Chapter 4

Emmy POV

    I make my way over to the training fields. With the unpredictable attacks from The Underground and the recent attack from The Forza Pack, Darius has started requiring all pack members to attend training. It is a smart move; everyone should have the basic skills to defend themselves and protect the pack as needed. 

   I’m relieved Darius finally sent The Forza prisoners back to their territory. I never want to see them again. Their Beta killed Lyle, one of our strongest warriors. His older brother, Logan, is helping to lead training sessions now. Leslie, his younger sister, is one of the newer female warriors, but she hasn’t been back to training yet. Pearl has grown closer to her than I have since they are around the same age.

    I look for my sisters and see Amy and Pearl stretching off to the side.

    “Good morning, Emmy!” Pearl greets me excitedly. 

    It’s hard to stay in a sulky mood around Pearl. She evokes happy energy; you can’t help but to be in a good mood around her.

    “Yeesh. Emmy, you’re looking a little worse for wear, huh? Rough night?” 

   And leave it to Amy to bring me back down. I mean, I do feel like crap, and I probably look that way too. I don’t need to be reminded.

     “Goddess, Amy. The Moon Goddess didn’t just forget to make you average height- she forgot to give you the ability to not say everything that pops into that crazy head of yours,” Pearl chastises our sister. 

   I simply roll my eyes. Amy and I always bump heads. At least she isn’t being fake with me.

   “It’s fine, Pearl. I stopped caring about anything Amy says a while ago. But yes, Amy. I didn’t sleep well. Partner up with me today and help me work off some of this frustration I’m feeling,” I wink at her and give her a playful shove. 

   I know Amy won’t back down from a challenge, even if I can kick her ass. She’s our feisty sister, but she’s tiny. Standing at only five feet tall, she struggles to keep up in sparring. And she loses her temper too quickly in a fight, so she gets sloppy. I’m not the best fighter, but I’m good at sizing up my opponent quickly and coming up with counterattacks.

   We straighten up to go do a couple of warm-up laps when a soft voice calls out to me.

   “Emmy! Emmy! Wait up!” I glance over my shoulder and see Daphne, Lucas’ younger sister running up to me. I cringe at the sight of her. I have been avoiding him and his younger siblings for the last week.

   “Hey, Daphne. We are just warming up for the training session,” I say to her as I turn my attention back to the running trail. She falls in stride with the three of us and starts talking up a storm.

“Oh yea, I figured I’d train with you ladies this morning. I’ve been coming in the afternoons with Lucas and Marcus, but I heard more she-wolves come in the morning session. I’m really enjoying the training! It’s such a good rush of endorphins. I usually just go for runs and sometimes Marcus will let me spar with him, but he doesn’t want to hurt me. Men always underestimate us females. Am I right?”

   “How can you talk so much while running and not struggle to breathe?” Amy asks through heavy breaths. Her little legs are working double time to keep up with our longer strides, but she’ll never complain.

   “I love running! Such a great way to clear my head. I usually run five or six miles each day. Helps keep my nerves calm while I work with all the little pups at the school during the day. They are adorable, but a handful at times,” Daphne says with a big smile on her face, clearly not picking up Amy’s sarcasm.

   “How long have you worked at the school, Daphne?” Pearl asks, encouraging the girl to continue talking.

    “Almost a year. Once I finished my studies at seventeen, I couldn’t wait to start working with the little ones. I want a whole litter of my own one day. Speaking of, I just turned eighteen! The full moon is next week. Do you think I could find my mate? You know everyone is thinking about finding their fated mates ever since Alpha Darius and Alpha Luna Daya found each other. It’s truly a miracle from the Moon Goddess!” she practically shouts while launching her arms up in the air.

    We finally finish our run and I walk to my bag to get a drink of water. Pearl and Daphne continue talking about their dream mates. I shake my head at them. They are both young and want to believe in fairy tales. Seems like everyone is obsessed with finding their fated mate. Is there not more to life than finding a mate? I toss my water bottle down and make my way to the group to wait for instructions.

