Chapter Eight: Newfound Power

GINA

I fell hard on my ass, as Wilona hurled me to the ground for the hundredth time. I groaned and accepted her outstretched hand, allowing her to hoist me off the ground as I struggled to catch my breath. We only began training like an hour ago and it was already beginning to take a toll on me.

“Why do I even need to do this?” I questioned, in between ragged breaths, tinged with exasperation. I downed a much-needed bottle of water, part of its contents pouring on my front.

“You need to learn to defend yourself and control your powers.”

I bent down, resting my hands on my knees, “I have you and Liam already.”

Wilsons chuckled, a knowing glint in her eyes as she added, “We won't always be there, you know,”

The training grounds were a large open field surrounded by towering trees forming a protective canopy overhead. The field’s center served as the focal point for our training sessions where werewolves engaged in exercise and combat training. The place was filled with people, undoubtedly werewolves, of both genders. They all had strong agile bodies, their movements graceful, powerful, and unnatural.

Watching them made me wonder if I would ever be able to move like that and become as skilled in my abilities— whatever they were— as they were.

“Werewolves are very strong and fast,” she ran to the other end of the field and back in a split second, demonstrating her point, “You have such abilities too, but without skilled combat, You’re as easy as dead.”

I felt a chill run down my spine. I certainly didn't want to die.

“You’re small,” her gaze went down to my body, “but you have an advantage over people larger than you. Let me demonstrate.”

She called out to a huge man twice her size, whose baby face didn't seem to blend with his physique. His name was Richie and he had rich Auburn hair and warm light brown eyes that danced in anticipation as he walked up to Wilona.

Wilona stood in her signature stance with a leg in front of her body and her fists raised at her eye level. Richie got into his stance.

“Watch, Gina,” she called out, a smirk spread out on her face. I sat on the bench across them, paying attention to them. The moment the fight started, Richie charged towards her with lightning speed. He sent a punch her way but she dodged it so effortlessly, almost making Richie lose his footing.

Wilona's lithe, yet powerful frame exuded confidence, as she moved gracefully. She circled Richie like prey, her steps silent as she closed the distance between them. In a fluid motion, she launched into action, a flurry of controlled strikes that seemed to flow naturally. She landed a lot of blows on Richie, who shielded himself with his arms. Giving him no time to think or act, she seamlessly transitioned from punches to a mighty well-placed kick to his ribcage that sent Richie sprawling, his body crashing to the ground.

The match ended in an instant.

I stared with wide eyes. She’d taken out Richie without breaking a sweat.

How was she even that strong?

She stood up above Richie and helped him up. He came towards me and sat beside me on the bench.

“Hello, welcome to our pack. I’m Richie.” He stretched out his hand for a handshake and I took it.

Then something strange happened.

Sensations flooded through me, an intricate dance of emotions weaving its way through my consciousness. That's when I felt it, the currents of emotions wafting through me. I sensed the sentiments of respect, joy, and so much more coming from him. I quickly removed my hand from his, and the feeling left immediately.

What was that?

I could feel emotions that weren't mine when I had touched him.

How did I do that?

“Is something wrong?” Richie cocked his head, worry gleaming in his eyes.

“No-nothing, thank you. I’m Gina,” I managed to say, forcing a smile. I looked in Wilona’s direction, as she fought two ladies at the same time.

“How is she that strong?” I asked, changing the topic.

“She’s the Beta of the pack, so it's only natural that.” He answered, pride evident in his voice as he gazed at her admiringly. The look on his eyes reminded me of how Nigel looked at Kristen and the thought of them made my heart ache.

“Beta, as in the Greek letter?” I asked, not quite understanding.

He laughed and his brown eyes danced, “Yes, but that means she’s the second in power and authority in the whole pack.”

Wow.

“You fight your way through to get ranked in the pack,” he continued, “That’s how it's done. She won everyone who challenged her, even Liam, the gamma.”

“He was the former Beta?” Richie nodded his head in response.

I was slowly catching up on the whole werewolf terminology.

“Who’s the first then?”

“Alpha Devyn, the only person she can't beat in a fight.”

My heart beat instantly paced at the mention of his name, like a fucking schoolgirl with a huge crush.

I was getting tired of this damned feeling.

“So he’s the leader huh?” I said sarcastically.

I wasn't surprised. His controlling arrogant demeanor had given it away.

Events of the day before flooded my mind and all again, I could feel his breath on my face, and his body pressed into mine. The way he held me and spoke to me did some unexplainable things to my body. As much as I didn’t like being told what to do when he did it, it caressed my senses like a velvety touch.

I bit my lower lip, feeling ashamed of myself. I wasn't supposed to feel like this because of this man.

“Gina!” Wilona’s voice brought me back to my senses and I was thankful for it.

“Come on,” She encouraged me, but I was far from encouraged. Richie sent me a comforting look but all I wanted was to be in my bed, cuddled up under the duvet.

I definitely wasn't going to survive this if I had to do this every day.

I strolled up to her lazily, not feeling enthusiastic about any of this at all.

“You have the super strength of a werewolf, but you can't tap into it all the time,” she raised her eyebrows, her tone laced with humor, “Devyn told you nearly killed someone with it.”

A wave of embarrassment washed over me. So he had told her.

“How did you do it?” she asked, her voice gentle yet probing.

I hesitated, recalling the intense rush of emotions that fueled the whole incident with Luke.

“I was just really mad,” I confessed, “and then I pushed him. I felt some kind of strange energy rush inside me right before I pushed him.”

She took a moment to process my words, her expression thoughtful, before asking, "Can you muster that energy again, without the anger this time?"

"I'll try," I said hesitantly.

"I'm going to free myself and you're going to push me with everything you've got," she said, a playful glint in her eyes. Attentively, I thrust my hand forward, channeling all the power I could muster. I gave her a hard push, but she didn't even budge.

"Is that all you've got?" she smirked playfully, her teasing tone fueling my determination.

Okay, girl. You asked for it.

I summoned every ounce of my inner strength, a torrent of raw energy surging through my veins like a storm. My muscles rippled with newfound power, as the air around me crackled with electric intensity. With a resolute breath, I pushed her with every fiber in me and I was surprised to see her move back glidingly with so much force that she almost ended up on the other end of the field. She finally stopped, with her hands on the ground and her feet firmly on the ground. Her graceful and confident stance reminded me of a cat.

When she looked up at me, her eyes gleamed with a mix of surprise and admiration, “I’ll give you credit. That was pretty strong.”

I felt a swell of pride wash over me as a sheepish smile crept across my face.

I was starting to get a hang of this.

I noticed the shocked expressions from onlookers as their hushed whispers broke out in the crowd.

“Don’t bother about them, it’s because you managed to move Wilona,” Richie was by my side, his right hand on my shoulder, “You don’t get to see that around here.”

“Oh,” I responded.

Wilona strolled towards me with her hands on her hip and her head held up high. There was an undeniably challenging aura around her as she snickered.

Her fangs subtly protruded from the corners of her lips, “This is getting interesting.”

"Now," she purred, her tongue grazing her sharp canines in a deliberately seductive manner.

I was sure I could see Richie drooling over her from the corner of my eyes.

"Fight me with everything you've got."