Chapter One-Willow POV

“Come on, Willow, you can do this baby!” my mother screams as I square up against Damien. It was training time and I was shaking in my skin fighting against the biggest underage wolf in our pack. We both turned 18 in a few days and had to prove ourselves as warriors. I see him tense just before his twists left and throws a punch. Dodging his arm, I kick him in the ribs. The breath leaves his body at the impact, but it doesn’t stop him. He charges me and I jump to the side, swinging my body onto his back just as he shifts under me. I panic, I have never seen someone underage shift so quickly and smoothly. His fur a deep red and his wolf, Dante howls and twists trying to bite me. I make myself small, forcing him to roll over to lose me. Just as he turns around to attack, I shift myself. Giving control over to my wolf, Sasha. My mother always told me “I named you Willow, after the trees. I have seen hurricanes snap oaks as a Willow just bends and adapts”. With her voice ringing in my ear, Sasha does just that. She jumps, twisting in the air and grabs Dante by his throat. As soon as he is down the whistle blows and I know the battle is won. Dante bows his head at me and pushes the pack mind link “And I thought I was going to have to go easy on ya Sasha, proved me wrong. See you next week!”

Sasha walked over to the covered area where underage wolves could shift back and get dressed out of sight of the entire pack. She handed me back control as we shifted. Breathing heavily and drenched in dirt and sweat, I head to the showers. Once I get the water hot enough, Mom comes in cheering and excited. See, we were Omegas. the lowest of the pack. The smallest of the wolves. But I had just topped the son on a Beta. Proving my worth among the pack and as a warrior. My  mother could not be more proud of me. Ever since Dad was killed in a pack war, Mom's dream was for me to prove to the Goddess that I was worthy of a higher ranking mate. That I could withstand the trials of being higher in the pack. 

“You did it! You really beat Damian. That means next week you get to go against the alphas daughter, Desiree! You can prove that you are just as strong as they are and deserve to be higher in the pack. You can protect us all!” My mother sings happily as I shower, unable to stop a huge grin from breaking across my face. Sasha and I made a good team. And we trained harder that anyone else in the pack. I quickly get dressed and hug my mom just as I hear a knock and feel the aura of our Alpha at the shower doors. Alpha Henry was a nice and kind man. He was older and his 25 year old son was soon going to be taking over rumor had it. I opened the door slowly, nervous at his aura. “Yes, Alpha?” He smiles down at me though. “ Congratulations on your win today small wolf. I hear great things about you and I cannot wait to see you and Desiree next week as you come of age. I hope to offer you many great opportunities as a warrior in my pack!” He shakes my hand and leaves as quickly as he came. I let out a huge sigh of relief.