Chapter 1

Jayda: “Just like that.”

Jayda: “Damn baby harder.”

Him: “You love this, don’t you?”

Jayda: “Hmmm.. stop talking”.

Him: “It’s time to go. I can’t stay much longer, but I’ll see you soon, baby.”

Jayda: “Wait a damn minute. Where are you going, man? We ain’t done yet. You can’t leave me all pent up like this.. Finish this…. massage”...

BEEP BEEP BEEP.

“What the HELL!!”

I should’ve known that was a dream, since that’s the only time he visits me now in my dreams.

The alarm on my iPhone blares, letting me know it’s 5:15 am. Time for training.

Oof, I’ve got to change the sound to something more enjoyable for when I’m startled each morning.

Maybe I can close my eyes for 5 more minutes and let him finish me off like he did before he took my hope and left.

BEEP BEEP BEEP

5:25 the alarm blares again.

I’m not a morning person and I don’t know why I’m still getting up so early when training for the pack starts at 6 am for those that can fit it that session in.

I was waking up at 4:30 to train at 5 am, but ever since Evander, Zach and Jalen left almost a year ago for Alpha training and their prospective rank schools, I don’t even bother. I was only doing it so I could spend a few private moments with Evander.

Evander… why am I even thinking of him? Let alone dreaming about him now. He’s barely texted or called me over the last year. I mean, I’d call and FaceTime often if I made out with my best friend for an hour the night before leaving after telling her I wanted more from our friendship..

5:40 am- let me get out of this bed so I can get to training.

I pull back the covers and my feet land on the carpet. Heading into the bathroom suite in my room, I turn the light on and remove my silk bonnet.

So glad I twisted up my hair last night. I pull my twists up in a bun and place a silk headband on my head to protect my edges. I have school later on and I don’t need to sweat my edges out.

I wash my face, moisturize my skin with my SPF mixture and brush my teeth so that I can get out of here on time. Skin glowing with melanin as if it was kissed by Selene herself. Looking in the mirror at myself, I shiver at the thought of what could have happened in that dream.

Dressing in my matching orange Nike sports bra, leggings and gray muscle T-shirt, I grab my training shoes and head down the stairs of our house.

Each ranked family has their own residence outside of the pack house. It’s normally so loud and crowded with other members or events that we often want to get away from others. The ranked floors are away from all the festivities and of course rooms are soundproof, but sometimes it’s good to spread out and space of our own.

Heading into the kitchen, I grab a banana and grab a scoop of peanut butter to help fuel me for the next hour.

I’m not surprised to see my dad in the kitchen grabbing a quick bite before training, too.

“Good morning, pumpkin. Ready to get your butt kicked by your dad today?”

“Come on daddy, now you know as you get older you’re moving slower. Plus, I always outsmart you.” I say as I grin at my dad. My dad is the gamma of our pack and he’s trained me since I was a pup.

Moon Valley pack starts training pups at age 6 while ranked pups start training at 5. However, Luna Alicia insisted that Evander start training at 4 and, of course, Alpha Eli obliged.

There I go, thinking of Evander again.

‘It’s because he’s fine as hell, smells good and you miss him. Duh’, my wolf Venus chimes in.

 “Well, good morning to you too, Ms. Thang. Glad you could wake up for training,’ I greet her as we finish our breakfast and wait to see if my dad wants to walk with me to the training grounds. We’re in late August, so the mornings aren’t too cool but not too hot to make you pass out. In fact, I can tell it’s gonna be a scorcher today. The Southern California dry desert heat doesn’t let up even for training.

‘Hey girl, are you coming to training this morning?’ I mind link Zuri.

 Zuri is the Beta’s daughter and one of my best friends. Knowing her, Ms. Responsible is already on the field stretching.

‘Yeah girl, I’m headed there now. You should link Imani too because you know her ass is probably still up under those covers slobbering while on her 3rd dream,’ she responds with a chuckle. 

‘I bet you’re right. I’ll link her. See you in a few’, I tell her and cut the link as I make my walk through the neighborhoods.

‘Imani, babe, will you be at training or are you gonna keep dreaming of Darius?’ I tease her to get her up. Imani is the Alpha’s daughter, Evander’s sister, and she’s my other best friend. I have to keep nudging her link to get my question through.

‘I’m up. I’m up. I guess I’ll be there. I don’t have time after school today to attend the evening training. If my dad is there, tell him I’m on my way, okay?’ she responds. 

Knowing Imani, she’ll probably speed through the streets to get to the primary training facility.

‘Okay, will do, girl. Just get here because you know how your dad is about punctuality and you’re not the poster girl for being on time.

‘Blah, blah, blah. Stop talking to me and I’ll get there.’ Imani cuts the link.

I get to the main training field here on Moon Valley pack and there are wolves warming up of all ages, ready to get their workout in for the day. 

The warriors train with us as well as any able-bodied wolf. The wolves are put into different age groups. Males and she wolves train together because if a pack is under attack, the enemy doesn’t give a damn what your gender is. They will kill without hesitation. Plus, ain’t nobody have time for us girls to be sitting around helpless, not knowing how to defend ourselves.

I’m not saying we need to have that “strong woman I don’t need a man because I’m independent” mindset, but that we need to prepare and trained to take care of ourselves in any situation. 

Can I get an Amen on that?

Anyway, I greet some of the pack members as I walk and assist the pups to their groups. I walk over to Alpha Eli as I see him chatting with my dad and Beta Shemar. They’re huddled up together chatting about something. I hear them mention Evander and my ears quickly perk up.

“Good morning Alpha Eli, Imani said she’s on her way”. In public, my family and I address the Alpha formally, but when it’s only the ranked members, we call him Eli or Uncle Eli. No, we’re not related, but you know how Black folks like to do. Everyone is an uncle, auntie, or cousin.

“Thanks, Jayda. If she’s got back in bed, I’ll have the Luna blast Taylor Swift loudly in her ear. I know that’ll wake her up since she can’t stand the human girl.” All the dad’s chuckle.

“Oh, did you hear? Your brother and the boys will be back from Alpha training soon. Seems like they excelled while they were there. The head trainer even mentioned that Evander bested his cousin, Tyson, several times in many of the subjects,” Alpha Eli informs us.

Tyson is Evander’s cousin and Alpha Eli’s nephew. Tyson is also the future Alpha King- the King of Werewolves. To hear that Evander beat Tyson in several areas is not surprising to me. Although the Alpha King heir is supposed to be the strongest of werewolves, he has always been 2nd to Evander. 

At least that’s been my opinion.

“Well, that’s good. I’ll get to see my brother soon. We get to celebrate the 3 of them turning 18 when they get back too”.

“Yes, and maybe they’ll find their mates by the time they get back,” Beta Shemar says, while looking at me. “Hmm, maybe. Jalen said he hasn’t found his mate, so who knows,” I respond with a shrug.

That rascal of a boy better not have found his mate. If he did, that could explain why he hasn’t bothered to call me for 9 months. You know what, I’m not about to rehash that this morning. It’s Friday and I’m in a good mood.

Just then bells sound, letting us know it’s time for training to begin.

It’s time to let out some of this frustration on an unsuspecting wolf.