Chapter Seven

CHARITY POV

Two days have passed since my mother’s enlightening revelations, where they’ve had the chance to fester and grow into a smoldering fury. Thankfully, I have been too busy preparing for the ball on Saturday to deal with any of it.

“Charity?” Elle says, her stare hot and inquisitive. “You ready?”

“Yeah..” I shake my head, remembering where I am, squaring my shoulders as I attempt to center myself, but it seems impossible, until Theo steps onto the training mat. He walks to the other side of the circle before turning to raise his arms in defense.

The second my foot crosses the barrier into the fight zone, it’s like I transform into a different person. Each of my five senses are at hundred percent as I focus on my target, the beta.

Elle stands on the sidelines, watching intently to give tips and pointers when necessary. Her plan to retake Silver Run begins the day after tomorrow, at the New Moon ball honoring their son, the alpha heir. The second the word “begin” is said it’s like I no longer see a friend across from me, but an enemy.

I barely think, my body moving on instinct, as I run at him, using his stance against him. My speed and agility propel me up on his back until I am sitting on his shoulders. Using the momentum, I swing around until my butt is against his chest. Using the speed and movement to my advantage, I throw him easily to the ground.

The second we both hit the ground, I lift my legs over my head, rolling away from him. I am in a fighting position while he struggles to get up. “Jesus Christ,” he grunts, standing once again, “I thought this was training, not a goddamn death match!”

I shrug in response, not caring as I make my advance once again. Usually, I am more calculated in my technique, with more patience, but the last few days are making me edgy. I hope that kicking some ass will settle the burning heat in my chest.

Raising my leg to kick, Theo finally wakes up, catching it, and holding me steady. His smirk of victory teases me, goading my inner rage. Swinging the free leg over, as if doing an aerial in gymnastics, my heel connects with his face. My insides giddy with the crunch as his nose breaks, and blood prays from his face.

The attack distracts him enough that he drops my leg as I fall to my stomach. Using his momentary hesitation, I adjust, until my shoulder blade is perpendicular with his shin.

Reaching behind me, I grab Theo’s calf, pulling my lower body upward until my knees wrap around his thigh, just above the knee, forcing him to tumble to the ground. Twisting around each other, I maneuver myself into the perfect position, putting him in a knee bar.

“Motherfucker, Charity!” hollers, his hand tapping the mat, but it’s like I’m possessed to ignore it, pulling tighter, making him scream in pain.

“Enough, Gamma,” the command barks through, bringing me back to my senses. I immediately release, backing away as the Beta sits up, taking a second to stand up. The broken nose was already beginning the healing process.

“Sorry, Theo,” I say, shaking, “I don’t know what came over me.”

“It’s fine,” he grins, looking between Elle and I. “I have to step up my game if I am going to keep up with you two.”

As the Alpha and Gamma, it is expected that we are the best fighters in the pack. Theo may be the second in command, but his responsibilities are more political. Managing the pack when the alpha is away and handling treaties when they cannot. If Elle was a man, he’d also be responsible for the Luna in times of war or attack.

The Gamma, however, oversees training, patrol, and aiding with the strategy decisions during war. We are also the personal bodyguard to the alpha, so whenever they leave the territory, their gamma is with them.

“Alright, Theo switch out,” Elle commands, stepping into the ring. The Beta doesn’t need to be told twice before he is scurrying for the sidelines. The cockiness I felt moments earlier wiped clean as my new opponent stands defensively.

The beautiful redhead is the most calculated fighter I have ever had the displeasure of fighting against. Her footwork is immaculate, using her speed and agility to remain outside her opponent’s body. Using this technique, she lands deliberate blows to the solar plexus, ribs, ears, temples, jaws, and the nose.

She moves with the precision of someone who has years of muscle memory at her disposal. It’s beautiful to watch, but terrifying to stand against. . In fact, the only one who can counter her well is the New Moon heir. The pair of them are interesting to watch in training, as neither can ever get the upper hand over the other.

Taking me by surprise, Elle lands a punch before spinning behind me to elbow me in the back. Making the mistake of extending my arm, she grabs it, using the energy from her movements to throw me to the ground, my arm twisting backward.

Releasing me, she backs away, grinning mischievously. Her cockiness pissing me off more than Theo’s. Springing upward, I watch her advance, her footwork unpredictable, as she attacks. Thankfully, I duck away at the last second, before her foot can connect with my face.

Using the turn, I throw my fist into her side, backing away so she cannot return the favor. “Good,” she comments, pride showing in her eyes. “You’re learning.”

She advances once more, and our sparring match intensifies, eventually adding the practice daggers to the mix. We don’t stop until we are all dead, collapsing to the ground, drenched in sweat and haggard breaths.

We lay there in silence for a minute, trying to get oxygen in our lungs. The two hours of training were a great distraction, but it doesn’t take long for Chelsea’s words to creep back in. It doesn’t help that the usually chatty Summer has been unusually quiet, which isn’t ideal.

