "Maybe we should just... take a small break. Let nature take its course. I know we want a baby desperately but taking a test every time we have sex and every time you ovulate isn't going to give us the results we want," he said with small chuckle. "Let's just forget about the tests for a while. If you start getting bigger at some point and don't have a period for months then we'll know."

---

Clara's Snow White ears perked up as she heard rustling in the woods, wondering if she should follow the sound. But when she smelled the scent she froze in her spot, deciding against following the sound but not exactly moving either. She would remember that smell anywhere. She let out a small whine, sitting down as her ice blue eyes stared into the direction of the rustling leaves. Clara knew Matt was in the woods. Of course his smell was a bit different, more masculine and authorative. But he still had that undertone of spearmint gum that he chewed constantly. Clara let out a small howl before running off into the opposite direction, not wanting to see him just yet. This wasn't how she wanted their first encounter to be like. Not after all these years.

Clara and Matt had been best friends since birth. They were thick as thieves and some said they would end up mates when they were older. But of course Clara ruined that whole future with her temper that matched Matt's. When she was in grade school Clara had been protecting her other best friend, Eleanor, from the harsh bullies in their class. Things got a little to hectic and Clara got kicked from the pack. What can you do. She sighed as she went back to her camp on the outskirts of town, changing back into her human form and deciding to get ready for a night at the local bar. She knew Matt frequented himself there and she needed some drinks.

Once Matt heard the soft howl, he sprinted through the woods. Dodging tree trunks and jumping over bushes that were in his way, he could still move quick considering his large size but he still wasn’t fast enough. By the time he reached the spot where the lone wolf had been, it was gone but Matt lowered his head to the ground and sniffed out the scent. A female wolf was on her own, but there wasn’t something about the scent that caught him off guard. He knew that scent, he had been around that scent every day when he was younger. It was a scent he wouldn’t forget, no matter how much older he got.

The scent used to be sweeter though, now there was a more salty and a tang to her. But could it really be Clara? He wouldn’t tell the pack that he thought she may be the lone wolf that stayed in the woods, he knew Eleanor would take it badly if he was wrong about this although he was almost certain that Clara had found her way back. But he wasn’t sure if he should allow her back into his pack, not after what she did all those years ago but he did miss her. Turning around he ran back to his home, he needed time to think about this so once he changed back into his human self he set out to Johnny’s Bar.

---

Eleanor knew that Brian was right, they were putting pressure on themselves when they should just be enjoying themselves. Sex shouldn’t be focused on in the way she has been, their lives did change when she had the miscarriage and she hated that. She wanted them to be how they used to be, where they always had fun and never took anything seriously. “I guess we can try that,” She smiled as she didn’t actually tell Brian that he was right, he didn’t need to know that. Looking at the handsome man before her, she closed the gap between them and pressed her lips to his. But she broke the kiss before he could take it any further, she climbed off his lap and walked over to their closest so she could find something to wear.

Pulling on her clothes she pushed her hair up into a messy bun, “I hope Matt isn’t still trying to find that lone wolf. It’s probably not even here anymore,” She looked over to Brian, neither of them really understood what it felt like to be an Alpha but Eleanor knew Matt was just protecting his territory and his pack. But for the past few days all he has been doing is patrolling the woods, “Maybe we could set him up on a date.” She suggested with a wide smile on her face, Matt hadn’t been on a date in months so it might take his mind off this lone wolf.

Brian was glad that Eleanor agreed to his suggestion, though she didn't exactly tell him that he was right. She seemed to want to avoid that. He just wanted to be happy again and not worry about getting pregnant every time they had sex. It was really putting pressure on their relationship and it shouldn't be that way. They were still young, they had their whole lives ahead of them for pups. Brian grinned as he felt her lips on his, his hand slowly making its way up her thigh and around to her bum, giving it a nice squeeze as he deepens the kiss. Though it didn't take long for her to pull away and end it just as fast as it started, causing a small pout to form on Brian's face.

"I'm sure he is," he said with a heavy sigh, laying back on the bed. "He doesn't want any harm coming to the pack. Being alpha can be challenging especially if the lone wolf could be rogue." Brian stared up at the ceiling, folding his hands behind his head. He wasn't sure he could ever be an alpha. There was way too much work involved in the whole thing. He was fine with just being the helper when Matt needed him. When Eleanor suggested setting Matt up he laughed, looking over at her and nodding. "That's a great idea. Even though he has ladies drooling over him every time he goes out," he said with a small eye roll. Ever since he became alpha every damn woman wanted to get ahold of him.

