A week passed by and I grew closer to Molly. I took part in the pack training sessions every morning; they were still hard, but I was determined. Sean trained me one on one from 6 in the morning till 10 when group training started. That lasted a further one to two hours.

After each session, Molly and I would eat lunch together, and sometimes Sean accompanied us. I had not laughed so much in a long time, and the sibling rivalry kept me going. Some days I ate my lunch without even thinking, only to realise my plate was empty!

Phoenix had returned to keeping his distance, but I could regularly feel his eyes on me on the training grounds. Today was no different.

Today was Saturday, which meant the hardest day of the week before Sunday's rest day. It was a sparring day.

The whole eligible lower pack gathered together regardless of gender, then split into age groups and ability levels for each age group. I was, of course, in the group of 18 to 25, but Molly was beside me. Today she sported a baby blue workout set, whereas I stuck to the old large tee and leggings combo. It was warm though, spring was finally in bloom.

I stood out like a sore thumb. In my age group, there were 24 wolves, a ratio of 7 girls to 17 boys. Well, men really.

The plan of action was to spar in your age group as a human until one won, then the same with wolf once the winner had won. Then the winners of each form were to spar with the top people of the other age groups. All the warriors didn't have to take part, but most of them stood around cheering on the lower wolves. It was a test to see if we were ready. I was not ready and I couldn't shift unless Phoenix said so.

I had been partnered with Molly, thankfully.

"Rules!" Sean's booming voice travelled through the noise. "Number one-do not leave your circle. If you do-you lose. Number two, first to pin for three seconds as counted by your judge, wins. Number three-human form first. You may injure but not seriously harmed. No low blows or danger shots here. Once a person wins, we will move on to the wolf. Same rules apply."

People murmured amongst themselves, most eager to get on with it. I don't see how they enjoyed fighting to their faux death. Far too barbaric for me. I'd rather do yoga or go for a swim.

'Definitely in the wrong pack for yoga and afternoon tea, Nova.' My wolf snorted.

The warriors surrounding us tuned into the fights, ready to call us out on any cheap shots. I turned to eye Molly, not liking the fact I had to fight her, but found it easier than someone else.

The low whistle signalled the start, and wolves began. Molly and I just stared at each other, not wanting to make the first move. I could feel Phoenix's eyes as he stood more to the centre of the field, near the older wolves. My hair stood on end and my body was on high alert whenever my wolf felt him close by.

Molly sighed before rolling her shoulders. "Let's get this over with, Sherbet."

I rolled my eyes at the adopted pet name. All because my face was apparently too funny when I tried a lemon sherbet sweet for the first time.

Too lost in my thoughts, I only caught the swing of Molly's arm at the last moment. I ducked out of the way and made a jab of my own, which she counteracted. I grunted when her foot made contact with my stomach, but I kicked out at her legs. She staggered but stayed upright, blowing her hair out of her face.

We got tangled amongst each other, both being able to avoid the other's blows. She was more trained than me and got in more hits. She swiped out her leg, and I skipped over it, but she knew my game plan and grabbed hold of my arm. Twisting it behind my back, she forced me to the mud, and not even wanting to fight, I just laid there panting. I hated fighting.

Once the three seconds were up, she let me go and just sat beside me. We both just stared at each other for a moment as we calmed our breathing. I got a nice hit to her jaw, which made her nose bleed, and her ponytail was all ratty and muddy. I could taste blood on my lips, so knew she had split the already dry flesh from where I bite it.

Blinking in sync, we spontaneously broke out into laughter. We grabbed each other's hands and hoisted ourselves up. She soon had to make her way to her next match, so I thought I'd wait for her nearby. I frowned as my left leg caved in when I took a step; the muscles cramping up and not letting me move for a moment. The arm I injured a few weeks ago during the ghoul attack was tender since Molly grabbed it, screaming in protest from being thrown onto the ground.

"You good?" A warrior watching the matches asked.

I silently nodded at him, but he took his kindness further and hovered over me as I limped to the water table. Molly soon approached, extra bruised after a quick match that she gave up, and laughed down at me. She swatted him away, and he walked away with wide eyes.

"What crawled u-up his p-pants?" I sighed, leaning on a table.

"He's scared of my brother." She shrugged.

I rolled my neck over to look at Sean; he was sparring with some fighters in the older group. The more experienced wolves, I should say. He was a machine. His eyes were harsh and set in stone. Each muscle was solid as a rock as he beat his opponent to the floor. No wonder they feared him: he was a tank.

My wolf yipped in my mind and I followed my instinct to find narrowed hazel eyes watching me. I blushed as I realised he must have been watching for a while.

Glancing down at the water in my hand, I took a swig, only to frown when the taste of blood magnified. Molly and I stood there in our own worlds as the matches continued. It was comforting.

"Last match!" Sean shouted.

We made our way over to where he stood, as did everyone else. My weaker arm protested at any movement, so I tried to move gently. I followed Molly like a small puppy as the wolves gathered around. As the fight began, she came to a stop near her brother and I joined her, only to get jostled by a couple of wolves. I hissed lowly in pain, trying to downplay it so I wouldn't have to go to the doctor's office again. As nice as Kate was. I was tired of the appointments for my health checkups already.

"Watch it." The wolf that knocked into me snapped.

I flinched. "S-S-So-"

"No, you watch where you're going." A low voice grumbled from behind me.

The warmth of the air around me let me know who it was straight away. The deep monotone of his voice and the fresh scent of his cologne made my hair stand on end. My wolf melted at his closeness yet again.

The wolf who jostled me physically cringed at the threat, sprouting apologies as he turned to walk away.

I turned to look up at Phoenix. The few centimetres between his chest and my back were loud. I just wanted to touch him. The mate bond was growing and my wolf was insane with need.

