The Chase

Prolouge

           Celia and her best friend Angel were running around playing tag with Angel's cousin Shane. Their laughter danced on the warm summer breeze as they played.  "Kids it's time for dinner," Angel's mother yelled from the house. "Hey," Shane teased with a smirk "Last one in does the dishes." Celia and Angel frowned slightly Shane was two years older than them so he had an advantage. The girls looked at one another and nodded with a grin they never backed down from a challenge. "Alright," Shane whooped and took a runner's stance. "On three..." he counted out with excitement, "One...Two....Three." The girls shrieked and took off running holding their own against him. "Faster, Celia, Faster" Angel screeched "We can do this." Celia giggled and ran as fast as her little legs would carry her. 

           Celia noticed her friend seemed to be slowing so she grabbed hold of her tiny hand tightly helping her run faster. Shane frowned beside them, "Hey that's cheating. If she can't keep up she loses." He shouted as the girls laughed inching ahead a little bit while nearing closer to the back yard they were sprinting to. "C'mon Angel we got this," Celia boasted as they continued to stay slightly ahead in the race. Shane gritted his teeth pumping his legs harder dreading the embarrassment of losing to girls let alone his pain of a cousin and her best friend. The kids rounded the last bit of hill and entered the back yard each once bending at the waist breathing hard. "We....won..." Angel panted with a devilish grin. "No way," Shane scoffed shaking his head "I got here first. Didn't I Aunt Lani?" Angel's mother beamed at the children she loved them all so much. "It looked like a three way tie to me. All three of you got here at the same time." Shane's face scrunched in disbelief as the girls chuckled beside him. The three exchanged glances and sat went inside to wash up for dinner.

           Lani chuckled lightly kissing their heads as they passed. Following them inside she locked the glass French style doors and went to set the table. Just as the food was being brought to the table Angel's father came home from patrol. He was the Beta of their pack and Shane's father was the Alpha of his pack making Shane the future Alpha. Upon entering the dining room he kissed the girls on the head and fist bumped Shane. "You'll be thirteen next week bud. Are you ready to start your training so you can be like your Pop?" Shane couldn't hide the sheer glee bubbling inside him, "Yes sir uncle John I'm so ready I want to start right now" John patted him on the back with pride and kissed his wife's cheek sweetly as she set dinner on the table. They all sat down and held hands giving thanks to the Moon Goddess for their meal and their health. Then they each took a bowl serving themselves before passing to the next person. For the first few moments they ate in silence savoring the deliciousness in their mouths then John started by asking, "So how was everyone's day?"

             Each of the children took turns giving their own version of the days events since they still believed each one won that race over the others. John listened intently grinning from ear to ear as his lovely wife tried to hide her amusement. Then with a complete change of topic Angel piped up, "Daddy is it okay if Celia spends the weekend with us? Please...please....pretty pretty please." She put out her lip and gave him her puppy dog eyes making her father chuckle. "I don't know Angel," he teased knowing that he and his wife had already discussed Celia staying with them while her parents were out on trip to meet with the vampires. Her little lip blossomed into a full pout as she begged. John nodded "Okay she can spend the weekend with us." The girls squealed loudly with delight as Shane rolled his eyes his head shaking. The kids finished their meal in silence letting the adults have a conversation. 

              Once dinner was finished everyone did their part to clean up. They had just finished when there was a knock on the door. "That's probably your father Shane," John stated on his way to the door. Shane hugged and kissed his Aunt goodbye and made a face when he had to say goodbye to the girls before chasing after his uncle. John opened the door to find a large man his muscles barely contained in the polo shirt he wore. "Deacon, how are you my friend?" John asked shaking the man's hand smiling broadly. "I'm doing well just not liking the reports of the attacks on several packs to the North." he gave a soft smile returning the shake. "How are Lani and Angel doing? Did my boy give you any trouble?" John shook his head "He's never any trouble for us and the girls are great. We have Celia with us this weekend too." 

                Deacon grinned hoping one day his son would be mated to Celia. She was such a beautiful child he could only imagine the gorgeous woman she'd become. "That's wonderful please give them all my love," he added as he placed his hand on Shane's shoulder letting him say goodbye to John before walking to the car and heading home. Lani took the girls upstairs had them bathe and get ready for bed. She kissed their heads and said "Don't stay up too late watching movies, okay?" The girls smiled and nodded before choosing a movie to watch. As the sky grew dark and the pack settled in danger approached the borders of their lands. This night would change their lives forever.