Chapter Six

I walk towards the cemetery, hoping and praying that the pack drama is over for tonight. Somehow I doubt that though it's never over.

"Riya."

She didn't answer me. I found myself growing alarmed. If something happened to her in my absence, I would never forgive myself.

I search around the cemetery frantically looking for her. Where could she be? Then my eyes spotted her sitting behind a huge solid oak tree.

"What's wrong?" She was crying and had her head brought to his knees. I feel so lost and broken, seeing her upset. I hated it. My sweet girl.

"I feel so lonely, Dev all by myself."

My heart feels like a body being ripped out of a grave.

"Riya, I'll run away with you."

She looks up at me with tears in her eyes. The sight stung my heart.

"We both know you have to have the Alpha's permission or you lose your wolf."

"You used to be a werewolf."

I still am. She changes into a werewolf. It looks like she was hit by a car, and brought back to life. She looks like a dead zombie werewolf.

Then she changes back into my beautiful girl.

"Riya, you won't be lonely for long, I will handle Ajay." I know his heart, and I hope he won't kill my mate.

I bring my lips to hers, and kiss her lustfully, and I can't stay away from her much longer either. I need her at camp with me. Then I see Chetan and Zara approaching us.

"Zare, what are you doing here?" I holler.

"You told her?" Riya says. I see the hurt on her face.

"No, Riya, I don't know how she would have found out." I raise an eyebrow at Zare.

"The sea monster had a spyglass."

"No, you didn't." I cross my arms over my chest.

"I did."

I don't even want to see how Ajay will punish her. He is going to be pissed, and I don't blame him.

"You better hope Ajay doesn't find out that while he was going insane thinking you were

dead, you were spying on him." I chuckle.

"Yeah, so don't tell him," she snaps.

I could keep it a secret, if she doesn't say anything about my girl.

"Fine, if you don't say anything about Riya."

"I think you should bring her back to the camp," she tells me.

"What? No way! Ajay would kill her."

"He won't kill your Mark mate." I know there is truth in her words, I was thinking the same thing honestly.

"Damn, how long have you been spying on everyone?" I glare at her. I'm not going to lie, she pissed me off.

"Zero told me that," she tells me.

"That's the sea monster," Chetan pipes up.

"Wait, you named the monster?"

"Stop it, boys, yes I did," she says.

Chetan and I both laugh.

"All three of us will stand in front of her, protecting her. Ajay won't challenge us",

Chetan decides.

Okay, but I won't let anyone hurt my mate."I will fight Ajay, if he tries to hurt Riya.

"No one will; we got this." Zare gives me a confident smile.

Are you up for this, Riya? I look at her beautiful sweet face.

"Sure," she says with a smile.

I hope this goes smoothly, because I don't want our next pack drama to be preparing for Ajay's funeral.

All of us change into our wolf form, and once again Riya is a scary sight. Her fur is matted and covered in blood, a piece of her ear missing, one of her eyes is swollen shut, she is foaming at the mouth, and has cuts throughout her body. We race

back to camp.

Everyone sits around the fire, it looks like a fun welcoming sight.

"We got this, we know our pack and Alpha. He will let Riya stay, and they will look past

her being a zombie," Zare says.

"Are you sure they can't hurt her?" I look at Riya, who was my whole world. I would die trying to protect her.

"I hope."

"You hope?"

"Let's change into our human forms," Zare says.

We all nod and change.

"They will," she tells me.

I watch Zare walk towards camp.

"You are back, beautiful." Smoke gives her a wink.

I roll my eyes.

"Ajay, we need to talk," she says.

"What did you do now, Zare?" He clearly looks aggravated.

"Dev found his Mark mate."

"That's great," he remarks.

"She is a zombie," she tells him.

Very smooth Zare. I laugh in my mind.

"What? That can't be!" he replies with a confused face.

"She was a werewolf and died," she explains.

"You guys are killing me." Ajay takes a deep breath. "Is she trying to attack anyone?"

"No. Come over here, guys," she screams in our direction.

Riya and I walk over hand in hand, and Chetan follows behind us. I hope he has my back, if this turns into a fight, because no one will hurt my girl.

"I am Riya," she says once face to face with the other pack members.

I was so very proud of her, she appears so brave and confident.

"I haven't heard a zombie speak, only growl and moan," Ajay comments.

"Maybe it's because I am a part wolf," she assumes.

"Yeah, that's probably why," Ajay agrees.

"Let's see your wolf form then," Smoke says.

Riya changes into her wolf, and the whole pack gasps in horror.

"I know it isn't pretty, but it's me," Riya tells us.

"You're not letting that ugly beast stay, are you?" asks Smoke.

"I would hold your tongue, mate." I glare at Smoke. I already feel ready to fight with him.

"The only ugly beast around here is you," Zare says.

"Oh bummer, I thought we were going to bone tonight, Zare," Smoke laughs tauntingly.

Ajay starts laughing.

"In your dreams, "Chetan growls.

"Her loss." Smoke gives me her wink.

"Riya is welcome to the pack," Ajay announces.

I feel relief rush through me. I am proud that my mate will be part of the pack I love.

"Did you never find your mark mate while alive?" Chetan asks.

"No, I didn't," Riya replies.

"Interesting," Ajay says, thoughtfully.

Riya changes back into her human form.

"You are magnificent, even as a zombie," Ajay states.

"Back off, lover boy." I flash Ajay my playful grin.

