The days passed by in an almost normal peace. Mom and Dad were getting along a lot better now. Mom is still being stubborn, but at least she allows Dad to have dinner over at our place once a week. Clara and I were getting back closer only now our relationship was growing tighter with the both of us being part of a new world. We even knocked off some of the things on that silly to-do list. And I was learning more about being a werewolf. Dad said I was a natural and could even surpass him in running one day. Not that I believed him. I was still only a half werewolf after all. 

My only real complaint was Lucian. We spent what little time we had after classes. Which wasn't much. We had to be extra careful at school. And then maybe a day or half a day on the weekends. After the Clara Incident, it was like he was avoiding me again. 

"I can hear you thinking over there." Clara's voice had me looking over at her.

She was stretching. She bribed me into taking part in a friendly race to test our supernatural speed. She knew I didn't like running before realizing I was a werewolf, but she also knew I'll do almost anything for money. Particularly, her money.

 Clara used to throw her money away on whatever caught her interest in some attempt to get her parents attention. After she realized that wasn't working, she started looking at me. I was that friend who didn't have everything, but I had enough to keep me happy. We had just became good friends and she had started to treat me as a sister. She would buy me whatever she got like ice cream or little toys. Things kids buy. As we got older, things changed and she started bribing me to do stuff I wasn't interested in or didn't want to do. I used to agree because she would always threaten that she would spend her money on lame stuff, and I would have to suffer the consequences along with her because I was her best friend. Other times, I enjoyed taking her money. A free hundred or a few went a good distance when you didn't have a job. 

I shifted on the uneven ground. "Am I doing this mate thing wrong?"

"There's a right way to be in a relationship?" She arched an eyebrow while she stretched her arms out. 

I should let her pass on that question, but why? "There is, but I don't think Lucian will abuse me. It's just that he's avoiding me again."

"He better not even think about it." She turned around to face me, hands on her hips. Her eyes flashed those rings of red whenever she felt a strong emotion. "You should talk to him, Amelia. And if he doesn't want to listen, call me. I've been meaning to try out my new chokehold attack on someone."

Watching her resuming her stretches, I shook my head. "I don't think it was a good idea for you to learn how to fight. I feel like you're abusing your powers." 

"Maybe a little, but a girl's gotta be tough." Clara brought each leg up in a stretch and got into a crouched position. "Get your bun up. We got to see which of us is faster."

Groaning, I dragged my body up slowly from the ground. "You're the one who's been working out the most, so o'course you're the fastest."

"Oh I know. Daddy Dearest isn't going to let his only bio child be an unfit wolf. I've seen him training you." She pointed a finger at me when I came to stand beside her.

Clara and Dad had unexpectedly become close. Well, I guess I couldn't say it was unexpected because Clara is way too invested in our family. After we told Mom about Clara's transformation and Clara was forced to endure a good lecture from Mom, she and Dad met. At first, my dad was a little apprehensive around Vampire Clara, but after they bonded over sports, they became fast friends. She even took to calling him 'daddy dearest' and he would retort with 'pup' much to my annoyance. Apparently, dad always wanted more children and he didn't care where he got them. Hence adopting Clara, even though she was now a vampire. 

"Where were you watching us? You could have come and joined us, you know." I hoped she hadn't seen the training session where Dad literally had me sniffing around in my wolf form. I hated that I was being forced to use my nose like a dog. It also didn't help that I looked like a big black dog either. 

"I know. I was actually passing by." She looked ahead. "I was feeding with the girls." 

It wasn't that I was against Clara feeding on people. I didn't like the idea. Blood drinking sounds disgusting. I wouldn't want to actually do it, despite the fact that Clara pointed out how many times I flaunted over vampire romance books. And I knew if Clara really needed it, I would offer her my wrist in a heartbeat. As I watch Clara now, I couldn't help feeling like something was going on with her. She was doing her normal antics, but there was this look in her eyes. Like she had decided to do something, but I didn’t know what.

I placed a hand on her shoulder. "You fitting in ok?" I didn't really know how the other vampires were treating my friend, and now seemed like a good time to ask her. I knew she couldn't tell me whatever plans they had going on, but it wasn't like I wanted to know in the first place. All that mattered was if Clara was doing ok. 

She placed her hand over my one on her shoulder. "Why wouldn't I? Beatrix and the others welcome me with open arms and the guys are all hotties. Which reminds me: I think I want to look into becoming a fitness trainer." 

I couldn't believe my ears. Clara giving up her dream to become a top cheerleader was unthinkable. This was all she talked about when we were girls. I must have had a look on my face that said everything I was thinking because she smiled before clarifying. 

"Cheering won't get me far if I do try to become one for the big leagues. Asphodel said I could go for it, but it will be tricky with me being a vampire. I don't want to become a burden on my new life. I can still cheer, don't get me wrong, but a trainer will let me fix my own hours without drawing a lot of attention." 

"Wow, Clara." I looked ahead for a moment, relieved to hear that she wasn't giving up her dream. "Look at you already having your life plan out and I'm over here not knowing what I want to do next."

She turned to me, grabbing ahold of both my hands. "Oh Amelia, you'll figure it out. Actually we can do it together. Look at all kinds of options over snacks."

"Honestly, I was hoping Lucian was going to ask me to move in and we sort of figure out where I fit in in his pack. If I did go to college, I'm fine with going local."

"You really should talk to him. This is a decision you both will probably have to make. Along with your relationship status." 

"Yeah, you're right." Smiling at her, she grinned back. 

Getting back into position, she nudged me with her elbow. "Alrighty. Now that that's solved, let's get this race going." 

"Fine," I sighed and got into a position. "No cheap hits. I want a clean run." 

"No funny business. Girl's honor." Clara agreed with a laugh. After a countdown, we were off racing along the open field we had been near. 

Freedom. That's what this was for me. Running never felt so freeing until I actually did run. I always was the type to complain about having to run or do any strenuous activity for that matter. But when you grow up being told that you don't have the looks to be running or told you aren't supposed to be able to do certain things, then you sort of start believing those things. Even for a little while. I proved a lot of kids wrong, but then I started feeling bad for them that I had beaten them in something they really loved. 

We were reaching the finish line, which had been this huge boulder that was sort of shaped like an oval. I was in the lead. Dad's training really helped with my endurance. I was surprised I was still going. As we closed in, I sensed the change in the air around us. Before I could look in Clara's direction, I saw her ran pass me. It was so similar to when I saw that vampire running out in front of my car that night. 

"Yes, I win, Baby!" Clara had thrown her arms in the air in victory after she reached the boulder. 

"I told you you would," I said through shallow breaths, hunched over to try to catch my breath. 

"That's because vampires can accelerate their speed. Clara, nicely done. I didn't think you were a fast learner, Pup." Dad walked up to us with a grin on his face. "We still have work to do if you can't outrun a newly turned vampire, Amelia."

He must have been watching us from the shadows of the trees. I wouldn't put it past him to have followed us out here. It was in the evening when we left my house, and he had that fatherly protective look in his eyes. 

"Daddy Dearest, I've always been smart. I just like playing the dumb cheerleader." She smirked at him, and he shook his head. 

I stared at him. I couldn't believe he really was serious. "I've been training for weeks now."

He offered me his hand, which I took. "The signature mark of our bloodline is our speed. You're a Trevino. We have to get you faster, Pup." 

"Welcome to my new life." I ran a hand through my hair while Clara laughed and Dad only smiled.