Chapter 3 3

Axel hadn't slept in days. He was so stressed out about Astrid being a Bennet wolf, he made Lucy train harder and harder. Lucy was exhausted, and she couldn't keep this up. Ellen had decided to finish her school year here with them to help train Lucy to prevent her from having the same fate as Lanie. Something else was bothering Axel. He couldn't shake the feeling, how odd it was that Lanie and Lucy both lost their parents, and they were both Bennet wolves. Could they be related more than just the name? He didn't want to bring it up to Lucy in case Astrid lost it again.

Then Ellen had an idea.

"I think we've been thinking this the wrong way. Have you ever trained in wolf form?"

"Only running, it was only to tire Astrid out." Lucy explained, the more running she did, the better she stayed put and didn't force herself forward.

"Know a small spell I can temporarily put Astrid to sleep if she gets out of hand. Let's try training in wolf form," Ellen suggested.

Axel looked shocked, He never thought of this before. Could it work? Axel had been doing martial arts since he was placed with the Monroe's. They all did it as a family, so it was easy for him to train Lucy, plus he liked bossing her around. Axel paused to have a small conversation with Liam. Without warning, Liam shifted. He was ready. The problem with training in wolf form is they can't communicate. Because they aren't from the same pack, they can't mind link each other, so they would have to go off of non-verbal communication. Lucy walked over to Liam and ran her fingers through his grey fur.

"Are you sure you trust us, Liam?" she said with so much adoration. He put his face to her face and rubbed up and down like he was saying yes. Lucy looked to Ellen nervously.

"You better climb up that tree. I don't trust Astrid not to hurt you." Lucy got undressed and folded her clothes neatly, almost afraid to shift. She took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves so that she might have better control over Astrid in wolf form. She turned and shifted so fast it was like a blink. Ellen watched, amazed as this large white and brown wolf stood before her. She was stunning, so much like Lanie, the same brown paws and the same brown circles around the eyes, everything else stark white, the only difference was Astrid's eyes were red and Lanie's Wolf Anna's eyes were Black. Astrid ran up to Liam and playfully bit his hind leg. Liam tackled her to the ground. He motioned for her to watch him, he moved slowly, showing her a jump and roll, and she mirrored his actions perfectly. They did this for many moves. They did this for so long they didn't realize the sun had begun to set. All of a sudden, Astrid bolted into the woods after something. Liam was right on her trail when Astrid stopped dead in her tracks. A rogue snarling and spitting at Astrid Liam jumped in front of Astrid, ready to defend.

ASTRID

DANGER! I could sense it, smell it taste it. I ran as fast as I could to the smell of rotting garbage. I didn't know what the smell was, but I had to get it and kill it before it hurt Liam or Ellen. It's my duty, my job, fight, kill, defend! I skidded to a stop when I came face to face with a rogue! Feral wolves who follow no rules technically Liam and I are also rogues, but because we were separated from our packs and not banished, we didn't smell like rogues, and our humans mainly had control. Axel was really good at keeping Liam back, I tried not to force Lucy out, but she is so innocent and loving she doesn't know what we are capable of, and she doesn't know what our destiny is. I can't tell her. She has got to figure it out for herself, but without the training from our Alpha, we can't become one. As I was about to lunge at the rogue, Liam jumped in front blocked me from him. They started circling each other. Liam was twice the size of the rogue but half the age. Suddenly, the rogue dropped to the ground and shifted back to his human form. I turned to see Ellen. She put his wolf to sleep. Liam shifted back to Axel, and Ellen handed him some shorts. She looked at me "Are you going to shift or sleep? Your choice, darling." Man, I love-hate this witch. I shifted, and she handed Lucy her clothes.

LUCY

"Thank you, Ellen, that was remarkable. I have never felt so in sync with Astrid before. How did we never think to train in wolf form? It's just what she needed." I threw my arms around Axel and hugged him so tight. Axel pushed me behind him and questioned the rogue. I was excited and exhilarated I wasn't paying attention the dirty man in front of Axel.

"What do you want?" Axel sneered. The man looked at him, almost unable to speak.

"How, how did you do that?"

"Do what? Axel asked.

"I am human again? I haven't been in control in so long. When my mate died, my wolf took over from grief, and we've been in wolf form for so long." Ellen shot out her hand around Liam and said, "Hi! That was me, just a simple sleeping spell. He will be awake in a few hours, she explained." The man looked so sad.

"Does he have to wake up?"

"Not if you need more time, I could make you something from herbs that can keep your wolf asleep for a few days or at least weak enough he can't force a shift?" The man looked so relieved.

"Oh yes, please, can you help me? My wolf has gone feral, and I don't know how to get him back," he explained.

"I can do that for you! I might be able to help you put him to sleep longer, but I would need help from a stronger witch. I'm only half-witch."

I watched as this man who was what we thought a threat became a friend? Axel did not loosen his grip on me. He kept me tight behind him as we started walking back to Axel's Jeep. Axel whispered to me, do not tell him what you are. From what Ellen has told me about the Bennet bloodline, we can not trust just anyone. I squeezed his hand, letting him know I understood. How did I find this incredible man to always have my back?

When we got back to town, we went to the bakery to talk some more it was always quiet there this time of night. As it turned out, Kyle has been in wolf form for six months. When hunters killed his mate, he was originally from Washington state but had been wandering around and ended up in our tiny little town. His pack would be missing him. Axel offered to drive him back, but he's going to take a bus if Ellen's aunt can put his wolf to sleep for long enough for him to get help and take back control.

That night I lay in bed thinking about how everything changed in the time span of two weeks. How did my semi-simple life get so complicated? With that thought, I drifted off into a nightmare. I'm three years old I'm in my car seat my sister is next to me in her seat she is 5 I think, we are driving down the road our parents are singing weird road trip songs when lights flash, and the car is rolling, it's rolling so much I get car sick and then it's hot so hot I can't breathe. A flash of white like an explosion, and I wake up. It's not the first time I've had this dream, but the first time I felt the heat from it, I'm soaked my clothes and soaked my bed is soaked. How can one person sweat so much? I take a lukewarm shower and check the clock. It's 4 am. Well, I can go get the bread going for the day. I throw on my black leggings, a sports bra and a scoop back tank. Grab my Jean jacket and keys and head out to my car. I drive an old Nissan Sentra. I get to the bakery around half past 4. I turn on the proofer and the oven. I start making the dough for my bread and pastries for the day. I can't stop thinking about that dream. Did my sister die in the crash, too or were we separated like Ellen and Axel?