During a morning study session for a chemistry quiz tomorrow my phone begins to vibrate across my desk. I flip the phone, the screen facing the desk, and go back to my notes. Ten seconds later, it goes off twice in quick succession, giving me a clear idea of who it could be. Turning the phone back over and see that it is, in fact, Rachel. I sigh at the three texts as I unlock my iPhone.
Quinn, we need to talk-*
Please Quinn. I need your help-*
Well, when you decided to distract me while Mr. Stark was speaking Thursday by flirting with me, I missed a crucial part of the notes. So it would be quite honorable of you to answer my question. How many valence elections does an oxygen atom have?-*
I scoff at Rachel's poor attempt at trying to get me to talk to her. 'Rach, I know you have that in your notes, because I copied it for mine. Nice try,' I think, amused. Without being able to completely deny Rachel's request and want to talk though, I open a new text to Santana.
Hey S, will you text Rachel and tell her the answer is six valence electrons?-Q
She instantly replies, as I hear a loud groan come from Brittany's room, with, I'm not ur fckng messenger Q. this is da last time. find urself a new bitch.-Snix
I send her my gratitude before returning to my notes again. My phones goes off, and thinking it was San replying, I open it blindly. I huff at Rachel's name, reading the message.
Why do you have to be so unfailingly stubborn all the time?-*
I smirk as I shut my phone off and throw it on my bed, turning once again to my notes. Not even two minutes later I hear my mom shout mine and Brittany's name up the stairs. I look down to Luna, sitting at my feet, and sigh, "I'm going to fail if all anyone does is distract me."
"Yes Momma," I call, hitting the bottom stair. Luna trailing behind, pulling my pajama leg for me to feed her.
"We're in the kitchen," she calls back.
I raise my eyebrow in curiosity at who the 'we' could be and say to Luna, "Time to eat." She bolts to the kitchen and I hear her try to pick up her food bowl, along with two chuckles. I grin, recognizing the deeper chuckle as the scent of familiar musk fills my nose, and run into the kitchen.
My smile grows impossibly bigger when I see the older man laughing at Luna's antics with Mom. His salt and pepper hair the only tells of his age, along with the wrinkles surrounding his eyes when he smiles seeing me. He stands tall at 6'5", and just by looking at him, I can still see signs of his days as a Marine.
"Papa John," I exclaim enthusiastically, rushing up to him.
"Lucy Q," he says happily, wrapping me in a giant hug and I put my arms around him in return, taking in the scent of hay and old spice.
"Papa John, you know I don't answer to Lucy anymore," I remind him exasperatedly.
His blue eyes, matching Britt's perfectly, shine with amusement. "I know, but you'll always be Lucy Q to me."
"Fine. So what are you doing here," I ask, finishing filling up Luna's bowl and setting it in front of her.
"Can't a man come see his family," he responds, with a small smile. I arch my eyebrow at him, knowing there was more to it. "Blast that eyebrow. You know I could never keep something from my mom either when she did that. I'm here, because I hear that my Lucy Q is finally taking her place as Alpha," he proudly states.
"You came all the way from Kentucky to see some lame naming ceremony," I hear San joke as she and Brittany walk into the kitchen with giant smiles.
"Ah, if it isn't my precious duckling and her little devil," he says with a smile, before wrapping both of them into a bear hug, lifting them off the floor. He sets them down and answers Santana, "The ceremony isn't the only reason I came. I've heard that Lucy has found her mate, and I would like to meet this girl." His hopeful eyes focus on me while I glare angrily at my mother, who refuses to meet my eyes.
"I have to go," I snarl. I turn to Britt and San, knowing they've wanted to run with me for a while, and reluctantly ask, "Would you two like to run with me?"
S begins to nod her head before Brittany interrupts her, sensing that I needed to be alone she says, "Go ahead Q. We'll run together tonight after the ceremony."
I make my way towards the back door, ignoring Papa John's scrutinizing gaze. I hear Brittany call after me to not hunt the ducks again. I wave my hand in recognition and dash past the pool, into the woods, stripping the entire way, and switching mid stride within seconds.
Running past the barely noticeable trail leading to my foundation, I decide to check out the creek I heard Friday night. My paws pound hard against the cold, wet ground. The atmosphere filled with the sounds of birds singing and small animals running through the undergrowth. The morning air and different foliages take over my nose. The smell of clean water combined with the sound of the creek trickling over rocks reaches me soon after. I pick up my pace and cover the last twenty feet, breaking through the branches moments later. I walk leisurely across the slick pebble bank to the clear liquid.
Beginning to lap up the water with my tongue, I hear a familiar voice wafting towards me through the trees across from me. 'No,' I think in disbelief, 'It can't be.'
I fluidly hop over the small creek and go into the woods, letting the wailing siren call lure me in once again. I continue for ten more yards until I find the source of the noise. Rachel, in my hoodie, sitting on the boulder over looking Lima. Unconsciously, I keep walking to her while she continues to sings, unaware of my presence. Wanting nothing more than for her to curl up in to me and run her fingers through my fur. For her to be mine completely, to bite her, to mark her, to change her.
