Aria's POV
"What?" Kael mutters in shock.
"I said, I'm a white wolf," I finished with conviction. "You can even ask Martha, she saw me and attests to it."
"We need a run, you know. I'm getting antsy." Willow says at the back of my mind. I ignored her for a bit.
"How have you been surviving without a run," He stares at me with worry, a bit of irritation showing on his face. "Your ability to heal now makes a lot of sense though."
I wait in silence for him to add something else but he says nothing at all, just stares at me with no expression on his face. "Are you mad at me for hiding this from you," I say with a little guilt.
"I didn't know how to tell you, I've always felt like a freak, this was like an icing on the cake."
"How many times do I have to tell you, how much you mean to me?" He says firmly, picking me up and dropping me on his lap. "I will spend the rest of my days showing you just how much you mean to me, and how I will be with you every step of the way."
I give him a tight smile. Should I tell him about my rejection? He seems too good to be true though. I don't know if he will still want me after everything. I don't even want any trouble, there's no point bringing up the past.
"You mean the world to me, so who were your parents in the Blood Moon Pack?" He asks with genuine curiosity. "Willow mentioned that you were an orphan, but nothing more."
I take a deep breath, hoping this would not turn on me. "I was dumped at the pack borders as a child with no memories at all," I utter sadly. "No one ever showed me true care until I came to this pack."
"We will figure it all out together, my love," He encourages. "Together forever," He says, pressing his forehead gently against mine.
***
"Martha, we'll be late for training," I scream, my hands hitting her door hard.
"I'm coming, Douchebag," She says with exasperation, pulling the door open in haste.
"Whatever, you just love me," I tease with a full-blown smile on my lips. I pull her arms excitedly walking down the hallway.
The early morning breeze sweeps my hair back and forth against my face. We run at full speed towards the pack training grounds, just in time. We quietly settled out back, barely seeing much in front of us.
"As you all know we have new recruits that are joining us today, you all can pair yourselves with your partners and fight, hand combat for now." A loud familiar voice resounds from in front of us, addressing the crowd.
"I need to go to my partner, Besty," Martha murmurs, staring at a young she-wolf walking towards us. "Go find, Gad, so he will pair you with someone."
I nod in response with a smile, and my feet veer towards Gad, the head warrior. He stops his conversation mid-way with a group of younger males and walks towards me. "Luna, do you need something?"
"Hi Gad, I was just wondering if you could pair me with someone, today is my first day."
Gad gave me a little smile, "I know Luna, the Alpha informed me. He said he will be your trainer but it seems like he is running a bit late."
"Okay that is fine, I can just pair up with anyone while I wait for him to finish up with whatever is holding him back."
"Let me check if there is anyone that I can pair you with then," his eyes shift in the crowd, looking back and forth. "Anita, come over," Gad orders. A caramel-skinned beauty with a petite body and shiny hazel eyes sashays towards us.
"Luna," She bows slightly in greeting. "Head warrior," She bows once more. "I'd like you to spar with the Luna, and show her some basics in defense."
She gives me a bright smile and says, "It would be an honor to spar with you, Luna."
I give her a sweet smile in return, I'm not used to being treated with so much regard. Even after Kael's announcement, some members of the pack ignored my existence. I noticed that mostly those closest to Kael treated me with the utmost kindness and a few others. Most feel I am unworthy to fill the position since Jessica sparked the rumors of me being wolfless.
She walks a little distance, and I follow in tow. "I would like you to learn the basics of self-defense. Pay attention to her body movements, not just her strikes." Gad tells me as I face off with Anita.
She waits patiently. My posture shrinks with discomfort and he seems to notice. "The very way you carry yourself, tells if you can easily be preyed upon." He then stands next to me, "Imitate my stance."
He has his feet apart with a foot slightly in front of the other. "Place your dominant foot behind," He explains. "Keep your hands up to block out any strikes and use it to cover sensitive areas like your neck."
"You're doing fairly well for a first-timer," He encourages. "Anita, strike now, not too hard though."
She gives him a nod and advances towards me, she's so fast and my back is on the ground in seconds. "Luna, you seem distracted, this is not a playground. Focus," Gad says with a hard voice. "You need to pay attention to her, so you can anticipate her strikes."
Anita gives me an encouraging smile and gives me a hand. I take it and return to my previous stance. "Again."
Anita pushes forward, this time I focus on her hands and feet. She is extremely smooth with her strikes and unpredictable. I am able to hold out for a little longer, probably less than a minute. She then has me on my back a second time.
"That's better," Gad says. "Again." Anita comes forward again, after my fall, she keeps coming. My body is getting sore with the light blows I'm receiving. At least I now last for some minutes. After what I thought was going to be my last spar session, Gad speaks.
"Now I would like you to pay attention to her technique, does she rely more on speed or strength."
"Can I spar with the Luna, Gad," Jessica's perky voice resonates behind us.
"She's in training, Jessica."
"Well, I know that. But at the rate Anita is sparring with her, she will never be able to defeat me. Maybe the Luna is just too scared to fight me" Jessica says with a condescending smile.
Anita shoots her an annoyed look, well it seems the annoying bimbo doesn't only irk me after all.
"Anita is a seasoned warrior and you know it. She is teaching her the basics, there's no possible way she will go too hard on her."
"I'd prefer you spar with me, Blondie," Anita intercepts with a mischievous smile. "Maybe I can even whoop your ass as I did last time."
Jessica's face turns beet red in anger and embarrassment. "You were just lucky, little wimp."
"Maybe I'll get lucky this time too," Anita proceeds towards her swiftly.
Their argument was pulling a lot of attention to us.
"Enough," Gad breaks their little catfight. "You can spar with her, just one round. No shifting, not even partially. No cheap shots or you will be disqualified," He says directly to Jessica.
"Anything else?" She replies, sounding a bit pissed.
"No deadly shots either. The first whose back touches the ground loses." By now we have a lot of spectators.
"Show her what you got, Jessi," one of her minions screams.
She gives a sly smile in my direction, then Gad says, "Strike."
She races at me and goes for my neck immediately, I'm able to clumsily block it. It is just a distraction. She kicks me hard in the belly and lands a hard blow to my face. My ears ring, eyes see nothing but white sparks.
"You can't lose," Willow encourages in my head. I force myself to kneel and not let my back touch the ground.
"Pathetic," She spits in my face. "You are nothing, nothing." A loud growl fills the air, it seems Kael is finally here.
"She dares taunt you," Willow growls with indignation. "Let me out." The searing pain makes me unable to hold her back and she is pushed forward.
I lift my face, and the blood spilling down my nose stops flowing. A series of gasps fill the air, and whispers can be heard from multiple people. My eyes I am pretty sure have changed colours which is usual when your wolf is out.
"Wait, you have a wolf?" Jessica says more to herself, sounding confused. In a split moment, Willow takes hold of her right arm, twists it behind her with little to no effort, and lands a hard blow on her face. A loud crack is heard, and she falls unconscious on the cold forest floor.
Willow smirks at her deed and withdraws to the back of my mind. I stare at my hands in intrigue and shock. How was I able to do that?
"Did you see that? A pack member whispers behind me.
I lift my gaze and peer at my mate who is admiring me with pride in his eyes.
Gad walks forward, smiling, and says, "Luna Aria wins."
A burst of howls, whistles and cheering fills my heart with joy.
"She cheated and I have proof," The sharp feminine voice cuts short the excitement.