By the time I got home, my heart was still racing from the encounter in the alley. I had managed to stay calm on the bus ride back, but the moment I stepped off and started walking toward the house, my nerves began to unravel. That man-no, that thing-had known my name, and he’d come after me.
Logan. My first thought was Logan. I needed him now more than ever.
I marched through the front door, barely pausing to drop my bags, and made a beeline for his room. Without thinking, I raised my fist and banged on his door so hard that it rattled in its frame. I didn’t care if I was being too loud. This was important.
“Logan!” I yelled, my voice more desperate than l intended.
After a few seconds of silence, the door creaked open, and Logan appeared, shirtless and groggy, his hair tousled from sleep.
“What the hell, Audrey?” he muttered, rubbing his eyes. “It’s late.”
I didn’t let him finish. “Teach me how to fight.
And everything I need to know about being a wolf.”
His eyes snapped wide open, and he looked at me like l’d lost my mind. “What?”
“You heard me!” My voice cracked as the fear and panic that had been bottled up began to spill over. “I was followed today- attacked, almost. By some guy who can transform into a wolf. He knew who l was, Logan, and I… I can’t just stand by and wait to be next. I need to know how to defend myself.”
Logan stared at me for a long moment, his usual cocky expression replaced with something more serious. He stepped out into the hallway, shutting the door behind him, as if he didn’t want anyone else overhearing our conversation.
“Audrey, what exactly happened?” His voice was steady, but there was an edge to it- concern.
I took a deep breath and told him everything.
About the strange man with the eyepatch at the perfume shop, about how l’d run into him again in the alley, how he’d transformed into a wolf and chased me. The more I spoke, the more I could see the worry etching itself onto Logan’s face.
When I finished, he was quiet for a long time, staring at the floor. Then, without warning, he turned on his heel and headed for the stairs. “Follow me.”
Logan moved quickly and quietly, leading me down the stairs without saying a word. We passed through the kitchen and into a hallway at the back of the house-a place I had never noticed before. My heart raced as I followed him, unsure of what was coming next.
At the end of the hallway, we stopped in front of a plain wooden door. Logan glanced at me, his face serious. “Stay close,” he said, then opened the door.
Behind it was a narrow staircase, leading down into what looked like a basement. But this was no ordinary basement. The air was colder, and the walls were made of stone.
The deeper we went, the more I realized this place was hidden for a reason.
Logan turned on a light, revealing a large underground cave. The walls were lined with weapons-swords, knives, and armor. There were shelves full of old books, scrolls, and strange symbols I didn’t recognize. In the middle of the cave was an open space, its floor worn down, like it had been used for training or fighting.
Logan walked to the center and looked at me seriously. “This is where my family trains,” he said.
“This is where my family trains,” Logan repeated, his voice echoing through the cavernous space. “My father, his father before him-every alpha has prepared here.
It’s where I learned everything I know about being a wolf.”
He paced toward the wall, grabbing a dagger from a rack. He flipped it in his hand, testing its weight before meeting my gaze. “You’re serious about this, aren’t you? About learning how to fight.”
I nodded, not trusting my voice to hold steady. I had no choice anymore. I couldn’t let what happened today happen again. I couldn’t stay helpless.
Logan’s eyes softened for a moment, his usual cocky demeanor fading as he walked back toward me.
“Before you start thinking about fighting,” he began, his tone more serious than l’d ever heard it, “there are things you need to know about being a werewolf.”
I swallowed hard, nodding, trying to prepare myself for whatever he was about to say.
“First,” he continued, “you need to understand that you’re not like them yet. You haven’t shifted, and that means you’re still vulnerable. The man who attacked you today? He’s already in control of his wolf.
He’s stronger, faster, and far more dangerous than a human-or even you, in your current state.”
Logan stepped closer, his gaze intense.
“Second, being a werewolf isn’t just about strength. It’s about instincts. Your senses are sharper than you realize-sight, hearing, smell. They’re all heightened. You just don’t know how to fully tap into them yet. If you’re going to survive, you’ll need to learn to trust those instincts, even when your human mind is screaming at you to run.”
