Chapter 3- Training

//Emily//

I ran down the stairs saying my morning greetings to any pack member I crossed paths with and I received a birthday wish in return.

I am eighteen years today. It’s an age that is important to every werewolf. It’s the age we find our soul mate.

A.k.a....The moon goddess blessing.

That special someone made just for us.

I believe that special guy is Max. That would explain why I have been having steamy dreams about him for months.

I subconsciously did a happy dance, skipping the stairs.

The pack house is almost empty. Most of the pack members, be it a male or female is at the training ground for our routine morning training.

I darted out of our four-story, pack house and ran towards the training field right behind the pack house.

When I arrived at the field, training was in session. I hid behind a large oak tree and took a quick look at my surroundings.

And my eyes found one of my closest friends, Carl. ....Training is not so far away from me.

He sensed my presence and looked in my direction before we both shifted our gaze to my father’s gamma Trey.

Trey was busy instructing some teenagers on hand-to-hand combats. And with this, I saw an opportunity to join training without him noticing.

Carl’s gaze met mine and we both grin at each other.

I sneaked in, walking towards him and at the same time peeping at Trey with one eye, making sure I was not caught.

I successfully sneaked in and heaved a loud audible sigh.

“ You’re late.” Carl states the obvious as we both took our position a few inches away from one another.

Carl was my training partner and never got close to knocking me off my feet. Although he was a strong fighter and warrior.

Just like his father gamma Trey.

“I know, I slept late last night.” I rumbled another lie.

“ Don’t lie to me red! You dreamt about Max didn’t you?” He grin as amusement played in his eyes.

“ No, I didn’t!” I commented too quickly and averted my gaze from his.

“ Yes, you did. You sneaky little bitch! You can lie all you want but I see right through you”, he chuckled with a mischievous smile tugging his lips...

“ Okay, I did but I’m not telling you.” I pouted my lips and looked away.

“ ooh, you will by the end of training “, a familiar evil glint shone in his eyes.

Carl made the first swing with his fist. I quickly dodge his attack and lurch at him with full force.

I landed a punch to his stomach and he groaned in pain taking three steps back.

“You were saying??” I hissed.

“Slow down tiger”.he yelped in return.

I smirked at my little victory and my mind played back the erotic dream where Max had his tongue and mouth on the making spot.

I begun feeling hot again and my core started clenching.

I was so distracted and didn’t see Carl coming at me. The next thing I felt was a burning pain as Carl successfully punched my gut.

Knocking me off my balance. I landed on my ass with a thud sound as a series of pain shot in my gluteal area.

“ Are you daydreaming red?” Carl’s smirk widened.

“Shut it mutt”. I hissed in pain and I didn’t get enough time to recover, when he darted towards me with his clenched fist ready to strike me the third time.

I moved quickly and got right back on my feet and took a defensive stance.

He threw three punches and I blocked with ease. Before he could turn or react, I striked back, punching his face.

“ Easy there tiger. You don’t want me to look ugly for my fans at the ball”. A sneer plasters on his face making me roll my eyes.

Carl is the gamma’s son and Darren’s gamma when my father decides to step down from his position.

Carl is a down to earth kind of guy. He is about 6’3 tall, very muscular with a playboy grin always plastered on his ugly handsome face.

His hair is black and his eyes hazel just like his father's. He is cocky but loving and charming at the same time. He is the kind of guy, girls will drool over or drop their pants for.

He is simply a smooth talker.

Our combat went on for over an hour with no one winning or losing. We were both tired and drench in sweat but neither of us was ready to give up until we heard his father’s voice.

“ Alright everyone, enough for today”, every one of us heaves a sigh as he adds;

“ we will meet at the same time tomorrow. Don’t drink too much at the ball.” A groan resonanted in the training ground.

“Dismiss “

I turned around, ready to leave with Carl when Trey spoke again.

“Not you Emily! “

I stopped walking and Carl and I exchange glances.

“Did he know I was late? Or he saw me when I walked in…” I queried through the mind link.

