Mae's POV

The snow finally stopped after the fourth day. That meant the uneasy peace stopped too. We were ready for war. Kyra made sure we all ate the same healthy breakfast, and wore similar clothes. T shirts and sweat pants. Sure it would be hold at first but we'd get used to it.

In our contest, we played in five rounds. Five sports each. Running, wrestling, tracking, hand to hand and finally Dex's super secret tie breaker. We'd only use the fifth if we needed to, but that was unlikely. Everyone was determined to win, to prove themselves. We had never had such games in the Order, and I wondered if werecats did this often.

Dillan and Red were judges, and Izzy Skyler, Eva and Eliva decided to watch. Willow was sick with a nasty cold. I hoped she'd be alright. Anyways I was super excited about all of it! Why wouldn't I be?

We started with the race. Three miles long. The first place would get five points, second got three, and third got one. After that, no points. Now this was a werecat's sport. More specifically, Dex's. He was always fast.

"Ready?" Red asked, her hands on her hips. "Set." She said, and I took in a deep breath. "Go!"

We were flying. It was clear that Emilie and Emma either weren't trying or ran out of steam. Most likely the second. Dex was in the lead. The scary thing was, he wasn't trying. You could tell from his body movements. Lily had the same movement in her body. They were fit. Well shit.

Kyra stuck to me like a unwelcome was of gum. We could never beat each other. Although I was clearly always the winner. At mile two JJ slowed down, he was exhausted. Zay did the same almost three minutes later. Now it was between the four of us.

As I listened, I could hear the others at the end, cheering us on. We were almost there. I pushed myself to the werecat heep, where Dex looked at me with a wicked glint in his eyes, and Lily just smiled. They knew who was going to win.

"Mae you do realize, I run about twenty miles a day, right?" Dex asked, looking ahead.

"No" I said, then gasped for air, "I thought it was thirty."

Dex shook his head then he started to try. With inhuman speed he crossed the line. Only it was more like Olympic speed. Lily followed him, a bit slower. And Kyra and I crossed at the same time.

After another half hour of resting, we started the next event. Wrestling. It was pretty boring honestly. I went against JJ, and being a couple years older I pinned him quickly. Did I mention he and Zay were only twelve? Almost thirteen mind you.

I wish I could say tracking was better. I found Emma easily, as she and Emilie had come in last at everything, so they stopped caring. Why were they in the Order again?

Now how to explain my hand to hand combat. I went against Dex. For the longest time, I was the superior twin. Born first, a half inch taller, fast, stronger, and a member of the Order. He was smart, sure. But I was the Alpha twin, as I liked to say.

Now my brother was a werecat. Half starved, yes. But while we hunted him, he ran and fought. We joked and he planned. He was faster than me, and lighter on his feet, but that didn't beat years of training with the Order. Right?

We both stepped on the clearing, were the snow had been removed. I decided to open with a kick I the gut. Dex grabbed my foot. He twisted it to the ground and I followed. Okay if he wanted to play dirty, go for it.

Jumping off the ground I trust punch after ouch at Dex's face, but he blocked all but one, and as soon as the skin turned red, it healed. Technically we weren't to hurt each other so no one cared if he healed himself. Sometimes it was just a natural reaction.

That's when I realized I had exhausted myself. Smiling, Dex started his attack. First a well placed kick then some punches, finally he knocked me down with a kick to the gut. I laid not he ground, to weak to get up. My brother had beaten me.

Dex didn't help me up, which I was glad if. I didn't need help, or want to make him feel uncomfortable.

"Good try Mae, but umm don't under estimate an opponent. The amount of fight in the cat, you know!" He said.

"More like how sharp the claws." I said, and stood to my feet.

"Attention, we have talid the scores and the winner is..." Dillan announced. "A tie between Dex and Kyra."

* * *

Dex's POV

Now normally I might celebrate a victory over my sister. A girl who tended to beat me at everything. Also I might rejoice because we get to do my ultra tie breaker. Only thing was, I was against Kyra. A girl who would kill me in a second, given the option. Suddenly I wished Mae won the stupid challenge.

"So Dex what is the tie breaker?" Mae asked, and I smiled.

"Easy. This actually worked out quiet well. One werecat. One Order."

"Shit." Kyra cursed under her breath.

"Now my tie breaker is simple. We must stay in the woods. We have until sundown to build or find a base. Then it's everyone for them self. Now you can either choose to be able to shift, or get two weapons." I explained. This was my survival course.

"So let me guess I get two weapons you get to shift." Kyra said, glaring.

"Seems so. First to draw blood wins. And you get to pick one helper. But if they have blood draw they have to pretend to die." I said.

"Fine, I want Mae." Kyra hissed. Mae shrugged, and stood by her side. I think she just wanted to split us up. Good instinct.

"Lily, care to help me?" I asked.

"I'd love too." Lily said, and stood by me.

"Okay, Dillan and Red are refs, don't go past the great oak in the west, to the town in the east, the stream in the north or the highway in the south." I said.

