Filed To Story: Secret with Betas Daughter: Skylar Story Series
I let go of Warrior Nickolas and step back, my friends are clapping and laughing behind me.
“Here.”
A very large shirt is thrust in front of me.
I look over to see Wyatt. “Thank you.”
I mumble through the shirt while I pull it on.
“I figured this would be easier than trying to get back in your teeny tiny stuff, just to have to shift again.
“That’s what a fight should look like.”
Nickolas shouts, still breathing heavily from the fight. “She didn’t just do the bare minimum and stay out of range. You will almost never find a fight like that. She found opportunities to go on the offensive and take control of the fight instead of waiting for things to happen. She used her size to her advantage, was quick to observe my movements and learned throughout the fight. She has clearly seen a lot, experience makes us wiser and better not age, many of you would do well to remember that.
He stepped over to the trainer who was keeping time and grabbed a water and a towel before turning back to the group and dividing us up into pairs. I am pulled over to Warrior Osiston.
“When can I train with the group, this seems like a punishment now. Did I do something wrong that you keep separating me from them?”
I look at him, needing answers. They brought me here, I didn’t request it. I was perfectly fine waiting until I was old enough, but now something feels off like they are regretting bringing me here, but can’t send me away either. So they are just tolerating me, waiting to figure out what to do with me.
“Not punishment, just acclimating.”
He says cryptically.
“Seriously? That’s the best you could come up with? I can handle the truth. If you don’t think I’m ready just say so. I know you don’t want to send me back to my pack, and I’m not sure I want to be there right now anyway. But, I could just do school here, I don’t have to be in training if you all have decided you don’t want me here or I’m not ready or whatever.”
I try to keep the hurt out of my voice, but I don’t think I did a very good job.
I’ve only been here a couple days, but this feels right. Even with Audrina breathing her clear dislike down my neck every possible chance, this is where I’m supposed to be. The old sting of not being wanted or good enough slices through my heart though. I wanted to come here to get away from that. I have been working so hard the last year on being accepted for me. The guys and Sierra really helped too. Being seen and wanted felt good and now the idea of going back to being the girl that was just kept for image’s sake, but not really wanted or needed around chaffed.
“It’s not that we think you are not ready, and we are not actually acclimating you, we are acclimating the rest of the warriors. You are a force Little One, and make an impression wherever you go. Your intelligence, fighting skills, and general demeanor are well above your age, but you are still very young in some ways and I don’t want to interfere with experiences that you, as a teenager, are supposed to have either. You have seen the extreme reactions people have around you. The negative interactions have not gone unnoticed by the trainers, but we will not step in unless you request it. We know not everyone will get along here, we want you all to handle your own business, but I will not tolerate you letting it get as far as you did back in your pack. They have all seen you fight now and they have seen your scars and injuries that are still on the mend. They know you’ve seen real battle and dealt with real trauma. Some may outright ask and others will beat around the bush to find out what happened. They are trainees as well and have just as much to learn as you do, but there are also things that you have trained regularly that they have never been taught. So, until I see fit, you train with me. Understood?’
“Yes, Sir.
We train for the rest of the day. Sometimes in human form, sometimes as wolves. I am becoming more comfortable with being around all of these naked people. Not like I really have a choice. I think I am the only one here that hasn’t been given a warrior brand yet, so the trainers are forced to shift so I can be given instructions. I kind of feel bad to being an inconvenience, but Warrior Ossiton and Alpha Reggie won’t let me have it yet, so I really don’t have any control over that.
By the time we are done, everyone is covered in a thick layer of dirt and sweat. It’s kind of gross, but I feel very satisfied and thoroughly tired. It feels so good to train hard and with people who are at my level. I am learning from them, not just teaching. I can’t wait for school tomorrow so I can tell Sierra all about it.
Dinner was uneventful, thank the Goddess. I’m not sure if it’s because Of my session with Warrior Nickolas or if everyone is tired from the hours of shifting and fighting, but I won’t complain either way.
“When you are ready, I really want to hear the story behind the scars on your back. That’s not something that just happens and you ignore. I am actually curious if you are so good because of the scars or if you got the scars because you are so good.”
Lillian muses like this is the most normal dinner conversation ever.
I wake up feeling just a bit lighter and I want to talk to Sierra about what Lillian said at dinner. I’ve never actually talked about my scars to anyone or what they could possibly mean. I race to get ready and head down to the kitchen to grab a snack from Stella.
I’m actually excited for school, which is a first. I normally would take training over sitting in a classroom any day, but I really want to see her. It feels like forever and I need to talk to someone about anything other than training, but especially about yesterday and everything with Audrina.
I skip the golf cart and just walk to the school. I left with plenty of time not wanting to run into Audrina in the morning. School gave me almost an entire day without her and I would take advantage of that wholeheartedly.
I walk up to the old building, still in awe of the structure, head in and toward my locker. Before I can even finish getting my things together Sierra runs up behind me and hugs me around the neck.
“Man, I miss seeing you everyday! There has got to be a way that I can see you more often, this is terrible.
“I am allowed to have people over to study. I just have to get the days and times cleared first, but that would be great though.”
I turn and hug her back. “And I have news for you.
I gave her the quick version of Luna Anne’s letter and told her I would send her pictures of all the dresses I tried on so she could help me choose. We debated whether I would see Xander at the dress fitting or not since all of the guys were supposed to be at training.
She said she hasn’t heard from Sam since I was released from the hospital and the Luna Queen let her call the guys and let them know that I was okay. That is my only reservation about being here, the isolation from my friends. Even though I would have been kept from them anyway while they were training, there’s only lasted through the end of the summer, mine was going to be years.
“I wonder if you could write to them?”
Sierra muses as we reach her classroom. “At the very least you should be able to write to your brother. That way you could check in, I’m sure they miss you too and are worried. You had just barely started talking to them again when you were attacked.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.