Setting them up

Eliana POV

“It is very obvious and I can help you” I began and his eyes lit up with a light that I could never find in me no matter how much I try and my heart aged at the sight but I cleared my throat and continued.

“But I need rest. Your woman to be has me running laps” I whispered as I began to lay down and he huffed at me which brought a smile to my face before he came to help tuck me in.

“Sleep quick” he mumbled and I almost laughed but exhaustion pulled me straight into slumber as soon as he said that.

Shaking, words that sounded like water in my ears had me slapping the hands away that was causing the shaking but it persisted and my mind registered that something was wrong.

I scrambled off the bed only to discover it was day already. I just fell asleep!.

“You need to get to the training grounds or you will penalized” Grayson said and my eyes widened with fear before I rushed into he small bathroom inside the room to wash up.

In minutes, I was racing down the dirt path towards the training grounds where I found many warriors already there but no Myra and that made me stop to breath in relief.

“Move it” a voice barked out and every warrior scrambled off, same as I.

After fifty laps, the warriors each went for their training while I continued my laps. My thighs already burning but I persisted.

“Lift those feet, Elia” Myra screamed at me from where she was talking to some warriors and fear had me increasing my movements.

Seventh two and I was gasping for breath, my knees shaking and unable to keep up but I pushed myself further. Just a little bit more and I could rest.

Eighty eight and my muscles were crying out with pain, I dragged in a breath and my whole body burned as it went through it and came out through my mouth as hot air.

Ninety nine and I was lower than I ever was, hunched over and taking steps two at a time. My running had slowed down to a jog or maybe I was walking but a shrill voice had me raising up my head and shooting more faster.

“Move it” that was from Myra but it was aimed at me. As soon as I crossed the line that made it hit hundred, I collapsed to the ground. Turning around to stare into the trees branches above me.

“Take an hour of rest and get back out there” surprise rolled through me at Myra's words as she got in my face.

“W-what?” I asked, my throat sore and cracky.

“Yeah, you didn't think running laps would get you strong. After the next laps, a hundred push ups and fifty sit ups” she ordered, her tone final before leaving me to bristle with disbelief.

A hundred push ups and fifty sit ups? The fuck!!.

“Get used to it” a voice had me glancing to my side to find a guy seated there. I had seen him somewhere before with Fermion but I didn't know what he was to him.

“I've seen you before. Who're you?” I asked and he gave me a small look.

“Call me Jared. I'm the beta to your mate” what? Mate? Fermion? How fast were news around here? And was he that okay with me as his mate?.

“What brings the beta here?” I question, still laid down but now leaning to my side.

“He has a mate here but his past conquests makes her unable to accept him” Grayson’s amused voice had me sitting up to find him leaving the forests, some feet away from us before he walked up to us.

“Tattle tale”Jared mumbled and I smiled.

“Hey duck” Grayson greeted with a smirk.

“Isn't that what you came to do?” I asked and the smirk was wiped off his face as he took a seat beside Jared and I almost laughed at how they looked.

Like a beat pup.

“What's so funny?” Jared asked and I smirked.

“You look like a beat pup, both of you” I said, glad that I didn't feel fear when I spoke to them this time and I found that I was slowly getting used to the pack and it's members.

They weren't so bad like the rumors said.

“You are our alpha's mate. Shouldn't you be… I don't know. Kind?” Jared shot out with a raised eyebrow and for the first time in my life, I smirked.

“I am. I could have called you sullen babies but I didn't” their eyes widened as I stood up, glancing back to find Myra's eyes on me and fear had me rushing away from them.

Briefly hearing Grayson call out. “Evil” I had a small smile on my face as I went on my laps.

Soon, Myra joined me much to my surprise but I had a faint idea of her motive and she proved me right.

“How's Grayson like?” She asked and I was surprised, she was a blunt woman but I didn't think she'd go straight to the point this fast but I quite liked it.

Saves me the trouble of guessing or overthinking.

“He's a nice guy.” I simply said, over the days I had known Grayson and I knew the guy was a great guy. Nice was doing him bad but I felt the need to amuse myself by giving her crumbs.

“Really?” She asked and I hummed as we turned another corner, so far she had run ten with me. Making my sixty now seventy and I wanted to trick her.

“He does like going to that meadow beside the lake side every evening before he comes to check on my vitals” I said it offhandedly like I was just thinking of it.

“He does? I didn't know that” she said with furrowed brows and I smiled internally.

Hook.

“Yeah, says he likes the moon flowers there” I continued, Myra loved moon flowers even though they were very rare.

She practically smelled of them.

“Moon flowers? Are you kidding me? They shouldn't be in bloom by this time of the season” she was shocked. Twenty more laps and now at ninety.

“Yeah, he's a healer. He knows his way around stuffs like that but why he chooses something so hard is beyond me” I continued, forcing my face to look genuinely puzzled and she blushed.

Which I pretended I didn't see by the way.

“Oh..” she said, glancing to the side and I smirked.

Line.

“I hear he would do it again this evening. He says it should produce the light of a season. A once in a month light or was it once in a year. Can't recall” I shot past the last line as my whole body burned but it was now a familiar burn that my body was slowly adjusting to.

“Really. It's a once in a year. But you have to grow quite a large amount of it to get the perfect glow” she deflated at that but I wasn't done yet.

“Yeah, from he way he look whenever he gets back. I can tell his work there is very tiring so it must be many. It has to be” she was practically glowing as we came to a stop before she realized what had happened.

“You tricky bitch. Getting me to finish the last forty laps with you” I smirked before rushing off as she grumbled at me.

“Thanks for your help” I went to start my pushups before whispering with a smile and lightness I haven't felt in years.

“Slinker”