Alex, after finding out what happened was now on the track of finding out what Dom really was. He didn't turn up at yesterdays practice after school so I didn't get another chance to ask him myself.
" Right." Alice announced "How about I pack my things now and you go and get your stuff now. Simple and yet straight to the point." We were going back to the Nedaras for a weekend so that I could get out more and have some alone time with my own kind. I couldn't get over how weird it felt saying that. The Nedaras, I found out lived in the wilderness about fifty-five miles north-east of Abbots-ford. Far away from anyone I knew.
" Yes your right. I'll only be about half an hour as well so be ready." I didn't look back as I ran home. Richard was out with Billy and Katie was with her boyfriend so I had the house to myself. This was good because it meant that I could do everything at triple the speed. I could go faster but id break the furniture and clothes which aren't meant to withstand the force of a vampire. I got the suitcase from my bedroom and started to pack. I only needed the essentials. Shorts, shirts, pants and socks. Maybe some glasses, just because I can. What annoyed me is that I had to pack some deodorant, shampoo and some medicine to keep up the look of being human. It was quite light outside due to the clouds being unusually thin but it looked like it was going to rain, what with the black clouds coming towards here. I figured id better tell Richard I'm leaving so I went down the stairs, still traveling at triple speed and putting the number at the same speed. It rang for over half a minute until Billy picked up.
" Hello." His gruff voice told me he had cracked open some beer
" Hi its Mason. Is Richard their."
" Mason, how are you. haven't heard from you in a long time. He's here as well but I'll give to him after we're finished." You could never get past Billy without him diving into conversation or making a whole days worth of small talk.
" Yes I'm doing good, haven't been better in my life" I chuckled at the amount of truth behind my words. " And yea I'm ready for the game but I'm kinda in a hurry so can I speak to Richard."
" Certainly. You father has told me your going out with your girlfriends family up north." He twisted the word girlfriend when he said it. As if it was something new or like he was in fourth grade.
" If you must know then yes that's correct." She wasn't really my girlfriend but that was another part of the secret.
" is she nice then. Have you-" I cut him off. I wasn't going to speak a word of what he thinks we might have done.
" That's my business. So Richard please."
" Alright then. See you next time then." I heard the twists and tangles of the phone being tossed over to Richard.
" Hey kiddo. Is that you off then." He was a bit to happy but I put it down to being with Billy.
" Yes that's me. I'm just letting you know and I'll be back sometime on Sunday." The TV burst into applause in the background and I heard Billy cheering.
" Right buy then, have a good time." The line went dead. I locked the door and shut the windows and left. I ran quite slow back so I had time to think. Dom was having nothing to do with me and when I intervened to find out what it was, he started to change. I shivered at the thought of his bright yellow eyes. I stopped there. I wasn't going to let it ruin my weekend and besides, id have fun with all the guys. Everyone was ready when I got there and waiting for me.
" you're slow at packing." Alex was waiting in a pair of cream shorts and a white shirt. He was holding a map in his hands as well.
" If you say so. What's the map for."
" Its to determine which route to take. Up east then ark round to the west and we're their." Alex smiled to himself. George and Julia had been cleaning up explanations on why they were going to friends while Alice was trying on thousands of different clothes so she could look perfect.
" right. That's us finished." George had came into the main hall with Julia. " We're ready, Alice come on. What's our route Alex." Alex went over the plan and Alice jumped down the stairs in a pair of half length white jeans with a small light blue top with it.
" Hey Mason. So, do you reckon you could beet me in a race from here to the Nedaras." She winked at me and waited for my reply
" Well I'm not sure where exactly they live but challenge accepted."
" that's good. George, me and Mason are leaving now so we will see you there." George nodded to her and we left. I left my case at the house and only brought a phone and some money
" You ready then. You know your gonna lose." She mock punched me in the arm.
" You. win. Yea right, we will see. Starting lines there by the way." She danced to the line which was a branch that had fallen from the tree over head.
" Three, two one"
" GO" She yelled and was off. I gave her five seconds and then I sprinted after her. It felt wonderful to run at full speed. Nothing to hold me back but land. The trees and little streams whirled past me at speeds which a human couldn't even reach with any vehicle. I saw Alice up ahead and I was gaining. She was either not running at full speed or I was faster.
" See ya." I said smugly as I pasted her. After another four minutes of running, I was there. I had one the race like I had thought. The Nedaras where inside, I could hear them and no doubt they could hear me. My thoughts where made correct when Cora opened the door.
" Mason." she greeted me. " How are you then. Hope immortality is treating you well." I walked up the stairs to her and Alice just got into the front garden.
" Damn how are you so fast." She stuck her tongue out at me and I just waved at her. Smiled as well to annoy her which was funny.
" Yes I'm doing good Cora. And well, yes iv been doing alright with controlling my instincts if that's what you mean. how are you."
" Just usual. Putting up with Ross and Elena being in super love." Her face fell. " I have to look after the house and keep it clean. All they two do is sit and cuddle or go out together." She stopped herself on her rant and invited me and Alice in.