'No,' I tell myself firmly, shaking my head hard as I force my body to stop walking.
'Why are you worrying about marking her, when all you can do is insist that she's not your mate,' my wolf asks, too snarky for an animal.
'Why do you insist on irritating me,' I retort.
'I'm just trying to show you that you're wrong for denying her, and point you in the right direction. That way you can repair the damage you have wrought on yourself. I do not want you ruining this, because you are not the only one who will suffer,' she answers, a sense of pending loss in her words.
'The funny thing is I'm never wrong. Now go away,' I growl, both in my head and aloud.
Rachel, hearing the noise, whirls her head around. Her deep brown eyes lock onto mind, her face in utter surprise and, what appears to be, wee. She motions for me to come closer, but instead, I sit down onto the morning dew soaked grass a few feet away from her. We take each other in, eyes roaming each other's bodies, silently trying to gauge how the other is. Rachel's eyes begin to fill with tears, but I can't tell if they're from joy or sorrow. As one begins to fall, she uses the left sleeve to wipe away until she realizes what she's doing and laughs self consciously while she pulls on the sleeves to cover her hands as her eyes fall to the ground. I let out an amused huff and find the action completely endearing. Her eyes snap back up to mine.
"Quinn," Rachel finally sighs softly in relief. Her voice sending my heart ever closer to the edge. She put her hand out, inviting me in again.
'She isn't afraid,' I realize. She starts to move closer and I stand, stepping back. 'But I can't do this,' I remind myself. I turn and begin to leave until Rachel's quivering voice stops me.
"Please don't go, Quinn. I miss you."
I sigh, fighting to not turn and look at her. I hear her start to get close again, yet I can't make myself move away. I let her walk near enough that I can feel her warmth and smell her intoxicating scent. She scratches behind my left ear, hitting my spot perfect, before I bolt. Not quick enough to miss the heart-wrenching sob Rachel releases though. Tears falling from my own eyes as I run home as fast as my four legs can carry me, paws kicking dirt high into the air behind me. Flying over the creek and past the foundation, as if the wing mark on my back actually came to life, I see glimpses of my house coming through the trees quicker than usual.
Switching back, I get dressed in a pair of red Soffee shorts and a white tank top, I started to keep in a fallen log after the first night, and I walk out of the woods. Walking across the yard, I see Papa John in a rocking chair on the back half of the porch, Luna at his feet. Throwing my hair up in a short ponytail, I sit on the wooden floor, my back resting against on of the support beams, as Luna crawls into my lap and curls up. "Hey Papa John," I greet happily scratching between Luna's eyes, while he pours some sweet tea and hand the glass jar to me.
"Hello Lucy Q," he says, taking a sip from his own jar. He looks over at me as I watch the clouds pass overhead. "Are you ready for tonight," I hear him ask after a few moments of silence.
"Of course," I answer, taking a large drink of the tea. "If I didn't have cheer practice in a little bit, I would ask to move the ceremony to right now."
He nurses his tea some more, and smacks his lips in appreciation. While we watch the sun shine through the brown liquid he says, "I don't believe you are." His blasé tone throwing me more than his words.
"I'm sorry," I ask in disbelief, setting my jar on the porch.
"I said I don't believe you are Quinn, but this isn't my decision anymore. Your mother does though, and I must trust her judgment with this."
Hearing him say my middle name, I knew he was being completely serious with me. "Why don't you believe that I'm ready?"
"Because you are running, in fear, from a girl. You aren't being honest with yourself Quinn. An Alpha cannot be honest with her pack if she's not true to her heart," he answers, sadness in his blue eyes. He frowns at the indignant look on my face, making the imperceptible lines on his face deepen.
Throwing my hands up in frustration, I seethe, "This is about Rachel?"
"Yes," he answers in calm sincerity. "My father left my mother, Mary left me, your father left Judy, and if you are not careful, Lucy Q, this Rachel will leave you as well."
Moving Luna off my lap, I stand, and mumble, "I have to go." I throw the screen door open so hard it bangs against the wall, making Luna yelp in surprise; I run through the house, up the stairs two at a time, grab my cheer bag and keys, and hurry down to my truck. I slam the truck door shut and turning the key in the ignition roughly. I look up to the side of the house and see Papa John staring back at me. I shake my head at my family's nerve, back out the gravel drive, and head to the stadium.
"You think this is hard? Try having bamboo shoved underneath your fingernails. That's hard," Coach Sylvester shouts through her megaphone. We all bring internally at the image as we run our end of practice ten miles around the track. Britt, San, and I effortlessly lead the team, with me in the front.
"One of these days, Imma shove that damn megaphone so far ups her ass, she'll be upchucking it for weeks," I hear Santana threaten from over from my right shoulder, as we round the turn indicating the start of our last mile.
"Gross," Britt giggles under her breath at the same time that Sylvester puts the megaphone back up the her mouth, shouting, "Sandbags! No talking! Five more laps!"
