Chapter 23

Chapter 23: A Taste of Euphoria

Somehow, the talk I had with Alpha Lawrence a few days ago, helped us communicate a little better. He no longer avoids me that much, and I could speak to him directly now without feeling aneasy.

I took a series of deep breaths to center myself just like what Alpha Lawrence instructed me to do. He was circling around me, holding a silver knife and ready to attack me any moment now.

"Tracking is more than just following a scent nor listening to your surrounding. It's connecting to everything around you, being one with the ground, the wind, and every living thing that you can reach, but your gift has no use if you're too slow to dodge an attack," said Alpha Lawrence, an in a blink of an eye, we has already behind me, the knife was only half an inch away from my throat.

Goodness, he was really fast. No wonder he was known for his combat skills. Now I wanted to think his Luna poisoned him on the night of the selection, because I know for sure that with his strength and skills, it would be impossible to throw him on the ground.

"Like I said, your ability has no use if you're too slow. Again!" His voice thundered.

I took another deep breath to wash away the brewing frustration in my chest. Damn it! It was already the third day of our training but I still couldn't predict Alpha Lawrence's movements. Whenever I think I already figured it out, he would surprise me again with a new way to put me on my knees. He never trained anyone this way, nor he ever did a one-on-one training before. I used to envy those who udergo his trainings, yet here I am now, embarrassing myself to the man I had been dying to impress my whole life.

"Focus. Your head is all over the place," he said with so much dominance.

My fists clenched as I prepared myself, but over and over again, Alpha Lawrence just showed me I was still a weakling. I got even more frustrated when we switched roles. He dodged all of my punches and kicks without even a single sweat.

I groaned and finally sat on the ground, panting and angry with myself.

"I can't do it! You're too strong and way bigger!" I whined.

Alpha Lawrence stabbed the knife on the ground before he flicked me on my forehead. I gritted my teeth as I rubbed the part his finger hit while he cocks a brow at me.

"It's not about who's stronger nor bigger. It's about who's smart enough to think two steps ahead. If you won't believe that you can do this, you never will. You cannot throw a fucking tantrum in the middle of a god damn fight. Now get your ass up and look me in the eyes."

I sighed before I extended my arm to accept his hand. When I got back on my feet, Alpha slightly lowered his head to level mine.

"Look at me."

My lips pursed together as I met his eyes.

"Remember the people you wanna protect. This is a fucking painful memory to think of, but if you will go back in time and have the chance to save your parents, will you still be this way, hmm?"

"No..." I replied in a low voice.

His eyes narrowed. "I didn't fucking hear you. Louder."

"No," I repeated, louder this time.

"Now focus. Close your eyes and let your senses guide you. Go back to the time the hunters were chasing you. Feel the pain of seeing your mother getting attacked. Remember how helpless you were back then..."

My teeth gritted and my lips pursed hardly together as I tried to remember the day we were attacked, but instead of gaining the courage he was expecting me to find by going back in time, the fear I felt that day struck me to the core until I finally fell on the ground, sobbing and trembling.

I forgot that we were on training. The memory was so vivid that I thought I was the helpless version of me right now. I almost curled into a ball, terrified and crying my heart out until Alpha Lawrence held me by my arm and slightly shook me to help me get back to my senses.

"Nadine!"

I gasped and stared at his worried pools while my hot tears trailed down my cheeks like a waterfall. "I can't do it..." My voice cracked, and like a little girl wanting nothing but comfort, I crashed into Alpha Lawrence's arms.

My sobs echoed in the woods, but Alpha Lawrence held me tightly just like how I wished he did when he found me next to my dead parents. He even caressed my hair while he was taking a series of deep breaths until I finally heard him sniff.

"It's alright." He patted my back. "You were just a little girl..."

His words brought a different kind of warmth in my heart. I pulled away from his hold, and when I met his bloodshot eyes, I sobbed. "I wished for nothing but to hear you say those words to me that day." My voice cracked. "I wished for nothing but to run into your arms and tell you how much it hurts..."

He sniffed and looked away, unable to speak as if he was scared that if he would open his lips, his voice would crack, too.

I watched him stand up and turn his back on me. "Rest. We'll start training at dawn tomorrow."

Alpha Lawrence finally left me, but as he made his way back to the village, Calgary appeared from the other direction as if he only waited for Alpha Lawrence to leave.

He sat on the ground and pulled me between his parted arms and legs, sheltering me from the cold afternoon breeze. "You did great today. I watched you the whole time," he said, trying to cheer me up after I stopped crying like a baby.

I swallowed the lump in my throat before I touched his jawline with my fingertips. "But it's still not enough. If that was a real combat, I would've been dead in the first five minutes."

"I won't let that happen if it was a real fight."

He entwined our fingers before he brought my hand close to his face so he could kiss the back of my palm. His gesture gave me a taste of euphoria, as if even without sharing a bed, our bond was getting strong enough for us to feel warmth in our hearts.

Tucking a few strands of my locks behind my ears, Calgary broke the silence enveloping the both of us.

"We found a lead, but we're still unsure for now."

"Are we going to attack them once you confirm where they brought all the remains?" I asked.

"Yes, but..." His eyes glistened with worry. "I don't think I should bring you and Lawrence once we try to retrieve the stolen remains."

My head lifted. "Why not? Alpha Lawrence and I already gained back our strengths."

Calgary's jaw moved. "You might not be able to focus... in case what we found out is true."

I creased my forehead. "Why? What did you find out?"

He heaved one hell of a breath. "Looks like they brought back everyone to life... without letting them have their memories of who they used to be before they died."

My lips parted. "Y--You mean... they're... I mean... my parents... they're... they're alive?"

"In a very unnatural way, yes but we could be wrong. I don't want to keep your hopes up... especially Lawrence's, considering how badly he wanted to reunite with your mother." His Adam's apple jerked up and down. "Don't tell him yet. He has a tendency to act impulsively when it comes to Nimpha."

I gulped as I nodded my head. "But there's a chance, right? There's a chance that they're back?" I asked, sounding so hopeful.

His eyes softened. "Nadine, I know you miss them, but it's definitely forbidden magic that brought them back to life. They may or may not be the same anymore. Like I said, they didn't look like they have their memories about who they were used to be. Probably to prevent them from refusing to be controlled." He sighed. "I'm worried that the Sigma will use those we love against us because they know we'd hesitate to hurt those we longed to reunite with..." He held me by my cheek. "I hope once you come face to face with your parents, you won't think twice to defend yourself."

My lips pursed together.

I wish it was that easy, but I knew deep down my heart, that Calgary's request was impossible to do...