Training day

I woke up feeling a lot better than I had the day before. Getting up I got ready for todays training session. The house was busy with everyone gearing up and heading off to the field. It wasn't long until Alice came to find me.

"You ready? We're sparing today." she had a wide smile at the thought.

"I was born ready." I pumped my fist getting caught up in her enthusiasm.

We walked over to a larger area than we had before, there were more people surrounding what looked like a make shift arena. In it two warriors we're sparing. They moved so fast, avoiding the others attack almost in the same instance it is given. I was in awe in the strength they both exhibited. Watching carefully I studied their moves.

"This looks like fun." Fallon said in the back of my mind excited to get in the ring.

"Alright everyone, whos next?" the one warrior said as he flipped the other one on his back. He flashed a bright smile at the crowd challenging someone to step up.

Just as excited as Fallon to put my new skills to test I stepped into the rink. He smiled at me before he helped the other guy back up. I recognized him, he was a few years older than me, he was one of the beta's sons.

"Are you sure you want to try?" he said sizing me up " I wont take it easy on you." he crouched down in a ready stance.

"I would never ask you to." I smiled widely as I matched his position, Fallon coming forward just enough for me to use some of her strength.

He came at me fast looking to strike my side but I parried at the last second for him to land it. I turned gaining momentum for a round house kick to his chest. He looked surprised at my movements. In all honesty so was I. Alice was cheering loudly for me on the side lines.

"Okay, everybody gets one." he came for me again except this time I stepped to early letting him land a punch to my ribs.

"Oof." I gasped as the force from the punch nearly knocked the wind out of me.

With out giving me time to recover he was coming at me again, except this time I was ready. He went to kick me square in my jaw but I caught his foot inches from my face. With a smile I threw all of my force and power into flipping him backwards. He landed with a thud on his stomach, jumping back up he started growling. His eyes were fluctuating between his and his wolfs but I remained calm as he charged me.

He tackled me sending us both to the ground. This time the air was completely gone from my lungs. He was about to throw a punch when a powerful growl stopped him. Everyone parted letting Finn through to the now larger group of people. He looked at us his anger clear on his face. The warrior was still sitting on top of me when he finally reached us.

"Get off of her now." he roared at him, "Dean get the f*ck off my mate." his growl getting deeper as he didn't move.

"I... I'm sorry young alpha. I didn't know.." Dean got off of me, Finn stuck his hand out to help me up but I ignored it.

"Dean was it? Thanks for the match. I learned a lot." I said as calmly as I could still catching my breath and walking past the furious young alpha.

The crowd lit up with murmurs as they realized who I was going to be. Most of them bowing their heads as I walked by. Annoyed I kept walking past all of them in search for Val. I could feel Alice behind me protectively but she managed to keep her distance not wanting to upset me further. It didn't take me long to find Val, she already knew what was up when I got there.

"Oh hun." she said sadly taking me into a hug.

"I.. I just don't understand him." I sighed letting go looking at her.

"Me either babe, but this can't keep happening. I can't keep being yoyoed around." I rubbed my face trying to rub some of the stress away.

"Well on the bright side that was AWESOME!" Alice said as she walked up to us, "You were amazing! I haven't seen anyone knock Dean down like that. He was pissed." she doubled over from laughing so hard.

"Really?" I said happy for the momentary distraction.

"Yeah, you were great! It takes some warriors years to get to that level of skill and its only your second day. Remind me to never get on your bad side." she patted me on the back. "Umm... The young alpha is on his way, Val we're supposed to go." she said her eyes slightly hazed over as she got the command through the link.

"Will you be alright?" Val asked me the worry set deep in her face.

"I suppose it was going to happen sooner or later. I might as well get it over with." Sighing I sat down in the grass trying to calm down before he got here.

They left me, both looking more nervous than I felt. When he walked up his face was way to calm, all the anger from earlier faded into something different. Sitting next to me in the grass he didn't say anything. Both of us let out a haggard breath neither of us sure what to say. I couldn't help but start to get angry at him and his audacity.

"So Jess.. she seems... nice." I said not even trying to hide my anger.

"No she doesn't..." he said in a small voice, was he even going to apologize?

"I thought we were doing okay.. I thought you may have actually liked me.." I said my chest heavy with a tear threatening to fall again.

"She was an old fling. I'm so sorry Dali, it was a misunderstanding." he pleaded with me finally turning to look at me.

"You let her stay.." my voice shook as I said it. He was silent, Fallon growled at his response. "You don't care about me at all. The Moon goddess was wrong when she paired us." standing up I went to walk away but he grabbed my hand stopping me. The sparks from his touch almost melting my resolve away. He looked like I had just ripped his heart out, how dare he act like he's the victim here.

"Don't say that please." with his thumb he rubbed circles on my hand, the warmth was amazing. Stupid mate pull.

"Than what am I supposed to do when ever I see you with another. Huh? Just suck it up?" my voice came out louder than I expected. "And what was that back there? I was training." I was yelling at him, it felt so nice to actually get it off of my chest.

"He was going to hurt you, and you don't want to know what he was thinking about you." he growled at what ever image passed through Dean's mind.

"NO. You don't get to get mad at someone who didn't even know who I was when I caught you on your bed with some b*tch." This time it was me who was growling. Fallon just as pissed at him as I was. "You haven't even said sorry. Do you actually feel any regret or am I just some toy to you?" I ripped my hand away, the coldness took over where his warmth had been.

"You know what... I'm.." he hung his head, for some reason it just made me even more angry.