---

Clara smoothed down her little black dress, smirking to herself. She sure did love dressing up. She slipped on her black stilettos before putting on some red lipstick to finish up her makeup. Fluffing up her hair she nodded at her appearence and changed into her wolf form, running to Johnny's bar. It was a lot quicker than walking, that was for sure. Once she got to the edge of the forest she changed into her human form, making a face as she picked some pine needles and what have you out of her hair. She shook her head and walked down the side walk, smirking and waving at some familiar faces as she walked passed. Granted she did look a hell of a lot different, more grown up. Curves in all of the right places, finally grew a set of boobs. But she just had that face and the small details that sets her apart from everyone else. Makes her Clara.

She pushed open the door to Johnny's bar, looking around its occupants. All eyes were on her, especially since she was the unfamiliar new girl in town. She ignored the stares as she took a seat at the bar, ordering herself a drink from the bartender who she was almost positive was someone she had went to grade school with. Clara looked down the bar, seeing an extremely attractive man. Maybe she'd try to get a piece of him tonight. But with the way the ladies flocked around him she wasn't sure if she was going to be able to. But she didn't blame him, he was fairly handsome with those tattoos and muscles.

Matt wore his usual dark wash jeans, navy button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and black boots. He was sitting at a booth having his first drink of the night, he was only sitting on his own for two seconds before the first woman walked over to him. He had counted in his mind for how long it would take, but every woman that tried their luck with him just wasn’t right for him. Which caused him to text his pack, all of them had other plans until he received a reply from Brian who had agreed and would be there after Eleanor got herself ready. He sighed in relief because now he wouldn’t have to deal with all the women who wanted him just because he was an alpha, he wasn’t stupid. He knew the power he had and being his mate would give the wolf a life of luxury, he knew that’s all the women cared about.

So he leaned back casting a glance around the bar, everyone he saw was familiar to him until his eyes landed on a woman’s back. Her long silky black hair fell along her spine, the dress clung to an amazing set of hips and her toned legs were down right sexy. But that was all Matt could see of her, he knew that she must have been new in the city and although her scent mixed with other’s in the bar. He could still tell she was a werewolf, he was curious about her. Was she the lone wolf hiding in the woods? Or was she simply passing through, like many did before without causing him any trouble.

---

“Don’t get jealous of Matt now, we both know that you get laid more than he does right now.” Eleanor smiled at Brian as it was true, Matt hardly ever took a woman home with him now that he was alpha. Or if he did, he kept it secret from the pack which was hard considering Eleanor saw everything that was happening. Brian thought she was being nosy, but Eleanor saw herself as being helpful. Moving over to her mate, she watched him as his phone beeped with a new message. She listened to him as apparently Matt wanted back up at the Johnny’s bar because the ladies were annoying him, “We should go. It’ll be good for us to go out and have some fun again,” She wanted to go out for a drink, play some pool which she always lost because she didn’t actually know how to play.

“Tell Matt we’re coming,” She quickly moved back over to their closest and pulled out some clothes for Brian to put on, before she pulled her clothes off and replaced it with dark grey dress that showed off her curves perfectly. She left her hair in the messy bun and only applied a small amount of makeup to her face, slipping her feet into a pair of nude pumps she was ready to go. “What do you think?” She asked slowly spinning around for Brian to check her out, before they left the house and ran to Johnny’s bar.

Brian laughed. "Well, you're definitely right about that one, sweetheart," he said with a smirk. Matt was definitely not getting laid what-so-ever where as Brian was practically twenty four seven. Speaking of Matt though, his phone went off with a text message from him, making Brian raise a brow as he read the message. "Matt what's his To go to Johnny's Bar to save him from all the women," he said with a small laugh. Although that sounded fun, he wasn't sure if Eleanor would be up for it. He looked up at her, seeing the look on her face that told him he was definitely wrong, along with her answer. She was right, it would be good for them to go out and have some fun for a change.