I nodded again, absorbing his words. It was overwhelming, but it made sense. The man in the alley had moved like nothing I’d ever seen before-too fast, too precise.
Logan continued, “Third, there’s the matter of control. The shift isn’t easy, especially the first time. It’s painful. And once you do it, you have to fight to stay in control of the wolf. If you lose control, you become a danger to everyone around you, even the people you care about.”
He looked away for a moment, his jaw tight, like he was remembering something he didn’t want to talk about. “That’s what happened to my father once… before he mastered it.”
I could feel the weight of what he was saying pressing down on me. This wasn’t just about learning how to fight-it was about stepping into an entirely new world, one that came with its own dangers and rules.
“I’m not going to lie to you, Audrey,” Logan said, his voice quieter now, almost gentle.
“This life-it’s not something you choose lightly. Once you start, there’s no going back. Are you sure this is what you want?”
I met his eyes, steadying my breath. “I don’t have a choice, Logan. That man, he’s coming for me. And I refuse to be a victim.”
Logan nodded, his expression hardening again, like he respected my decision.
“Alright, then. We start with the basics.
Before you even think about shifting, you need to learn how to defend yourself in your human form.”
He stepped back and gestured toward a rack of weapons. “Pick one. We’ll see what suits you.”
I walked toward the rack of weapons, my eyes scanning over the various blades, swords, and daggers. They all looked dangerous, deadly even. My hand hesitated as I reached for a smaller dagger, its sleek design calling to me. It wasn’t the biggest or the most intimidating, but it felt right in my hand-balanced, light enough to maneuver, but still sharp and lethal.
Logan watched me, his eyes narrowing with interest. “Good choice,” he said, stepping closer. “Daggers are quick and easy to handle, especially if you’re just starting out.
But don’t underestimate their power.”
I turned the dagger in my hand, feeling the weight of it, the cool metal against my skin. It was strange, holding something like this, knowing it could be used to defend me-or hurt someone else.
“Alright,” Logan said, moving back toward the open space in the middle of the cave. He dropped into a fighting stance, his movements fluid, practiced. “The first thing you need to know is that fighting isn’t about brute strength. It’s about precision. Speed.
Knowing where to strike.”
He gestured for me to join him, and I stepped forward, gripping the dagger tightly.
My heart pounded in my chest, but I forced myself to focus. Logan’s eyes locked onto mine, serious and intense.
“Try to attack me,” he said.
I blinked, startled. “What?”
“Attack me,” he repeated, his voice calm but firm. “You won’t hurt me, Audrey. But I need to see what you’re working with.”
Swallowing my nerves, I lunged toward him, swinging the dagger in a clumsy arc. Logan easily sidestepped, his hand catching my wrist mid-swing. He twisted gently but firmly, forcing me to drop the weapon.
“Too obvious,” he said, his voice smooth as he let go of my wrist and stepped back.
“You’re putting too much thought into it. You can’t hesitate in a real fight. Your opponent won’t give you time to think.”
I retrieved the dagger, nodding, trying to shake off the frustration that bubbled up inside me. This wasn’t going to be easy, but I couldn’t afford to give up.
“Again,” Logan said, his voice calm and firm.
This time, I tried to move faster, aiming to catch him off guard.
I lunged again, trying to be faster, but Logan was quicker. He dodged and grabbed my wrist, pulling me down to the ground with him. I hit the floor with a thud, my breath knocked out of me. Logan was right above me, so close I could feel his warmth and hear his breath.
My heart pounded, not just from the fight but from how close he was. His face was just inches from mine, his breath brushing against my cheek. I felt trapped, but not in a bad way. There was a strange tension between us, like something was about to happen.
For a moment, he just looked at me, his eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite understand. His hand loosened around my waist, and I shivered when his fingers brushed my skin. His gaze flicked down to my lips for a split second, and I wondered if he was thinking the same thing I was.
But then, he let go and stood up, turning away. “You need to be faster,” he said, his voice a bit rough, like he was trying to push away whatever had just happened. “Try again.”
