''Come on!'' yelled Isabe excitedly as she grabbed her twelve year old brother by the hand, dragging him unceremoniously from the table, causing him to drop his spoon into his half finished bowl of cereal. Grumbling loudly, Marcus ran behind his seventeen year old sister, trying to keep up with her as she wove her way through the pack members making her way quickly toward the front door.


    ''I hadn''t finished my breakfast'' Marcus moaned as they burst through the open front door and skidded to a stop on the top step, Isabe bouncing on the balls of her feet in anticipation as she stared down the driveway, squinting against the morning sun to try and see any approaching cars in the distance.


    ''Marcus Justin Alistair Cross, If I waited for you to eat your fill, we would still be sat in the dining roome lunchtime'' retorted Isabe, as she tucked her long blonde hair behind her ear nervously, ''they are going to be here any minute, I can''t wait all day for you'' Marcus rolled his eyes as he stomach rumbled in protest, ''geez'' he mumbled annoyed ''you don''t have to pull out my full name! you ain''t mom you know''


    Pushing him yfully, Isabe returned her attention to the distant gateway, squealing loudly as they slowly started to open, ''Mom, Dad! Quick, they''re here'' she yelled over her shoulder excitedly, jumping up and down as the ck SUV slid up to the doorway, gliding slowly to a stop in front of them.


    A tall muscr man stepped from the drivers seat, striding over to Isabe, he drew her into a tight hug as he boomed ''Isabe! you look more and more beautiful every time I see you!''


    ''Uncle James'' she squealed back happily, trying to wrap her arms around the huge warriors frame.


    ''Let her go James, other people want a hug'' came a stern voice behind him, as James released the teenager and moved to give her brother a fist bump and a hair ruffle, Isabe was soon engulfed in a second hug by a brown haired woman in herte thirties. ''Aunt Chloe'' Isabe squeaked, hugging her tightly ''I have missed you so so much!''


    ''I have missed you too sweet girl'' Chloe uttered back, brushing Isabe''s blonde hair from her face lovingly, how do you get more gorgeous, it shouldn''t be allowed to be as stunning as you are'' she said causing Isabe to blush.


    A shriek from behind them caused Chloe and Isabe to release each other as Charity rushed down the stairs and threw herself at her best friend excitedly. Her husband following behind her, holding out his hand to James in wee.


    The back door to the SUV opened and the tall, dark brooding face of their son Riley appeared as he stepped from the vehicle. Isabe jumped at the teenage boy, wrapping her arms around him frantically yelling ''Riles you''re finally here!'' before grabbing his hand and dragging him back into the pack house as the adultsughed.


    ''I think she''s pleased to see her best mate'' chortled James smiling, the two children had been best friends since before they could talk, despite growing up into entirely different people, Riley being the handsome, outgoing, bad boy type that girls swooned over, Isabe more the quiet, studious type, unaware of her own beauty, the pair had remained fast friends and were fiercely protective of each other.


    A younger boy of Eleven years old stepped from the back of the car shyly, walking over to Marcus with a quiet ''Hi'',


    Marcus grinned back at him happily, ''C''mon Paul'' he urged ''lets go yputer games! and we can ask Mrs Sharp if we can have some cookies cos my stupid sister wouldn''t let me finish breakfast so i''m starving'' he said with a glower as the young boy nodded enthusiastically.


    Charity looked over Chloe''s shoulder at the SUV questioningly, ''No twins?'' she asked a little disappointed, Chloeughed shaking her head,


    ''No it seems that as much as they love Auntie Charity and Uncle Aaron, the fact my parents are currently staying with us and my father lets them eat chocte ice cream for breakfast, tells them gory stories about the battles that he and Alpha Alistair fought in and teaches them to fight with real swords'' she said with a shudder ''they decided to stay behind. she rolled her eyes as the men both chuckled behind them. Linking arms with her best friend, Charity led the way into the pack house, Aaron and James following behind chattingfortably.


    *********


    Isabe dragged Riley up the stairs by the hand, before bursting through her door and throwing herself onto the bed as she finally released him. Riley Lent against the sturdy wooden pole that made the bottom corner of her four poster bedughing as Isabe spun round to face him, rolling onto her stomach, smiling up at him happily.