“Theo, why don’t you head out,” Elle addresses him, breaking the quiet of the space. His concern searing into me, but I refuse to look at him. I don’t know how much he’d truly understand.

“Alright,” he agrees, but he stalls in getting up. “But if you need me, just link okay?” I know his comment is for me, so I just nod in acknowledgement.

No one says more while Theo takes his leave. Elle and I stay on our backs, waiting for the soft thud of the gym door shutting behind him. Once he is gone, the alpha sits up, staring down at me.

“Alright, spill,” she says, grabbing my hand to give me a squeeze of encouragement.

I exhale my questions and statements, “how the hell are you handling everything? I mean you thought you were one person to find out you're someone else entirely. How do you survive that?”

“Honestly,” she sighs, laying back so that our shoulders are touching. “I don’t think I have had a minute to stop and think about it. It’s probably not healthy, but it’s how I am coping.”

“Looks like we aren’t so different,” I joke half-heartedly, as reality sinks in.

“Maybe we should try therapy?” She quips, making me giggle. “It might be better than beating each other into a pulp.”

“It probably wouldn’t be as much fun,” I retort. “You gotta admit, it’s pretty fun laying Theo’s ass out.”

“Elle?” I say, turning serious. “Are you sure we are doing the right thing?” The question has been plaguing me along with my mother’s opinions about my life choices.

“Goddess, no,” she admits, sounding unsure. “But it’s what I have to do, Charity. I am already fighting an uphill battle for being an alpha female, if I am not the one to rescue my pack? Might as well hand it over to the nearest male alpha.”

“I know your reasoning behind it.” I throw my hands up in submission. “It doesn’t stop me from feeling guilty about it hiding things from our family and friends.”

“Do you know that alpha male to alpha female ratio?” She asks, turning on her side to look at me.

“Isn’t it like seventy-five to one?” I ponder, trying to do the math. I know that they’re so rare that we have no one else in our councils to distract.

“It’s actually closer to a hundred,” she informs, before continuing with her explanations. “And you know how many of them actually keep leadership control of their pack?”

Her question has me racking my brain for the answer, but I cannot even recall the last female alpha to lead. “You can’t can you? It’s because most are kidnapped, killed, or blend their packs with their mates. If they’re lucky to live long enough to find them, becoming the Luna for their mate’s pack.”

“I won’t lie to you,” Elle comments, not giving me a chance to speak as she says her piece. “We are both entering ‘the boys’ club.’ It’s not like many forced shifts who survive are women.”

Elle pauses in silence, “Charity, do you want to be my Gamma?”

“What?” I squeak, shock radiating through me. “Why would you even ask that?”

“I realize,” she replies, “that I never asked. Scarlett called Summer forward, and I just assumed that it’s what you wanted, too. If it’s not, that’s okay, I can get find a new gamma.”

“There is a definite learning curve,” I explain. “But the only way I’m giving my title up is if someone pries it from my cold, dead hands.”

“Good.” A genuine smile tips her lips upward as she wraps me in a one-armed hug. “Because I’d be lost without my closest friend and protector.”

Neither of us speaks, enjoying the silence for a few moments, until she changes to the last subject I want to talk about tonight, or ever. “So, are you finally going to tell me about Matt and Fletcher, or do I have to ask them?”

I snort, before throwing my face into my hands, an exasperated groan leaving my throat. Sitting up, I turn to face my best friend, wanting her opinion on my mother’s observations. “Do you think men will only want me because I am a forced shift survivor?”

“I mean,” Elle sits up, leaning back onto her right arm, “we’d have to be naïve if we didn’t think that might have something to do with male attention.”

“Oh,” is all I can muster to say in response, forcing the alpha’s eyes to narrow, trying to figure out its hidden meaning. I can tell the moment my meaning sinks in, her pupils going wide with understanding.

“Oh, no you don’t!” She scolds, turning angry, “you get that thought out of your head right now! First off, do you think I’d let those boys within a hundred yards of you if they only cared about one thing? Fuck no.”

“Boys?”

“Stop playing stupid,” Elle scolds, her eyebrows raised in amusement. “I have eyes, Charity. I can see the way Matt and Fletcher's eyes stalk you whenever you’re near.”

“Ugh.” I groan, while I pull my knees up to my chin, resting it on top. “Those two are….”

“Cute, and have you twisted in knots?” She suggests, a smug smirk caressing her delicate features.

“Yes,” I growl in frustration. “What the hell am I supposed to do about them, Elle? They’re relentless.”

She sits quietly, pondering the question, before sighing in resignation. The conundrum is so difficult to answer that not even my best friend can. I never thought I’d see the day when she didn’t have the answer.

“Even if I had the answer,” she responds softly, like she is handling me with kid gloves. “This is something you have to work out for yourself, and with them.”

“Yeah,” I say, finally looking up. “I was afraid you were going to say that.” She doesn’t say more, allowing me to sit and ponder my male dilemma in comfortable silence.

Thank the Goddess for great friends.