" You know I heard that." Elena had come in from the back window.
" I'm glad you did." Cora mock punched Elena in the arm. " Besides it beats telling you to your face, that would be to kind. Mason, where are the others."
" Oh they'll be here. Me and Alice couldn't resist a race here." I grinned at her again rubbing in my victory.
" So that's why you where so far in front." her eyes flickered to Alice. " And how we waited so long for her to arrive-"
" OK." Alice had raised her hands " I get it, you win OK. Anyway we need to say hi to Ross." The day went well from there. We all went out back after the others arrived and had wrestling matches. Alex won against Ross by a millimeter. I won against both of them with my superior speed and agility. We all traveled to the near village and Alice had to buy new clothes and she bought me some as well. George and Julia stayed in with Cora while me, Alice, Elena and Ross went out to two clubs on the Friday. Alice and Elena told me and Ross to go away in the middle of the village and they ran away. Far to fast for where there is people about. I was having a good time. Come Saturday we were all a little board. All through the night I had exploited the areas attractions with the others and there was nothing more to do really.
" I'm quite hungry." I announced, "Think I'll go hunt for a bit." I got up and headed for the door. Everyone was just sitting doing nothing now so I needed some open space.
" Think I'll come with you." Ross got up, Kissed Elena on the head and walked out the door. Thought they two were never apart.
" Right, there's always some deer and bear ten miles out through there." He pointed straight out to the south through some dense forest.
" South it is then." I ran with Ross trailing behind me. Letting my senses talk over as I ran. The streams all around as gave a wet dog sort of smell. It made me feel a bit sick. It was so potent. Not like any wet dog iv smelled. But as soon as had I smelled it, I ran out of the smell and straight into the honey oak, sugary smell of dear. It became an out of body experience as I whirled left and straight into the dear.
" Damn, I thought that was mine." Ross had stopped at the feet of the dear. " Smelled good as well. Taste nice?"
" Yup, hit's the spot." Again as I stood up. The wet dog smell came again. This time far more stronger.
" Do you-"
" Yes." Ross's eyes where darting all over the forest as where mine. I could see nothing in the forest. Even though my eyes where so good that it wasn't dark but just blue. Nothing.
" What is that." I said to myself. It was coming from the north where we came from. " Lets follow it." This seamed to brighten Ross's mood.
" Fine but lets not run to fast."
" I'm cool with that." We were going at the pace equivalent to walking but we soon came across a soar in the scent. But still nothing. This was getting annoying. I heard nothing but the twigs breaking from animals and the growls of possibly a dog or bear.
" Sounds to big to be a dog or bear." Ross was standing with his eyes shut listening hard swiveling every now and again. Then the growls soared into more like roar from behind us.
" What the-" The growls where not coming from a bear or dog. Standing in front of me was seven foot wolf. completely black and its yellow eyes were locked onto me. Another one came into view and this one was dark brown. That one was locked onto Ross. They were both bigger than the one Damon had thrown at me and Alice. Their head moved to look at each other then back at us.
" We can take them, don't worry." I said trying to reassure Ross who was backing away. I don't the opposite and moved forward.
" Mason n-" I turned to look at him and the look I gave him must have silenced him. I felt my eyes change as my full power came to be. I felt nothing but standing my ground now, this overgrown wolf cant be much stronger than the normal ones. The biggest black one then crouched into a pouncing position as did I. I Heard Ross taking flight behind me. He was gone and I was all alone with these things. The brown one looked at where Ross must have left then got into a crouch and looked at me. The black one roared and jumped at me. I stood their and the wolf crashed into me. The weight of this wolf was heavier than anything I had thought it could be and took me of guard. It actually knocked me back a few feet. I had my guard down but now I knew what to expect. I ran at the black wolf expecting its agility to be the same as its strength and it was. It tried to dodge me but I grabbed it getting angry now and released all my power on it. Lifting it up and throwing it at the trees. I ran after it and put my fist straight through it. It yelped and I felt the weight of the other wolf throw me off and away from the black one. The wolf I had seriously wounded was dying. The brown wolf out of anger jumped at me and roared. I stepped to the side and grabbed it by the ribs and bear hugged it until all its ribs were dust. I let it drop next to my feet and finished the job with a clean stamp to the head. I was alone now. The wolves were dead. They were stronger than any animal I had came face to face to. They were still no where near my strength but if there were four or five and they all came at the same time. I shuddered at the thought of something being able to harm me. I heard the speeding run of one of my friends or family coming toward me. I turned and saw Alex and George standing, aw struck at the sight they saw. Alice, Cora, Elena and Ross came into view closely followed by Julia.
" Are you alright." George came up to me and put a hand on my shoulder. Alice came up pushing him out the way and gave me a large hug.
" We thought from the way Ross described them that they could severely hurt you." She rested her head on my shoulder.
" Well in some ways he probably described them correctly." They all stared at me. "I'll tell you when we're in the house." I said no more is I ran with everyone back to the house. The Atmosphere could be cut with a knife. I stood at the window next to the door when we got back. The rest of them were standing waiting for the story of what happened.
