Chapter 4 Someone Grabs You From Behind, What Do You Do

Vera

Kara, a tall woman with a scar across her jaw and muscles that could probably snap me in half, raised an eyebrow. "You want to train? No offense, Luna, but you're human. You'll get hurt."

"Then I'll heal and train again." I met her gaze steadily, channeling every ounce of the false confidence I'd felt in Darius's office. "Unless you're saying that Luna isn't strong enough to train with her own pack?"

It was a challenge, and everyone knew it. Around us, the other females had stopped their exercises to watch.

Kara's lips curved into a slow smile. "Alright, Luna. Let's see what you've got." She gestured to the sparring circle. "Basic self-defense. Show me how you'd handle an attack from behind."

My heart was pounding as I stepped into the circle. I had no idea what I was doing. I'd never thrown a punch in my life, never learned to fight. But I was tired of being helpless. Tired of being the weak link.

Kara moved behind me, and I felt her presence like a weight. "Someone grabs you from behind. What do you do?"

Before I could answer, her arm wrapped around my throat in a chokehold.

Panic flooded through me. I clawed at her arm uselessly, my vision already starting to blur.

"Wrong," Kara said calmly, releasing me. I stumbled forward, gasping. "You freeze up. You panic. That'll get you killed." She moved back into position. "Again. This time, think. Where are your attacker's weak points?"

We went again. And again. And again.

By the tenth time, I was covered in bruises and my throat was raw. But I'd managed to stomp on Kara's instep hard enough to make her grunt, and when she'd loosened her hold for just a second, I'd driven my elbow back into her ribs.

It wasn't much. But it was something.

"Better," Kara said, and there was approval in her voice. "You're learning. Maya, you're up next. Show the Luna the proper stance for blocking."

For the next hour, I trained. I was terrible at it. Slow and clumsy and weak compared to the female wolves who moved like lethal dancers. But I didn't quit. Even when my muscles screamed. Even when I could feel Selene's eyes boring into my back.

Even when I looked up and saw Darius standing at the edge of the training grounds, watching me with an expression I couldn't read.

Our eyes met across the distance. I didn't look away. Didn't stop. I let Maya correct my stance, listened to Kara's instructions, and threw another punch at the training dummy.

I might not be a wolf. Might not have supernatural strength or speed or any of the advantages the others had.

But I could be strong in other ways.

And for the first time since I'd arrived at Shadowcrest, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I deserved to be here.

When the training session finally ended, I was limping, covered in sweat and dirt, and pretty sure I'd pulled something in my shoulder. But I felt more alive than I had in months.

Kara clapped me on the back hard enough to nearly knock me over. "Not bad, Luna. You've got guts, I'll give you that. Same time tomorrow?"

"Same time tomorrow," I agreed.

As the other females dispersed, I finally let myself look at where Darius had been standing.

He was gone.

But Selene remained, watching me with an expression that was equal parts guilt and something else. Jealousy, maybe?

Good.

I walked past her without a word, my head held high despite the pain radiating through every muscle.

Three months. I had three months to prove that I belonged here. Three months to become the Luna this pack deserved.

And if, at the end of it all, Darius still chose Selene?

Well, at least I'd know I'd fought for it.

At least I'd know I'd finally fought for myself.

I woke up the next morning feeling like I'd been hit by a truck.

Every muscle in my body screamed in protest as I tried to sit up. My shoulders were stiff, my legs were sore, and there was a particularly nasty bruise blooming across my ribs where I'd taken an elbow during training.

But beneath the pain, I felt... alive.

For the first time in six months, I'd done something for myself. Something that had nothing to do with trying to win Darius's approval or competing with Selene. I'd trained because I wanted to be stronger. Because I was tired of being weak.

I dragged myself out of bed and into the bathroom, wincing with every step. The hot shower helped, but not much. By the time I was dressed, practical training clothes instead of the soft dresses I usually wore, I could barely lift my arms.

This was going to be a long three months.

I made my way downstairs, dreading another encounter with Selene. But the dining room was empty except for a few pack members grabbing breakfast before heading out for patrol. They nodded at me respectfully, which was new. Apparently word had spread about yesterday's training session.

I was pouring coffee when I heard his voice behind me.

"You're limping."

I turned slowly. Darius stood in the doorway, dressed for a run in athletic pants and a fitted shirt that showed off every carved muscle. His hair was damp, like he'd just showered, and his gray eyes were fixed on me with an intensity that made my breath catch.

"Good morning to you too," I said, proud that my voice didn't shake.

"You overdid it yesterday." It wasn't a question. He moved closer, and I caught his scent-pine and rain and something wild that made my wolf mark tingle. "Kara said you trained for over an hour. You're human, Vera. You can't keep up with wolves."

"Watch me." I took a sip of coffee, meeting his gaze over the rim of my cup. "I'll be at training again this afternoon."

His jaw tightened. "You're going to hurt yourself."

"That's my problem, not yours." The words came out sharper than I intended. "Or have you forgotten? You want a divorce. What I do with my body is no longer your concern."