*Danika*
There was a severe shrilling sound beside me. I could swear it. For one, I knew I didn’t have an alarm, so where is the sound coming from? I thrashed my legs about, willing the sound to go away-even going as far as placing one of the pillows over my head, still, the sound won’t stop. And everywhere was still covered in darkness.
Unable to ward off whatever sound was dragging my consciousness, I peeled my eyes open a fraction and listened foggily if I could dictate where the sound came from, and then I heard it coming from the lampstand.
My phone?
It stopped when I was about to check it out and I was relieved, about to go back to sleep when the sound came again. I hissed and sat up, reaching my hands out to pick up the gadget. Who could be calling me? Nobody, absolutely nobody ever calls me which accounts for why the gadget always lays dormant in my pocket all the time. The only person who would have called-being, Lance, we didn’t get to exchange contacts before his unceremonious exit.
Picking up, I switched on the bedside side light and placed it on my ear and said, “Hy.”
“Come down immediately. We are leaving for the training,” Alfred’s voice rang through.
“What!” I lifted the phone off my ears and checked the time. 3 o’clock. “It’s still very ea-”
“Now, Danika.”
“But it-” three beeps sounded showing the call has gone off.
I retrieved the phone from my ear, my attention fully garnered. I glared at the phone wondering why in hell I had asked Alfred to help me in my training in the first place. Training by this time? Who trains by this time? Alfred.
Sitting down there and staring at the phone and seething in anger at my sleep being caught short, I realized he had asked me to come down immediately, so I sat up from the bed and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face after which I went to my wardrobe to look for anything that could pass for training wear. I didn’t see any. Of course, no one took into consideration that the weak girl would one day want to improve.
Getting more frustrated with everything, I banged the closet door and stood looking at my phone deciding if to call Alfred and tell him that I couldn’t make it today. Maybe when coming back from the infirmary today I would get some training wears. But, on the other hand, he might think I wasn’t serious. This is a rare opportunity for me and anything I will have to do to get it, I will. Even though I have to train on my jeans and a shirt.
I opened the wardrobe once more and sort for any of my jeans that would do. I brought out one and a loose grey top which I rapidly donned on and flung my hair bonnet, tackling my hair into a neat bun at the top of my head. With a hasty look at myself in the mirror, I wore a converse which I was lucky to find in the shoe rack and left the room.
I was on my way out of the room when my phone began ringing. I cursed, knowing the caller. I tucked it neatly inside my picket and dashed out of the room. Running down the stairs I somehow felt delighted and excited about my new adventure.
I met Alfred doing some rounds outside the mansion. He looked up when he saw me coming out and graced me with his usual smirk, the bright light fixtures highlighting his sharp jawlines and his ocean blue depths. I blushed, looking down at my dress to compare it with what he was wearing. I surely looked like I was going grocery shopping.
“Hey,” I greeted, coming up to stand beside him. He stopped long enough to look me up.
He shook his head, his arm akimbo. “You can’t train in that.”
“I can. I mean I don’t have anything else… Like yours,” I said, pointing at his clothes.
He appraised me more, more like undressing me with his eyes. “Well, let’s go. When we get to the training site, we will get you something. We have to be back early before the others rise.”
I nodded, in total agreement with him. I think I prefer this time better. In fact, I wouldn’t want any of the others to see us coming back or his pigheaded brother to look at me in his usual accusatory manner and call me a slut for trying to seduce his brother since Lance wasn’t present. This should be our little secret. I will make sure to let him know.
Entering his car we left the mansion and drove down to the training site which wasn’t far from the house. I was awed to see others already there practicing. She-wolves too. He parked and we alighted, moving toward the rest.
“You are early, Alfred,” a man came up to greet us, shaking hands with Alfred. I smile at him when he looked at me and faced Alfred with questions in his eyes. I haven’t seen him before so it’s possible he doesn’t know me to be Lance’s supposed mate.
“Yea, I had to bring my… Lance mate for training. She needs it,” his hands were on his waist as he made the statement, exchanging looks between the man and me.
“She is Lance’s mate? The one that is said to bear the face of the goddess?” I blushed.