   “Good morning, everyone!” Daya greets the group. She’s in her typical all-black outfit, her hair pulled back in a ponytail. 

   She seems different though. I’m not sure why. 

   “Warriors, group up and work on two versus one in human form, then wolf form. Non-warriors, find a partner and work on those defensive blocks we went over yesterday.” Daya claps her hands together, signaling for us to get started. 

    I pair up with Amy, and I watch as Daphne and Pearl decide to stay together.

    It’s really unfair of me to hold anything against Daphne; she didn’t do anything wrong. She didn’t reject me for a fated mate that may not even exist. 

   She does have similar features to Lucas. Her hair is light brown like his and she keeps it in a cute bob cut. Her skin is light with some freckles on her face. She is thin but has a nice figure, and her eyes are actually a dark brown, compared to Lucas’ pretty hazel ones. I shake my head, forcing myself not to think about him any longer.

   “What’s on your mind big sister? You’re taking it easy on me this morning,” Amy says, snapping me out of my thoughts.

   “Just thinking,” I say as I slap away her fist. Her frustration is already building.

    “Thinking about what?” She tries to kick me, but I already anticipated this move from her. Once her arms get tired, she resorts to kicking. I catch her foot and toss her down to the ground. I chuckle at her predictability. “Ugh! You’re cheating… somehow!” she scolds me. Her face is starting to get red, and her eyes narrow at me.

   “I’m not cheating, you’re just predictable. Try a different combination of moves and maybe I’ll be surprised one of these days,” I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear and wipe the sweat from my brow.

   “She’s right, Amy. You have to be adaptable and try new moves,” Daya says from the side. 

   It’s warmer out this morning than it has been. Everyone has stripped down to their t-shirts, or no shirts, and most of the she-wolves are down to their sports bras. 

   Except for me. I hate feeling like I’m spilling out of my clothes. Daya is still in her hoodie even though she’s usually quick to strip down to her sports bra.

    “Want to demonstrate a few moves for our little sister to take notes from?” I offer to Daya while patting Amy’s head. Amy shrugs my hand off, making me and Daya laugh at her briefly. Then Daya’s face quickly changes to one of uncertainty and shakes her head.

   “Not today. I’ll be getting my training in this afternoon with Darius,” she says softly.

    “Oh, I bet you will. You two can’t keep your hands off each other. I saw you two disappear early from the ceremony last week. Naughty, naughty big sister,” Amy teases while wiggling her eyebrows at Daya, making her blush.

    “Shut up, Amy. Get back to working on your technique before I make you train with the pups!” Daya practically yells at her. She rarely loses her patience with Amy. Weird. Before we can say anything else, she walks off to help another pair.

“When will you learn to mind that mouth of yours, Amy?” I shove her and she rolls her eyes at me in response.

   “I’m sure she will find a mate who will balance her out soon!” Daphne calls out from the side as her and Pearl take a break.

   “Fat chance there is any man on this earth that can break Amy’s strong will,” Pearl jokes as she takes a drink. Amy doesn’t say anything as she takes a seat on the grass to stretch her legs.

-   - -

   Now that training has wrapped up, Pearl, Amy, Daphne, and I are sitting around, waiting for Daya to finish talking to a couple of the warriors. I see Saph running toward us with the biggest smile on her face.

“Sisters! Guess what?! Where’s Daya!? She needs to be here!” Saph shouts as she tries to catch her breath. Her dark blonde hair has fallen out of the bun she normally keeps it in and her skin is flushed.

   “I’m right here, Saph. What’s wrong?” Daya asks with concern on her face.

    “Nothing is wrong! Everything is right!” She claps her hands together and she has the biggest smile on her face.

“What is it?!” Pearl jumps up, eager to hear the news.

“It’s Nathan! He’s coming here next week for the full moon! We are going to take each other as chosen mates!”