"See you at sunset." Kyra said before grabbing a bow with some arrows and a silver knife. Mae grabbed two matching knives like Kyra's. I guess Mae wasn't shifting.

As the sprinted to the south, I thought the northeast would be better. I knew the woods better than the two of them so I had a pretty good base in mind.

. . .

It was late now. The moon was only a claw scratch in the sky. My guess was it'd be gone tomorrow. I shivered at the thought of last new moon. I hated new moon affects. It was worse than full moon.

My base was woven deep within the branches of a pine tree. It had three emergency exits, and within its roots was a fake base that the Order would look in first. I had hidden a large rock to trap them in there with. It was dark and cool, but that was okay. We had thick pelts.

We'd eaten earlier when Lily gathered berries and nuts. Now we where cats. Although fish or elk sounded more appetizing it was too loud to hunt. The Order would be on us in minutes.

So my stomach hurt. It hurt to eat foods that a cat's stomach couldn't process. Most of the time we puked it up. Hints my first shift. I had eaten something fruity for dinner. I really needed to puke. Only I really didn't want to do that. So my stomach really, really hurt.

That's when a twig snapped. I smiled knowing we caught the Order. But as I tasted the air, and listened to the soft cursing. I realized it was not the Order. Peering from my tree den, I saw flashlights, and saw a good twenty or so men armed with shotguns and pistols. In the lead was someone long forgotten.

It was that guy I forgot to kill last new moon. Knew that one wood come back and bite me in the tail. Now it was messing with my games. Rude people. Maybe I shouldn't have picked a spot a spot so close to where we attacked them last new moon so close to a new moon. Stupid.

Lily looked at me with fear in her blue eyes. I felt some pure energy that I hadn't had in a while. Anger. I hated those men for making Lily fearful. I hated them for making fear come to my territory. It was supposed to be a place for cats to come and relax. Not be afraid! My eyes burned red into the night.

I shifted into my human form and glided down the rope latter that we used to get up. Walking in purposely loud steps, all lights turned to me. Just a human boy. With glowing red eyes. Flashlights almost blinded me. What kind of idiots where they?

"It's just a kid!" One man said, sounding relived. The blinding lights went down and I got closer.

"You guys must be lost." I said in a voice so smooth it was almost Nick's. Only these words were mine and mine alone.

"You have our places switched boy. Where are your parents?" Another guy asked.

"I don't care." I said.

"A runaway." One man muttered. It was soft, so I wouldn't hear.

"Wrong. I live here." I said, glaring at the man. He looked confused, or shocked, or both.

That's when the states started. The man I had attacked was looking at me confused. I met his gaze with my red one. That's when they all saw it for the very first time. Red eyes, brown hair. I was their monster.

"You're the monster." The man who I attacked said.

"I thought you found that out at Dave's." I said, looking as innocent as possible.

"Now I remember you. Looking through the glass." He whispered.

I smiled, my signature cruel smile. Or to them at least. That's when it all happened so fast.

"Holy shit Dex!" Mae said, glaring at the mob.

"How the hell did you get this many people mad at you in less than five hours." Kyra exclaimed.

"Mae helped." I said. Mae finally understood what had happened.

"You kids know that thing is a monster!" The guy that I attacked said.

"You stupid ass cat!" Kyra said whacking me on the head.

"Crab cakes!" I said, "That hurt!" I was rubbing my head now.

"Cat?" The man asked.

"Yes. Short for Cat that's gotta kill you now." I said, then I shifted.

I loved being in cat form. Firstly I coup taste some emotions like food. Secondly when the silver bullets hit my pelt the made the smallest of blood sounds before healing themselves. Once all their bullets were wasted I stood perfectly still then pounced.

I was knocked off target, by Mae. Her eyes were yellow, so it was clear she hadn't gone Alpha yet. I was pinned to the ground for less than a few heartbeats before Lily ripped Mae off of me. I glared at Mae, cold hatred from our old rivalries in my eyes.

"You did that for what?" I hissed.

"You can't kill innocents." Mae said and met my eyes defiantly. Bad move.

With our eyes locked, I saw the first signs of the madness. I'd only seen this once before, and I truly hated watching it. Her body broke into short spasms. She gasped for breath. She fell to the ground. Then she became normal again. I lifted me head and but a paw on Mae's limp body.

I shifted to my Norma form the hissed in her ear, "I am your Alpha. There is no denying it now. You belong to me."

Mae didn't meet my gaze, she just passed out. It was scary to see one of my own Pride fall like that. All werecats have an Alpha or where one. Although Mae might have my blood, I was her Alpha. She had accidentally joined my Pride.

Some Alphas, used this for evil. Controlling their Pride and forcing them to go into merciless wars. As my heart skipped a beat, I realized I was tired. I was upset that I had to use this on Mar. I looked at the cowering men. Then it hit me.

I was the bad guy again.

AN:

Poor Dex, he can't catch a break. And now the werecat secret is out! This is all leading up to something, don't worry. Like the end of the book. And it's a good mallycat ending if you know what I mean. So remember to vote and comment! BYE!!!!