Brian got up and freshened himself up, putting on some cologne and fixing his hair. He looked over as Eleanor walked out of the bathroom, smiling brightly as she twirled for him. "You look gorgeous, baby," he said, kissing her softly as he took her by the hand. He lead her out of their room, down the stairs and out of the house after making sure everything was locked up. He drove them to Johnny's Bar, going inside and searching for Matt and finding him in a booth in the back of the bar. Brian wrapped his arm around Eleanor's shoulders, guiding her over to the booth and letting her slide in before sliding in himself. "We're here to save the poor damsel in distress," he smirked, winking at Matt.

---

Clara sipped on her drink, feeling a pair of eyes scanning her backside. She adjusted herself in her seat, trying her hardest not to look back. When the front door opened and the smell she knew would never change wafted through the room Clara thought she might burst into tears right there. She could smell her childhood best friend. Her reason for her abandonedment but Clara would go back and do it again if she had to. That girl had been her whole world, her family. She put back the rest of her drink, turning around in her chair and seeing where the smell was coming from, along with the pair of eyes that were clinging to her. Sure enough, in a booth in the back corner, Matt sat with Eleanor and Brian. Wait, Brian? Eleanor and Brian? Clara furrowed her brow, then she couldn't help but start laughing. She couldn't believe that girl had managed to snag him. She rememebered that Eleanor had the biggest crush on Brian growing up but never had the balls to tell him. She was so happy at the sight before her.

Clara tapped her nails against the bar, trying to figure out what she wanted to do. It was a major long shot here. She wasn't sure if she was even ready to confront them yet or not. But she might not have a choice since she just made eye contact with Matt. She quickly turned in her seat, ordering herself another drink and trying to pretend that didn't happen. Maybe he wouldn't notice anything. It's been years. Only she was dumb enough to think about them all everyday for years to remember every feature about them.

@ sugarplum.

Matt rolled his eyes at Brian’s comment, “It’s not like I made you come here. Besides you two haven’t been here for a while, I did you both a favor.” He spoke as he took a sip from his drink that sat on the wooden table top, glancing to his friends he looked at them as he lowered his voice. “That could be the lone wolf, her scent isn’t from around here.” He told them before he glanced over to the beauty sitting at the bar, now her back was facing them but she had looked back over her shoulder. Her eyes had met with his for only a few seconds, but it was long enough for Matt to know that she was most likely the lone wolf that he was trying to keep away from his territory.

Frowning slightly he watched as Eleanor climbed over Brian before she walked straight towards the stranger, “What is she doing?” Hissing as his body tensed, his alpha wolf clawed at the inside of him as his instinct kicked in. His protectiveness came out in full force as he watched a wolf from his pack enter a risk of danger on her own, he had no idea what Eleanor was thinking. Standing up from the booth, he went to make a move towards the smallest member of his pack but he stopped at how the two women were acting.

---

Eleanor sat down at the booth in between Brian and Matt, she was slightly confused as there was a scent in the room that she knew but she couldn’t pin point where it was coming from. “You would have bugged us if we didn’t come save you,” She smiled at Matt before she followed his gaze over to a woman who was sitting at the bar, if she was the lone wolf then why wasn’t Matt talking to her? He hasn’t stopped complaining about her since he first smelt her scent near the boundaries of the city, then it all suddenly hit her as to why she knew the new scent that was clinging in the air. Could it really be her? Was Clara trying to return home after all these years? She had grown up. Eleanor didn’t even say a word as she climbed over Brian so she could get out from the booth, her feet carrying her right over to her best friend.

“You weren’t going to come over and say hello?” She spoke as she stood behind Clara, “I always hoped that you would come back to us.” She watched as Clara slowly turned around on the stool she was sitting on, she had always been a pretty girl but now the dark haired wolf was gorgeous. Eleanor would have been jealous of Clara’s beauty if she didn’t have her mate already in her life, she wrapped her arms around Clara’s shoulders tightly as she thought she’d never actually see her best friend again. She had always wondered what happened to her after she was forced to leave the pack, she had tried many times to find Clara but always came up empty handed.

Brian had to agree, he and Eleanor definitely needed this. It had been a very long while since they went out and had any sorts of fun. They've been so focused on trying for a baby and recovering mentally from the miscarriage that they just haven't really had time for any sorts of fun. Brian looked over in the direction that Matt was looking towards as he spoke, seeing the off put woman at the bar. She seemed familiar but Brian thought everyone looked familiar anymore it seemed so he wasn't really off put by it. "So why aren't you going over there to talk to her exactly?" He asked, raising a brow as he took a sip of his drink. Matt had been searching day and night for this lone wolf and here she was, sitting at the bar just waiting to get her ass handed to.

