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Chapter 16
Tournament Day - Beginner Level
As I sat on the cold metal bench in the large feild directly in the center of town, I swore I was going to hurl.
The tournament had been the talk of the town for a week now, and somehow Liam had convinced me to participate. He had taken the time out of his day to train me each night, working me to the brink of exhaustion.
The fat on my body had disappeared, leaving behind firm muscle. I had expected my curves to soften from the loss of fat, but the muscle made them more pronounced. My bottom had become rounder, as Nicki and Tyra insisted on reminding me every time we went shopping.
Liam continued having me lift weights, but also incorporated sparring into the mix. Liam was a lethal combination of strength, speed, and complete feral determination. His fighting style put Cassie and everyone else to shame. I could see why Liam had been named the best warrior in the pack, but I secretly
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Our kiss was not soul-shattering. It was not a kiss filled to the brim with toe curling, eye rolling passion. My kiss with Liam was one of hopeful promises, one of comfort and security. Our kiss was one of risk, of inevitable heartbreak and broken beauty.The week following the Star Shower Festival was one of the best weeks I had since my Mom died. Mine and Liam's strange relationship wasn't one of sexual tension and angst, it was unique, much like my Mom's relationship with Beta Ned.I had given Liam a piece of my heart, and I knew he would carry it with him always, no matter what paths our lives might take. In return, Liam helped pull my head from the clouds, helped me face the pain I had long come to ignore.He no longer stayed away when I woke in the night, skin slicked with sweat and tears beading in my eyes. He would hold me until the early hours of the morning, whispering sweet words as I processed my latest nightmare.
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"Mate"The word rang out among the crowd of warriors, bouncing from person to person until everyone knew the truth. Their future Alpha had found his mate, had found their Luna. Liam's Dad stiffened, though happiness burned in his eyes.I couldn't blame any of them. Mine and Liam's relationship wasn't well known. The only people who knew were Liam, Kris, Tyra, Nicki and Dustin. Even Liams parents, the Luna and Alpha, had been left in the dark. I preferred it this way, as I couldn't imagine the entire pack giving me the same pitiful looks that Dustin, Kris, Tyra, and Nicki were giving me. That small cowardly part of me wanted to run, leaving everything behind for the second time. I squashed that part of me, snuffing it out before it's voice could even be heard. I wiped my face of all emotion and forced the pain away from my eyes. No one needed to know, needed to see yet another part of my heart chip and break off. I had known this wa
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Dustin and Kris stayed in the den with us, though neither of them had anything more to drink. After another hour, my eyelids began to grow heavy. Dustin offered to bring me back to the packhouse, as it was nearly one in the morning. Figuring it would be late enough to avoid prying eyes, I let Dustin drive me.The world pitched and rolled as I hopped out of the car. I pressed my hand against the cold paint, hoping to steady myself before I fell flat on my back. My legs felt disconnected from my body, moving with a mind of their own. Dustin ran around the front of the car, his hand grasping at my elbow to steady me."Thanks." I said, though it came out in a half-tired, half-drunken mumble."No more drinking with my sister." Dustin chuckled, his laugh thick and rich. "You can't handle it.""I can to handle it." I snorted, placing most of my weight against Dustin as we hobbled to the front door.Dustin wrapped
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