Chapter 20

"Alrighty, now, do you guys want to sit on the floor or lay on the bed?"Hunter asked. As he looked around the room, it was cluttered with a ton of things that Ryder had brought in and was going to fix the room up with. "How about you guys lay down for a bit while we get this cleaned up," Hunter said looking around at the floor. Ryder helped Xavier first, then Hunter came over and laid Willow next to him. "Now just call if you need something but just rest, okay,"Hunter said, pulling the blankets up, "we'll get food later okay?" they nodded and started to close their eyes.

~about an hour or two~

"Alright...alright, careful now, Hunter," Ryder said as he was directing Hunter to move a large box. The box was as big as he was yet carried it like it was nothing. Then dropped against the wall with a loud thud. This made Willow and Xavier glow a bit, only difference this time was the light had been caught... by Hunter, who then started glowing for a minute then stopped. "Great! You two are awake, we were wondering when you would wake up." Ryder said as he came over. He checked on both of them before walking over to Hunter. "So Hunter, how do you feel," Ryder asked looking at him.

"Huh?" Hunter was a bit confused, but it was easily fixed with a trip to the bathroom. Hunter could not believe what he saw. His eyes had a glow around the edges. "How did that happen?" he asked, looking closer into the mirror.

"They must have given it to you," Ryder said," think of it as a power boost. I wouldn't rely on it, but if your in a fight that's how they will help you. At least, one of the ways,"Ryder said. "Come on we promised these guys some burgers and fries remember and I want to see this thing you set up."

Hunter comes out of the bathroom in a daze, he couldn't believe what was happening. He had never felt stronger than this, also he felt amazing. But it did seem kinda odd to him the whole thing.

"Hunter, I wouldn't worry about it," Ryder said. This caused Hunter to get jolted from his thoughts. "The feeling you have will probably go away by tonight, if not not tomorrow morning same with the eyes. Just so long as they don't hit you with anymore magic today, but come on let's eat we have a burger here just for you." Hunter's eyes lit up at the mention of food,he didn't realize how hungry he was as he hurried over and sat down at the make shift table.

It was hard to even see the table there was so many bowls and plates of different things, everyone just grabbed from what they wanted and settled down somewhere to eat. Hunter had always had a mostly milatary life so this was odd to him but after a minute or two he discovered that he liked it. " So while they eat you can tell me what you want to know, and I wouldn't worry about them they are going to be happy for a few hours so let's use them to our advantange." Ryder said pointing to Willow and Xavier. They seemed to be of in there own little world that was made of burgers chips and soda-pop.

"Ummm...I guess the first thing would be what did you guys do to me," He asked. As he said this Hunter took of his shirt the marks on him had a bit of a shine to them much like polished gold but with a little more sparkle to them, "Well, your former Alpha didn't want to die." Ryder said leaning back a bit trying to think about the best way to say this to him. "Their blood has the ability to heal anything even if there is no cure for it. Anna didn't like having to just give it away nor did I, and money, well, your pack would be bankrupt if I let Anna set that kind of price. So I picked something that at one time was considered an honor, but would leave him without something. Were you coming for a reason?" Ryder said this looking at him in hopes that the answer wasn't what he was hoping it was.

"All I know is that we were bringing someone to the west coast to see the council and before we left Alpha brought me into his office and asked me if life really was as bad as I was making it." Hunter looked down at his food, he did not want to remember any of this. "My mate had just died a few weeks before we left and she was the only family I had left. Rogues had taken my mother and father a year ago. My sister, she has a mate in another pack so everyone was trying to tell me it was okay but really it wasn't." Hunter gripped the plate so hard it cracked, and Ryder took it from his hands. "So if I wasn't out overdoing it on the training grounds I was out getting drunk. So I really don't know why he wanted me to come along. The only the is why does it feel like it would at the pack." Hunter asked.

"What do you mean by that," Ryder said.

"Well, when Alpha was in a good mood it feels like this," Hunter said moving his arms around the room. "Now, it was even better when Alie was alive, but why does this feel so home like?" Hunter asked

"Now that is a good question, in fact I was hoping you would ask it before we would drop it on you," Ryder said. "The marks on you are for Star Warriors. They are a legend not known to many anymore. They gain their powers from the ones who have been cursed, and in turn will protect them. In really rare cases a warrior will bond with a pair of star-lovers. Which is what you did," Ryder handed over a new plate of food, he even included a can of soda. "We didn't expect that you would do that. Not only was it quick it seems really strong too," Ryder said. "Because of this fact you can't go back to your old pack," Ryder said. He then reached over to grab some more chips. "But from what you have told me I don't think that you're going to be missing out much. Nor will you be missed am I right in thinking this?" Ryder asked pulling chips from the bag. Hunter just shook his head in realization. "Those two don't care about your past and will always think you are the greatest." Ryder said. Hunter got a smile on his face, he liked the sound of that. "That's a look I have seen before, but then I have only really met a few Star Warriors.

"Can I get some clothes," Hunter asked, "ones that aren't covered in blood. Also for them, the smell is kind of making me sick."

"I did not think about that we just went straight to fixing the room...but they need to get out of those clothes and maybe cleaned up," Ryder was going on and on but then Hunter stopped him.

"I have an idea you get me the clothes I'll take care of everything else," Hunter said with a smile. "and as far as stuff on me, well I guess I will just have to figure it out as it goes. Staying with them sounds like a good idea not just for my sake,"Hunter said as he looked around wondering where he would put a bed of any kind in this room.

"Hunter is there something that we should know about?" Ryder asked, getting up to collect the trash.

"Just that if my former Alpha thinks that they can keep him alive and help in a battle they aren't safe anywhere. He will not just be asking for their blood, but to keep them," Hunter said. He sounded like someone who had seen more than one should at his age, and he did not want to tell Ryder all the deals that he had made just to stay alive. It made Hunter sick to think about it but he pushed it from his mind. They needed to get cleaned up and dressed in something not blood covered, and maybe of this century. He would talk to them about it cause there was no way he was giving up wearing jeans and t-shirts.