But then the unexpected happened. Eleanor climbed over him, making him grunt a little and hold his hands out to steady her. His eyes were wide as he watched her make her way towards the lone wolf. Both he and Matt stood up, the Alpha protectiveness kicking in along with his mate. But the two girls embraced in a bone crushing hug, Brian finally being able to see the girls face. "That's not... it can't be," he started, shaking his head. "She's not supposed to come back here." Brian was so confused. There was no way that was Clara. But with the way Eleanor was treating her made him almost certain that it was. Brian was surprised that Matt never noticed right off the bat considering those two were probably just as close Clara and Eleanor were.

---

Clara was almost ready to make a run for it. She had no idea why she hadn't expected to run into Eleanor. The only thing she's ever focused on was trying to get home and get back into her pack. Her reunion speech with her best friend just never came to mind, even if she had thought of her every single day. Clara felt someone come up behind her, stiffening when she heard that soft airy voice of her childhood best friend. Tears instantly filled her eyes as she turned around, giving Eleanor a small shrug. "I didn't know what to say. I've imagined this moment since the day I had to leave but never did I ever think it would really happen," she said softly, wrapping her arms around the tiny woman and hugging her tight. She sniffled, just holding her for a minute before pulling away.

"First things first. I have to address the elephant in the room. Please tell me you managed to snag Brian Haner as your mate like you always dreamed of growing up. I must say, he's definitely grown into a rather handsome man," Clara said with a smirk, looking over at the two men who wee standing like they were ready to pounce at any minute. "Matt's bee after me for months, not just weeks you know. I just finally decided to make an appearence. I've been so scared to. I don't want to be denied the chance of coming back. Even though I don't regret what I did, that fucker deserved it," she said with a nod, crossing her arms over her chest. She would never regret what she did. If Matt wouldn't let her back in then so be it, she would have to stay alone forever.

Matt saw her face. His gut had told him that she had been the lone wolf for months, but he had refused to believe it. Although she had been told to never return to the city by the Alpha before him, it was now his decision to either allow her back or tell her to leave. He wouldn’t be able to forget what she did, but unlike anyone else he believed that Clara had only attacked another because she was defending Eleanor. The blonde wolf had always been the smallest, the runt of the pack and had been picked on for it or left out by certain others. “I knew she was back… I didn’t want to believe it,” He admitted to Brian, partly so he wouldn’t have this huge decision to make but also so it wouldn’t hurt Eleanor again if Clara wasn’t allowed to stay.

“I don’t know what to do,” Matt knew he’d need to test Clara, to make her she wasn’t still aggressive or a danger to his pack. She would have been a lone wolf for years now, most lone wolves turned highly aggressive because it meant they would survive. Grabbing his drink he finished it off as he needed it right now, he didn’t make a move towards the girls. If Clara wanted to ask his permission to join his pack, she would have to come to him so he sat back down in the booth. No matter how much he wanted to wrap his arms around her and never let her go again.

---

“You should have just come to us, you didn’t have to say anything.” Eleanor hugged Clara tightly for a minute, “I thought I’d never see you again.” She whispered before pulling back, a wide smile formed across her face as she nodded. “I did, and it was the easiest thing I’ve ever done. As soon as I hit puberty and became a woman, he chased me and only me until I agreed to mate with him.” She always did have the biggest crush on Brian, a crush that Clara knew all about when they were younger.

Signing softly she took Clara’s hand into her own, “He’s only trying to protect us. But you have to come over, I’m sure he’ll let you back into the pack.” Smiling Eleanor pulled Clara across the room and over to the booth, “Guys it’s Clara. She’s back,” She was so happy that the dark haired beauty had found her way back home. Eleanor made Brian move so they could sit in the booth, Clara in between her and Matt while Brian sat on the end again. She leaned into her mate’s side, “She’s finally home.” She whispered as she looked at Brian, suddenly any thoughts or worries she had about not falling pregnant with pups had completely disappeared from her mind.

Brian sighed heavily and shook his head as he sat back down. "I don't have a clue, man. If you let her come back all hell will break lose with the old people of the pack. Our parents will be pissed," he said, rubbing his face. Matt's father was the precious alpha of course and Brian's parents had been on the council to help make decisions in a way. Which is what Brian does now. He was an advisor. He just helped Matt when he needed help on things, like another opinion on hard and important topics. Though right now Brian certainly couldn't help him with this one. This was a girl that his mate had a strong connection with. Brian could even feel it.