Santana growls as her and B look up into the bleachers where the black and red tracksuit clad coach stands. "When did Rachel get here," Brittany quietly ask, making me stumble at the question as it catches me off guard.
"Q! My head Cheerio does not falter! Ten more laps," Coach Sue yells at me. I snarl as San and I start our respective laps while B handles the rest of the team, having them clean up the various pompoms and props from the field, then sending them to the locker rooms to shower. Sylvester soon leaves the field after that as Britt goes and sit beside Rachel. They instantly start talking as a breeze begins to blow, the sweet sound of Rachel's laugh reaches me easily along with the smell of strawberries and cherry oak. I look up to where Britt and Rachel are watching us run after finishing my second lap. Catching me staring at her, Rachel ducks her head and brings a notebook from her lap to in front of her face, while waves down at me. A few seconds later, I watch her peek over the top of the book, before quickly averting them when I smirk at her.
Santana snickers from beside me and says, "You know Q, for someone you want nothing to do with she sure makes you smile like no other."
"Shut up," I tell her, forcing my smile to go away. A realization hits me then, I look at S from the corner of my eye, and ask, "How'd she know we were having practice today?"
"She called Britt-Britt for some hobbit related quest, then Berry asked B what she was doing, and B told her that we were on our way to practice," San pants out her answer, the laps beginning to get to her.
"Seriously?! How stu-,"
"I dare you Fabray," San interrupts me, stopping on the spot, making me pass her. "I dare you to finish that sentence I don'ts care if you are family or my Alpha, I will ends you," she threatens darkly, her hands balling up at her sides and eyes flashing ember.
I sigh as I jog back to where San stopped, and run my fingernails through my pull backed hair. "S, you know I don't believe Brittany's anywhere near stupid, but how could she tell Rachel that?"
"Because she didn't know Berry was going to stalk you," she answers, uncurling her fists as she slightly starts to calm down. I look up at the bleachers again to find that Rachel and Brittany are watching us with tense expressions. I playfully shove Santana's should, smile, and say, "I bet I could finish the rest of my eight before you can even think to finish your three."
I take off, but Santana soon passes me and throws over her shoulder, "Fat chance."
I complete my laps two minutes after S does, and make my way over to the three girls. Rachel looks up at me just as I reach them, and hands me a water bottle, a light smiles playing at the corners of her pink lips unbeknownst to her. I take the bottle from her, not meeting her eyes. In a single gulp, I drain the bottle and gasp out my thanks.
"Wow, she can speak," Rachel sarcastically say, all traces of a smile quickly vanishing. My eyes narrow at her and she put her hands on her hips, glaring at me. Brittany and San look uneasily between us, waiting for me to reply. I glance over at B then towards the locker room, she nods my head getting the message, and tugs on Santana's hand.
"Come on Sanny, I'm sure everyone's gone home by now," I hear Britt whispers suggestively in her ear. Santana's entire face lights up as she practically drags Brittany to the shores. I shake my head in amusement, before I turn to Rachel with as much ice in my gaze as I can manage while looking at her.
Reaching for the water bottle I keep in my cheer bag I ask coldly, "What do you want Berry?"
Bristling, Rachel stomps her left foot, and replies, "For one, I would like for you to stop pretending that you hate me."
"Not going to happen," I mumble before opening the bottle and taking a sip from it.
Continuing as if she didn't hear me she says, "I would also like for you to explain exactly why Daddy is coming over to your house tonight."
"Why don't you ask him yourself," I tell her, looking away to grab my bag and start to walk towards the locker rooms.
Rachel's hand wraps around my wrist, sending a shock through me. "I know you know, Quinn. Please stop walking away, and just talk to me. I'm standing right here asking for you to just open up to me."
"I can't Rach," I say weakly, jerking my wrist free, but stay with back to her and head down. She walks in front of me and lifts my head with two of her fingers so that I'll look at her, sending shock waves through the contact again. The shock multiplying once our eyes meet and she asks softly, "Why not? What has Quinn Fabray so scared?"
Her hand moves to rest on my cheek, my head turning into the warm contact as I start to answer, "I just." I pause getting lost in her warm chocolate eyes, knowing I still couldn't lie to her, I say, "I have to go." Reluctantly, I pull away from her and slowly make my way, on weak legs, to the locker room. Once inside, I lean back against the walk, the smell of peach and cinnamon body wash invade my nose telling me that Britt and Santana are still hear. I close my eyes, slam my head against the bricks, and let out a deep breath.
"Running again Q," I hear San tease. I open my eyes and scowl at her when she walks out from the showers, towel drying her hair, smirking.
"Shut up," I growl, heading for the furthest stall.
AN: I know it's been awhile since I've last updated, and it's short update at that for the amount of time its been. Things just kept coming up; sick puppy, house repairs, financial issues with college, and job hunting to name a few. Lame excuses, I know and I'm so sorry. I hope you still have interest in this story.