A few days passed and another training session was in store for Alissa, Jack and Michael. They had decided to attempt a two on one spar. Jack stated he felt it was his weakest scenario which Alissa wasn’t sure about but they all accepted the scenario. Alissa and Michael stood shoulder to shoulder waiting for Jack to indicate he was ready. “Gonna take him down, Lis,” Michael muttered. “Hell yeah, one hundred percent.”“Take his legs out,” Michael advised, “Use his height against him and your height to your advantage.”Jack put his feet shoulder width apart, bent his knees before gesturing for them to come at him. Alissa and Michael cried their attempt at a war cry before sprinting towards their brother. Alissa managed to strike his side while he was distracted by blocking Michael's punch. She dodged under Jack's arm and brought her knee to his stomach, which he blocked, almost setting Alissa off balance. She righted herself and tried to topple Jack, but she appeared to get the wrong
The trio were still sitting around Alissa’s room, pondering what they had just found out. Michael sat quietly, he appeared to be thinking hard, “Michael do you know anything?” Jack prompted. “No,” he said abruptly and started chewing his lip. Jack and Alissa looked at each other“You know something,” Alissa said suspiciously. Michael avoided her gaze, he pretended to be interested in the list that was still lying on the bed. “What is it Michael?” Jack stood and moved to be in front of Michael. “Nothing,” he shifted uncomfortably.“Spit it out!” Jack gave him a push to the shoulder. “It's not like there's anyone available here, and humans are drawn to us,” he muttered under his breath. “Michael!” Jack and Alissa exclaimed together. “Who?” Alissa cried.“How?” Jack panicked.“When?” The questions came to Michael thick and fast. “OK, enough.” He held his hands up. “There's no-one in particular I just… when I'm on missions I kinda… go to what they call nightclubs and, the ladies l
After Michael left, she quickly tidied her room of the books and papers before heading downstairs. Alissa found Luca in the sitting room reading, she sat down silently pulling her feet onto the sofa. “What you reading?” Luca jumped, pulling his book from his face, “Alissa, you scared me” he breathed.“Sorry.” She smiled innocently, she watched as he relaxed back into the sofa, he placed his book down and smoothed a stray hair back into place. Alissa was glad he seemed more back to normal. His hair perfectly styled, his clothes clean and wrinkle free. “How you doing?” Alissa shifted on the sofa waiting for a response. “I feel well, Alissa, thank you,” his voice back to it's measured, well spoken tone. “You don't have to talk like that in front of me, I accept you for you.” Alissa leant slightly forward. She wanted the real Luca, she realised now that his thoughtful and measured voice was all for show. He smiled and dropped his shoulders a little, “I need to keep a bit of this pers
Alissa’s nose was firmly in a book after going to see Richard, it had been a wasted journey. He didn’t beat about the bush, he said no. Even when she told him she’d found out about the human mothers. She sighed but then a noise made Alissa look up from her book, the front door had quietly opened and closed, like someone did not want to be heard. Alissa laid her book on the sofa and went to the door. Luca was carrying a bag and rolls of something white under his arm.“Where have you been?” Alissa asked, Luca jumped and tried to hide what was in his arms. He swiftly put the bag and what had been under his arm behind his back. “Oh, Alissa… Hello, I've just been to town, wanted to get out of the house.” He edged towards the stairs as he spoke.“What did you pick up?” Alissa approached him, he looked nervous and she was curious to see what he was hiding.“Not much, just-” he paused and looked around, “Something to cheer me up.” He looked embarrassed to admit. Alissa took another step clos
Luca sat in the driver's seat as he concentrated on the road ahead. They had been driving for well over an hour. “You haven't told me where we're going.” Alissa shifted uncomfortably, readjusting the seat belt. “I know,” he said smugly, a small knowing look crossed his face. Alissa huffed in frustration, she was excited as a town zipped past them. She could smell the scene of the hundreds of people waft through the car vents.“Do humans ever shower?” Alissa asked as she wrinkled her nose. Luca let out a bark of laughter, “Unfortunately we can smell them, they don't have that sense of smell. You are used to wolf stink if you spent time with humans you'd soon get used to it,” he replied.“Are you used to it?” Alissa turned to look at him.“Pretty much, some of the packs I visited lived in much closer proximity to humans.”“Isn't that dangerous? Don't the humans wonder why wolves are roaming all the time?” Alissa asked.“Aren't you full of questions today?” Luca chuckled. “Some other p
Luca took a sip and let out a pleasant sigh, “Did you speak to Richard?” he asked.“Yes, he seemed unsure about teaching me, but he said if I prove myself he will,” she responded. “I don't really know how to prove myself apart from memorising all the information I can on the packs,” she said this more to herself than to Luca. “I'll speak to him. I've been so busy I should have spoken to him first before I sent you,” he said apologetically. Alissa shook her head, “Don't worry about it. It's just what Richard's like. He wants someone that will do it properly,” Alissa reasoned. Luca pursed his lips for a moment before his eyes softened. “You've changed,” he said gently. Alissa looked up at him, worry twisted her stomach. “Oh, it's not a bad thing,” he added quickly, “I like it.” He turned in his chair, his knees knocked into hers. “I worried what happened to you would make you timid, scared of everything.” Luca enclosed her hand into his and pulled her closer to him. “But you're the o
The three climbed back onto the boat, their limbs aching. Luca and Alissa sat at the back of the boat, their feet still in the water. Malachi passed them towels which they wrapped around their shoulders, Alissa hid under the towel as she took the wet t-shirt off wrapping the towel around her securely. Luca rested back, his arms stretched behind him supporting his weight. He sighed, gently kicking his feet around the water. Beads of moisture ran from his hair before he wiped them with the cream towel.She rested back in a similar manner to Luca, the sun peaking through a cloud drying her skin. It wasn’t a particularly warm day but the little bit of sunshine was welcome of the chill of the sea wind. “That was fun,” she mumbled partly to herself. “It was. It’s nice to get away sometimes.” She hummed a note of agreement. “Hungry?” Malachi asked from behind them as he bit into a sandwich, they both nodded accepting the parchment wrapped sandwiches. “Thanks,” Alissa said as she bit into
The sun had just dipped below the trees as the pair walked across the grass. Alissa was starving; she wished she'd taken up Luca's offer of stopping somewhere to eat on the way home. But she couldn't shake the uneasy feeling Malachi had given her. Questions raced through her head, was she in danger? Who from? The note burned in her pocket, she was desperate to be alone to read it. Luca grabbed her arm before they reached the house. “Alissa.” She turned around to find him looking uncomfortable. “Did I do something wrong?” he asked apprehensively. Alissa slipped her hand into his, “Luca-” A hand grabbed her arm and started dragging her away. “Alissa I have to speak to you” Michael was marching off gripping Alissa tightly. “Michael! I'm in the middle-!” she cried. “I'll speak to you later then,” Luca muttered over sadly before turning around.Alissa struggled against Michael's strong grip. “What are you doing? Michael! Get off!” she yelled at him, wriggling with all her might. “I'