He grinned and got out of the booth, letting the two slide in. He had to admit, little Clara definitely grew up over the years. He raised a brow as he watched her slide in, not being able to help himself as he noticed all of the new and old scars on her legs and arms. It was hard to tell what she'd been through over the years and Brian didn't even want to think about it. He slid back in, wrapping his arm around Eleanor and chuckling softly at how happy she was. Seeing her happy made him happy. "Don't get too excited yet baby, okay? She still has a lot to go through before she can come home," he murmured against her ear, rubbing her arm. He didn't want her to get worked up and then get her feelings crushed. They've had enough of that already lately.

---

Clara smirked as she giggled. "Well good for you, Ellie. I knew you two would end up together." Her eyes widened when she dragged her towards the table, so not ready to talk to the two men sitting over there just yet. Especially Matt. She wasn't ready to face him. Clara bit down hard on her bottom lip. As she slid into the boot, her body stiff as she sat between Eleanor and Matt. She felt like a caged animal and that was so not good. She needed to calm down and relax before she did something completely stupid and ruin any chance of being able to come back. She looked around at everyone, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. Matt's scent was so intoxicatingly that it was making her dizzy.

"Well, it's nice to see you two again," she said, smiling at Brian and Matt. "It's been a while. Matthew, I'm sorry I've been giving you the run around lately. It's been a lot of fun though." Clara smirked, poking Matt's nose with the tip of her finger. She really began to study him, turning her body towards him. She wasn't hiding the fact that she was looking him over either. He was so fucking sexy. He really grew into those ears of his and he wasn't scrawny. She loved the tattoos he now adorned on his body too. "What will it take for me to come home? I've been waiting years for the moment that you became alpha so I can come back. I think I've been alone long enough," she said with pleading eyes.

Matt watched closely as Eleanor dragged Clara over to the booth, it was obvious by Clara’s face that she wasn’t ready to face him although it was apparent that Eleanor either didn’t notice or she didn’t care. “It hasn’t been all that fun for me, especially those nights when I was close to catching you. Then you decided to be a little shit,” He commented as he looked at her, there had been only a small handful of times when he had been so close to trapping her. Only for her to somehow slip away from him each time, which drove him crazy but also encouraged him to continue stalking her whenever she was close by.

He sat there watching as her brilliant blue eyes moved over his body, he wouldn’t admit out aloud that he had already checked her out. She had grown taller but now her body was extremely curvy, she had the best pair of breasts that he had seen for a long time. Her long legs and firm ass was making him drool, but her eyes and smile have always been his favourite features of her’s. He thought about her question, “Prove to me that what happened before, will never happen again. I don’t care if you’re protecting another, I have to think about my pack first.” He told Clara as he would also need to think about all of this, his pack would always come before his own feelings and it will always be like that for as long as he was Alpha.

---

Eleanor hadn’t seen her childhood best friend for so long, she couldn’t stop herself from getting excited. “I know but Matt has to let her come home, right?” Her soft voice was quiet as she looked at her mate, she knew both men sitting there believed her that Clara had been protecting her. But she also knew it wasn’t that easy for Matt, allowing Clara home could very well divide the pack members and that would cause a lot of drama that Matt didn’t deserve. “I just want her back, it was my fault that she was kicked out.” Eleanor had never forgiven herself for what happened, Clara did the right thing and she was punished for it.

Nothing happened to Eleanor, a part from her heart breaking as she watched Clara walk away from the pack. Glancing over to the pair who looked amazing beside each other, Eleanor grinned as she turned back to Brian. “Should we go play pool or something? They have stuff to talk about,” Of course she wanted to catch up with Clara, but it was more important for her to speak with Matt right now and she didn’t want to interrupt them.

Brian grinned at her and nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure he will. It wasn't your fault, baby, don't think that. It was no ones fault but the jerk face who kept talking shit, he got what he deserve," he told her with nod. Brian hated that Eleanor felt like it had been her fault that Clara left. She had to, it was pack law. She completely mawled another member of the pack, even if she was just a kid. There was no excepts. At least everyone knew not to get on her bad side now if she did come back. Maybe this would be Matt's chance at finally finding his chance at happiness. Those two were always talking about marrying one another when they were little even if they didn't know what if meant.

