Tides Of Fate

Chapter Fifteen

We pushed the cars forward, Ann took the lead and Maria was close behind her. I looked at my rear view mirror to see three wolves following us. They were determined to make sure we finished the race in one piece.

I revved the car and tried to overtake but the two cars ahead of me had filled up the path. The only way around them was through the woods. I banked hard to my left and sped into the woods. It was darker inside but I could still see just fine, another perk of being half wolf. I sped through, climbing over rocks and dodging trees. This route was much more fun than the straight flat path the others took.

I heard a crash behind me. I looked behind to see a huge grey wolf running after me. Ash was following me, and he was catching up fast. I stepped on the accelerator and pushed the car forward much faster. I could feel my whole body tingle with excitement. I grabbed the steering wheel harder with my left hand, my right stayed glued on the shifter. I never liked speed but driving like this gave me a rush.

Ash howled at me, he sounded worried. I looked at my rear view mirror. He was catching up. I gasped when I saw my eyes—they were golden with a black spot in the middle. I had never seen them before but now I finally understood the tension when this happened. I looked scary. But I didn’t understand it. This only happened when I got angry, and right now I was excited.

Ash gave another howl but this time he sounded excited. He leaped over my car and ran ahead of me. This had turned out to be race between him and me. I pushed harder but the rough terrain was giving him an advantage. I pulled out of the woods and onto the path. Maria and Ann were behind me. I caught up to Ash fast. Soon we were side by side.

I got onto the main road and reduced my speed to a hundred miles an hour, just in case there was a traffic cop parked somewhere. I felt irritated in this slow pace but it was only going to last five minutes. I laughed when I remembered Ash’s annoyance when I made him drive at fifty. I was never going to do that to him ever again.

I got onto the next path and accelerated slowly till I got to one-fifty. Ash appeared at the edge of the woods, we were side by side again. I felt bored on the path. I drove back into the woods, cutting Ash off. I thought he would run into me but he leaped and bounced off a couple of trees before he got onto the ground again. I stared at him amazed. He looked at me, his lips pulled back exposing his pointy sharp teeth. I was sure that was a smug smile. I pushed the car harder, dodging and climbing on miniature hills on a much faster speed, passing him easily.

He ran faster, harder—I could feel the ground shake at his contact with it. He flashed past me and disappeared ahead of me. I had underestimated his speed. I pushed the car harder going over two hundred. If I couldn’t beat Ash I had to beat the girls. It took me twenty minutes to get to the house. I hit the brakes and turned a hard left so that the car could come to a much faster stop. The car came to rest inches from the house.

I stayed put for a moment trying to catch my breath. I had never felt a rush like that ever. It was wonderful! I came out to meet my dad cheering. Billy and Joe were in their human forms with only their pants on. Joe shook his head in disbelief. Billy was cheering even louder than Dave.

“That was unbelievable!” Billy had his smile on. I couldn’t remember the last time he smiled at me like that.

“Thanks, the adrenaline rush was out of this world!” I could still feel my fingers tingle. “Dad, the car is amazing!”

“You’re welcome. Now let me see the damage.” He kissed my forehead before he opened the bonnet of the jeep. Smoke came rushing out. I had pushed it too hard.

“Is it okay?” I just fell in love with it, I didn’t want it to be dead so soon.

Dave fiddled with it. He didn’t seem to mind the smoke. “It’s heated but okay.” He rose up and looked at me; his eyes weren’t red or wet. My eyes would have been stinging and teary if smoke got into them.

“I almost beat Ash. I was so close.” No I wasn’t. He beat me with a blink of an eye, but I wasn’t going to tell them that.

“No you weren’t. You can’t beat me, and I as sure as hell can’t beat Ash.” Billy spoke, his smile still on.

I was glad he was at ease. I might as well enjoy it while it lasted. “We could always test your theory.”

“I can beat you with my eyes closed!” Billy sounded so sure of himself, I bet with good reason.

“I hope you can walk the walk because I’m about to feed you dust!”

“Your car is down for the count. You can have your match some other time.” Dave spoke behind me. “In the meantime, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.”

Quickly, I closed my eyes and did as instructed. My eyes were clearly still golden. I could hear two cars. That meant Ann and Maria were close. They hated my eyes when they were like this.

“Lee, you cheated!” Ann’s voice sounded loud, they were here already!

“No I didn’t.” I kept my eyes closed and my voice steady when I answered her.

“You took a short cut,” Maria sounded close.

“There was nothing short about the route I took.”

“Lee, open your eyes. We might as well get used to them.” Ann was standing in front of me. I could smell her.

“Are you sure?” I was scared. I didn’t want to see the horrified look on their faces.

“We are sure. If we are going to accept what you are, we might as well accept all of you.” Maria put her hand on my arm. I opened my eyes slowly then stared at them waiting for the usual reaction.

“So this happens when you get excited, too, it’s not just about your short fuse anymore?” Ann spoke casually as she stared into my eyes.

“I don’t know. I scared myself half to death when I saw them in the mirror.” I chuckled anxiously.

“They do that to you. But they suit you, in a freakish weird way.”

“As if Lee needed to get any weirder.” Maria laughed. I let go of the air I was holding, but tensed up immediately when I remembered Billy.