Rachelle’s pov
Walking down the hallways that lead to the training ground gives me a sense of deja vu because literally the scene of me changing fur was and the stares I got from the pack members were living rent-free in my head.
Theodore held my hand and tightened his grip on my hand. His jaw was clenched and his whole body was tense. Right now he wasn’t the Theodore I’m used to.
Right now he was Theodore Smoke, the Beta of the pack and he showed effortless and tremendous powers as such.
It’s the second week since I double shifted fur to continue my training and discover more about myself without getting a mental breakdown. Theodore had, on his own, agreed to be my tutor, and ever since he made that decision, he has been at his best through and through.
“Wh-what?” I breathed out. I needed a moment, I never thought I’d constantly have to brace myself for whatever was to come but here we are.
Thank you for the extra morale boost, Everett!
“I know I said it was going to be just you and me for your training but we have to compromise…. I’m sorry” he said with a worried expression in his eyes.
“It’s fine Theo…I can manage three hours without you” I replied trying to sound confident.
“You’re sure about that?” He arched a brow as he asked.
“Yeah…I met one of the trainees there before. I think it’ll be fine”
“Really? Looks like someone socializes better in my absence” he checked” just be careful, some of those male wolves are vicious and we wouldn’t want to give Everett a reason to want to keep you on the lock you down forever”
I stepped away, and walked towards the door, speaking over my shoulders as I went “I think I can handle the male wolves and Everett just fine”
I heard him laugh quietly as I walked out of his office, and down the long hall toward my room. I slowly made my way back to my room to get a change of clothes and breakfast right after like Theodore had suggested. I changed into a sports bra and a fitted workout tank and pulled my hair in a loosened ponytail and then quickly wrapped the pony into a messy bun. I finished and checked the time, it was already past 8:00 am. I might as well rush through having my breakfast before making my way to the training center instead of wasting more time trying to look for the perfect training kit. Hopefully, Theodore sees this one as okay. I placed my plate in the sink and walked out of the main house, going to the training center.
A guard stopped me as I approached the training session Theodore had strictly asked me to go to.
“You must be Rachelle” the guard stated
“Yes, I’m Rachelle.” I gave him a small smile and nodded.
“I see.” he eyed me for a while before opening the door for me. I nodded a thank you and stepped inside, as my eyes adjusted, my jaw dropped from the sheer sight of the view before me-both out of awe and out of fear. In awe, because this training room was indeed filled with many great facilities, to the right was a ring for sparring, and to the left was a full gym for strengthening. The most fascinating training facility was the pole-like bars, in the form of X and T, running down the ceiling to the ground with cuffs and chains at each point of it. It was incredible
“What the hell is that for?” I internally asked myself.
And I was scared because why not, I ‘l be training without Theodore for the first time since we started so I guess it was natural right? I wasn’t sweaty palms with shaky breath kind of scared. I was doing good.
Just inside the door to the right, I could see a group of four men training, they were sparring while being observed by a tall younger male. He would bark out a position and they would begin to fight, changing whenever he would command a change in position. I watched as the intensity slowly built and before long, the fight was down to three on one. The one jumped to fight off one and I realized it was Stellan. One lunged for him but he easily slid away while another struck his back hard. He staggered but quickly jumped to face them, wrenching them to the ground and avoiding a direct hit before kicking the legs out from under the third. His movements were quick and precise, and he made them land exactly where he wanted them to. The observer finally called for them to break and the three used that as an opportunity to go for water and rest. One of the guys walked toward me and initiated a conversation I didn’t particularly like. Thankfully Stellan caught my eyes and saw the discomfort in them and began to walk toward me with a small smile.
“Hey” he greeted. He barely seemed out of breath
“Hi” I responded
“You’re here to train or watch us train?”
“I’d say both”
“Okay, come. I’ll bring you to Violet” he said not for half a second regarding the other trainer “if you’d excuse us” he said to the other guy, with his hand softly in my lower back, and he swerved me out of there.
“Thank you” I turned and said to him “you were incredible out there” I added.
“Thanks…except one of those dick caught me on the back”
“Yeah, I saw. Does it hurt?”
“Just a little. Where is Theodore” he had some filling in to do in the office?”
“I’ll watch you, so those pricks…” he was cut short by Violet’s voice.
“If it isn’t my favorite female in the world I don’t know who this is,” Violet said and I smiled. I tucked a stray strand of my hair from my loosening bun behind my ear. She was smiling sweetly at Stellan who wasn’t being subtle in reciprocating it. If I hadn’t known better I would say that we’re the latest of the pack’s couple.
“And I don’t know who this is if it isn’t my favorite female in the world,” Stellan answered much to my surprise.
Wait! Hold on a second. What in the world’s name did I miss?
“So who got you this time?” Violet asked Stellan with a chuckle.
