On Your Mark

Chapter 10

"That was a tough loss," my father says, sitting around the fire pit in our side yard. The Moon Goddess shines down, bouncing off the flames and illuminating each of our faces. He rubs his bouncing leg, smiling proudly and sleepily, "such a tough loss. It was so close too!"

"You both performed beautifully," Mom smiles, leaning into Dad's side, her eyes fluttering closed with sleep.

"Allie didn't even sign up," Danny replies grumpily. "I don't know why she got to show off anyway."

I stare at my brother and the smeared white marks along the edge of his face - forgotten face paint that I wouldn't be reminding him of. I shake my head with a lighthearted chuckle. I throw a marshmallow at him, hitting him square in the face, "I don't know what you're whining about. You won!"

He straightens in his seat, broadening his chest and popping the tossed marshmallow in his mouth, "I know."

I roll my eyes, throwing another one at him which he catches in his mouth. He shoots his arms in the air, cheering for himself. He chews the sweet treat quickly, pushing out of his seat and tapping Isaac on the shoulder, gesturing towards the woods.

"Where are you going," I ask, furrowing my brows as each boy gets out of his seat, trying to sneak away from the fire and from me. "Don't leave me here alone, with them."

I point at Mom and Dad, both fast asleep in front of the fire. Mom's mouth is open as a light, steady snore vibrates her chest. Dad's head rests on top of hers, his glasses crooked and jabbing into her skull.

"Sorry, Al." Isaac shrugs, "shifters only."

I scoff, throwing my middle finger up at him as he laughs. My brothers leave without a second glance, Gregory only smirks following behind them, but Sam lingers. He gives me a sympathetic look, offering to stay, but I can tell he wants to leave too. I roll my eyes and wave him off.

"Go on, get out of here!" I shout after them, feigning a broken heart and laying it on thick. "Just leave your little sister behind. I hope I don't get taken! Or, or attacked!"

"That's a bit dramatic," my father's gravelly voice mutters beside me. I jump out of my skin at the sound of it.

"Goddess!" I scream, covering my racing heart, keeping it in my chest where it belongs.

He chuckles, closing his eyes again, only to open them moments later to me catching my breath. He sits up, careful not to wake my mother, "help your old man, will you?"

I take his hand and pull him up off the bench, swatting at his hands when he's fully adjusted. "You scared me! Do you know where they're going, can I go, please?"

"You heard your brother," he struggles to say, while simultaneously lifting my mother into his arms. He turns towards the house, her sleeping body cuddled into him like a small child, "shifters only. You're almost there, Al, just a few more days. Put the fire out before you come in, yeah?"

"Yes, Daddy." I nod, staring towards the woods where my brothers disappeared with a strong determination to follow them. My father carries my mother into the house, leaving me alone in the glow of the firelight. I scoff into the night, stomping out the fire, ""shifters only", my ass."

I strut towards the trees in the same direction they all went. I do my best in tracking them - following a trail of broken twigs and distant howls. But after what feels like an hour without finding them, I stumble around, lost. The moon shines through little cracks in the greenery above, giving little to no guidance. A cool chill blows by that could be either real or imagined, but what is real is the shadow lurking behind a distant tree.

"Who's there," I call out.

No one responds, but the shadow moves to another tree.

"This isn't funny," I call out again, hoping they'll show themselves. I sniff, thinking I'll catch their scent in the breeze, but suddenly the wind stands still - refusing to give me aid. "Isaac, if that's you, I'll kill you!"

"Ha!" The voice echoes around me, shifting between shadows, not giving away its source.

"Danny?"

"Guess again," he taunts. I feel him run behind me, lifting my hair off my neck. I spin around, trying to spot them in the darkness. The Moon Goddess reaches her hand down, parts the foliage, and shines directly onto his dark hair and olive skin. Gregory looks up at Her, scowling and shaking his head, "that's not fair."

"Were you following me," I ask, crossing my arms.

"That's rich!" He laughs, "what is it you're doing out here, exactly?"

I swallow the lump in my throat, having been caught. "I was just out for a leisurely stroll."

"Leisurely stroll," he repeats with a slimy smile, "right."

"You didn't answer my question." I narrow my eyes on him.

"I wasn't following you." He shakes his head and then shrugs, correcting himself. "Well, not at first. I was tired of their childish games when I sensed you out here all alone."

"You tracked me."

"Yes." He slithers closer to me, more of him becoming visible as he closes the space between us. "I figured you could use a friend."

"A friend." I laugh. "Is that what you are?"

He shrugs, "you haven't told anyone about what I did."

"She's fine." I shake my head.

"Friends share secrets." He smirks, twisting one of my curls around his finger.

I pull it from his grasp, "friends, don't bust each other in the nose."

"I am sorry about that." He cocks his head to the side, bringing his index finger under my chin and lifting my face into the light. "It looks to be healing nicely though. You're still beautiful."

I jerk my face away from him, meeting his stare with a curious one of my own. Something rustles in the bushes behind me, snapping my attention away from him. He pulls me flush to his chest, covering my mouth with his hand as we both look into the trees. A low growl comes from the brush, but there is no movement. A deep growl vibrates through his chest, rattling against my back as he warns whoever threatens us.

A small dirty wolf, wriggles through the trees, scurrying away from us.

"Was that a,"

"Rogue," he states matter-of-factly, still holding me tightly to him. His hand is warm on my belly and the one that was covering my mouth now rests on my shoulders. His breath is hot on my neck as he lets out a short breath, "we should go. I'll walk you home."

Hurriedly and looking over our shoulders, we hustle through the woods. He keeps a tight hold on my hand, passing through branches and keeping me close to him. We don't hear another wolf and we don't see anyone else, but the threat of it still hangs in the air. We break the treeline into the backyard and he walks me all the way to the backdoor. I place my hand safely on the handle and he drops my free hand.

I turn around quickly, facing him and eyeing him suspiciously. I give him a swift nod and a soft smile, "thank you."

"Of course." He cocks his head to the side, furrowing his eyebrows. He seems to be fighting something within himself, but he shakes it off and returns my smile. "Good night, Alexandria."

"Night," I whisper, turning the handle and stepping inside. I peer out the large window and watch him leave reluctantly.