4. New friend

Liberty pov

I can barely contain my hate and anger. My fists clench and I bite on my lip to prevent myself from telling them that I know what they are up to. Slowly the twins are driving me into a corner. When I'm almost stuck Madeline walks in. She immediately catches what's going on,

“If you want to spar I’ll team up with Liberty and fight the both of you,” her voice clear, not leaving room for the twins to dispute. 

“Come on Liberty, we got this,” she smiles at me. 

Madeline never interacted much with me before. We never crossed paths as I rarely joined for sparring or other training. Now that I've joined a few times, I've begun to notice her. She's tall and muscular. Her skin is tanned, she has friendly honey coloured eyes and thick black hair. She’s a killer machine in the figthing ring but outside the ring she is kind and thoughtful.

Generally she keeps to herself. Training with the strongest sparring partners she can find. Putting in extra hours. Over the past weeks I’ve noticed her watching me. 

“Thank you Madeline,” I stammer. I never expected anyone to step in for me. 

/You’re putting in the work. People notice. The wretched traitor twins notice and are changing their tune. Madeline is stepping in for us,/ Naveah sounds proud of me. Also a new emotion. 

/Now focus on what’s happening. We can’t let Madeline fight them alone, we need to join in,/ she brings my focus back to the twins. 

Grumbling Verity and Viera ready themselves knowing full well that I’m an easy victim but Madeline isn't. She’s trained since she was six years old. I stopped training when I was 8 having completed the basic defense training. 

As the Alpha’s daughter and future Luna of a pack I figured I would always be protected by guards so why would I bother with fighting?

As expected Viera and Verity focus on me, ignoring Madeline. This isn’t a spar, it's a beating. They land fists and kicks everywhere, within seconds my left eye is swelling shut, my lip is busted and my nose is bleeding profusely. 

From under the twins I can hear Madeline shouting and I can feel the bodies of the twins shaking as she lands her punches and kicks. Madeline is pulling them off of me. The moment she pulls one of them off me I shove the other off and get on my feet.

/Show them Liberty!/ Naveah cheers me on, coaching me on my stance. Helping me keep my defenses up and throwing punches. 

Madeline is efficient, she doesn’t need me to win. My punches are not as hers but I manage to land a few good hits on Verity. It takes longer than I expected but the twins finally tap out. 

Sweating and panting we smile and high five. Viera and Verity stare at me, the hate in their eyes is chilling. Previously they hid it better. Now I’m around them more often and they have a tougher time hiding their hatred. I hope I can make it work to my advantage. Maybe take one or both of them out before we start at the academy. 

“Honestly Liberty I didn’t expect you to kick ass the way you did,” Madeline pants.

I feel pride in my chest, not only Naveah is proud of what I did but also someone else. Someone I just met. 

“Thank you,” I mumble. “Still a long way to go before I'm at your level”. 

Madeline looks at the twins who’re scowling at us from the ground. “Let’s go and clean ourselves up.” 

“That’s one hell of a shiner and your nose might be slightly wonky from now on,” Madeline drily remarks as we walk out of the changing rooms. 

“It gives character to a face.” I grin back. 

When we’re cleaned up Madeline seems to hover, wanting to ask something but not sure if she can. 

“Madeline, shall we go for a high tea? That way we can get to know each other a little better. I’d like to treat you as a thank you.” 

A wide smile spreads on her face causing her split lip to bleed again, “I’d love that!” 

In the cafe we sit down and order high tea for four as we’re both hungry enough for two.

“Liberty, you're really surprising me in the past training sessions. You’re showing up and putting in the work. Keep it up, you have talent. After barely training for so many years you’re doing great." Madeline’s compliment hits me hard. Tears fill my eyes and I don’t know how to respond.

/The old you would’ve taken any and every compliment for granted,/ Naveah observes causing me to flinch. The past weeks have taught me humility.   

When the food is placed on our table and we dig in like the hungry wolves we are. When the plates are cleared we talk about Viera and Verity’s obsession with the two princes. 

Verity talks about Hartley as if he’s nothing more than a piece of meat. Viera wasn’t into Hartley’s bad boy image and womanising ways. She was more attracted to the quiet and broody Maverick. Where Hartley is all over the packs Maverick keeps to himself. Seemingly always on a mission, always busy with something. Generally the oldest son takes the throne but it is clear that Hartley wants it. Everyone can see it. 

With lead in my shoes I walk home after a fun afternoon with Madeline. My face is busted up and I can not hide it with makeup.

“Liberty what happened? Your beautiful face!” My mother almost faints when I enter the living room. “You should stop this nonsense about the royal academy. It’s not for you, you're made for finer things than fighting. Harrison, can you just put her on the list?” 

“No mom! I want to earn my spot. I don't want a hand out!” I put it in before my father get the opportunity to respond. 

Cooper raises an eyebrow and gives me a wink. Ever since I’ve been putting in effort he and I get along a lot better. 

“Shania, it would be better if Liberty got selected on merit but maybe Cooper…” My father starts, only for me to interrupt him. 

“Mom, Dad, you know Cooper needs to stay here to help lead the pack. It’s fine. My opponents got some hits in but I got in more.” 

Cooper grins, my father looks proud and my mother looks appalled.

It’s almost bedtime when I hear a knock on my door. Cooper enters holding a pot in his hands.  

He sits down on my bed and pats beside him. I sit down next to him, he opens the pot which contains a foul smelling brown ointment.

“Sit still, so I can apply it to the deepest gashes,” he murmurs as he dips his finger in and gently applies the ointment to my eye. “I got this from Olwyn, to help me heal but it seems you need it more now.”

 While he treats my face, arms and legs we talk about a lot of things. We never did this in my previous life. My heart stings. Cooper and I always got along fine and we were close but it is now that I realise that we never talked about things the way we are doing now in my second life.

/It’s not Cooper that changed…..,/ Naveah says.

 No it’s us, mostly me. Naveah always wanted to put in more effort. She had knowledge on fighting but I ignored her. A warm feeling gushes over me.

/You’re doing great now. You’re putting in the effort. We still have to figure out how to prevent the tragedy to happen again but will figure something out./  

“All done, Libby. Hope you sleep well and that the ointment helps Naveah heal you up nice and scarless. I’ll leave what's left for you to use tomorrow.”

He stands ready to leave my room.

“Cooper,” my voice comes out shaking and soft, but he hears me and stops in his tracks.

Quickly I get up and throw myself in his arms, unable to stop the tears from flowing. He wraps me in his strong arms. I wrap my arms around him. “You’re the best brother ever Cooper,” I sob out. 

“Thank you Libby,” he whispers in my ear as we let go of each other.

Just before I fall asleep a thought strikes me, Olwyn. Maybe she can help me in some way. She’s a potion master and seeer. Most people avoid her because she’s a witch and she lives in the marshes.