This time Argus made sure he was up at the front. By the first turn, he was with a group of four that included Ronnie, Shannon, and Shannon’s little sister, Katelyn, a grade-nine student who hadn’t been at practice the day before. But by the time they were heading up the first hill, Katelyn was dropping behind.

Throughout the middle of the run, Argus was content to keep pace with the other two runners, holding his tongue in his mouth and making sure his breathing was deep and steady. That was one thing he’d learned on his run the night before. Wolves panted when they ran and that suited them well, but it was all wrong for humans. While wolves cooled themselves by hanging their tongues out and panting, humans cooled off by sweating, leaving their mouths to breathe.

After they’d gone down the first valley and climbed the hill on the other side, Ronnie was obviously hurting. He was breathing hard and his hand was gripping his side like he was in pain. Argus would be assured of at least a second.

“Keep going, Argus,” Ronnie said, as he slowed.

Argus laughed under his breath.

As he continued over the crest of the hill, Argus had only Shannon Boersma left in front of him. She was still running strong and showing no signs of slowing down. But Argus was feeling good and was sure he could pour it on before the finish line and put Shannon behind him.

Argus quickened his pace…and felt his lungs begin to ache. His legs and arms burned and it took everything he had to stay even with Shannon. When he pulled up next to her, she smiled.

She’s smiling at me, Argus thought. He knew it was a friendly gesture in the human world, but he chose to take it as a wolf might in the wild, making the baring of her teeth a sign of aggression. She’s challenging me.

He pushed himself harder.

Coach Quinn and the finish line were just ahead. He was going to do it—Argus first, Shannon Boersma second.

But then he felt a presence on his left. Katelyn was there, sprinting toward the line.

Argus tried to match her speed. He kept pace for one…two…three strides, but she began to pull away.

Argus tried to push ahead, but he had nothing left. He coasted across the finish line more than a dozen feet behind.

Second. Not as bad as third, but again, he’d been beaten.

“Good run, Argus!” Coach Quinn applauded.

“Yeah, that was great,” Shannon said. “You really pushed me hard at the end.”

Argus did his best to be happy, but of course he wasn’t. He’d come out to win. “Your little sister,” he said, gasping for breath. “She beat me.”

Shannon nodded. “Katelyn’s a provincial champion in her age group. She’s currently ranked third in the country.”