Chapter 4

The distinct scent of sweat and blood rushes my nose, causing me to scrunch my face up momentarily. I knew Frost Moon was a warrior pack, but did they not know how to clean a training room properly?

I roll my eyes for a moment, stepping outside the elevator and taking in the large space. The training room should be called a training hall as I notices sectioned off areas. The center held a sparing ring, one that I have seen in the human territories where boxers would fight in for the entertainment of others. The northern corner held machines, some in use by a few teens most likely trying to figure out how they work. The east corner has hooks where yoga mats line the wall, a nice place to stretch and warm up muscles. The west corner is where the free weights were as well as a few punching bags. No one occupied this area and I smile, making my way to the racks and picking up a one-hundred-pound barbell, ready to get in a good sweat.

My mother would lecture me when ever she found me in the training hall at home, always saying a Queen shouldn’t be hidden in a gym or buried in the books. But the truth is I felt at peace in the training hall or library, focusing on my mind and body. It gave me a sense of serenity and helped me learn to focus and control certain aspects of myself, which I transferred to learning to control my powers. Of course, my father sided with me as over the years I could control my powers to where extreme outbursts of anger or sadness did not cause a thunderstorm or hurricane. But I still could not summon my powers at will.

Focussing on my workout and the music fueling my desire for some familiarity in an unfamiliar territory, I feel the eyes of others directed at me, most likely the wolves of Frost Moon wondering who I am and what I am doing here.

‘Obviously working out.’ I think to myself. I was no Warrior like the wolves here on Frost Moon but that did not mean I skipped training days like a pampered pup.

 Soon my body forms some sweat as I focus on curls, squats, and deadlifts, I soon grow tired of using the free weights, and I figured taking out my frustrations of this uneasy feeling I have had since landing on a punching bag seems like a great idea. And a great idea it was as I kicked and punched at the bag. I put everything I have into this workout, my frustrations with my mother nagging about how a Queen should be. The fact that there may be a possible war on our hands because of the trouble the Demon Clan has caused these last few years. How everyone expects me to just control the weather at will when I am only twenty years old and unsure of myself still. How I wanted to find my mate before crowned as Queen.

I must not have held back enough, as the punching bag I am beating on snaps off from its chain, being sent soaring to the wall behind it with a loud crash. I flinch and sigh at what I had done, sending a mind link to my father explaining I broke another punching bag and we would have to reimburse the Frost Moon pack as I take my headphones off and set them on a bench before taking a look at the damage I caused.

“What did that bag do to you?” A cheery voice calls out with laughter as I turn just in time to catch a water bottle being thrown at me.

“Nothing, I wasn’t being careful and used half of my strength.” I answer the blonde dark skin women in front of me, her curly hair pulled back into a bun to keep the strands away from her face before taking a long drink of the refreshingly cold water.

“Well, Snow White, glad it was the punching bag and not me.” The woman chuckles out, coming to stand beside me and letting out a low whistle.

“Goddess Alpha Damon is going to be pissed at this. We just installed these new bags last week.” Again, she laughs and I couldn’t help but join her. The thought of the Warrior Alpha being pissed off at a broken punching bag that will be reimbursed and a wall that will be fixed right away seems comical to me.

“I’m Bella.” I introduce myself, holding my hand out to the friendly woman.

“Ali, my mate told me about you already. Let me just say I am impressed.” Ali answers, shaking my hand. I thought the Beta female would be stricter, but seeing her in front of me with a carefree, easy-going attitude causes me to feel more secure here. The two of us instantly began to clean the mess as we rolled the punching bag into a secluded corner and swept the debris from the floor.

[I just told the Alpha what happened, he seems irritated but glad that we will compensate him. You need to be careful, Bella, and hold back your strength while here.] My father links me, and I sigh.

[I know, it won’t happen again.] I reassure and roll my eyes.

“Guessing you had a mind link?” Ali asks as we dump the debris into the trash can.

“Yes. Your Alpha is definitely not happy, as you guessed, but he accepts the reimbursement.” I answer, hearing her chuckle.

“Do me a favour, get under my Alpha’s skin more as we need a bit of liveliness around here. He has such a stick so far shoved up his ass that I wonder if he is a puppet some days.” I laugh at my new friend’s words, the image of an Alpha with a stick up his ass like a puppet at a kids show something I wanted to see now. The two of us finish cleaning, Ali asking if I wanted to spar, which I wholeheartedly agree to. The two of us make our way to the arena as the elevator doors open and a group of scantily clad she-wolves come prancing in, quickly bounding to the yoga section as they gushed about some male.

“Guess every pack has a few pack whores.” I mumble out, getting a snort from Ali.

“You have no idea. The red head over there is Lissa. She thinks she is going to be Luna as she is the Alpha’s play thing. He doesn’t believe his mate will be a Warrior and is waiting to reject her right away to find a - in his words - ‘Perfect Luna for the pack.’ Which I think is stupid.” My heart clenches at the mention of rejection for some inexplicable reason as I turn to look at Lissa, seeing her already watching me. I had a feeling she is not friendly and decided to keep my distance for both hers and my own safety.

Ali and I quickly get into position on the sparing ring, the two of us agreeing to only stay in human form as not to give my identity away to those in the room. If I shifted, they would see the mark I received as a babe from the Royal Witch Moira and that would cause a slew of problems I want to avoid.

Ali and I ready ourselves, the two of us taking in each other’s stance as we circle around the ring, waiting for the other to strike. I waited patiently, my eyes scanning every inch and joint of her body, holding in my smirk when I see her always keeping her left side away from me subconsciously. If I am not mistaken, she had a previous injury caused most likely by a claw not fully healed yet. This would be a great area to strike.

Patience must not be her specialty as Ali gives me a low growl before lunging towards me, I spin away, using her momentum and the palm of my right hand to push the small of her back, sending her face first to the ground with a bang. She rolls away as I go to kick her, bounding to her feet like a cat and sending a punch with her left arm my way, one I quickly duck and sending a quick jab to her now open left side.

She winces, sucking in a short breath as she jumps away, turning the right side of her body towards me. I follow her, sending my own punch her way and watching as she dodges before I quickly fake her out and swipe her legs out from under her, watching her fall to the ground. Before she can get back up, I am on top of her, already throwing my left fist towards her face with I stop just before hitting her throat.

“I win.” I say triumphantly, watching her face as a trace of fear takes over.

“Holy fuck Bella, you’re quick!” She exclaims as I get off of her and hold my hand out to help Ali up. I chuckle at her words, seeing the she-wolf accept my offer and grabs my hand. Standing to her feet.

“You guarded your left side too much. I used that as my advantage.” I reply back, hearing Ali curse under her breath.

“Yeah, its an injury from last week. I rogue attacked me while on patrol. He was possessed and had Wolfsbane on his claws.” She admits, and I frown. Attacks like this have been reported all over the Werewolf Territory, its why my parents suggested this trip. I go to say something, but my stomach growls in protest reminding me I haven’t eaten much and food would be nice right about now. Ali bursts into laughter and I roll my eyes as the she-wolf composes herself, lightly pushing her.

“Come on, the welcome dinner for your pack is in an hour and we should really shower.” She suggests and I agree, the two of us making our way to the elevator. I turn to face the entrance of the training room as Ali clicks for her floor and then mine, catching Lissa glaring at me, one that I return with my own glare. Instinct tells me to beware of her and I trusted my instinct. I refuse to allow what happened to my brother happen to anyone else by ignoring my instincts again.