Lillian scoffed and rolled his eyes. Don’t start with me. It was a lucky and unavoidable shot. It was three on one for fuck sakes”
“Mmmm hmmm” she teased “let me have a look,” she said to Stellan and he turned his back to her. “It isn’t deep. Should get healed soon”
“Or maybe you could make it heal quicker, you know?” Stellan said with a very sultry expression while Violet blushed. I had to blink several times to make sure I was seeing fine. Did Violet just fucking blush? Or was it the effect of the cereal I had this morning for breakfast that was playing a trick on me?
Or maybe the milk was expired and now I was seeing things because Violet doesn’t blush. Like never! So why the hell did I see her cheeks turn red?
“Sure come here,” she said and Stellan gave his back to her and she began to rain down kisses all over the bruised spot
Oh, man!
“Time to again, gentlemen,” the observer said and Stellan turned to look at Violet who was grinning from ear to ear like a Cheshire cat.
“I’ve got to go kick some ass babes. See ya later” he said and quickly kissed her and that too tenderly. It seemed they both didn’t want to break apart or couldn’t have enough of each other because what the hell was all the tongue twirling and body slamming for?
Violet giggled as they both broke apart. “See you later White skin,” Stellan said, shooting me a military type of salute before he trotted back to the group.
Violet finally took in my shock “is it that much of a shock?” She asked, looking all giddy-giddy and frizzy-breezy.
“Oh no. It is the most anticipated thing ever” I retorted with a blank expression, sarcasm dripping off my tongue like melting ice cream from its cone. “The fuck you talking about babes? When did it all happen?”
“I tell you all you need to know. But please no words about it to either Theodore or Everett. ”
“Sure”
“thank you … let’s go” she smiled and stretched her nose “what are you doing here anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be with Theodore? ”
“Yes, I’m supposed to, but he got called to the office… I came to watch them train”
“Or you could train with me and some other girls?” Violet asked hopefully.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah… your outfit…”
“I know right? I’d be going later to shop with Theodore for new ones”
“Yeah, Theodore… you guys have been getting really close these days. What’s the catch?”
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous!” I chuckled.
“Is it okay if Stellan and I tag along?”
“Of course. The more the merrier right?”
She turned and we began walking through the hallway to the backyard where we met some ladies seated while some others strolled in after us.
“So how much training have you had in your human form? Knowing Theodore, he is most likely to get you trained in your wolf form before starting anything in the human form”
“You are correct. No formal training in my human form yet. Just minor help here and there”
“Thought as much. That being the case I’d have to start from the beginner stage with you” she stopped and scanned the environment with her eyes, then turned back to look at me. “Well, there is an odd number with you here, right now. So you can pair with me. Is that okay?”
“Yeah sure.” I replied with a curt nod “Please don’t go easy on me” I rapidly added.
“Never planned to”
I smiled but it quickly faded when a familiar thin tall girl with C20-nocturne hooded-shaped eyes and raven hair walked in. She was the one rumored to have dated Everett about a couple of years ago-Agatha.
“I hoped she wouldn’t come but of course, she can’t help herself” Violet whispered and I couldn’t fight off the urge of not asking.
“Is it true? The rumors…” I questioned in a whisper
“What do you think?” Violet replied in a whisper, too.
I felt the hair on my back stand up-you know the bizarre feeling you get when someone is staring daggers at you. I turned back and my eyes came in contact with Agatha’s. She walked up to us, flipped her hair over her shoulders, and eyed Violet and me as she spoke. “Hello newbie”
I could only respond with a forced smile.
Violet turned to the other girls and asked them to pair up, but I stood with her because we were already paired but long miss raven hair here has other suggestions.
“You can’t train with her. Everyone knows she’s your friend. Let’s swap” and just like that Agatha trotted to stand in front of me.
I nodded and Violet threw me an apologetic smile before going to take her position as the coach. “Alright ladies, take your stance”
The females around me took their fighting position, either in offense or defense and I turned to Agatha and crouched down in the defensive stance.
“You are going to have to watch out girl, this first aren’t no joke” She snared before flinging her hair over her shoulders again.
I shot her a smile and raised my fist into a defensive position in front of my face, what she didn’t know was that I had plenty of life experience on this side of an attack.
“Start” Violet barked…
***************************
Violet, Theodore, and Everett were in the large living room when I entered. I had just woken up from my three hours nap after training. Man was that intense? Agatha surely didn’t take it easy on me. If not for Violet’s intervention I’m sure I’d have left with a big bluish-pinkish bruise on either of my eyes.
“I heard you want to go shopping for a new training outfit,” Everett asked
“Mmm-mmm”
“When do you plan on going? I want to come with you. It’s too dangerous to let you and Violet go alone” Everett stated.
“Whoever told you I was going with just Violet?” I hissed then continued “Theodore and Stellan are also tagging along. Theodore is my coach and in a better position to choose my outfit”
The envious and hurtful look on Everett’s face as I made my declarations was less stereotypical than stereo gnostic. I mean his face mirrored the formulaic show of jealousy but believe me when I say the pain and fire in his eyes were very palpable and all-consuming.