Nothing has been okay since the Marquez brothers got to town.
And Bezz knows he’s not just imagining things. He can feel Vale’s near-constant agitation through the pack bond, a reminder thrumming through the back of his skull to keep his guard up.
They’ve stopped going for the usual pack runs through the woods. Instead, Vale’s got them all on a rotation, pairs to patrol pack land borders. Bezz and Mig are out tonight, paws pounding against the wet earth as they bound down the slopes on the northern shore.
Mig thinks he’s being dramatic. Bezz huffs at him, nipping at his flank. He can literally hear Mig’s laughter in his mind.
Drama queen. Mig sends through the bond. C’mon, it’s exciting. Enemies to keep us sharp.
Bezz feels nauseous. It’s not just Vale who’s acting different. Mig’s been talking like this since the Marquez brothers and their strange gold eyes stepped foot on pack territory. Luca and Pecco have been acting even more serious than usual, not wanting to take the bikes out or play in the rain on a midnight run. We have to be ready, Bezz. Even Franky’s been mysteriously disappearing.
Bezz is different too. He keeps having these dreams.
Cele’s limp body, throat ripped out. Lying pale in the woods. Outside their favorite pizza place in town. Or worst, covered in dust on the track at the ranch. Always covered in blood.
In some ways, Cele is handling things worst of them all. He wants to try to get along with them. He said being a vampire seemed cool like they don’t spend their time murdering people for dinner.
Bezz wants to go back to the way things were before.
Running. Chasing. Cele’s warm body underneath him in the pack pile. Safe, where he belongs.
Mig can smell his distress. He nudges Bezz with his snout in apology. Mig cocks his head to the side, pointing in the direction of the water.
Race along the shore? He offers. I won’t tell Vale if you don’t.
You’re on. Bezz responds, already pounding down the sand.
And if that little voice in the back of his mind that has always sounded too much like Vale keeps whispering careful, they’re out there, well, maybe he can ignore it under the light of the moon.
