Chasing Wolves (completed)

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Isadora

After Meg and Eli share their plan with the rest of us, there are some... mixed reactions. All those of our group who'd actually fought the Weres are clearly not looking forward to repeating it but at the same time have a clear lust for vengeance.

Then there's Rob, who looks far to eager to test his skills for the first time. Ever since he woke up as a vampire he's been training (seriously, EVER SINCE, he's barely stopped except to feed and take quick naps. Everyone's had to start sleeping in shifts so he can train constantly). Ever since he's started he's been better than Lin- so much so that I've already fought him twice, only holding back a little (he's still new, after all).

I'd completely forgotten but when we were kids he took a few weeks of karate. He'd been good at it, apparently, but he'd quit when I couldn't do it too (mom thought it was too violent, which in hindsight is funny considering she married a powerful vampire hybrid). So anyway, apparently those few weeks gave him a slight head start in hand-to-hand.

After a while of everyone mumbling to each other, weighing the pros and cons, everyone turns to me and nods. Romulus, who for once is actually gracing us with his presence, just barely inclines his head but I don't press, surprised he even communicated that much.

Wait...what? Why does everyone keep automatically giving me leadership? It was Meg and Eli's idea after all. I mean, I get that I'm hands-down, it-would-be-stupid-to-dispute-it the strongest, but they're the ones that come up with the best plans...

Whatever. Everyone's spoken (or... close enough) and I feel the same way. Taking in everyone's expectant gazes, I turn to Meg, "when do we leave?"

Meg shrugs, looking to Eli for an answer, but he only shrugs back. She shoots him a looks that can only mean 'really? This was partly your idea too' before answering. "Well it's only about two am right now so... tonight. That'll give us enough time to pack up, do some more training, and everyone can hunt before we leave." Eli nods to her and she beams at his approval before quickly covering it and delving into departure preparations.

Meg-Elaine

"I can't believe this'll be the last time we'll be able to come here. I'm going to miss this place. This is the longest I've stayed anywhere since I was fifteen." I take in the dark meadow, the sun just starting to lighten the trees around us, and I realize just how much I really will miss this little meadow. This is where Eli and I could be alone and just... be together, forgetting about the rest of the world.

"Do you miss it, being a Hunter?"

"Hm... Yes and no. I don't really miss the violence and death but-"

"You miss your family?"

"Well yeah. But it's not too bad, it's like I've been adopted by everyone here. I'm the only human and yet everyone's accepted me completely."

"Of course we have, you're amazing." I give his arm a little slap and he chuckles before continuing. "You know, if we had actually adopted you, even though it's completely impossible, my loving you would be incest."

With this I sit bolt upright, stunned beyond words by what I think he just said. He gives a deep throaty chuckle and starts drawing little hearts on my back with his fingers, causing me to shiver and him to laugh even harder. "It's true; I do love you." He's sat up beside me and kisses right next to my ear and I can feel the smile on his lips.

I lean over, burying my face in the crook of his shoulder and sigh happily, this time causing him to shiver at my breath. I let out a tiny giggle, reveling in my revenge, and realize something. "I love you, too."

He smiles, kissing my nose as he pulls me so that we're leaning against the tree again. He pulls me across his chest and I snuggle against him as he hugs me. "I was thinking... just because we're leaving doesn't mean we could never come back. I've imagined us being married here." He's quiet for a while, as if embarrassed he just admitted that, and I pull myself up onto my forearms so I can see his face.

Just as I thought, he's wincing at having just admitted it.

"What does that mean...?"

"Nothing," he says too quickly and I can't help but give a little gasp. Like it would be so horrible marrying me! He realizes how that must have just sounded and opens his eyes, taking in my expression, my face covered in hurt and indignation. I pull myself off of him, sitting back away from him, and watch as he tries to flounder at how to explain. "I didn't mean 'nothing,' I meant... Gah! I didn't want to do it like this."

What?

He gets to his knees and picks a flower, looping its stem into a circle. Realization slowly dawns and I can't help but scoot back a little in surprise. Luckily he doesn't seem to notice as he finally looks back up to me. "What I meant was that I didn't mean to admit that." He sees me about to protest and he continues, "let me explain. I wasn't going to say that, it just kind of slipped out. I wanted to do this properly, but where better than our secret meadow? Meg-Elaine, will you marry me?"

He holds up the little flower 'ring' and I can't help but continue with our joke. "Yes, I will. But just think of what a scandal that would be; my marrying my own brother! Our children would be terribly inbred."

We both laugh ourselves into near hysterics and once he's calm enough to breathe again he affects an accent, "frankly my dear, I don't give a damn."

That sends me into another bout of giggles and he kisses me to silence them. "Neither do I." We sit in gleeful silence for a while as we watch the sun rise through the trees. "Just think how kick-butt our kids'll be."

"With you as a mother, they couldn't be anything but." I can't help but smile as I swat his arm playfully and he smiles back as he once again pulls me down to lean against the tree with him. Yeah, okay, he's probably right.

He slips the 'ring' onto my pinky (the only finger it'll fit) and I stare at it, happy beyond belief but still a little stunned by what that little flower signifies.