I was alone in the woods, and I had no idea what I was doing. It was too dark to stumble through the trees alone and I felt like eyes were watching me from the darkness. My skin pebbled, and I turned away from the dark shadows in front of me.
“Dad? Hello!” I called again and panic started to set in. How was I going to get back?
He told you everything he could. Focus. He will come back for you once you have tried for a few hours.
Nix’s voice jolted me, as I was so focused on my father being gone. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
He can’t tell us. Loki told me the same. He said all he could and now it is up to us to figure it out.
I sank back down to the stump and closed my eyes. But every noise, every shift, had me jumping.
There is nothing to be afraid of here. This is a sacred place. You’re safe here. Now focus.
I took a cleansing breath and settled myself again. I closed my eyes again, and once more focused on the wind and grass. I settled deeper onto the stump and concentrated on my breathing. In and out, and eventually, everything started to fade.
“You fell asleep, huh?” I jolted and fell off the stump, sprawling on the ground to my father’s laughter.
“What?”
“It’s okay. I fell asleep my first time too. Come on. It’s lunchtime.” I stood and made my way to my father, who ruffled my hair. “C’mon sleeping, beauty. I’m starving.” He walked away and came back as Loki. I hopped on and we made our way back to the house.
Chapter Fifteen
“L
et’s go! Faster! You’re wolves, not humans, you can do better than this!” I screamed out again and again, standing next to the Beta and Gamma females. Tina and Lynn watched the females struggle to run around the inside track. I turned to face them with wide eyes. “What is going on?”
Tina shook her head and watched the struggling women. “The females here only train if they want to. Your father doesn’t force us to train.”
“I told him it was a mistake.” Lynn the Gamma looked at the girls with a curled lip. “Look at them. It’s only been two laps, and they are already winded.” The muscled woman shook her head and tossed her arms. “I don’t understand this laziness. What happens if we get attacked?”
“Well, I’m here for two months, and in the future, you two will continue this after I leave.” The two women cut their eyes to me and I nod. “I talked to my father, and he caved when I went over the last pack that kept this outdated opinion for the females in the pack.”
“What pack?” Tina furrowed her brows.
“Stonebrook.” I shook my head. “We had a few survivors that were transferred by the council before I left.”
“What?” Tina looked back to the group of women, and Lynn’s mouth dropped open.
“The pack is gone?” Lynn questioned, and I nodded. “Wow.”
“Second biggest pack to topple. Where does that leave us?” Tina wiped her face and then screamed out. “Hustle ladies.” A huge groan could be heard, but I smirked.
“It leaves us right here, training these women to fight for themselves.” I clapped and walked over to the track. “That’s enough. Come on over.” The girls stumbled in and I had to laugh at their pathetic state. “Ladies…that was just…”
“Horrible.” Tina cut in.
“Sad.” Lynn tossed out.
“A start.” I shake my head at the two standing next to me and laugh. “This is new, and uncomfortable. But it is necessary.”
“Why?” one girl called out.
“Well, first, it teaches you how to protect yourself in case of an attack. Second, once you can shift, it creates a deeper bond with your wolf. And last, and this is the most important for this pack. It will teach you that other than the ranked wolf, aura power means nothing. Someone with a weaker aura can and will put down another wolf, as long as they have the right motivation.”
I heard someone scoff, and I looked over to Aurora, smirking, and I smirked back. Tina lifted her lip. “It’s true, it’s rare, but I have even seen a weaker wolf put down a Beta. She was protecting her warrior mate during an attack.”
“How is that possible?” A random voice came from the back.
