Female Warriors

Enzo's POV

"Pick a partner to train with," Zuko, the head warrior, commanded. The young wolves scrambled to pair themselves at his command.

I watched from the sidelines, arms crossed. These were seventeen-year-olds, barely wolves, but they were ours.

Most packs train at eighteen. I made it seventeen to avoid sending them unprepared into battle. 

Untrained wolves are dead wolves, and I don't waste pack members.

"Shift!" Zuko ordered. Bones cracked. Coats tore through skin. Seconds later, a dozen young wolves paced.

I watched their small wolves circle each other with amateur movements. My eyes moved around the gathering, doing the first thing any warrior should do. Looking out for your opponent's weak spot.

"Take a moment to observe your partner, watch their movements, take note of weak spots and weaknesses," he said, taking the words right out of my head.

"In a fight, if your opponent is stronger, your best bet is to start with defense. However, in Romano Crest, we do not train you to be the weaker wolves in any fight. Am I clear?"

The young wolves howled in unison. 

My wolf, Raka, swelled with pride. Romano Crest does not train weaker wolves, he affirmed, and I hummed in agreement.

Even more than I did, Raka found great contentment in the pack's dominance.

Zuko was a hidden gem. Zuko had proven himself since I made him head warrior. He was loyal, disciplined, never giving me reason to doubt.

I beckoned him, remembering the reason I had come to this field.

"Work on your defensive stance. Remember what I taught you the last time," Zuko instructed the trainees before jogging towards me.

"Alpha," he greeted with a respectful bow.

I nodded. "Walk with me."

We quietly walked for a few minutes until we reached a part of the clearing that was bare of other wolves.

I stopped and turned.

"Zuko," I began, my tone low. "....you know how serious I take the safety of this pack."

He straightened, alert. "Yes, Alpha."

My eyes narrowed, the fury I had tried to conceal earlier had begun to simmer again.

"A Black Raven wolf was spotted in town," I said. "Carrying a silver gun."

Zuko's face mirrored the horror that I felt when I heard about it. Silver guns were an invention peculiar to one pack and one pack alone, Romano Crest.

"So I'm wondering, Zuko," I continued, my voice now a low, predatory growl. He swallowed hard.

"How did a Black Raven member come into possession of an exclusive Romano Crest property?"

He opened his mouth to talk.

"Don't," I snapped. "Not unless it's an answer."

He swallowed.

"Find out. And be discreet. I don't want rumors, I want names. I want a head."

******Selene's POV*****

Isabella's little project was working. The women were finally warming to me, their small smiles lessening the dread I felt. 

The mixed seeds in my garden had sprouted into surprises that gladdened my heart, reminding me that the unexpected could still be good.

Isabella and I had grown closer, and I found myself leaning more into her company.

She mentioned losing her mate before she could get marked. That loss, she admitted, made the alpha's rejection sting her even more.

I wondered if she had anything to do with his sudden change of heart, or was the thing Lisa mentioned. I couldn't bring myself to ask Isabella.

One afternoon, Isabella tugged my hand with childlike enthusiasm. "Come on. Let's say hi to Maria. She lives in the same building."

I froze.

Maria. Silas's mate.

My body stiffened, but I tried not to show it.

Isabella suddenly halted mid-step, eyes lighting up.

"Oh! Wait, Maria won't be home. She'll be out training today." A wave of relief washed over me, almost embarrassingly. I quickly masked it.

We kept walking until we arrived at a wide clearing. I slowed, frowning. This wasn't just a trail.

This was a training field for warriors.

My stomach twisted.

When Isabella said training, I expected crafts, certainly not combat.

Maria jogged towards us, wiping sweat from her brow.

"I must say, I'm surprised," I said to Maria after we had exchanged our greetings.

"Surprised? About what?"

"I didn't think you would be a part of the warriors," I explained, the words coming out more honestly than intended.

"In fact, I didn't know females could be warriors. It wasn't like that at Open Creek. Women had separate roles from the men."

Isabella gave me a small smile. "It's different here. Romano Crest is too big to be conventional. Women are allowed to be warriors."

"Yeah," Maria added, stretching. "We just train twice as hard."

"I heard what happened to your pack, I'm really sorry about that," she added randomly.

My blood ran cold. "Thank you," I said, uncomfortable.

"Did you lose anyone close?" she pressed, tying her hair into a bun.

"Ummmm....I don't want to talk about it," I replied tightly, averting my eyes.

Maria seemed to sense my discomfort and changed the subject.

"Want to spar?" She asked, getting into a mock defense position and holding a fist at my face.

I laughed.

"...is coming over here," I heard Isabella say in a rushed, hushed voice, pulling me back abruptly.

"What's that?" I asked.

Before she could respond, I heard a deep voice from behind. 

"Luna, the Alpha has requested your presence."

It was Trevor.

His gaze was unreadable. I looked between Isabella and Maria. They both shrugged.

"Where is he?" I asked with a defeated sigh. 

"In the break room. I'll accompany you," Trevor said, already turning to lead the way.

"I'll see you ladies later," I murmured.

I followed silently, wishing I could get a week being just Selene. Not Selene from Open Creek, or Selene the Alpha's mate, or Luna Selene. Just..... Selene.

Alpha Romano stood in the center of the room, his imposing figure taking up space. Trevor left after ushering me inside.

"Alpha Romano," I began, my voice a barely audible squeak, my heart already pounding. "You sent for me."

"Selene," he started, his voice a low rumble. 

"It's your grandmother."