Arla reached the training hall in the nick of time and took her place on the mats just as the head warriors made their way to the centre of the room. The training hall was a huge indoor space across the road from the packhouse.
At the far end there was a gym with weight stations and exercise equipment, next to that was an indoor basketball court, and at the opposite end, where Arla was now standing, was a large open area where the floor was covered with soft black gym mats.
The first half of the training session would take place in human form inside the hall, and the second half would be conducted in wolf form in the large training yard outside.
Arla spotted Chloe on the opposite side of the room, and both girls had to stifle a squeal of happiness as the gruff-looking warriors began speaking. Arla had
Arla showered, dressed and was packing her bag for school when a knock sounded at the door. She opened it and squealed with delight, throwing herself into Felix’s arms. “Felix!” she shouted. “I missed you too,” he replied, chuckling and returning the hug. “You have no idea how much I missed you, Felix,” said Arla softly, not willing to let him go. “I think I have a fair idea,” he responded, bending his neck to kiss her forehead. She closed her eyes and melted into his comforting touch. It felt so right being back home with all her favourite people. If only Sadie could be here too, she thought, missing her already. It had
Arla’s face lit up with a smile so wide it hurt her cheeks, and she followed after Alpha Lorenzo quickly. They entered the tree line and walked for around fifteen minutes until they came to a small, secluded clearing. “This is where I shifted for the first time,” said Lorenzo, looking around with fondness. “I still come here when I need to think sometimes.” He wandered over to a tree and checked a hole in the trunk where he kept spare clothes, making sure there was something suitable for Arla to wear when she shifted back to human form afterwards. “Can you ask Maeve if she’s ready to give it a try?” he asked. “I’m ready. I’ll take good care of you, Arla,” replied Maeve. “She’s good to go,” Arla informed him, sudden
This is why she wanted to shift with me, thought Lorenzo. Werewolf law dictated that white wolves be protected. They were the rarest of wolves and each had unique abilities. A white wolf strengthened their entire pack and, as a result, they were both revered and hunted. There would always be those who let greed consume them and push them to break the law to take a white wolf for their own gain. “She is stunning,” said Marcel. “And she’s mine.” “She’s not yours yet,” replied Lorenzo with a troubled sigh, worry beginning to take hold. “But she’s definitely stunning.” Maeve stood tall and proud, tentatively stretching out her limbs and shaking out her pure white coat. The size of most wolves was in direct proportion to the
The following morning, Arla made her way downstairs to the Alpha’s office. She had never been in his office before, it had always been off limits. She couldn’t resist running her hands across the marble-topped wooden desk. It was stunning. “You like the desk?” he asked, noticing her fingers caressing it. “It’s absolutely gorgeous,” she replied, sitting down across from him, crossing her legs. A knock at the open door sounded, and Drew stood in the doorway holding a cup of coffee and a croissant. “Little lady, good morning,” he nodded his head at Arla before turning his attention to Lorenzo. “Shall I come back later?” “No, stay. Arla is involved in this discussion. Close the door please,” he asked, motioning Drew to
“As much as I hate to say this, because it is incredibly entertaining, you’re also going to have to keep this kind of behaviour in check in public, Arla,” Drew said, the smirk widening to a grin. “At the moment, you’re in direct defiance of your Alpha, and openly challenging him in a stare down.” No longer able to control his amusement, he burst into laughter. Lorenzo’s demeanour changed drastically, as frustration morphed to internal fear. He couldn’t control her. He didn’t want to control her, but he knew that in order to keep her safe, he may need to be able to bend her will at times, just like with any other pack member. The fact that he could order her to do something to keep her safe, and she could ignore that command, sent a thrill of fear straight down his spi
Arla once again enjoyed training in her human form. Jake and Milo paired her with people closer to her ability this time, and she was challenged much more fiercely than the previous day. She still shook her head thinking about Chloe’s abysmal efforts. She could feel eyes on her back throughout the session, and each time she turned, she saw Violet’s contemptuous glare. Arla hated to admit it, but Violet was an exceptional fighter; strong, light on her feet and quick thinking. Violet’s dad Alan had been one of Alpha Emilio’s best warriors, and now Alpha Lorenzo entrusted him with the training of the pack’s elite squad. It was clear he had done a lot of training with his daughter. She was impressive. With the extra training Arla had been given at the coven, she was ahead of most of the other she-wolves her age, but Violet was in a league of her own.
Arla left after the first session, grabbing her training bag and heading back to the packhouse. She met Drew at the back steps, and together they walked through the forest to the clearing. Drew was walking with a spring in his step, chatting Arla’s ear off the whole way there. His excitement at getting to meet Maeve was palpable, and Arla teased him mercilessly for it, calling him cute. They reached the clearing, and Arla’s nerves suddenly spiked. Shifting last night had been excruciatingly painful, but somehow it was made easier by having Alpha Lorenzo and Marcel with her. She adored Drew, she always had, but it surprised her how strong the urge to have the Alpha nearby was as well. “Are you ok, Arla?” Alpha Lorenzo’s voice came through the mind-link to Arla and Drew. He could feel a slight pull on their m
Maeve lunged at Dusk and sank her canines into his left foreleg, a gesture which Dusk repeated, biting her in return. Drew and Arla felt a bond form, like an invisible tether connecting the two of them, and their two wolves, together. “What the fuck?” shouted Lorenzo, opening a mind-link between the three of them. “Maeve just said ‘mine’, then lunged at Dusk,” replied Arla, her voice shaky. “What does that even mean? I can feel the bond, but I’m not old enough for a mate. We can’t be mates, Drew.” Lorenzo’s chest felt tight, his heart raced, and even though he was in the back of Marcel’s mind, he felt dizzy, as though the ground beneath him had given way, his entire world crumbling around him. Bond? Mates? Arla had to be wrong.