Chapter 4

-ALIYAH-

The large doors of the training hall loomed before us, and I suddenly felt very small in comparison. When Brayden mentioned showing me around, I didn't expect that we were going to end up here. The size of the training hall was overwhelming, with its high ceilings and complicated architecture. 

 As Brayden pushed the doors open, I was met with a wave of warmth and the scent of sweat. The room echoed with grunts and thuds as individuals sparred with one another or practiced their combat skills on dummies.  In the center of the room, the floor was padded with mats for wrestling and hand-to-hand combat practice.

I looked around, my eyes adjusting to the dim but sharp lighting. And then my focus lingered longer at the swords and knives that were lined up at the wall. And those modern firearms that were neatly displayed in a glass case. The sight of them made me gulp as I realized the intensity of the training taking place in this room. I wonder if those weapons have already taken some life or if they were purely for training purposes.

 My attention then shifted to the people in the room, who had all paused to stare at me. The men wore nothing but tight-fitting shorts that showed off their muscular torsos, while the women donned equally explicit sports bras and leggings. Their bodies glistened with sweat, bringing out every curve and firm muscle. I couldn't help but feel self-conscious. If ever I were to join this training, would I be required to wear similar revealing attire? Would I have to conform to this standard of dress in order to fit in and be taken seriously? 

 "Come on," Brayden urged, leading me further into the room. "I want you to meet my friends."

 Reluctantly, I followed him, trying to ignore the stares and whispers that seemed to follow me like a shadow. As we approached a group of men and women, they stopped their conversation and turned to face us.

 "Hey, guys," Brayden began with a smile. "This is Aaliyah. I want her to meet everyone."

 One by one, they introduced themselves, shaking my hand and offering friendly smiles. 

 "Nice to meet you," a tall man with broad shoulders and a warm smile said, offering his hand. "I'm Marcus."

 "Likewise," I replied, shaking his hand firmly.

 Then another guy in the group stepped forward, his hair disheveled and with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Hey there, I'm Alex," he said with a playful grin. "I apologize for almost hitting you earlier. It's that being in wolf form wasn't easy to control. 

 "I understand and have forgiven you all," I assured him as I looked around. "It was my fault too. I should have known that the place is part of the training grounds for werewolves." I urged myself to smile, trying to ease the tension that seemed to hang in the air.

 "Don't worry, I promise not to accidentally hit you again." One man in the group chimed in, offering a reassuring smile. "We'll make sure to be more careful in the future, especially when we're in wolf form." 

 I nodded gratefully. Although they seemed to be confident beings, I could see the sincerity in their eyes. But I couldn't stand gazing at them for too long, as their piercing yellow eyes reminded me of the danger they posed. Nonetheless, their words did provide some reassurance given the intimidating atmosphere of the training grounds. 

 As I continued to meet Brayden's friends, I couldn't shake the feeling that not everyone was pleased by my presence. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a woman standing off to the side, her arms crossed over her chest. Her narrowed eyes seemed to bore into me, and I could practically feel the jealousy radiating from her.

My heart raced as I tried to focus on the conversation around me, but the woman's gaze felt like a weight on my shoulders. It was as if she were silently communicating her disapproval to the others, who in turn became more guarded and wary.

 "Is everything okay?" Brayden asked, noticing my discomfort.

 I forced a smile. "Yes, everything's fine. Just... overwhelmed, I guess."

 "Hey, don't worry about it," he reassured me, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. "You'll get used to everything soon enough."

 I nodded, hoping that he was right. But as I glanced back at the woman and the barely concealed animosity in her eyes, I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something deeper going on. It was clear that her disapproval was not just directed at me but at something or someone else in the room.

 I wish I was only imagining things, but the tension in the air was noticeable. It was as if there were unspoken secrets and hidden agendas lurking beneath the surface, waiting to be revealed. 

 Leaving the training hall behind us, Brayden led me down a winding path through the forest. As we walked, I was curious about where he would take me next. My heart still raced from the tension that lingered in the air back at the training hall, but Brayden's presence was a comforting reassurance. Being with him in private allowed me to let my guard down and relax.

 "Since you're new here, let me tell you a bit more about our pack and its customs," Brayden said, breaking the silence between us. I gazed up at his eyes, and I almost lost myself in their deep, mesmerizing blue. "Aside from the regular training sessions to enhance our physical abilities and combat skills, we also have communal meals where everyone in the pack shares food."