Brian looked down at Eleanor when she suggested they give the two alone time and go play pool, grinning and nodded. He could stand a round or two. "I'm going to kick your butt," he said with a smirk as he slid out of the booth, taking her hand and going over to a free table. He got the balls pit, setting them on the table and lining them up. He got his stick, chalking if up. "Ladies first," he said to her with a smirk.

---

Clara knew it wasn't going to be easy. She sighed heavily, relaxing back in her seat. That is until Eleanor and Brian left the booth to go play pool. Clara frowned, not wanting to be alone with Matt. She had such a bad problem with Alphas. None of them seemed to want to even be remotely nice to her or give her a chance. Clara needed to remember that this was still Matt. This was still the kid she used to make mud pies with and feed people worms. The only thing that she knew had changed so far was his body build.

"Alright. I can do that. Just let me prove I'm a grown women and not some little kid with a temper problem," she said with a small giggle, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "So what all do I have to do exactly?" She asked as she furrowed her brow. She really had no idea what sort of crap he was going to put her theough to make her prove herself. "One more thing, there wouldn't happen to be a place I could stay for a while is there? I'm really getting tired of camping out in the woods."

Matt’s eye never once left Clara, not even when Brian and Eleanor left the booth to play a game of pool. He didn’t want to look away and risk having Clara disappear again, but another reason was that he was still taking in and admiring her beauty. “You’ll have to wait and see what I have planned for you,” Because he honestly didn’t know himself, there haven’t been many times when a lone wolf was allowed into an already formed pack. This was all new to Matt, being an Alpha was still new to him and he was working things out as he went.

Hearing her new request he couldn’t help but chuckle at it, “First you want to come home and now you want to stay somewhere? You always did get your own way, most of the time.” He looked at her, although they hadn’t seen each other for years. For Matt it felt like she had always been in his life, things were easy with Clara and had been since they were kids. “You can crash at mine,” He agreed before he signaled to the bartender that they wanted another drink, “So why come back now?” He asked the question that was burning on his tongue.

---

“Only if I let you win,” Eleanor scoffed as she held onto Brian’s hand and followed him over to a few pool table, she picked out a stick and rubbed chalk onto the tip. She watched as Brian set the balls up before she bent over the table, lining up her stick with the white ball. She pulled her stick back before letting it connect with the white ball, which sent the other balls all over the table. She successfully knocked a ball into a pocket already, she did love times like this. Either with Brian on a date or spending time with the pack, “Maybe Matt’s finally going to start getting laid again.” She grinned as she remembered how close he used to be with Clara.

Eleanor knew that with Clara being around, it was going to cause a lot of others to feel jealous as Matt would stop giving them attention. Not that he gave many his attention to start with, hopefully none decided to pick a fight with Clara because she’d hate for it to turn out like last time. “I really hope she stays,” She sighed softly as not everyone in the pack will want Clara back, but she hoped Matt does the right thing.

Brian laughed. "Let me win? More like I let you win," he said, walking up and taking his shot. He sent a ball into the pocket, smirking over at her. They were always so competitive when it came to any game the played. He loved it, they were so playful with one another. It was just one of the many things he loved anothe their relationship. "He might," he said with a small chuckle. Brian wouldn't be surprised if Clara ended up being Matt's mate. That was totally getting ahead of himself but still, with the way those two were anything was possible. But if that did ever happen the pack probably would be even more in a fickle than if and when she were allowed back.

"I'm sure she will be. Look at them talking, nothing bad is happen so I'm sure he's agreed to give her a chance. They're smiling and looks like they're flirting. He's going to do his best to get her back in, I promise," he assured her. Brian knew that Eleanor wanted Clara back in the pack. Brian wanted Clara back just so that Eleanor had someone. Eleanor practically didn't had no one ever since that incident besides the guys, only because they were all there and they knew what really happened. If he, Matt, and the guys hadn't been there to see it all then who knows where they'd be right now. Not with all the rumors.

---

Clara raised a brow at him, leaning her elbow against the table as she stared at him. "Wait and see? If I didn't know any better I'd say you don't even know what you're going to have me do," she said with a smirk. She thanked the waitress that brought them a refill on their drinks, taking a sip of hers. She was getting antsy and she really needed the confidence and relaxation of the alcohol. She hadn't expected all of this to go so easy. Of course this was just the beginning. She still had the rest of the pack to face... her parents. She had to see her parents and the rest of her family. People who practically shunned her and pretended like she never excited.

