Chapter 2

~Natalie~

I grabbed my phone quickly since my alarm startled me from a deep sleep. I pressed the dismiss button and faced it down by my nightstand. It’s 4:30 a.m., too early for the rest of the wolves who are probably still asleep in their dorms. 

I yawned and stretched for a couple of seconds, then waited a bit for the pressure in my head to regulate since I got a bit lightheaded from it. I probably needed to drink more water. I’m so bad at keeping myself hydrated. I sat up and rubbed my eyes as I shifted my legs to hang on the side of my bed. 

Suddenly, the rain drumming against the window made me groan. “Dammit,” I grumbled. 

I love rainy days but today was my last day here at a training facility located in Arizona where I’d go every summer. It just so happens that today we were going into a full shifter battle. Frank, our trainer, would separate us into two groups and have us battle it out. The rain meant that it was going to be a wet and muddy one.

I’ve been coming here since I was fourteen years old to strengthen my combat skills.

My Dad started training me the moment I began to walk. I know it sounds silly but he started small and as the months and years went by it became a habit. What can I say, I loved it!

I enjoy being fit and strong. In a pack, being weak or helpless can make a wolf look like the weakest link, a target for bullying, and be downgraded to an Omega. In some packs, Omegas were treated like trash, slaves, and unworthy. 

Not in our pack though. Nope, they had value and were respected like any other ranking wolf. My respects to my Alpha for being kind to them and giving them jobs instead of treating them like servants.

It was the end of July and today was a sweet and bitter day. Come Monday morning, I was finally going home. I was going to say goodbye to Frank who I am going to miss immensely. He was like another father figure to me.

Soon school was going to start and it was my last year at the Blue Moon Academy. I was so freaking looking forward to it.

Even though I was just a regular wolf, not an Omega, I was predestined to become what my parents were, Elite warriors. I loved seeing them in action and it only made me more ambitious to become one of Starry Night’s top Elite warriors. My Dad was one of the best ones out there and my Mom kicked butt. I admired her for being fearless, brave, strong, and a risk-taker.

The strange thing is that I’ve always felt like I was meant for more.

I hurried up to take a quick shower and brush my teeth. I dried my hair, put it in a braided ponytail, and then into a bun. I had long black hair that reached below my bottom and hated it when it got in the way of my training. I can’t have others thinking it's okay to pull on it and use it to their advantage. That would make me see red.

I snagged my black leggings and sports bra, then put on my training shoes. I gave myself a last quick look in the mirror and smiled. I grabbed my phone and earbuds on my dresser.

‘We are bada*s, Natie. Let’s show them what we're made of.’ My wolf, Zoe, chirped. 

‘I agree, Zo.’ She was my equal, a part of me and we motivated each other. My parents, though, are our number one fans. 

I am 5'4, maybe short for your average wolf, but I loved my height. I had piercing emerald orbs and long thick dark lashes. 

I was curvy in all the right places. A perfect pair of perky breasts to go with my toned bottom. ‘Damn, you sound so vain,’ Zoe snickered. 

‘Whatever.’ I rolled my eyes at her remark. I embrace what I have.

I placed my earbuds in my ears and played my Rock playlist. It was one of my favorite genres. I love all types of music though and music was everything to me.

I can hear alarms going off as I pass up the dorms to head to the gym. I always make sure I get there first to get a good warm-up. 

I’m an introvert and don’t like being around others. I don’t have the patience for ignorance or stupidity and I didn’t take crap from anyone. I am reserved and observant, making sure I keep to myself. I am not one to make friends with other wolves but only spoke to them when I was obligated to interact with them. I heard someone say the other day that I wasn’t approachable. It ain’t a lie and I’m glad they noticed.

A groan left my lips when I saw Colby, a member from another distant pack, already taking a swing at the punching bag. I couldn’t hear him before because I had the volume up a little high. I clenched my teeth and swung my bag in front of me to grab my gloves and tape. My favorite thing to warm up to was the punching bag.

I took my left earbud out when I saw his lips moving. “What?” I said in annoyance.

“I said, ‘Hey, gorgeous, I guess I beat you to it!’,” he replied, grinning from ear to ear. I rolled my eyes in irritation. I dropped my bag on the floor and started taping my hands. 