" It wasn't like anything I had felt from an animal." I reflected on the strength of the wolves.
" What do you mean." George said. He was ready for a long detailed story. " How strong were they."
" They were still no where near a vampires strength but if there were four or five." I trailed of. I would have been in some danger if there were more. " just one of them jumping at me knocked me back a phew feet." George was aw struck. I'm sure he hasn't experienced anything like that.
" So what exactly happened when you fought them." Julia was getting all protective and wanted to know how she could keep me safe. I explained what happened move for move. As I went on, the looks on every body's faces started to have mild shock in them.
" So they could have posed a threat of there were more." George sighed. " And you didn't provoke them which suggests they acted according to either what they hunt or territorial." I nodded to myself wondering what exactly they attacked me for. Its true that I didn't attack them first. Me and Ross only goggled at them until he ran away and one of them attacked me. And myths do state that wolves do tend to prefer vampires. I had just remembered that day we met Damon. An official. He was hunting down all these wolves and killing them. I also remembered my friend Dom. His eyes were exactly the same is the wolves and when I got him angry his hair all over his body began to thicken.
" I reckon it was preference as a pose territorial. I'm also thinking about Dom. He must be a werewolves or something" they realized that I was right. What else could he be.
" Werewolves wouldn't hunt us in pairs." Cora interjected. " If their as strong as you said then they should have been in a pack of at least four or five."
" Yes that begs the question to come up. Where they actually hunting us or just testing our strength. Perhaps they only know as much as we do and weren't prepared." I looked at George as I spoke. Knowing he was deep in thought.
" they wouldn't come alone if they were testing strength." George had stood up now looking out the window. I realized that could be right.
" That would explain the two different wolf scents one after the other." George nodded and turned to Alex.
" Take a run and look about. But be careful."
" With pleasure. And I'll be fine." Alex vanished out the front door. If they were werewolves then that would put all mythical things back into question. It was Saturday night and if they wolves didn't have continues control then that would put everybody in this area in danger.
" We're going to head back." George locked solemn as he spoke. " I need to track down some more info on werewolves."
" Please don't let me stop you. I'll join you in that search as well. Have a safe journey." Cora patted him on the shoulder and gave one wave to each of us.
George turned his head to us while walking to the door " We should all leave n-"
" But Alex." Julia looked fierce as she stopped George.
" I'm sure Cora will send him our way." George replied looking over his shoulder back at Cora who gave one sharp nod. We all got up and walked out. George said a last thanks and we were off. Running at full speed back to Hood River. It only took us seven minutes but it was the longest run I had done in my short vampire life. Dom, my best friend was most likely a werewolf, I had discovered a real threat not only to me but the town itself.
" How are we going to handle this if they come here. I mean should we attack or lead them away."
George sighed.
" We don't know if they'll follow us, let alone attack us. But we do however have to take into account that they might be a threat to others."
" Maybe your right. I'm going to go and see David for a while. I'll be back in two hours."
Alice jumped in front of the door putting one hand up. " You will hurry back wont you."
I rolled my eyes. " Yes I will." I said bye to the others and ran. I didn't tell them my real plans. I was going to find out if Dom was about from David and then force out an answer from him. I kicked it up a notch to get there faster. Both cars where in the drive when I jumped out the forest that lined the road on the opposite side. Some lights were on because of the dullness of the sky. He seen me approaching and caught the door before I knocked. He was out of the crutches and he was walking now. I could tell he still had a small limp in his walk though it wouldn't be noticed by a humans eyes.
" Mason. Come in come in, how's life."
" Yes going well indeed. Listen, have you seen Dom in your travels." This made his face drop.
" No. he left at the same time you left. He had to see his Gran or something and that left me here with nobody….." I stopped listening. So Dom left when I left. At the same time David said. Either it was purely coincidental or he is a werewolf. That also meant that he must be back if he was fallowing us.
" Did he say who he was going with by any chance."
" Yea just some friends."
" Right. I gotta go now but I just had to ask. You know were having a little fall out so I just need answers so I can put together a picture of what he's been doing." I smiled at him and turned to go.
" Will I see you at school then. The games on Wednesday remember." I ran of into the distance around the road until I was back in the clear. I jumped in the forest and went back to the Cameron's. the forest was uneasily empty. I couldn't smell anyone for miles. Then I caught sight of Alice up ahead coming towards me.
" What you doing here"
" Coming to get you. We need to all go up the Hood river. Apparently there's a wolf tribe up there according George." I nodded at her and we started at a run back up to the house. I smelled nothing which was weird. But I soon found out why. The wet dog smell hit us like a brick wall. We both stopped dead looking frantically around for any sign of the wolf.
" Do you-"
" Yes" I cut in. I couldn't hide the distress in my voice. What if there were more this time. Four, five, six maybe seven. Movement caught my eye just to the left and I bit out of where we stood. There was a person walking towards us. He only had a pair of shorts on and didn't seem much of a threat. But what made this scene very bad was that he was flanked by five wolves. Three on his left and two on his right. I focused on the person and realized who it was. It was Dom.