My goal for this was 1 update a month. 8D It's only gonna be like 5 or so chapters. And I already failed. 8D This is why I shouldn't start so many things at once. But I get excited when I get an idea and I HAVE to start on it or I'll just fixate on it until I do. So I'm a failure. 8D Also... this accidently became a lot more... sexual than I meant.

Just a Scratch
Chapter 2: Bite

Owen pulled his jeep to a stop outside the raptor paddock. He put it in park and leaned back. "Okay." He said, turning to look at the kid in the seat beside him. "Ground rules."

Zach was smiling as he nodded. "Shoot."

Owen shook his head. "This..." He pointed to himself and then Zach. "Stays quiet. No one can find out. Your aunt, my workers, no one. No one!" He emphasized the words. "When we're here, no looking, no touching, no nothing. You listen to me. You do whatever I say. Okay?"

Zach rolled his eyes. "You already said all that."

"Yeah well..." Owen shook his head. "Just need to make sure you were listening. Because this is my job, this is my life, and I don't need you fucking it up."

Zach smiled. "I'm not interested in fucking up your life. I'd rather you..."

"Shut up!" Owen snapped, interrupting him. "No more talking. Another rule. You aren't allowed to talk around me."

Zach tilted his head. "Like... ever?"

"Stop."

"Why?"

"I like your voice. A lot." Owen shook his head. "Too much."

Zach smiled. "You do?"

Owen swallowed. "Yeah." His voice felt thick in his throat. He quickly looked away and cleared his throat. "Just..." He shook his head and opened his door. "Come on."

Zach laughed to himself as he climbed out. He walked around the jeep and stopped by Owen.

Owen took a deep breath and stepped back, away from him. "First rule of the raptor paddock."

Zach tilted his head. "More rules."

Owen narrowed his eyes.

"Right." Zach pressed his lips together and smiled.

"Never turn your back on the cage." Owen said. "Keep your eyes on them at all times. Don't show fear. Show them respect."

Zach nodded.

"Just... treat them..." Owen shrugged. "Honestly... treat them like people. They'll like you more."

Zach nodded again.

"Use common sense. Owen continued with his list. "Listen, pay attention, and do not fall into the cage. They don't like anyone in there but me."

Zach nodded yet again.

"You got all that?"

Zach smiled. "You need verbal consent?"

Owen narrowed his eyes. "Just making sure." He mumbled. "Come on. Follow me."

Introductions to the workers followed. The only one of them that was worth remembering was Barry, according to Owen. The rest rotated or were hired by their asshole boss and fired by Owen shortly after. Zach smiled, nodded, and shook hands with the non-important people.

"And now, the important part. My girls." Owen smiled brightly as he walked towards the fence. Zach followed closely and peered through the fence with interest. Owen put his fingers to his lips and let out a loud whistle. "Fresh meat!" He called out.

Zach's eyes widened slightly and he turned to Owen. "What?"

Owen laughed softly. "New worker." He said with a shrug.

Zach looked back at the fence. And they were suddenly there. He jumped back, his eyes wide. He hadn't even heard them. At all. Zach swallowed. Then he cleared his throat and took a deep breath. He stepped back towards the fence, standing beside Owen.

Owen smiled and pointed towards the cage. "Okay. We got Echo, Charlie, Delta, and my girl Blue. She's the one you really need to impress. She's the beta."

Zach nodded, committing their names to memory. "Beta, huh? Which ones' the alpha?"

Owen cleared his throat loudly and looked at the ground. "Me, actually. I'm uh... the pack alpha."

"That's hot."

"Shut up."

Zach smiled and stepped closer. He dropped his voice. "You can be my alpha tonight."

Owen clenched his teeth. "Stop. Talking. Now."

Zach opened his mouth and Owen shook his head. Zach smiled. "If I can't open my mouth... how will you put it to good use?"

Barry was suddenly walking towards them. He waved his arm. "Hey Owen?"

"Barry! Yes!" Owen's voice came out a bit squeaky. He cleared his throat and turned to the approaching man. "Yeah?"

"Ready for drills?"

Owen nodded. "Yes." He moved to follow. "New kid, come on."

Zach smiled and ran to catch up.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Zach watched the grace and fluidity in which Owen commanded the raptors and the way they listened. It was like magic the way they all worked together. Zach liked watching them. And he did pay close attention to everything Owen did. Very close attention. For more than the obvious reason. He wanted to impress this man. He wanted to stay on his good side. Assuming he was on Owen's good side.

The one called Blue kept watching Zach. He swore she was glaring at him. Every time Owen would pause in their instructions, she would turn her gaze on Zach. A few times, she bared her teeth at him. Zach would have to try his hardest to impress her, as well.

"Alright." Owen announced, clapping his hands together. "Lunch time."

The raptors below nodded their heads, like they understood, and let out excited squeals.

Owen turned to Barry. "You got this?"

Barry nodded. "Yes." He frowned. "Where are you off to?"

Owen pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to Claire, about where they were meeting. "Lunch with the boss lady."

Barry smiled. "A date?"

Zach laughed loudly behind him.

"No." Owen ground out, glancing over his shoulder at Zach. "One was enough."

Zach's mouth dropped open.

Owen smiled and turned back to Barry. "Just a meeting, I guess."

Barry smiled. "If you say so, my friend. I will see you later."

Owen glanced back at Zach and nodded his head forward. Zach nodded and moved to follow him. They got in Owen's jeep without talking. And the ride to the restaurant where they were meeting Claire was equally as silent.

It wasn't until they were seated and waiting for a late Claire that Zach broke the silence. He was sitting across the table from Owen. He leaned forward slightly. "So... you went out... with my aunt?" He asked slowly.