“I have no idea red. “ Carl replied, equally dumbfounded.

“ You were late for training Emily. “ Trey’s words confirmed my curious questions.

“ Was I?” I raised my left brow playing dumb like always.

“ Don’t try to play smart with me, young lady!” He gritted his teeth.

“ Me! Smart! Never.” I giggled but quickly shut it down when I realized I was the only one laughing.

Carl gazed at me questionably as if he was asking if I was crazy...

“Hmm....” I cleared my throat and exhaled.

“ Sorry gamma, I was helping my mother in the kitchen.” I lied into his face without batting an eye.

“ Ooh is that so?”

I nodded my head and sent an apologetic smile his way...

“ You big liar.” he exclaimed and narrowed his piercing eyes.

“Huh!" I gasped at his outburst.

“ I knew you will say something like this so I linked your mother before I called out to you”. His face turned serious.

“ ooh” was all I said as I looked down at my feet in embarrassment.

“ Hundred laps now!” Trey's voice was strict and stern.

“ ahrrhh”

Carl’s eyes blurred with tears as he tried holding back his laughter.

“ since it’s your birthday I will take it easy on you” Trey adds.

Easy on me ??

Are hundred laps easy to him?

I stood there thinking of my next step...

“ or better still I will inform your father of your lateness today.” He threatened.

“ No my gamma dearest. A hundred laps is fine. Thanks for having mercy on me”, I said giggling awkwardly.

At the mention of my father, I knew I had no choice. I have to do a hundred laps.

Uuurrrgggghhhhh

I mumbled strings of curses as I started my punishment.

*****

After eighty laps, I was gasping for air and breathing like a fish out of its normal habitat. My legs were killing me but I couldn’t stop running.

Gamma Trey was standing a few meters away from me. Staring at me with his seriously hard hazel eyes.

I know he will report me to my father if I don’t finish with the punishment. And that was something I couldn’t allow.

“ Go girl.... you can do it. More power to your elbow.” Carl encouraged with amusement in his eyes.

He was sitting on a large rock at the side of the training ground, observing our exchange with rapt attention.

I panted and finished off the twenty laps in distress. I sat on the ground as soon as I finished my laps.

I was sweating profusely and my throat was super dry to the extent that I couldn’t speak.

“ Take this.” Carl passed me a bottle of chilled water and in a hast, I gulp down the water in one swift movement.

“ Wow... a hundred laps did a number on you”. Carl chuckled.

I ignored him completely.

I sat down and rested for a good five minutes before I slowly rose to my feet.

I made my way towards the pack house with Carl.

“ Are you not going to tell me about the dream?” He quizzed with his brows fused.

“ Are you still thinking about it? You’re such a gossip.” I mumbled, laughing as I begun to give him a rundown of my dream.

“ I was close to having my way with him when my mother decided to be my evil stepmother in my dream.“ I ended my narration bitterly, still blaming my mom for calling me out of my dream.

Carl was laughing hard.

”wow!!! That was epic”. He exclaimed. “Hot and toe curling, I wish I was to witness all of it”.

I chuckled .“ That was exactly what I said”. I laughed ignoring my flushed cheeks.

“So do you think Max is your mate?” Carl asked as we entered the pack house.

“ I’m not sure Carl but I have this gut feeling that he is mine. And Leah is also calm about it.” I whispered.

“ Hmmm.... your doubt will be cleared tonight when you see him. “ He stated. “ He will be at the ball right?”

“ Yeah, I’m sure dad invited his pack.” I replied which earned me a nod from him.

“ Okay cool”.

“ Emily where the heck are you ?” My mother’s voice appeared in my mind.

“ Downstairs mom…”

“Get yourself up here. Lisa is waiting for you”, she informed.

“ I’m on my way mom.” I replied and closed the link.

“I need to go Carl... see you later?” I muttered in the form of a question.

“ Yeah Red, go make yourself beautiful for your mate. I will see you at the ball tonight” he grins.

“ Okay bye!” I waved and walked towards the long stairs, up to the Alpha suite on the fourth floor.