Truly

Chapter 12

~Toni

Playing on my phone seemed like the best thing to do. My dad was currently asking Max questions and it was like I wasn't there. Dad asked him a million and one questions while Max kept sending me pleading faces. Every time he sent me a face, I laughed, shook my head and then turned back to my phone. Mum was sat next to me, watching her husband like he was performing in a play.

"You alright, mum?" I asked.

"Yes, I'm fine. What you doing here?" 

"Oh you know, waiting for my dad to finish interrogating my mate. The usual." I shrugged and laughed.

"Maybe we should intervene?" Mum sighed and started getting up. Max must have heard as he looked up, relieved.

"No. Just leave them a bit longer." I told her. She sat down and laughed as she saw the exasperated face Max made.  

Max seemed to be pleasing dad with his answers, which of course, I was happy about. I thought that Max could get to know the protective father that I had and loved.

Looking down at my phone, I noticed that it had been fifteen minutes since I had introduced the three of them. Standing up, I pulled down my top, which had rode up to over my belly button while sat down, and headed over to my favourite boys.

"So if you hurt my princess-" I heard dad say. I really hated him for calling me his princess and I wanted him to stop, so I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I think Max gets the idea now dad. Please say you like him." I walked around my dad and let Max wrap his arms around my waist, grabbing my hands to hold them in the process.

"Yes. I think he is perfect for you Toni."

"Thank you sir. But couldn't you have come to that conclusion after the first couple of questions instead of a couple hundred." Max said before nuzzling his face into my neck.

"Well, are you two hanging out for a bit or what?" Mum asked.

"Josh and I were going to go for a run to get ready for the race tomorrow but I don't want to go just yet." I sighed, not knowing what to do. On the one hand, I could stay a little longer with Max. On the other hand, I could go home and train with Josh.

"Go for a run. As long as you phone me later tonight. After the race tomorrow we can spend a lot more time together. Go for a run so you can be the best you can be tomorrow." Max said before giving me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. 

"Still haven't had your first kiss then?" Dad asked, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

I punched his arm, slightly. "Come on. Let's go home."

********

After I had ran with Josh, I phoned Max and then went straight to sleep. Waking up that morning, I had a little figure climbing all over the bed and jumping on top of me.

"Morning Georgia." I sighed, sitting up in bed. "Where's your brother?"

"Josh's sleeping. I wanna play." I smiled at the five year old.

"Why don't you go downstairs and get someone to play a board game with you?"

"But I wanna play with you." Georgia pouted.

"Listen, I can't play right now. I'm sorry."

The little girl frowned before walking out of my room. Deciding that I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep, I climbed out of bed. Downstairs, I could hear Roxy laughing and my dad loudly talking. Grabbing my phone, I walked downstairs to see a cup of tea already waiting for me.

"Georgia, told us that you were up." Roxy said. She was sat on the floor playing snakes and ladders with the young girl.

"Of course she did." I ruffled Georgia's hair before sitting next to my dad.

"Are you ready for today?" He asked me.

"I don't know. I feel a lot more nervous than I did before my fight."

"That's because you are used to the pressure of fighting." Dad kissed my forehead. "You will be fine."

"Yeah, but not as good as Josh." Georgia piped up causing us all to laugh. It was then that I checked my phone. A message from Max had come through while I was sleeping so I looked at it.

Good luck today. You may be from a different pack but you are my only winner today. Even if you lose, I will be there to see you at the end. I can't come to see you before the race so let this inspire you. As soon as you cross that finishing line, you will see me smiling at you with open arms, ready to hug you even though you will be sweaty. Promise me this though, you won't win this for me. Win this for your pack. My pack will still win in the end but I want the overall winner to be you. Love you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

What a lovely end. His pack would still win his. Thanks babe. Love you too.

 Lovely way to wake up this morning. Thanks for the motivation to beat your pack more. Love you xxxxxxxxxxxx

I smiled as I sent the reply back. Wake up to that loving message, Max. I quickly ran upstairs and got into my running top and shorts. Josh and I slipped on our tracksuits again and we were ready to go. Alpha Caleb met the five of us competing before we were due to go to the track.

"I just want to remind you, that you five have done the pack proud. Just go out there and enjoy yourself and know that when you cross that line, the physical torment that I have put you through in training, will be over. Good luck guys and whatever the outcome, just know that you either did amazing and won or did amazing and the race was fixed." we all laughed and then headed to wear all the competitors were meeting.

Getting out of the tracksuit, I looked to my opponents. The wolves from the Regal Pack looked cocky. I so wanted to wipe their grins off their smug faces and that was what I was going to do in the race.

Walking up to the starting line, I could hear the shouts and hollers coming from the audience. But they weren't important. The race was. Getting in my starting position, I nodded to Josh as a way to say good luck. Josh returned the gesture and then focused on the track in front of him. I did the exact same. Suddenly, the starting gun sounded and we were off.

I was second out of the starting blocks, just behind Josh, which I didn't mind. Running on, I looked straight forward. Looking behind me,would be the worse thing to do. As I got half way around, Josh started slipping behind me and soon I was leading the race. I could hear the shouts getting louder as the finishing line was getting closer. I could just make out the crowd and knew that they wouldn't be able to know which competitor they were cheering for. Sensing someone behind me, I pushed my legs harder and I heard an announcer saying my name. I crossed the line and started panting. I could feel hands on my shoulders and if it weren't for the sparks, that I was now used to, I wouldn't have known who it was. Turning back, I saw that Josh was just arriving, being the person I could sense behind me. I ran up to him and hugged him. Now, all we could do was wait. Wait and hope that the rest of our pack members pull through so we can win. Hope and pray.