"Well thank you, I appreciate it," she said with a small smile. Even though staying with Matt would be a bit awkward, she wanted a nice warm bed to sleep in and a shower. "Shouldn't you be looking for a mate? Wouldn't me crashing with you cramp your style?" She snorted, biting her lower lip. Unless he'd already found a mate. Then she would totally be embarrassed. But from her understanding he still hadn't found one and Clara still wanted to make her move. If she could become his mate there wouldn't be anything anyone could do about her being in the pack.

Matt sipped his drink and chuckled softly as he shook his head, “Well I’ve never been in this position before. Any smart lone wolf wouldn’t think of sticking around long enough for him to pick up their scent,” He admitted to her as he had no clue what he’d have her do, he guessed he’d get her to do things outside of her comfort zone. So he could see and test her temper that she has always had, if she couldn’t control her anger then he would tell her to keep moving and to not come back again which he knew would be fucking hard on them both.

Rolling his eyes he finally looked away from her, “Don’t you start. El has been on my case for months, so has my mother. I’ll find my mate when she comes into my life, but I guess if you want to stay with El and Brian then you can. Just a warning their trying for pups,” He smirked knowing Clara wouldn’t want to hear those two going at it whenever they felt in the mood, he didn’t see what the big deal was about him having a mate. He could be an Alpha without a mate by his side, it would be nice to have a mate but he didn’t understand why the pack thought he needed one.

---

“The only time you’ve let me win, is on our first date and I knew you did it because you wanted to get into my pants.” Eleanor grinned as she took another shot, this time she knocked two balls into the same pocket. Looking over to the booth, she smiled at how cozy the two of them looked. “I know… her being here isn’t going to go down well within the pack, only the guys will want her back.” That is what worried Eleanor the most, she didn’t want to see any fights or arguments break out because Clara was back home where she belonged.

“Her family haven’t even mentioned her name since she was kicked out, Matt’s dad isn’t going to want her back.” Worry shone in her eyes, she knew she couldn’t do anything to help or change the pack’s minds. It was out of her hands but she still couldn’t help but worry about it, she just wanted her friend back. She didn’t have anyone else, she only had Brian and the guys who she loved. But she didn’t have any girlfriends within the pack, whenever she wanted to talk about girly things then she was forced to tell Brian who always listened to her but she knew he only did it because he loved her.

Brian snickered, a cocky grin on his face. "Well yeah, if I hadn't let you win we may not be where we are today." He walked up to the table, sticking his tongue out the side of his mouth in concentration as he eyed up his shot. He pulled his stick back before pushing it forwards, knocking two balls in one hole and then another two balls in another hole. "Oh shit, how you like them apples," he said as he did a little jig. "I'm sure most of them forgot what even happened. Don't worry your pretty little head over it, okay? As long as she proves she's gotten a temper check there's nothing they can do about Matt's decision."

Brian frowned and sighed softly when she mentioned Clara's family. "I know. They're embarrassed by it, you know that. They're the fucking perfect, rich, white picket fence family that really just pisses me off every time I think about them," he grumbled, his eye twitching a bit. They were more fake that plastic, Clara's family. Brian hated them all. Her parents and her siblings. Brian really didn't like it whenever Eleanor socialized with them and he made it known too. He just couldn't help it. They were odd people.

---

Clara shrugged a bit. "What can I say, I'm not just any lone wolf," she said with a small sigh. She hated it when someone called her that. That was enough to make any lone wolf actually feel alone. "I'm more like an abandoned wolf, don't you think? A small child being kicked out of her pack for protecting her friend, who hadn't even learned the general pack rules yet. The shit I had to go through to fend for myself the first few years was absolutely horrifying," she said with a humorless laugh, shaking her head as she took another sip of her drink.

She raised a brow at him when he told her not to start about his mate. "You know you need your coleader. The one who keeps you calm and collected at all times in tense situations and is ready to kick ass right beside you. Your dad wouldn't have gotten anywhere if it weren't for your mom and you know it," she said with a snort. The only thing his mom didn't have a say in was if Clara got to stay or leave the pack that day. Though she had tried so hard to make her husband calm down and let Clara stay. "Yeah, I'll pass on staying with the two love birds. I had a feeling something was up just by looking at Eleanor. She has this weird glow about her," she said, watching the two at the pool table.