His hazel eyes gazed down at me, a firm line set on his lips. "Are you okay?"

"Yes." I breathed.

He nodded but didn't believe me. "We need to talk. My office, alone."

I swallowed harshly but nodded my head.

Now I was nervous. Was this it? Was he going to reject me after leaving me lonely for so long? My stomach clenched with nerves and I couldn't even focus on the match, just the white noise ringing in the air.

His hand suddenly came and cupped my good elbow. The fire from his touch made a gasp leave my lips. He tugged me away from the crowd and lead me through the gardens. Once at the packhouse, he released me and I shivered at the hollow feeling it left behind.

I followed him to his office and blushed when he held the door open for me. It softly closed behind me before he locked it. There was no noise now other than the gentle step of his feet approaching me.

He stopped beside me at stared down at me with a weird expression on his face. Almost like he was bewildered, yet... angry?

"Nova..." He sighed, his hand coming to hold one side of my face.

I went to chew on my lip again. The cut has already half healed so did not irritate me, but I was a bundle of nerves. His eyes trailed to my movement and narrowed. His other hand rose to hold the other side of my head and I dropped my lip, unable to tear my gaze away from his face.

Huh, he has really long eyelashes. Such lush lips too, I wondered for a moment what they would taste like...

Blinking out of my daze, I opened my mouth to question him, but a surreal sensation amazed me. My lips tingled as his own pressed to mine, my body freezing in shock. This was definitely not what I expected to happen. At all.

He coaxed my mouth into a slow rhythm with his, fire lighting up my body from my toes. One of his hands trailed down my face to hold my waist, pulling me towards him. The gap between us filled finally, all the tension vanishing. Here I was, pressed against him. It was euphoric.

I had never been kissed before. His lips were warm and soft as they crashed against my bruised ones. I could swim in the taste of his minty breath. My wolf was purring at his touch, our skin alight with bliss.

My hands were tugging on his shirt as I stood on my toes, but he pulled himself away. I frowned at the loss of contact and opened my eyes to find him looking down at me. He was barely breathing hard and here I was panting like a dog.

"I've been wanting to do that ever since I saw you first chew on that lip of yours." He breathed.

I blushed and glanced away. It was then I saw the blood on his lower lip and licking my own I realise a cut had reopened. I need to stop biting my lip...

"You have my-"

My eyes widened when his tongue darted out and licked his lips clean. My wolf was vibrating, purring with the act. It was definitely a wolf thing and going by the darkness of his eyes, his wolf approved of the taste and my reaction.

He stepped away and went round to his desk; I stood for a moment before spinning around awkwardly.

"Um..." I wrung my fingers together.

He paused and I watched as his shoulders sagged. "I'm leaving."

My eyes widened. "Wha-

"I have to go help an ally or two. Young children and females are being kidnapped from their lands and the trails are going missing. Fires in the forests.... it seems very alarming." He explained, running a hand down his face. "I am telling you, Nova, because I will be gone for around a month. The mate bond will ache and I want you to know you can speak to Charlie or Kate and they can help with dulling the side effects of our distance.

"I also asked you here to join you in the pack. You are not officially a pack member yet and I would like to have the comfort that you can mind link others, and so I can feel your life through the link."

Too much information at once and my brain went into sluggish mode.

He was leaving? For a month? The kiss? How far away? Kidnapping and fires? The kiss? I was about to join the pack. How do I do that? And not to mention the kiss?!

"Oh-okay." I stammered, blinking furiously.

He chuckled. "You'll be fine. It's just a pinprick to your finger then conjoined with mine."

I nodded hesitantly as he opened the desk drawer to his right. He pulled out an old leather-bound book of sorts, opened it, and pulled out a leather cloth. I swallowed when I saw the dagger that he cleaned.

"This dagger has joined many pack wolves before us, it's tradition." He murmured, holding out his hand. "Want me to do it?"

I nodded mutely and closed my eyes. He did it quickly, and I gasped as the silver sank into my middle finger. The pain was minuscule, but I didn't want to think of it for fear of dizziness. I picked up the scent of my blood and his. When his hand met mine and our fingers touched, I gasped. The energy surge of the pack bond was intense, with many life forces just in the corner of my mind.

"Side effect to this is that it has temporarily enhanced our mate bond. Blood pacts upon mates are something many wolves, including myself, hold intimately." He sheepishly smiled.

I blinked at him and sucked on my finger to ease the pain. Now, I was lost; all the confusing emotions and thoughts added to my mind. Never to have answers because he's leaving! Going!

Despite the whirlwind in my head, I managed a coherent thought.

"When do you go?" I asked quietly.

He sighed. "Tonight. It is at the last minute. I will announce it to the pack at lunch but wanted to do this privately with you."

I blushed and looked down at the thought of the kiss.

"How's your arm?" He wondered.

"It's okay now. J-just jostled." I shrugged, indifferent.

"Good, just look after yourself, Nova. Please." He murmured, coming close to stand beside me. "Beta Charlie will be in charge, Sean will be here too."

"You're going alone?"

He smiled gently. "No, I will have a few warriors with me."

I almost whimpered. "Will you be okay?"

He chuckled, pushing a stray hair of mine behind my ear. "Nova, I appreciate your concern. But what you seem to forget is that I am the Alpha of the strongest pack in the world."

I blinked away from the mate fog and realised; he was right. The six-foot mass of highly weapon-aided, the trained muscle was real. Not a scary story. A King's Alpha of the warrior pack.

"Now go, Molly will wait for you at lunch." He smiled softly. "You missed out on the wolf spars, but I assume you do not mind that considering it is not safe for you to shift."

I nodded and gave him a parting glance, memorising the moment before I left his office quietly.

************

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