Owen tilted his head to the side. "Aunt?" He smiled. "Thought she was your sister?"

Zach shrugged. "Sister makes me sound older than aunt."

Owen nodded. "Yeah it does."

"So..." Zach started again. "You dated my sister-aunt?"

Owen shook his head quickly. "No, not really. We went on a first date. But she's way too uptight for me. Wasn't any fun."

Zach smiled. "What about me?"

"What about you?"

"Am I any fun?"

Owen frowned. "You're breaking the rules."

Zach smiled coyly and leaned back. "What rules am I breaking, O?"

"My rules." Owen ground out.

"Rule breaking?"

They both turned as they heard her voice.

Claire was standing just behind the table. She was frowning down at her phone. She ran her fingers along the screen. Then she looked up at them. "Zach, is it not working out?"

Zach's eyes widened. "Uh..."

"I can transfer you to another exhibit." She continued. "You're not stuck with the raptors. Whatever you..."

"No!" Zach said quickly, interrupting her. "I uh... I like the raptors." He turned to Owen. "I'll follow the rules from now on. I promise. All of them."

Claire's eyes were on her phone again. "If you're certain." She stepped closer to the table. "Owen, how did he do?" She managed to pull the chair out, sit down, and scoot closer to the table, all without taking her eyes off her phone.

Owen cleared his throat and shot a warning glare to Zach. "Great." He said. "Real... uh... good."

"Good." She said with a nod.

Lunch was awkward. It was made more awkward by the fact that Claire didn't seem to catch onto the awkwardness. she would say something or ask a question in a perfectly innocent way. And Zach would smile or wink at Owen. And attempted to play footise with the man under the table. Owen spent the whole lunch shooting daggers at Zach when Claire wasn't paying attention and practically kicking him under the table. Claire was completely oblivious to everything. Which only seemed to annoy Owen more and egg Zach on.

Finally, it was over. They all stood up to leave. Claire slipped her phone in her pocket and smiled at Zach. She drew him into a quick hug. "I really am happy you're here. I'm sorry about the circumstances that lead to it but I'm glad for the chance to get to know my nephew."

Zach smiled sheepishly and looked at the ground.

"Make sure you give your mother a call alter, okay?"

Zach nodded.

"Alright boys." She pulled her phone back out and turned away. "I will see you later."

They watched her leave. Zach stepped around the table towards Owen. He bumped into him gently and then stood close, their shoulders just barely touching. "So." Zach breathed out lowly. "Time for desert?"

Owen glanced at him sideways. "Are you like... always on?"

Zach smiled. "Around you, I am."

Owen rolled his eyes. "Come on." He started forward.

Zach followed close behind him. "Where we going?"

"Away from here." Owen hissed.

"Your place?"

"No!" Owen snapped. "A tour."

Zach's mouth fell open. "A tour..." He repeated slowly.

Owen nodded. "Yep. If you're going to stay here for a while and work the island... you should get to know the island... out in the public... where people can see us. People I work with."

Zach rolled his eyes. "Fine. Whatever. I know the rules."

Owen and Zach spent the rest of the day pretty much hanging out. Owen took him on all the rides and drug him to all the exhibits. And then Owen treated him to hotdogs at the infamous hotdog cart. It was getting pretty late when they checked back in at the raptor paddock. They hung out there for a bit longer before Owen announced, rather loudly, "Zach, I'll drop you off at your hotel room."

Zach piqued an eyebrow as he nodded. "Sure. Thanks."

Owen turned to Barry. "We'll see you tomorrow."

Barry nodded.

And then Zach followed Owen to his jeep. Owen started it and flipped on the radio. He blared an oldies station and kept his eyes forward on the road until his trailer come into view. He slowed and pulled it to a stop. And then put it in park. He shut it off and leaned back with a sigh. "Shouldn't be doing this." He mumbled.

Zach bit his lip. "You can take me back..." He said softly. "If you don't want to..."

Owen snorted loudly and shook his head. "After all the shit you pulled today..."

Zach smiled and looked away. "I just..."

Owen sighed. "You wanna stay the night with me or not?"

Zach glanced at him and nodded.

"Verbal consent."

Zach smiled. "Yes."

"Welcome to my Bungalow."

Zach let out a laugh and shook his head.

"Alright..." Owen nodded his head. "You uh... call your mom. Give me a few minutes to uh... just give me a few minutes."

Zach laughed again and nodded. He watched as Owen jumped out and ran for the door. He pulled out his cell phone. "Hey mom." He said into it after the line picked up.

"Zach! Honey, how are you?"

"I'm doing good, mom." He got out of the jeep and closed the door. He leaned back against it.

"How was your first day?"

"It was good." He answered.

"Good?" She said after a moment. "Care to elaborate on that?"

Zach smiled. "I'll call you tomorrow with more details, okay? I'm meeting a friend... to hang out..."

"Oh! You made a friend already!" She sounded surprised.

"Yeah..."

"Alright sweetie. Have fun."

Zach smiled. "Tell Gray I said hi and I'll call him tomorrow, too."

"I will. I love you."

"Love you too, mom." He hung up and smiled. Yeah, he made a friend. Sort of. He slipped his phone into his pocket and smiled. He pushed off the jeep and stepped towards the Bungalow.

Zach stopped suddenly. There was a rustling behind him. He turned and his eyes scanned the trees and bushes. But he could see anything. He turned back to the bungalow and heard the noise again. He turned again and this time stepped towards the bushes. "Hello?" He called out and waited. But the rustling had stopped. "Owen? Is that you?"

Zach didn't get an answer. He frowned and shook his head. He was probably imagining it anyways. He turned. And a searing pain suddenly ripped through him. Zach screamed and everything went black.