The Test, for Love and for Life

Chapter 9

Randy was packing a bag to stay over at Dakotas for a bit. "Do I really have to go with you?" Chase whined. "Yes. You're my daughter, and this is your new family. You need to meet them." Randy insisted. "Ugh! I dont care about family! Thats why I like just having you! And you're more a friend than a mom." Chase pointed out. "Thanks?" Randy wasnt sure if it was an insult or a compliment. "Look Chase, this is really important to me. I know you dont care, but I really do. And I really want you to be there because you're a huge part of my life. So can you please just do this for me?" Randy asked. Chase sighed. "Fine. If you're gonna be so moody about it then Ill go. Is it cold in their house?" She asked. "By your standards? Probably." Randy shrugged. Chase sighed. "Great. Ok." She walked away.

Randy pulled up in the driveway and Chase looked up from her phone. "Nice house. Right?" She asked. Chase shrugged. "Whatever." She groaned. She got out and went to grab her bag from the trunk. Randy grabbed hers before they walked to the door. Dakota smiled as she opened the door. "Hey! Im so glad you're here." She hugged Randy. "Me too. You remember Chase?" She gestured to the teenager behind her. "Yes I do. Nice to officially meet you." Dakota smiled at her. Chase was not amused, and just stared at her until they went inside. Charlie was quick to run up and hug Randy. "You're here!" She exclaimed. "Yeah! I told you I would be. Charlie, this is my daughter Chase." Randy introduced them. Charlie smiled up at her and Chase gave a short fake smile. "Chase, this is my youngest daughter Charlie. And this is my son Liam." Dakota held up her son. Chase just nodded at the new information. "Wheres Layla?" Randy asked. "I told her to come out. Layla!" Dakota yelled. Layla slumped into the room, looking very unhappy. Chase raised an eyebrow. "And this is my oldest." Dakota said to Chase. "Yeah. Not anymore." Layla rolled her eyes. Chases eyebrows shot up. "Be nice Layla. Here Chase. You'll be in the spare room while you're here." Dakota led her across the house.

Chase was getting settled in her room when her door suddenly closed. She raised an eyebrow and turned around. Layla was glaring at her from the door. "Can I help you?" She asked. "I dont like you." Layla snapped. "Me either." Chase shrugged. "You cant just come in here and become the oldest sibling. Thats not fair! And you get your own room too! Not fair at all!" Layla growled. Chase just blinked at the small child. "Listen kid. You can growl at me all you want. I dont wanna be here anymore than you want me here. The only reason I came here was because it made Randy happy. That woman means the world to me and Ill be damned if I hurt her new relationship in anyway. But let me be perfectly clear. I dont want to be your sister, and as far as Im concerned, I never will be." Chase snarled. Layla huffed. "Fine! Thats perfect! But take this as a warning, barky. If you meddle with my family, I will suck your bones dry." She snapped. Chase rolled her eyes and Layla left. Randy saw her leave and came in after her. "Everything ok?" She asked. Chase glanced back at her. "Oh yeah. Just fine! She just threatened to suck my blood. Nothing fancy." Chase growled to herself. "She threatened to- nevermind. I just wanna thank you again for coming with me. It means a lot." Randy smiled. Chase smiled. "I know." She huffed a laugh. "Wow Randy. You going soft on me? Ive never seen you so mushy." Chase smirked. Randy huffed and rolled her eyes. "In your dreams, pup. Come on." She walked out and Chase followed.