Matt would never truly understand what Clara has gone through in her life, and he wasn’t about to try and understand. He did try his hardest to convince his dad to let Clara stay in the pack, punish her in a different way for what she did but to just let her stay. She was a child, she didn’t fully understand the pack rules or what she was doing. But his father pushed him aside and didn’t listen to a word he said, “I guess that’s where they came from.” He muttered as he didn’t dare glance down at the scars that marked her beautifully tanned skin, but he had seen the scars when she had been sitting at the bar. However he quickly moved from that subject, in case Clara didn’t want to bring up what happened to her out there in the wolf world.

“I know that I need a mate, but it doesn’t need to happen right now. I haven’t been Alpha for six months yet, I’ll mate when the right wolf comes along.” Matt knew exactly how much his mom had done to help his dad be Alpha, he did want that for himself but he wasn’t going to settle for any woman. He wanted to find the one woman for him, like Brian had found in Eleanor. “Those two love each other so much, it makes me sick.” He chuckled sipping his drink, “I guess I’d like to have what they do. You would have loved it when Brian realised what El was to him, he chased her non-stop for months. He scared off so many other wolves,” Matt knew Clara would have enjoyed watching all of that, he and the guys used to sit back and watch it all unfold.

---

“I’m sure we’d still be together,” Eleanor smiled before rolling her eyes when he pocketed four balls, meaning he was winning so far. Brian was right, maybe the pack wouldn’t be as harsh on Clara as Eleanor first thought they would be. And it wasn’t something that she should be worrying about, it was entirely Matt’s decision on what would happen. Eleanor lined up her next shot as she listened to Brian complain about Clara’s family, even she thought they were strange but she was still nice to them whenever she did see them. That was just how she was. “I know babe,” She took her shot but only watched as two balls fell into a pocket, she was losing the game now.

Glancing over to Matt and Clara, they were still talking about something. “I wonder where Clara will stay now, should we offer her our guest room?” She asked as she walked around the table, a smirk formed on her face as she watched Brian take his shot. But before the stick hit the ball, her hand smacked his ass which completely distracted him and it resulted in him missing all the balls. “Oops, my bad.” Eleanor laughed as Brian turned around to face her, he wasn’t please but she was.

"You're right, I wasn't giving up either way," Brian said with a smirk. He chuckled as he watched her take her shot, grinning triumphantly when he noticed that he was winning. He licked over his lips as he leaned over to take his turn, eyeing it up. He grunted and completely missed his shot when he felt someone smack his ass, turning around and seeing Eleanor. "That's totally cheating," he said, a not so pleased look on his face. He knew what she was doing and he wasn't going to let her do it. "That's not fair, I missed my shot and now it's your turn," he whined, stepping back.

He couldn't help but give her a big, wide eyed look as he shook his head no when she began wondering where Clara was staying. "Nope, our guest room is taken. I dobt she wants to hear your pleasure filled screams every night anyways," he said with a smirk. "I'm sure she has a place to stay, like maybe the same place she's been staying the whole time she's been here?" He said with a small shrug. "It's not like she has to stay within city limits. She's still considered a lone wolf until Matt says other wise."

---

Clara heard him mumble something about scars, which made her shift uncomfortably and scratch her most noticeable scar on her thigh. Of course she didn't heard all of what he said and she didn't bother about asking him to repeat himself either. Anything involving scar talk make her super uncomfortable and it made every mark on her body burn and itch. She cleared her throat, taking another sip of her drink. It definitely wasn't doing its job of calming her nerves.

"I'm sure you'll find that. Though what they have is pretty special, I can tell. It's almost as if they found their true mates, yunno? Some people just settle for anyone, but then you have the ones who are lucky enough to actually find their match, like those two," she said, smiling. Clara wanted something like what Eleanor and Brian had too. But with her certain agenda she doubted she'd ever find it unless by some mirical it was with Matt. She raised a brow when some redhead came over, looking bashful and awfully cute. "Hi, Matthew. How about that drink and dance you owe me?" She asked, completely ignoring Clara. She dug her nails into the table, her eyes turning a bright icy blue as her wolf tried to come out to play. Clara had to get a hold of herself.