“Yea. Whoever said that, got it right. This is her,” he smiled at me, my blush intensifying. “Danika meets my second-in-command Reginald. He is mostly in charge of morning training before the main deals later in the day. I handle patrols and border security and all the other security shits you already know about,” I nodded at the man in acknowledgment.
“It’s nice to meet you, Danika. You are as pretty as they say,” Reginald extended his hand to me and I took it. Rough and hard, for a trainer.
I quickly withdrew it and folded my hands in front of me waiting for what next.
“So Reginald you will get her to one of the changing rooms and do something to her… Wear. Then bring her to the beginners. I will be waiting,” with that Alfred walked off, leaving me with the guy called Reginald. I didn’t want to look as nervous as I felt so I smiled and waited until he started walking to follow behind.
It wasn’t long before I was changed into something more befitting and he took me to the place where I met younger wolves training. This is the right age to learn these things but this opportunity was stolen from me by my father, leaving me the amateur that I am now. I felt so ashamed to be here in their midst and even more when I saw some smart moves they were making that even in my wildest dreams I couldn’t.
I smiled my thanks to Reginald who I noticed doesn’t talk much or maybe because he wasn’t familiar with me. Alfred noticed us and nodded to Reginald and the guy gave me a stern nod and left.
Standing there watching the whole scene on shaky feet, I was nervous. A whole new level of nervousness. Humiliation washed over me, thinking about how I am supposed to train with these pups and how they were going to look at me. I don’t want anyone here to hate me like I was hated in my former pack. If they see me doing the rudimentary they would surely detest me and think I am unfit to be the mate to someone like Lance. If only they knew the truth.
“Danika! Come over here,” Alfred waves me over, nudging me back from my thought. I looked around me, checking if anyone was looking, but as it seemed everyone was minding their business, busy with their training to notice me. I walked to him on wobbly legs ready to eat my shame and implore him to please train me in an isolated place. I can’t bear the shame. I just can’t.
“Alfred, please-”
“Get into position, Danika. No talking. I told you if you have to train with me, you must be ready to give your all. Get into position. Now!”
Position? What position? I looked around me to pick any clue, but there were several methods that I couldn’t place which to do. I looked back at Alfred, my face muddling in anxiety. I opened my mouth to speak-but at the sight of his severe expression, snapped it shut. He wasn’t the Alfred I know. This one is too serious.
“Danika, what is wrong with you? Get the fuck into position. I thought you wanted this? Haven’t you been training? I don’t have time for all this.” My chest was heaving watching those sweat glide down his toned body to disappear somewhere around the v-spot in his loose joggers.
“I… I… Uhm, I can explain. Can we talk? Please.”
He exhaled sharply, his eyes drilling holes in me. I sucked at this. He would certainly hate me too when he finds out. He doesn’t look like someone that can tolerate a loser. Images of those days back home when I had lost in all the competitions and how they had laughed at me flashed before my eyes causing tears to cloud my vision, I darted my eyes about checking if the pups were watching but they were still engaged in their personal affairs.
I lost my hold on my waterpot and let them fall down my face knowing it was all messed up-everything. Who was I kidding by thinking I would just wake up one morning and think I would be able to defeat the fear of accepting this demon I have fought to lay buried.
I shook my head and turned, blindly running out of the hall. I ran not caring where I was running to. I just wanted to be far from everything that reminded me what a failure I am. There, with all that abilities and so many powerbombs, big wolves exhibiting their strength learned over the years and upcoming pups showing how much they have learned even though they were still little, it made me realize I have lost a lot that courage alone can’t bring back at once.
“Danika!” I heard steady feet pounding towards me, but didn’t care to stop and listen, only anger, searing anger taking over was all I felt. Anger at everything my father had done to me. For ruining me, breaking me to the extent that I don’t think I can mold these broken pieces together ever again. I am ruined. My body shook with sob while I ran until I couldn’t hold back anymore and let my poor wolf, Muse, take over if only to run faster and hide away from everything, and everyone.
“I just can’t do this!” I mumbled, experiencing the painful relief that comes with full transformation.
…