"So Chase. You're starting high school now right?" Dakota asked. They sat on the couch while the little kids were in their rooms. Chase immediately got annoyed. "Ugh. Are you gonna ask me a bunch of boring and stupid questions? Cause I can just list off answers for you to save the trouble. No Im not excited, no I dont know what I want to do, and no I dont have any ideas for college." Chase groaned. "I was actually just gonna ask if you knew what you're getting into." Dakota said. "Excuse me?" Chase raised an eyebrow. "High school is probably one of the worst eras in everyones life. And for you, who is going to a mainly werewolf school, as a rouge... I can only imagine that will be challenging. I wouldn't be surprised if you got jumped on day one." Dakota smirked. Chases jaw dropped and Randy laughed. "You should see your face! Ha! Priceless." Randy laughed. Chase rolled her eyes. "I can take care of myself just fine." She said. "You mean, Jack can take care of you just fine?" Randy raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "Jack is your girlfriend right?" Dakota asked. Chase nodded. "She's a year ahead of me. A sophomore." She said. "Oh! Then it sounds like your set. From my experience at least, dating someone in a higher grade than you, makes people less interested in you." Dakota said. "That didnt really work out too well for you though. Did it?" Chase said. Dakotas eyebrows shot up in shock. "Chase." Randy snapped. "Yeah I know." Chase rolled her eyes. "Im going to bed." She got up and walked away.

"Im so sorry." Randy apologized. "Dont worry about it babe. Its ok." Dakota assured her. Randy sighed. "I wish I could make her happy about all this." She looked down. "I know how you feel. Layla isnt exactly happy about it either." Dakota said. "Tell me about it. She threatened to bite Chase." Randy huffed a laugh. Dakota was not laughing. "She did what?!" She shrieked and stood up. "Woah! Hey. Its not a big deal!" Randy stood up and grabbed her. "Big deal? Of course its a big deal! Thats not an ok thing to say! Like... ever!" Dakota panicked. "I didnt think it was that bad." Randy shrugged. "It is babe. It really is." Dakota said. Randy let her go and Dakota went to Laylas room.

Chase heard Dakota yelling at Layla about something, but didnt think much of it. She just thought that Layla had done something wrong, as little kids tend to do. So she went to bed, thinking nothing of it. But late that night, she heard the door creak ever so slightly. She was hardly awake, and tried to push herself back to sleep, but then she felt a shadow towering over her. As soon as the shadow started to get closer, Chases eyes snapped open and she went full wolf faster then she could comprehend. She growled as she looked around the room until she spotted a small bat in the corner. Her growl grew louder and the bat swooped down at her. She jumped down the floor and started biting and kicking at the air whenever the bat got close. She knew exactly who it was. Layla suddenly switched back to her normal form and pounced on Chase. She tried her hardest to bite her but Chase managed to keep her off. In a panic though, she did the only thing she could think of, and howled.

Randy jumped up at the sound and dashed over to her immediately. Dakota wasnt far behind. Stopping to howl had given Layla her chance, and if it werent for Randy pulling her off, Chase may have died. Dakota took Layla and seperated her immediately. Chase changed back to normal and winced at the stinging bite mark in her leg. "Chase! Are you ok?" Randy bent down to her. "Im fine! Just get me out of here!" She spat. Randy nodded. "Ok. Ok. Come on." She picked her up.

"Im sorry Dakota. She's not safe here." Randy said. Dakota hugged her. "Its not your fault, and its not hers either. Everything will be ok. You call Silver and get her taken care of." Dakota said. Randy nodded. "I will. Ill see you, ok?" She asked. Dakota nodded and kissed her cheek.

Chase was waiting at the car, and Charlie snuck up to her. "Ah! What the hell!?" She freaked out. "Sorry. I hope that you dont hate us." Charlie said. "What?" Chase asked. "I like having you around. I wish you would stay." Charlie smiled. Chases eyes widened as the small child hugged her leg. Chase sighed. "Its not you Charlie, and I dont hate you. I just cant be around your sister." She said. "So youll come back?" Charlie asked. Chase remained silent. "No Charlie. I cant do that. But if you want, you can always come to my house." She said. Charlie lit up. "Really?!" She smiled. Chase smiled and nodded. "Awesome! I have a big sister! Mom!" Charlie ran off and Chase smiled. At least with Charlie, she actually felt like she had a place in this family.