The Run To Quinn

~•2•~

He smirked. "Sounds like danger." He bit his lip and came in close to me. "I feel it too. I told Alex and he brushed me off."

My stomach turned. "Who would attack us?"

Marshal sat up. "Nobody I know of. Don't say anything to anyone else. If word gets back to Alex that we're saying we're going to be attacked... it might not be good."

I nodded back, standing as well. "Thanks for healing me up, Marshal." I brought him into a hug and waved goodbye as I walked away.

Who would attack us? Alpha Alex and Luna Marie were close to a lot of powerful packs. We were allies with the packs around us.

Someone put a hand on my shoulder and I jumped, turning around with my hands up. It was just Pierce. He put his palms out in the universal sign of peace.

"I'm not trying to beat you again." He chuckled darkly. "You're a good fighter." Pierce looked up at the sky, tapping his leg. "I can't believe I'm asking this," He muttered, rolling his eyes. "Are you interested in joining the pack warriors?" Pierce asked. He obviously didn't want to be here.

Only a high ranking official could ask you to be a Warrior. Pierce wasn't quite Beta, but he did help train the Warriors and has been around them since he was a child.

I closed my eyes, shrugging. "I don't... I'm not sure."

My pack was a little on the sexist side, which was odd for packs. Women throughout the supernatural world have been highly regarded, side by side with men, but... the Warriors only had a couple girls. All, without mates.

My brother was a Warrior. He joined without a word to anyone in the family. He left to another pack without saying goodbye. You weren't allowed to say goodbye, weren't allowed to tell your family. Not until it was too late.

I tilted my head at Pierce. "I don't think that's a good fit for me."

"Are you going to baby sit for forever, be a low life girl with no power?" He asked, looking me up and down. "Or are you going to put your training to use?"

I shook my head and then flipped him off. His friends behind him laughed at him. "If I want to babysit I'll baby sit. You barely beat me in a fight. Barely. Don't act high and mighty." I pushed him back, taking a step away from him.

I was walking away, that was my answer. No.

"Think about it!" Pierce yelled angrily. "I can get you back to your brother!"

And then I was walking away because I couldn't give him my answer. Because I didn't want to. I didn't want to say yes. But I almost did say it. Walking away was the only way to stop myself from yelling back, "Yes!"

***

I think what I needed was a good nap. Something to... take some nerves off. Fighting usually did the trick, and for a second it did. And then I talked to Marshal about being attacked, and Pierce's proposal of me joining the ranks. It all unnerved me a little too much.

He could get me back to my brother.

I walked into my house, immediately hearing giggling and a loud video from the back room.

I smirked and walked back there, leaning against the doorway. Maggie and Matt were sitting on the bed, feet hanging off the edge, leaning against the wall. A laptop sat in their laps.

"Hey guys!" I yelled.

Maggie jumped and then turned to me, shaking her head. "What the Hell, Q! You nearly gave me a heart attack." She put a hand over her chest, taking a deep breath.

I nodded to Matt. "Hey Matt."

"Hey Q, what's up?" He narrowed his eyes at me. "Who tried it with you?" Matt was a little overprotective of Maggie and me. He always had been, since we were kids.

"I got in a fight with Pierce. It was in the ring and I started it, don't get upset with him." We weren't allowed to tell people if we were invited to be a Warrior. I didn't care. I sat down next to Matt and leaned over him, laying across him and Maggie's laps. "Pierce invited me to be a Warrior."

They didn't say anything, only sat there silently.

"I think I might take it." I said, sweat sliding down my temple. "He said he could get me to see my brother again."

"You know why Reston left." Matt said his name.

Reston.

I hadn't thought about, said, or heard that name since he left. "Yeah. I do."

"He doesn't want to see you."

"But I want to see him!" I yelled, sitting up. Tears poured down my face, my vision slightly blurring. "I need him."

"You don't need Reston." Maggie got on her knees on the bed, her hands grabbing my cheeks. "Look at me."

I looked into her eyes, finding some solace in them. "You don't. Need. Him."

"He helps them." I said, slumping down. I moved off the bed and ran a hand through my hair. "He helps them stay away." I suffered from night terrors.

My brother, when we were little, would come into my bedroom and lay with me, tell me jokes. Stay in my room on a pallet on the floor until I fell back asleep. I never had a nightmare when he was near.

And then he left.

Because of me.

I sent him away.

"Q, he won't be around for forever." Maggie tilted her head at me, her eyes shut. "It's not your fault."

I shook my head at her. "But it is. I sent him away." I did. It was me.

Matt huffed out a breath. "Even if you did. Reston was an asshole. We're lucky he left."

"Matt." Maggie warmed, her voice low. She all but growled it out.

"No. No he's right." I wiped my face, getting rid of the tears. My eyes were still puffy and I knew my face was read. "Reston was an asshole."

I needed somewhere to go. Everyone was pushing me today.

Sam? He brought up a touchy subject. While that wasn't his fault I didn't enjoy his little switch of emotions that came when they were convenient to him.

I tried to fight, to get off some energy. Pierce ruined that for me. I picked a fight with a wolf bigger than me.

And home only held my friends who shoved the truth in my face.

"You should go for a run. Do you want me to come?" Maggie's eyes were soft as she reached for my hand.

I shook my head lightly. "No. No it's okay. I think I'm just gunna go for a walk."