    ''You are a nut job Be, have I ever told you that?'' he asked yfully, plonking himself down next to her with a grin.


    ''Oh not that I can remember'' replied Isabe ''though now I think about it, maybe yesterday on the phone? orst week, orst month? or every day of my life since I was five'' she giggled as she reached up and punched him in the arm.


    ''Oh you did NOT just punch me Be?'' Riley said his eyes widening before he pounced on top of her, pinning her waist under his legs as he proceeded to tickle every part of her body he could reach while she screamed andughed underneath him trying to squirm away from his grasp.


    ''OK OK I give!'' she yelled after a few minutes, gasping for breath as Riley smirked above her, raising his hands in victory before pressing a friendly kiss on her forehead and rolling off her. ''It''s not fair'' Isabe moaned ''Why are you not ticklish!''


    ''Ie from mighty warrior stock babe'' replied Riley, brushing his hair out of his eyes as he gave her his ssic smoldering look, ''I can''t have people taking me down through tickling when i''m out there protecting my pack'' Isabe rolled her eyes at him ''Ugh, does anyone fall for that stupid intense gaze?'' she asked poking him in the ribs.


    ''Every she wolf in my year at school'' Riley shot back, shrugging his shoulders before starting tough. ''You babe are literally the only girl I can''t make weak at the knees, I reckon your a*s is defective or something'' he said before leaping from the bed as Isabe snatched up a pillow and started to chase him round the room swatting him with it.


    ''I am NOT defective'' she yelledughing ''I just don''t fall for your bullshit Riley Lennon Davies''


    Skidding to a stop Riley turned suddenly and yanked the pillow from her grasp, smacking her across the backside as she turned to run shrieking loudly, ''Full name Be? not cool babe, not cool at all'' he called as she dove into her bed giggling, pulling the covers over her head to protect herself from the pillow onught.


    Throwing himself onto the covers, Riley pulled back the bedding to reveal the disheveled face of his best friend, grinning at her as he rolled on his back next to her.


    ''So, you ready to find your mate?'' he asked wiggling his eyebrows seductively.


    Isabe rolled her eyes, ''Ugh no! I am soooo not ready to have some puppy dog following me around trying to show off their muscles to me'' she groaned a Rileyughed.


    ''Hey, how else are we supposed to get our girl? Our muscles are our best weapon against you lot, one pec flick and you are falling at our feet'' he said coyly whilst twitching his chest muscles under his tight shirt causing Isabe to start making gagging noises, pretending to throw up.


    ''Trust me, no-ones pecs are going to have me falling at anything, anyway have you seen the boys in this pack, ugh! they are all only interested in the thought of being the next Alpha''s mate'' she moaned dragging her fingers through her hair to try and tame it again. ''So you are definitely going to take the Alpha role then?'' Riley asked sitting up to face her.


    ''Of course'' Isabe replied looking surprised, ''why wouldn''t I? Its my birth right, i''ve been training for this my whole life''


    Riley just shrugged, a small shadow crossing his face, ''no reason, just thought you''d maybe want to travel in case your mate is somewhere else, what if he''s also an Alpha? you''d have to stay with him''


    Poking her finger in his chest angrily, Isabe huffed, ''I do not have to do anything for anyone, if my mate is an Alpha of another pack, well he can just give up his ce ande here to stand beside me whilst I lead MY pack'' she growled, ''Just so you know Mr Twenty first century cave man, I don''t have to be below a man, I don''t have to change my name for a man, I don''t even have to ept a man if I don''t want too''


    Riley held his hands up in surrender at the furious she wolf glowering at him, ''hey! you know me babe, i''m all for equal rights, Women leaders.... women on top'' he added with a smirk as Isabe giggled despite herself, her mood breaking as she stuck her tongue out at him muttering ''so crude''.


    Scooting next to her, Riley put his arm around Isabe pulling her close to him, ''you babe are going to be a kick a*s Alpha'' he said softly as she smiled up at him, leaning into his embrace.