hapter 10
Aria’s POV
Morning sunlight filtered through the gauzy curtains as I watched Lucas stuff his homework into his backpack.
“How was your second day at the new school?‘ I handed him his lunch box, packed with extra protein. Werewolf children burned through calories faster than their human counterparts.
Lucas’s forest–green eyes lit up, making my heart flutter. “Great! I made a friend named Tommy. He’s really good at basketball, but…” He lowered his voice conspiratorially, “I had to remember not to jump too high when we played.”
My chest tightened. I’d drilled these rules into him since he could walk – never show your full strength, never heal too quickly, never let anyone suspect you’re different. Sometimes I wondered if I was robbing him of his heritage by forcing him to hide his true nature.
“That’s my careful boy.” I smoothed his wild dark hair. ‘Listen, sweetheart. There’s something we need to talk about.”
Lucas tilted his head, displaying that uncanny perception that sometimes took my breath away. ‘Is it about the whispers? They’re stronger here.”
“Sort of.” I knelt to his level, meeting those haunting green eyes that never failed to stir memories I’d rather forget. “The day after tomorrow, we’re going to meet someone very important. Your grandfather – my father.”
“The alpha?” Lucas whispered, eyes wide. He’d absorbed enough werewolf lore from my carefully edited bedtime stories to understand the significance.
“Yes.” I forced a smile. “He’s very excited to meet you.”
“But I thought… Lucas frowned, processing this new information. ‘You said we couldn’t go back to your old pack.”
‘Things change, baby.” I touched his cheek gently. “You deserve to know your heritage, to understand where you come from.”
After dropping Lucas at school, I arrived at the training facility to find Zoe practically bouncing on her toes by the entrance. Her copper hair caught the morning sun like living flame, and she greeted me with that thousand–watt smile that had become a bright spot in my otherwise guarded days here.
“There’s my favorite instructor!” She bounded over, linking her arm through mine as if we’d known each other for years instead of days. That was just Zoe – she approached friendship the way she approached everything else, with wholehearted enthusiasm and zero hesitation. Despite my usual wariness, I found myself warming to her infectious energy.
“Someone’s extra chipper this morning,” she singsonged, giving my arm a playful squeeze. “Let me guess… a certain alpha heir might have something to do with that spring in your step?”
“Zoe…” I tried to sound stern, but my lips twitched traitorously.
“Oh my goddess, did you see him watching you during yesterday’s demonstration?” She fanned herself dramatically. “I swear the temperature in the training room went up ten degrees!”
“Would you keep your voice down?” 1 hissed, though I couldn’t help but laugh at her exaggerated eyebrow waggling. It reminded me of simpler times, of teenage gossip sessions and shared secrets.
*Fine, fine,” she conceded, but her eyes still danced with mischief. “But you can’t deny there’s something there. Some trainees even have been taking bets on when you two are finally going to-
“Zoe!” This time I did laugh, shoving her playfully. Her answering giggle was bright and unrestrained, reminding me that not every extended hand held a hidden knife.
A she–wolf planted herself in our path, her chin lifted with the kind of arrogance. I recognized the type immediately – third generation Blue Blood pack, if I had to guess, judging by the distinctive silver streak in her honey–blonde hair. The delicate silver chain around her neck bore her family’s crest. The daughter of a high–ranking Beta, most likely.
“Well, if it isn’t our esteemed‘ instructor,‘ she drawled, her perfectly glossed lips curling into a sneer as she gave me a deliberate once–over. She stood with her hip cocked, surrounded by her usual entourage of equally privileged young she–wolves.
I’ve been wondering,” she continued loudly, drawing the attention of nearby trainees, “how exactly does someone who can’t even shift forms qualify to teach werewolf combat?”
I felt Zoe tense beside me, but kept my voice level. “Would you like a demonstration?”
Her eyes flashed yellow as she shifted, bones cracking and reforming until a sleek gray wolf stood in her place. Scattered laughter and whispers rippled through the crowd. Everyone knew humans were no match for a transformed werewolf.
I merely smiled, dropping into a ready stance. Six years of professional fighting had taught me more than just how to throw a punch – it had taught me how to read opponents, how to turn their strengths into weaknesses.
She lunged with a snarl, her massive jaws snapping at the space where I’d been standing a heartbeat before. In wolf form, she was all raw power and predatory grace.
I pivoted on the ball of my foot, letting her momentum carry her past me. My fingers brushed against her thick fur as I moved. In one fluid motion, I gripped her fur and shoulder, using her own forward momentum to flip her. The move caught her completely off–guard- wolves weren’t used to their size being used against them. She hit the ground with a startled yelp. the impact driving the air from her lungs. Before she could recover, I dropped to one knee beside her, my fingers finding the precise point where her skull met her spine. I knew exactly where to apply pressure to disrupt the connection between human and wolf forms.
Three seconds of sustained pressure, and her fur began to recede. The transformation back to human form wasn’t gentle – it never was when forced- but it was effective. She lay there
1/2
Chapter 10
gasping, her designer workout gear now covered in dirt, looking up at me with a mixture of shock and grudging respect.
Two more wolves – her training partners – transformed and charged. I released her and spun to meet them, my movements precise and economical. Where they relied on brute strength and natural aggression, I countered with technique and experience.
The first wolf found his lunge turned against him, sending him crashing into his companion. The second tried to circle behind me, but I was already there, exploiting the split–second vulnerability of their coordinated attack. Within moments, both wolves lay stunned in human form, their transformation reversed by carefully targeted pressure points.
Silence fell over the training ground. I stood calmly, not even breathing hard, as I surveyed the gathered crowd. “Anyone else want to question my qualifications?”
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