She flitted along the edges, bright little bursts of light.
But I knew.
It was small at first. Just this little pull somewhere in the back of my head.
Thomas was watching Carter and Kelly and Joe.
I took a drink of water. It was cold and sweet and that little pull itched.
I said, “Hey.”
I said, “How long?”
I said, “How long have they been gone?”
Osmond frowned and said, “Twenty minutes. Thereabouts.”
I pulled out my phone. Sent a text.
whats taking so long
And waited.
I started to sweat.
And then a response: Just finishing up. Can you come help me real quick?
And I said, sure.
“Be right back,” I told Osmond. “She needs some help.”
He said, “Ox.”
I looked at him.
“Never mind,” he said after hesitating.
I went through the house.
Elizabeth and Mark were in the kitchen. They smiled at me as I passed them. It was pinched on the both of them, but they were trying.
“Okay, Ox?” she asked.
“Yeah. Mom needs some help real quick at the house.”
Mark said, “Hang on, I’ll go with you.”
I shook my head. “No need. I don’t think it’ll take long.”
“Ox—”
I laughed. “It’s okay. I promise.”
“Just… be quick. Okay?”
“Yeah.”
And I was quick. I moved across the lawn toward my house. I kept my eyes and ears open because it was what I was taught. The wards were up, sure. I was surrounded by wolves. I was in a pack. I was big and strong. My father had said I was gonna get shit, but he was dead and buried and I was alive. I was important to someone. To many someones. I had friends. I had a family. Maybe I was gonna get shit, but it’d be met with fang and claw.