I stayed on the ground for a second, catching my breath, my mind still spinning from the moment between us. But I knew I had to focus. I got up, holding the dagger tightly.
Logan was back in his fighting stance, his face serious. “Focus, Audrey. If you don’t, you’ll end up on the ground again, and I won’t be so gentle next time.”
I nodded, my resolve hardening. Whatever had just happened between us, I couldn’t let it distract me. I had come here for a reason, and I needed to focus on that-on surviving, on fighting back.
This time, when I lunged at him, I tried to remember what Logan had said. Don’t hesitate. Trust your instincts. I aimed low, hoping to catch him off guard.
But Logan was already moving, his body flowing smoothly out of the way. He blocked my strike with his arm, the dagger barely missing his side.
“Better,” he said, his voice neutral, though I could hear the faintest trace of approval.
“But still too slow.”
I pulled back, gripping the dagger tighter. My arms ached, my muscles screaming from the exertion, but I wasn’t about to give up. I adjusted my stance, focusing on his movements, on the way his body shifted just before he dodged. If I could anticipate his next move…
I darted forward again, this time feinting left before quickly pivoting to the right. Logan’s eyes widened slightly, but he was still faster.
He caught my wrist again, but I twisted out of his grip before he could pull me down.
“Good,” Logan muttered, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “You’re learning.”
I didn’t respond, too focused on the fight.
My chest burned from exertion, but I wasn’t going to stop now. I needed to prove to myself that I could do this-that I could hold my own, even if it was just against Logan.
He came at me this time, his movements swift and calculated. I barely managed to block his strike, the impact reverberating up my arm. My breath hitched, but I held my ground.
Logan’s eyes gleamed with something I couldn’t quite place as he stepped back, giving me a moment to catch my breath.
“You’ve got potential, Audrey. But it’s not just about strength. You need to trust yourself.”
“Again,” Logan said, his voice low and steady.
I squared my shoulders, gripping the dagger with renewed determination. This time, I wasn’t going to hold back.
As I charged toward him, I felt something shift inside me-like a spark igniting. My movements were sharper, faster, driven by instinct rather than thought. And for the first time, Logan didn’t dodge completely. My blade grazed his arm, drawing a thin line of blood.
He stepped back, eyes wide with surprise.
“That’s more like it,” he said, wiping the blood away without a second thought. There was something like pride in his voice now, mixed with a dangerous glint in his eyes.
I felt a rush of triumph, but it was quickly tempered by the weight of what l’d just done. I had hurt him-actually hurt him.
Logan noticed the hesitation in my eyes and shook his head. “Don’t apologize. In a real fight, your enemy won’t hesitate to hurt you.
You can’t hold back.”
I nodded, the reality of the situation sinking in. This was serious. It wasn’t a game, and I couldn’t afford to be afraid of the consequences.
Logan stepped toward me, his expression softer now, almost gentle.
“You did well, Audrey. You’re stronger than you think.”
For a moment, we stood there in the dim light of the cave, the weight of everything hanging between us. The tension from earlier was still there, simmering just beneath the surface, but this time it felt different-more like an understanding.
“Tomorrow, we’ll train again,” Logan said, his voice firm but not unkind. “And I’ll teach you more about your instincts. You’ve already started to tap into them, but there’s more you need to learn.”
“Tomorrow, we’ll train again,” Logan said, his voice firm but not unkind. “And I’ll teach you more about your instincts. You’ve already started to tap into them, but there’s more you need to learn.”
I nodded, exhaustion finally catching up with me. As much as I wanted to keep going, I knew I needed to rest.
Logan gave me a small smile before turning to leave the cave. “Get some sleep, Audrey.
You’ll need it.”
As Logan disappeared up the stairs, I stayed for a moment, staring at the dagger still clutched in my hand. My body ached, my mind swirling with everything I’d learned. Finally, I made my way back upstairs to my room, collapsing onto the bed. Sleep came quickly, but my dreams were filled with wolves.