Pursued (Completed) ✔️

Chapter 19

And another chapter to keep things going ;-)
Votes and comments make my day, it really nice to know people are liking the story...
(How's that for a crappy hint ?!)
You may proceed now ^-^
XG
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I woke up before the dogs. My running shorts, it was barely warm enough but I'd heat up fast when I was running. I threw on a big shirt that I'd confiscated from Ben. It had my favorite old band, the Stones, on there. Dad always played it loud in the shed, I grew up with the oldies blaring in my ears.
Socks and I was ready to run, my sneakers were down stairs waiting for me. Ben was at the counter with a grim look.
"Smile puppy pile." I grinned at him.
He cocked an eyebrow at me. "Really?"
"Too soon for dog jokes?"
"We're not dogs Juliette." He replied sternly.
"Fine not dogs...Got it...Now, come on, we're gonna run aren't we?!"
I unlocked the door and the dogs rushed out. The other two were already waiting.

I warmed up and the dogs were bouncing around happily. Ben looked down not even pretending to warm up like he usually did.
"Shouldn't you warm up?
"Don't need it."
"Seriously?" I looked at him in surprise.
"Naturally hot." He grinned.
"If you're hot does that mean I'm Cooler than you!"
He chuckled. "Probably."
"Sooo..."
"Not yet J. Just let me wake up." He cut me off.
I started the run and slowly he took the lead. He set a deadly pace.

"You are...the one... send... to kill me... aren't you?...You are running me to my death!"
I slowed down from the brutal pace he'd set. "You won't stop me asking things if I don't."
"Well...tough!" I panted and stuck my tongue out at him.
We were at the furthest point from the house when he pulled me to a halt.
"Due to us running that fast my dearest Juuls, we now have about ten minutes extra to talk." He told me, leaning against one of the trees that were lined around the boundary fence. We were in an area that had a corridor of trees. Nobody could see us here. My mind caught up and I realized that dad and Harry would be waiting with breakfast. They always did, they knew what at about what time I normally returned.
"I suppose seeing you change is not happening now."
He glanced at the dogs. "They'd probably rip me apart before I finish, so no thanks. Ask your questions."

I started shooting questions at him.
"True or false...Silver?"
"True. Very painful."
"Full moon change only?"
"False."
"Change whenever?"
"True but very tiring to change back from fur to skin so need rest time in between changes."
"Does the moon affect you?"
"Yep, we all feel the need to change strongest then. It is possible not to change if you're strong enough but it hurts."
"Need to kill things?"
"Only when you first start changing. Gets hard to control your urges and closer to the full moon it's almost impossible when you are young."
"Immortal?"
"Nope" He laughed. "Just way slower to age."
"How old are you?"
"None of your business!"
"Seriously Ben?"
"I might be somewhat older... than your dad..."
"WHAT!?" I laughed.
"Shuddup!" Ben growled.
"Oh man! That's classic! I'm just so glad I never had a crush on you, that would be sick!" I laughed loudly. He started stalking away from me.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" I ran after him and jumped on his back.

He chuckled as he grabbed my legs now that I was sitting on his back.
"Wanna see how fast I can go with a heavy load on my back?"
"Oi! I'm not that heavy!" He laughed out loud and picked up speed.
He ran almost as fast with me on his back as without me, it was faster than I could run.
When he stopped he was still laughing as he let me down and I was breathless from the thrill of it all. He ran smoothly and so fast it had been exhilarating.
"That! Was Amazing!" I laughed. "True or false... vampires?"
"True... but usually only in cities, bigger population, more places to hide."
"Really!?! You've seen them?"
"Seen them, drank with them, am friends with some too."
"Can I meet him or her?"
"Him and her, probably not."
"Spoilsport!"
"I prefer you alive J with all your blood."
"Fair enough... True or false...all other sorts of supernaturals?"
"Never met a dragon, troll or ogre but other than that...pretty much all true."

He said it so casually but the truth hit me. This was real. The fairy tales were real. I was friends with werewolves. I felt faint and unsteady.
Ben steadied me. "Maybe that will do for now. It's a lot to take in. Not sure if it will make you feel better or worse but the towns around here are mostly wolves. The city you shop in is a neutral zone with a few vamps and the only other thing in the area is a few Unseelie, but they won't bother farms."
"Unseelie?"
"Oh, yeah, they're like giant elves...pointy ears and all that crap... the Unseelie are somewhat nasty but like all sups, that's supernaturals, all sups respect people that take care of the land. You guys take care of your land so the sups would never harm you."
My mouth wasn't working but I stepped closer to Ben and hugged him. When I finally let him go he smiled down at me. "Ready?"
"Sorta?"
"Good girl. We'll talk about the stuff you are trying to ignore next time."

I tried to do a stern face like Rosie's mum did so well and told him seriously. "There will be no next time."
He laughed, I frowned and started running. He came up behind me as the dogs ran ahead. "You have to know!"
"I've decided that I know enough."
He just laughed.

Dad was waiting with a cup of coffee for us. Harry was ready, dressed and holding a big bag.
"Don't give her coffee, she needs to get showered, dressed and ready to go."
"Son, it's her birthday, let her have a coffee."
"No! Hurry up! Eddy knows we're coming, he's waiting!"

We all turned to him in shock. He'd never spoken like that about Eddie, like Eddie was awake.
"What was that you say son?" Dad asked calmly.
He was bouncing on the spot. "He's waiting dad, comeoncomeon!"
Ben and I put our coffee down and both rushed for the stairs at the same time, I rudely shoved him. "Ladies first Bennie Boy, you should be old enough to know that!"
"I always let the ladies go first but seen as there aren't any here..." He laughed as he grabbed my shoulder and tried to get past me on the stairs. I elbowed him, he grabbed my arm and we both tumbled onto the landing together before making it into our respective rooms, rushing to get to the hospital.

Dad had made us a take away cup each when we came back down and a sandwich each to go when we got back down. Harry was already in Adrien's car. "I don't know what got into him. Last night the nurses actually kicked us out because he wouldn't leave. And when he came down he was already dressed and ready to go. Apparently you took longer on your run than you normally do. Oh, and as you can see he wants to go in style so it seems we're taking your car." Dad smiled. He didn't realize we actually did take longer than normal.
"It isn't my damned car!"
"Might as well be." Ben chuckled. I growled at him but both him and dad just laughed at me.

We loaded into the car and made good time getting to the hospital. Harry grabbed the big bag and dragged it out of the car running ahead. I saw Mr McKellar just inside the door and stopped. Ben put a hand on my shoulder. "If you don't acknowledge them normally they will consider you a threat to the pack." He mumbled in my ear. "The fact that you came here and let me touch you is a start in showing them you won't freak. Take a deep breath."
Dad turned back to us. "What's wrong Juliette?" He asked.
"I just realized daddy. It's actually my birthday... and when we get to Eddie I'll be eighteen..."
"You do know that you already are, just because we won't say happy birthday until we are with him doesn't mean you aren't a year older today." Dad smiled.

Ben stayed beside me and dad continued ahead. He passed Mr McKellar with a quick hello and slipped into the elevator with Harry. The door closed, rotten kid did that on purpose.
Mr McKellar turned and walked away. Ben led me to follow him.