 "Like a big family dinner?"

 "Exactly," he replied with a warm smile. "And we have ceremonies to mark significant events, like full moon gatherings or initiation rituals for new members."

 The thought of being part of such a tight-knit community filled me with a fuzzy feeling of belonging I hadn't experienced before. What could be better than having a group of individuals who not only train together but also support and celebrate each other's successes? I guess this was the one thing I liked about them; they truly understood the importance of unity and camaraderie. Unlike in the human world, where some people, especially those greedy ones, only care about themselves and their own success, Worse, most people want to hurt and put others down in order to elevate themselves.

 "Hey, you are silent again." Brayden chuckled and wrapped an arm around my shoulder, causing me to smile. "Tell me what's on your mind."

 I took a deep breath and replied, "At the training hall, you all seem to talk silently to each other..." I tilted my head slightly, trying to find the right words. "Are you wolves talking to each other using telepathy?" Actually, I have already read about it, but I wanted to confirm if my suspicions were legit. The idea of wolves communicating through telepathy seemed too good to be true.  

 Brayden's face lit up with amusement as he pressed my nose with his index finger. The gesture made me giggle, breaking the tension in the air. "Mind-link, indeed." He grinned, allowing me to see his playful side. "You're right about the telepathy thing. But it actually allows us to coordinate and unite within the pack, regardless of distance or language barriers. And through mind-link, we can share thoughts, emotions, and even memories, creating a deep buzz of connection among pack members."

 "Wow. Just wow." I marveled at the idea of such a bond and couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to experience it myself. So I asked, "Can humans mind-link too?" 

 Brayden shook his head. "No, mind-linking is exclusive to werewolves due to our heightened senses and supernatural nature."

 His explanation made sense. No wonder I failed to hear him when he was already screaming for me to move over back in the garden.

 "Say, Aaliyah. Would you want to be connected through a mind-link?"

 I slowly met Brayden's eyes—the same deep shades of blue that made my heart flutter—and in that moment I was overwhelmed with surprise. His expression, on the other hand, was so earnest that I couldn't look away, even if I wanted to. 

"Me... why would you ask me that?"

 Brayden remained unfazed and gave me a reassuring smile. "Because since I met you, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you," Brayden confessed, raising my hands to his lips, and my breathing literally stopped when he kissed them. "You're unique and interesting, and I want you to be part of my world, so you won't be alone anymore...so I can protect you... so I can be mated to you."

 His last words made my heart skip a beat. "M-mated to me?" I stuttered, not sure if I heard him correctly.

 "Yes, Aaliyah. Mated to you." Brayden's eyes bore into mine, his hand still holding mine tightly. "I feel a strong connection with you, one that I haven't felt with anyone else before. Who knows, you might be my fated mate?"

 My mind was reeling, trying to process what Brayden was saying. Werewolves, mating, mind-linking—it all seemed impossible. Yet, I couldn't deny the flutter in my stomach. There was something about Brayden that drew me to him—something I couldn't quite explain. What if I was the mate he'd been anticipating all along? And my sudden stay with the Connors was actually my fate?

 "As werewolves, we mate for life and connect through a bond that's deeper than anything else," Brayden explained, still holding onto my hands. "And I want that with you. I know it's sudden and I might be destined for another she-wolf, but I can't help how I feel. So what do you say, Aaliyah? Would you love to be turned and mated to me?"

 My knees almost wobbled the way he asked me that. Was I ready to leave my humanity behind? I knew I was getting impulsive, but there was something deep within me that urged me to accept this new life. How could I resist such a man I was starting to fall in love with? His voice was like a lullaby as he asked me to be his mate. His eyes were like a peaceful ocean, making me lost everytime I gazed at him. If this was a dream, I would rather choose not to wake up at all. 

 "I...yes. I want to become a werewolf and be your mate."

 His face brightened up, as if he had finally received the answer he had been searching for. And before I knew it, he had closed the gap between us, crushing his lips against mine in a passionate kiss that sent shivers down my spine.  For goodness sake, he was my first kiss, and it felt like rockets exploding in my chest. I had no idea what to say, but his lips directed me, and I found myself responding excitedly, lost in the moment.  

 When we separated, I almost lost my balance. But he caught me, his strong arms wrapping around me protectively as he said, "From now on, you're my girlfriend."