I yelled in shock and fear.
Dad shoved Nick off of me and assumed the position Nick had just been in. “You can fight him, Sarah. Just focus on me, the pack, the smells around you, and my voice. Just fight him and then we’ll figure out what we need to do to break the mark.”
“Come to me!” yelled the angry vampire in my head.
Nick crawled to me, putting his hand against my cheek. “Don’t leave me.”
I leaned into his hand and stared into Dad’s eyes. I could fight this. I wasn’t a victim; I was a fighter. “Pack,” I whispered. Gary dropped down next to me, touching my other cheek and staring at me. I hadn’t even known they’d come, but soon every part of my legs, arms, and head was being touched by the other pack members.
I fought against the vampire’s hold on me, refusing to give in to his demands, despite the pain it was causing me. The vampire’s voice slowly faded as I breathed deeply and fought to ground myself, focusing on the smell, feel, and sound of those around me.
The sound of the vampire’s voice slowly faded as I focused on the feel, smell, and sound of those around me. I exhaled as it disappeared and smiled at Dad. “I’m okay now.”
Everyone moved away from me. “Can I tackle her next time?” Gary asked. “That looked like fun.”
Dad kissed the top of my head. “You sure you’re okay?”
I nodded. “Yep. I don’t feel him in my head, and it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
The other Alphas were all staring at us in shock and disbelief. Why? Were they shocked at the pack’s reaction towards me? Or that I’d stopped the vampire’s voice?
“We need to go back to school,” I said as I brushed my outfit off.
Dad sighed. “Alright. I need to discuss this with the others. I’ll see you tonight.” He turned to Nick. “If she tries to run again, you have my permission to tackle her.”
Gary smiled. “Me too?”
Dad smiled. “Any of the pack.”
Seven pairs of eyes swiveled toward me. I took a small step back, and they all tensed. “Dad, you’re a jerk,” I said as I stopped moving.
He smiled wider. “Boys, give her a five-minute head start and then run after her.”
I knew he wasn’t joking, so I spun and ran as fast as I could back towards school. I counted in my head as I ran, knowing the others were counting in their heads, waiting for their chance to tackle me. I jumped into the ditch to avoid getting hit by vehicles and hopped over fences like Nick had taught me. I was almost to the school parking lot when I heard the first yell of joy. Damn. They would be on me soon. I ran through the parking lot, weaving through cars with my head down low to confuse the scent trail. I could hear them talking and laughing, but I was at the school’s entrance, so I ran into the courtyard and squealed as I dodged Mason’s tackle.
Kids were outside since it was a passing period and I had to dodge around them to make it through. Cherry stepped into my path, “What is going—”
I pushed her out of the way and yelled, “No time!”
Two others tried to tackle me, but I leaped over one and stopped quickly to make the second misjudge. “Sorry, Keith and Bryan.”
I was almost to my second period when Nick tackled me. I yelled and laughed as we rolled in the dirt and then came to a stop right in front of the door with me on top of him, his arms wrapped protectively around me. He and I laughed loudly, but I could hear some of the other pack groaning in disappointment.
“Dang! He got her again!” Gary said in exasperation.
Nick brushed a strand of my hair behind my ear, and my fast beating heart began thumping wildly for a whole other reason. Nick’s nostrils flared as he took in my scent and then his eyes widened when he realized what I was feeling.
“What are you two doing?” asked Coach Brown angrily.
I stood up off of him and brushed myself off. “Sorry.”
Nick brushed off his pants and adjusted his tie. “We were just playing.”
“Go to class,” Brown ordered us with a scowl.
I kept my face hidden from Nick’s as I walked inside my classroom. As the door closed, I heard him sigh loudly and say, “What the hell am I going to do?”
That was exactly what I