Ajay just chuckles.

"Thanks, man, for letting her stay."

"You know I got your back," Ajay replies.

"I should know. I thought because she was a zombie, you would want to destroy her."

"I can see why you would think that."

"It's amazing finding your mate."

"I thought you were sneaking off often." Ajay laughs.

"Guilty."

"How did Zare find out?" Ajay asks.

"You'll have to ask her that," I say with a smile. I am not looking forward to seeing her punishment. She is going to be in huge trouble.

"Zare, how long had you known?" Ajay stamps his feet.

"I – I found out tonight," she stammer.

"Before or after the river accident?" he asks.

"During, I guess."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"Yup, I can't figure it out, either." Zare looks down at the ground.

"Zare, spit it out now," he says more seriously.

"The sea monster had a spyglass." Zare closes her eyes.

"Tell me you weren't spying on us while we all were in deep sorrow over your death." He

clenches his jaw tight.

"I was," she says.

"Maybe it isn't as it seems." I try to calm Ajay. I have never seen him this mad.

"Yeah, I am sure it's not," Chetan agrees. The girls shake their heads.

"So while I was crying, panicking, and calling myself a failure, you sat there watching

the entire thing." His breathing becomes more rapid as he is no doubt struggling to control his anger.

"Yes." I see tears building in Zare's eyes, and it did hurt my soul.

"Zare, I don't even know what to say," he says.

"It was a horrible thing to do."

"No shit! Seriously, I could tie you down and let everyone beat you with sticks; you

pissed me off so bad." I think Ajay might lose control; he looks like a loose cannon.

"I deserve it." Zare looks so sick. I feel guilty, just turning her over to Ajay like that.

"So what, you wanted to see how I would react if you died? You thought I wouldn't care?

I didn't love you still?" he screams.

"Yeah." I see more tears falling down her cheeks, and I know this time I am going to interfere with whatever Ajay has planned. The protective side of me is starting to come out. I didn't like seeing Zare cry.

"That makes me feel even worse than the time we were together. I didn't make you feel

loved, I didn't express my feelings to you enough, and I didn't prove to you how much I love

you!" Ajay's eyes are watery.

"You did, Ajay." Zare is crying uncontrollably. Her body shakes.

"Then you wouldn't have slept with Chetan or needed to watch my reaction to your

death to know how much I love you."

Aanya grabs his arm, no doubt comforting him, yet he pulls away.

"I don't even know what to say." He swallows hard. He turns to walk away, Zare grabs

his arm.

"What did the tree tell you?"

"That you were the most important member of the pack, and I most always keep you

safe," he says looking down.

"So that's why you were so protective of me," she asks.

"That's only part of it, how much I love you, well that's most of it." He turns to leave.

"Please, Ajay," she begs.

"What do you want?" He holds her face in his hand as he gently rubs her cheek.

"For you to forgive me."

"You want me?" He asks her.

This whole thing is getting uncomfortable to watch. I hate love triangles, I feel bad for Chetan. I know from speaking with both men, they both do love her. And honestly, I know Chetan loves her most. He would never hurt her, the way Ajay has. The way Ajay kisses Aanya in front of her. It was pretty irresponsible for Ajay to develop a romantic relationship with Aanya. I felt he's using her to get back at Zare. Maybe I am wrong.

I watch as Ajay, holds Zare in his arms. I see, his face softens and the anger leaves. He handled her more gently than I thought. I was very proud of him for that, cuz I know Ajay and he was pissed.

"Then what about Chetan? He loves you, and that's no joke."

"I know I love him, too. I love both of you," she cries.

"Well, I am not a good sharer," Ajay says, dropping his hold on her face.

"I just need to eliminate myself from the equation."

Changing into her wolf, Zara ran into the woods. Ajay and Chetan call after her.

Later that evening, I lay with Riya in a little homemade tent, I put together behind the trailer. She lays on my chest. She feels so fragile in my arms, I know I am absolutely in love with her.

"What's the deal with Chetan, Ajay and Zare?"

She looks up at me.

"A fun little love triangle." I kiss the top of her head. She smiles up at me. I'm never going to get tired of this, looking at that sweet beautiful face.

"What's you and her relationship? I can tell it's special."

"I feel pretty protective over her, I think besides Chetan, she's my best friend."

She nods. "Lucky girl."

I smile. "Or cursed."

She laughs. "I think it'll be pretty awesome to have three guys love me."

I kiss all over her face, and her giggle fills my heart with pure happiness.

"I think you better get those thoughts out of your mind, cuz you're all mine."

She smiles. I run my fingers through her hair.

"Dev," she looks up at me.

"Yeah babe."

"Wouldn't you rather have somebody else who's your mate not a ugly zombie?"

Her words sting my heart. How can somebody so beautiful think they're ugly? Just because she has some imperfections on her face doesn't mean she isn't gorgeous. Hell, I am far from perfect.

"Riya, don't call yourself ugly around me again."

She looks shyly up at me. I trace the bottom of her lip with my finger.

"I am crazy in love with you."

I bring my lips to hers, kissing her sweetly. I love the taste of her lips. The way she peeks up at my face.

"Dev, I love you too."

I smile hearing her say the words.

This girl has my whole entire heart. I don't really feel like my own person anymore. I know that a big part of me belongs to her. I'll always protect her, always be there for her, but most of all always love her.

I guess I'm the werewolf who fell in love with the zombie.

The End