“It’s Adams to you,” I grumbled, raising an eyebrow.

“You know, it wouldn’t hurt to say hi or to speak to your kind every once in a while, sweetheart.” He retorted.

Male wolves are such horn dogs and so arrogant. Not to mention, man whores. ‘We can shut his pretty mouth up, Natie,’ Zoe growled. 

I smirked at the idea. I could take him because I had more strength and moves than most of the wolves here in the facility. It was uncanny. Even if they were stronger, I wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Zoe is right about one thing, werewolves are all beautiful and strong. You don’t see obese or puny werewolves.

We were fascinating creatures more powerfully built than a human being. Not to mention fast, we can see in the dark, and have a hyper sense of smell and hearing. We could even mind-link but only within our pack.

“Yeah, no. I don’t socialize. Are you about done? If not, can you hurry up? Like I said, it’s Adams, and I don’t like nicknames.” He frowned and glared at me. 

Take a hint butt hole.

I placed my earbud back in to make it clear that I wasn’t in the mood for talking. I went through my playlist and scanned through the list of songs. I played Animal I Have Become by Three Days Grace.

I began to stretch when I felt his burning glare right at my back. Guys hate being ignored and rejected, especially the cocky ones. What he doesn’t know is that I give zero f’s.

____________

The training was awesome. Since it was our last day, we went all out as if we were at war. My high adrenaline unleashed the caged animal inside. I was thrilled our team won. Not once was I knocked down. 

During our skirmish, Frank, my trainer, made eye contact with me several times, nodding and smirking for me to take charge. It was all the approval I needed. 

After training for half the day, everyone left to take showers. There was a party taking place at one of the mansions that belonged to one of the guys who attended the training with us.

Of course, I didn’t go. Instead, I headed down to the vending machines to get some snacks for my Prison Break marathon. When I was walking down the hall, unease crept on my skin. Was I being followed?

As soon as I walked around the corner, I quickly hid behind a knee wall that led to the stairs going down and lowered my heartbeat. I learned this technique from Frank. Wolves can hear another person’s heartbeat, but if you do it correctly, you can sorta hide it. It’s all in the breathing. As soon as the culprit stepped forward, I pulled him in a choke hold and held his other arm behind him.

“What the h–hell A–adams!” Colby struggled to talk. 

“Why are you following me!?” I said through my teeth. 

“I j-just…d-damn, well if–if you let me talk!” I choked out and I released him for him to explain. He started coughing and gasped for air. “Damn Adams, you're strong. I just wanted to talk. We’ve been training for years and we have never spoken. I like you.” He grumbled, rubbing his neck and throat.

Raising an eyebrow, I say, “Did I not make myself clear earlier that I didn’t want to talk?” I said in a monotone and glared at him crossing my arms across my chest.

“Wasn’t it obvious that I don’t want to associate with you or anyone?” I whispered-yelled, walking right past him, and hitting his shoulder on my way to the vending machine. 

I don’t want to be rude or ugly to anyone and for that reason, I keep my distance. I don’t care to make friends because I trust no one. Growing up I’ve seen people bully, beat, gossip, and use others. Some individuals act inhumanely.

Colby growled and slammed his fist on the wall. I heard his footsteps fritter away. ‘It’s not my fault. He should’ve gotten the hint earlier.’ I didn’t care if his feelings were hurt, this was my last visit to this facility and I would never see him again.

I headed back to my dorm with an armful of snacks and two drinks. I closed and locked my door, and proceeded with my night.

I was too excited for Monday to come. So ready to be home. I’m going to miss Frank but I miss my parents and Evie, my best and only friend. She's been blowing up my phone the entire time I’ve been here.

I love how she makes me feel special and missed. Evie is everything to me; one of a kind and a little scary when she gets angry, but I wouldn’t change anything about her.

I sighed heavily, trying to relax from the headache Coby caused. My leave here has finally come to an end and I was grateful for it. This also means that my key objective was a step closer to accomplishing it.

First things first, when I get home, I’ll show my pack what I can do during training. That will get me seen by my Alpha and surely he’ll ask me to sign up for tryouts. I’ll show each and every one of them what I am capable of.