Chapter 1

                                    

                                          
Antonio sighed quietly as he ran, allowing his senses to guide him through the forest. He knew he had already passed the Canadian border, but he wasn't sure of how far he was into Washington. 
                          
He knew the rest of his family should have already arrived, but they had chosen a different method of transportation. 
                          
Antonio had decided to run the whole way, instead of being trapped on an enclosed plane for approximately 9 hours with a bunch of humans.
                          
His self-control was already hard enough; sticking him in there would have been asking for a bloodbath.
                          
He had been feeding as he ran, keeping deep into the forests so as to not risk being seen. 
                          
He stuck close to the river he had found, heading south in a general direction. He knew he was close as he felt the shift in the atmosphere. 
                          
He looked around as a twig snapped, hearing a growl before he was suddenly tackled onto the ground. His senses were suddenly overwhelmed by the potent smell of wet dog, the smell making him gag before he even looked up at what was pinning him down.
                          
The grey wolf standing above him snarled down at him, snapping his canines down in warning as Antonio shifted his weight a little.
                          
Antonio hissed right back up at the wolf, but he wasn't stupid enough to try and attack. He knew this was no ordinary wolf, judging by its size and how it was able to knock him to the ground.
                          
His hands were shaking, closed tightly into fists by his sides as he kept control of himself.
                          
Fast footsteps were suddenly heard, causing Antonio to instinctively look across the river where it seemed to be coming from.
                          
Upon seeing his family and Edward, he moved to sit up, only to be shoved back down by the grey wolf.
                          
He hissed up at the wolf again, feeling his palms start to burn as his hearing zoned in on the location of the wolf's heartbeat.
                          
"Anton, don't!" He froze mid-thought at the sound of Edward's voice, his expression instantly changing to one of horror as he realized what he had been about to do.
                          
Recalling the strength running through his veins, he shoved the wolf off him with as little strength as possible as he scrambled back away from him, his gaze flickering to the wolf pack hovering around him.
                          
He flung himself over the river after managing to get his feet under him, moving behind his family as the wolves let out a low snarl in unison.
                          
His focus had already left them, though.
                          
His gaze was locked onto the gloves over his hands, watching as the material started to burn away as the burning as his palms grew.
                          
He didn't look away, asking under his breath, "K-Katie?"
                          
He felt as she approached, leaning back into her embrace as she wrapped her arms around him from behind. His senses became completely attuned to her as she rested her head against his shoulder.
                          
"Breathe, Anton," She murmured. "Feel the burning, and slowly feel it recede back into your skin. Gradually, feel it spread and even out. We'll get you a new pair when we get back to the house."
                          
She slowly pulled back away from him, looping her arm with his instead as she directed him back toward the house.
                          
"C'mon," She said. "Edward says there's something he wants to show us. And it'll be your first time meeting the family."