For the rest of the day the pack lounged around my house, eating cake and watching lacrosse. At one point, about five o'clock, we all began feeling too cramped. We, partly because of our pack nature, needed to get out and run around. Erica suggested going to the park and racing, Boyd objected, complaining that he was too slow, but everyone else overruled him. I piled into the car with Peter, Derek, Jackson, Erica, Isaac, and Boyd. I would have gone with Scott, Allison, Lydia, and Stiles, but they had come in Lydia's tiny car.

The car ride to the park was overly cramped. We were taking Derek's Camaro. I wasn't even entirely sure how we were going to fit seven people in it, because we had to be violating at least four traffic laws, but it worked out… almost. Derek and Peter took the front seats, attributing the privilege to some kind of ex-alpha right. Erica sat on Boyd's lap, something that neither of them seemed to have a problem with. Isaac and Jackson fought over who didn't get the middle seat and Jackson won. In the end I had to sit on Jackson's lap, which we both complained about. The ride was about fifteen minutes, so thank God that the torture was not prolonged. When the car stopped, we all poured out of it. I nearly tripped when I landed on the muddy ground- it had been raining all day- but Jackson caught my arm and pulled me back.

The air was cold and smelled like the forest, a mix of pine trees and burning wood. The sun kept being covered by fluffy clouds; the temperature frigid in the shade and warm in the sun. The trees' orange leaves blew in the wind, many fluttering downwards with each gust. When everyone else had arrived and were standing in the sun, Jackson started running.

"No fair!," Lydia yelled, who was taking off her stilettos and letting her feet sink into the soggy ground. Erica did the same, chucking them to her left. If I was still there she would have hit me, but I was already running. Fast.

I ran for about three seconds until Scott, Derek, Isaac, Boyd, and Peter had passed me. Refusing to let them beat me, I started sprinting. The air flew past me as I flew past the others. Only Derek managed to keep pace with me, as we quickly gained on Jackson, who seemed to be slowing down, apparently thinking he'd won.

Not a chance. Derek and I ran up alongside Jackson, flanking him. I stuck my foot out and tripped him, and he rolled head over heels in the mud. Derek and I continued to run until we got to the end of the park and the border of the forest. Jackson ran up with the others shortly after us, his face covered in mud and his breath ragged. Jackson scraped the mud off of his face menacingly and flicked it at Derek and me.

"Oh it's on," I growled. Derek nodded we set up for a race. "Okay! Peter against Boyd. Jackson against Scott. Stiles against Erica. Maria against Allison. Me against Isaac, and Lydia won't be racing." Lydia gratefully nodded to Derek.

I sized up my competition. Needless to say I'd win. Allison was stronger than me but I was considerably faster, and whoever won against every single person they were up against would be the fastest in the pack.

We all went through our opponents, and Me, Boyd, Jackson, Erica, and Derek won. Since there were five of us racing, we gave Jackson a bye. I won against Boyd and Erica lost against Derek.

It was amazing when I ran, especially when I wasn't cheating with my powers. The feeling of flying through the air with nothing holding me back but how much restraint I chose for myself was exhilarating. And so far I hadn't lost a single race.

I was ready for the next one.

Derek, Jackson, and I all lined up behind a big Rowan tree. Rowan was also called Witchwood. I knew that this meant something. I knew it was a harbinger… I knew I would win. I bent down, my right hand was on the ground, and all my weight was being supported by my right leg. My left leg was behind me, and was making a divot in the ground that I could push off from. I looked in front of me, and I knew the distance between me and the finish line was at least three hundred meters.

I could do this.

Erica sidled up next to the Witchwood and she casually raised her arm, "Ready… Set," she waited longer than was necessary, "Go." As she yelled this last word, she brought her arm down, quick.

I started off. I was taking short, quick strides, while Derek and Jackson had already lengthened there's. I pumped my arms furiously and slowly elongated my stride. Within a few seconds, though it felt like forever, my legs were fully extended, taking the longest strides I'd ever taken before. Mud flew out from behind my bare feet – I'd taken off my shoes earlier- and they were starting to hit Derek, who I'd just passed.

Now I just had to make sure I'd take down Jackson. He was a good four meters ahead of me, running at full speed. I knew I needed to push it if I was going to win. I remembered from last summer watching the Olympics and seeing the strides that the long jumpers took. They were practically doing splits in the air as they ran.

I knew that my legs had no chance of going any faster than what they were doing right now, so my legs had to extend farther. My legs were extending so far that they were practically doing a Grand Jeté. With only fifty meters left to go, I knew my chances were slim of making it, but when I looked up and saw Lydia, who was going to judge who finished first, I couldn't see Jackson in my peripheries.

I knew I'd won when I sailed across the finish line. Lydia frowned, clearly not happy that I beat her boyfriend, but she nevertheless threw her hands up in the air and said, my name. I shook hands with Jackson who gave me an unhappy smile while I grinned at him widely.

In all of this I'd nearly forgotten about the audience with the Alphas tonight.

I looked to the west, the sun was low in the sky. I pointed at the lowering sun, and everyone nodded unhappily.

We all went back to our respective cars, though this time I made Jackson sit on Isaac's lap, justifying it with my victory in the race. While Peter teased the two about their "relationship" and their ship name –Jacksaac- I kept checking my phone. It was 6 o'clock, and still not sunset.

It would be soon.

Derek was dropping us off at our respective houses so we could get changed. Since my car was completely shot, I requested Isaac to pick me up on his motorcycle.

When I got to my house I stepped in the shower after eating three cupcakes that sat on the counter. I let the water just soak over me. I didn't bother washing my hair –we didn't have enough time- I made sure every other inch of me was squeaky clean. I walked out of my shower and into my room to retrieve the towel I'd left on my bed.

When I opened the door to my bedroom I saw Isaac sitting on my bed. I saw his eyes widen when he saw me stark naked. For a split second I screamed, and I screamed until I stepped out of my bedroom and back into the bathroom.

"What the hell, Isaac?," I screamed through the door. "If you hear me take a shower you wait downstairs for me, not in my room!"

"I'm sorry! I thought that you would change in there!"

"None of my clothes are in there!," I took a deep breath, and started again, "Just please hand me my towel."

I opened my door, making sure that Isaac could only see my outstretched arm when I took my towel. I wrapped it around me, making sure it covered my breasts, then instructed him to leave my bedroom. When I passed by him I didn't look into his eyes, but out of the corner of mine he had an almost hungry expression on his face.

I got changed quickly, putting on all black, and filling my purse with anything I thought I may need. Needless to say I was scared out of my mind.

It was almost sunset, and Isaac and I needed to move. I stepped out of my room and grabbed Isaac's arm – he was leaning against the door frame casually, as if he didn't just see me naked. I led him downstairs, pulling him swiftly outside of my house.

"Come on, we need to hurry," I said when we were getting onto his bike. He handed me his helmet, a sleek black contraption.

He nodded, "I'm sorry about seeing you… uh… naked."

"It's okay." It wasn't okay, but I couldn't dwell on that.

"I am really sorry," he said as he started his bike as I climbed on the back of his Harley.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and frowned, "Just go."

Soon the motorcycle had taken off and the low vibration of the engine traveled through my whole body as I held on to Isaac reluctantly.