Chapter 3: Don’t Underestimate Me

AVA

I woke up bright and early the next day, looking forward to what the day would bring. Artemis was excited to show off in training. Even though we wouldn’t be shifting because very few people knew that I could, she was still looking forward to putting everyone in their place if needed.

It was going to be a good day!

I was up early enough that I headed over to the training ground, planning to let Artemis out for a run. Beta Alexander was already at the training ground when I got there, which is surprising since it was 5am… I was expecting to be the only one.

“Ava? What are you doing here at this time in the morning?”

“Artemis is feeling cooped up, she needs to run before school today.”

Beta Alexander nodded. “Want me to run with you? I’m going to be letting Kieran run too.”

“Go for it, Beta,” I smiled, before ducking into one of the little shacks to shift.

I trotted back out just minutes later, shaking my fur out. Beta Alexander was still standing in the middle of the training ground, smiling in our direction. He bowed his head at Artemis, who bowed right back. Artemis was an incredibly powerful wolf, one that demanded respect and deference without me even trying. Even the Beta felt it. He believed the Alpha and Luna probably would too, but I’d never shifted around them to know for sure.

The Beta dipped into another hut, a stunning grey wolf walking back out shortly after. Typically, Alphas were the biggest wolves, followed by other powerful wolves. Artemis was the size of an average Alpha, so stood a couple inches taller than Kieran, and he wasn’t exactly a small wolf either.

The two bowed their heads slightly at each other in respect, before turning and sprinting into the woods. I ran for a couple hours, enjoying the feeling of the wind in my fur.

“Ava, I need to head back,” Beta Alexander said over the packlink. “You should too, it’s already 7.30.”

Damn it, that meant I needed to get ready for school.

“On my way,” I grumbled back.

School was nowhere near as fun as running in the woods, and I was even starting to get a little nervous at the concept of helping Beta Alexander lead pack training from now on.

The boys sat with Isabella and I at lunch; the tension between Leo and Izzie was starting to get disgustingly thick, they just needed to do something to relieve that already.

“Looking forward to training tonight, Ava?” Isabella asked.

“Yup,” I smiled, over pronouncing the ‘p’.

“How come you’re joining us from today rather than training on your own?” Noah asked.

“You’ll find out.”

Noah and Theo looked at me, one eyebrow raised.

 By the time we reached the training grounds, the Alpha and Beta twins had asked me another three times each what was going on. I just ignored them, they’d find out soon enough.

As soon as I got there, I left my bag in my usual hut, before heading back out into the middle of the training ground where Beta Alexander was waiting for me.

“Ava! I’m glad you came,” Beta Alexander pulled me into a hug.

“Me too,” I grinned.

“Shall we do this thing?” he asked, voice low? I nodded, giving him a smirk, before taking my place at his side, my hands behind my back when he turned to address everyone in attendance. The faces of the twins, Leo and Isabella were all a picture; their eyes were wide and mouths slightly open as they watched my interaction with the Beta.

“Okay, people! As I’m sure you’ve noticed, Ava is up here with me today. Some of you know Ava, some of you probably don’t. From today going forwards, Ava is going to be assisting me in training you all.”

Some of the wolves in the crowd snorted. Artemis growled; she hated being underestimated. “Don’t worry, Artemis,” I consoled her. “We’ll knock them on their asses soon enough.”

“Oh, kids, you’re going to regret that.” Beta Alexander smirked, his arm winding around my shoulders. “Who do you want to take down first, Ava?”

“Might as well start with those who snorted, Beta.”

He grinned. “Come on then you four, if you think you can take Ava down, be my guests.” He stepped back, motioning for the rest of the class to form a circle around me and the four wolves.

Isabella, Leo and the twins ended up at the front where they could see exactly what was happening, all of them looking concerned.

The four wolves started circling me, looking for their opening. As soon as the wolf behind me moved, I winked at Isabella, before ducking under the wolf’s leg, and bringing my knee up into his stomach.

He bent over double, ending up face first in the mud when I kicked the back of his leg, taking him down easily.

The crowd went quiet as they watched the display, the other three wolves ending up on the floor within minutes, one with a dislocated shoulder. The crowd cheered for me once they got over their surprise, but then fell silent again as anticipation spread through the group when Beta Alexander stepped into the improvised ring and started circling me.

“I knew I should have made it harder for you, Ava,” he laughed before making the first move. I ducked his arm, spinning behind him to land a series of punches and a kick to his kidneys. I knew he was weak there.

He spun back towards me, one of his legs sweeping around to take mine out. I let him make the hit, but as I went down, I used my grip on his shoulders to bring him down with me. This went on for a while, the crowd silent as I kept up with him, the Beta and I both repeatedly taking each other down, but neither getting the pin in.

“I think that proves the point, don’t you, Ava?” he chuckled after I knocked him down again. I smirked, giving him my hand to pull him up. “If any of you make the mistake of underestimating Ava again… well.” He looked down at me, a proud grin on his face.

“I’ve got no problem knocking you on your backside, is what Beta Alexander was about to say there.”

He laughed.

“Alright people, partner up. Ava, with me, can’t have you knocking everyone on their backsides quite yet.”

Beta Alexander and I demonstrated offensive moves and how to counter it, with us taking turns in each position so the pack could see how to adjust the take down depending on their height and muscle mass. 

Once we’d demonstrated the moves, we split the group in half with us both walking around correcting postures, giving advice and helping people work out what they were doing wrong.

“Beta,” I called out when I started spending more time helping the shorter wolves take down the taller ones. “Fancy doing a second demonstration so I can talk people through how I’d counter the move from you?”

He nodded, walking towards me. “Basically, Ava, you just want to knock me on my backside again,” he replied through the mindlink.

“Guilty as charged.”

He laughed, out loud, drawing curious glances from across the field.

I had him demonstrate the takedown slower this time, so I could talk through each move I made to defend against it. After talking them through it, we did it again at full speed, ending up with Beta Alexander on his back on the grass.

Applause rang out from behind me, with the Alpha twins and Leo clapping louder than the rest. The Beta twins just looked shocked at how I’d taken their father down, and Isabella was doing a full cheerleader routine for me.

I gave them a bow, laughing as I did, only for Beta Alexander to suddenly appear behind me. I felt the air move as his leg went to sweep mine out from under me, but before he could, I jumped over his leg, rolling to the side and jumping back up to my feet.

“That was a low blow, Beta,” I taunted.

He smirked, before asking me to help him demonstrate the move again but slower. He pulled me back up after, and cheers surrounded us again.