Race Day
My tea steamed in front of me as I watched the sun peek over the horizon. I sigh, breathing in the fresh air and appreciating the sunshine on my face. I was pulled from my trance by a sharp bark, my eyes flying open in surprise. My dog, Phoenix, ran toward our fence, playfully barking at the wolves running nearby. A warmth filled my chest as I smiled at my hound mutt’s familiar and his exuberance, hoping the werewolves wouldn’t mind him. A throaty crack I’ve come to know as a weres’ laugh graced my ears and I sent them a thank you through my pack link.
This place has been my home for three years and I couldn’t imagine it any other way. Before finding my pack I studied in a place hidden by ancient magic called the Realm. It was created by creatures called sprites, protectors of nature and magickal creatures, to have a place away from humanity to freely teach, govern, and protect the more at risk species.
I loved it there, but expectations of a Council Member’s daughter proved too much. I sighed, thinking of the responsibilities and expectations my mother shouldered on me in the courts made my stomach sway uneasily. Being indoors never suited me unless it was in a greenhouse. My fathers witch side always shone through as I continued my studies but my Sprite earth magick was always close behind. After my studies I decided, to my mothers dismay, to take the path I knew would open my world and bring me away from the judging eyes of the court.
After searching for an opening I quickly found the Rising Cresent Pack, making friends almost immediately with the Luna Neoma and winning over most of the children with magick tricks. I began my job as pack Shaman and Witch that very week.
After two and a half years of peace with my adoring pack, I caught the eye of a lucious werewolf with sandy blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. He was new to the pack, working in the hospital to help treat human and creatures alike. I was quickly entranced and our flirty encounters quickly turned to more. I cringed to myself at the things I had let him to do me. Then I felt it so vividly I had to ground myself against the oncoming memory.
The burning. The enchanted chains holding my arms and legs down with the weight of mountains. The cool metal autopsy table under my back. The sheer terror of seeing his once gorgeous face, now twisted in a sick grin as he dug around inside me, had tears seeping from the corners of my eyes and pleas flowing from my lips.
My hand instinctively went to the gruesome scar across my abdomen, wincing at the memory and pulling myself back from my own cruel mind. Phoenix now sat feet away on the porch, looking up at me as he wagged his tail. I pushed the memories further down as my lips pulled up into a smile.
“Come on bub,” I said, grabbing my mug and walking to the door. He gladly followed, knowing breakfast was next. I fed him, running my fingers over his short light blonde fur before feeding my cat, fish, and lizards as well. I smiled at my happy troupe, braiding my long honey blond hair and packing up my things for Race Day. I took in a calming breathe as my hands shook, my mind clouded with the stress of having to be in front of so many unfamiliar wolves soon but Race Day and the Spring Solctice were not traditions to be ignored.
My pack had the honor of hosting the Mating Race this year, welcoming unmated males and females from all packs in surrounding states to hopefully find their soul mate and other half.
“Sia, please get to the pack house when you’re ready, I need help getting these girls signed in and to their rooms,” Luna Neoma linked me as I swung the third bag over my shoulder. “On my way love,” I linked back, smiling at my friends voice. I tried to shake off some of the nerves, reminding myself that my pack would protect me, but the uneasy feeling didn’t wane.
“Be good,” I said to my pets as I closed the door and walked the short, wooded path to the pack house. Excitement was evident as I saw packmates and visitors helping unload vans of luggage, food, and alcohol.
Racing she-wolves were assigned a room in the pack house, where the run was starting for the females, to get ready for the race and keep their luggage. I watched as several girls got out of a gaggle of black sedans, pulling out mountains of luggage.
I swerved to avoid the obstacle course of suit cases and bags as I made my way to the door. I felt the drop of anxiety in my stomach, and I kept my eyes down, quickening my pace. When it came to my own pack members I could easily talk freely, knowing they had accepted me and my quirks long ago. With outsiders tho, I felt my heart quicken and the anxiety of new people and crowds crept up, turning my pale freckled skin a stark crimson.
“ Uh, take these in first, they are designer and I don’t want them on the ground much longer,” ordered a tall, tan she-wolf with long black hair flowing down her lean body. Her stance told me she was an alpha but I didn’t feel much of an alpha aura. Her comment drew several other females to look at me curiously, and I searched for a familiar face swiftly but found none.
I stopped, feeling the stare of the women, and my body erupted in anxious fireworks. My skin pricked and my chest tightened as I tried to form a sentence for the expecting she-wolves.