"Forget it and just hurry up and reject me." squaring my shoulders I faced him ready for it to finally be done. "You've already hurt me enough." I let one tear fall unable to keep it in any longer.

"I'm not going to reject you Daliah." he said using that soft tone he had used with her. "But I'm sorry... Its not easy to apologize as an alpha." he tried to reach over but I backed away.

"So you didn't want to apologize because of pride?" I laughed at that. "You do realize that if you keep this up... I will reject you." I said crossing my arms. The pain of just saying it stung, no longer able to fight them my tears flowed freely.

"Dali, please don't cry." He moved to fast for me to avoid him, wrapping me up in his arms. Why is it that him comforting me made me feel better but it was him who hurt me to begin with.

I struggled to get free but he just tightened his hold on me. At some point I stopped relaxing as the warmth took over. He let go of me just slightly to pull back and look at my face. His green eyes looking determined. I stared back at him not sure what to say. Did he actually mean his apology?

"I promise you mate, I will never be the cause of your tears again." he let go kneeling in front of me bowing his head.

"So what does this mean for us babe?" the voice came from the one and only Jess.

"It means keep your hands off of him or I'll.." Finn stood up catching me noticing Fallon had taken over.

"It means no more surprise visits. No more us." he said calmly. She made a pouting face at his words. I let out a powerful growl surprising her, almost causing her to stumble backwards.

"What ever, but she'll have to live knowing I've already had her mate, and so has many others in the pack." she laughed walking by us. Her words getting right under my skin because I knew she was right.

My rage was building up again, maybe it was more my jealousy taking over me. Fallon was still growling in my head as the girl walked out of sight. I knew his past but for it to be brought up so casually. It stung knowing he had been with others before but I knew this, why only when she said it did it get to me.

"I'm sorry." he said, I guess it was getting easier for him. I rolled my eyes.

"I knew your past. I'm not stupid..." siting back down I started plucking blades of grass out trying to contain myself.

"I know.. I have an idea.. Lets train, work off that anger at me." he perked up at the idea.

"Fine." I wanted to let go of it but what better way than sparing with him.

We walked back over to the circle where everyone had been earlier. There was Dustin and Alice sparing in it. Surprisingly Dustin was having a hard time keeping up with Alice's speed. It wasn't long until she had him beat, and helping him up. I saw Val comfort him as he walked out of the Zone. Finn lead me back into the sparing area crouching down into a fighting position.

"You got this hun!" Val called out causing me to smile.

I matched his stance but instead of waiting for him to attack I rushed him. Side stepping he avoided my initial attack, quickly I shifted my balance trying to throw a jab at his chest. He swatted my punch away with one hand smiling at me. Fallon still angry with him came forward to help me land something. We danced around each other, him blocking my attacks with ease. He kept smiling bigger at my attempts.

"Your not bad." he said approvingly ducking one of my kicks.

"You ain't seen nothing yet." I let out a low growl getting ready to use the gift the goddess gave me.

Quickly I backed up and with that same energy I mustered the other day I shadowed my presence. He threw a right hook, I was able to silently duck below it my feet moving faster and more silent than even before. Once I was behind him I jumped on his back, putting my hand gently around his throat.

"I win." I whispered in his ear. The crowd burst into a mixture of gasps and cheering.

"Yes girl!" Val and Alice screamed over the noise of everyone in shock.

"How did you do that?" he asked as I got down from his back.

"I am an alpha in my own right Finn." I said quietly as he turned to face me. I couldn't tell what he was thinking but was interrupted by my bestfriend.

"That was awesome!" she squeaked as she pulled me out of the ring. "How did you do that?" she lead us over to where Dustin and Alice had sat down.

"You really are something else." Finn said almost lovingly. "You know your the first opponent that has ever beaten me." he plopped down next to Dustin doing a small hand shake.

"About time." Dustin joked throwing a light punch at his arm. "But that was some ninja stuff." he finished nodding in approval.

"If you had told me today was your first day sparing I would never have believed you." Alice chimed in happy with my progress.

"When you just appeared behind him that was wild. I couldn't even see you, you were moving so fast." Dustin looked at me expectantly, "Well you going to tell us how you did it?" he looked like he wanted to be able to do it too.

"What can I say its a gift." I laughed, his face fell into a frown.

"Oh stop it babe, your a great fighter." Val cooed as she sat next to him. Alice laughed under her breath, it was hard to not smile at that.

Finn watched me almost like he was waiting for me to come sit beside him but I didn't. Just because he apologized doesn't mean all is forgiven. His face fell when I sat across from him instead. Alice was coaching Dustin about their match, letting him know where he could step up his game. They talked for a bit before one of the service staff came out to tell everyone training was over and it was time to eat. We all walked together to the kitchen, the table was already half full when we got there.

"Its nice out, did you just want to eat at the picnic tables out back?" Val asked us.

"Yeah that sounds good, it'll at least be quieter." with that we all grabbed our plates and headed out.

"We don't have much longer with this fall weather. Soon it'll be winter." Alice sighed playing with her food.

"I personally love the snow." Dustin said taking a bite of the burger he grabbed. Val smiled at him, I already knew she loved the snow more than any hot sunny beach.

The goddess made a perfect pair with them. Me on the other hand maybe not so much. Sighing I looked over to him but he was gazing off into the distance. Maybe someone needed something? Pushing my salad around my plate I thought back to her words, how were we supposed to break a curse together when we can barely understand one another.

We talked as we ate our food, soon enough the staff came out to collect our plates. Val and Dustin headed off to her house, and Alice had a few patrols this evening so she left with them leaving us alone. We sat there awkwardly for a couple minutes.

"Well this was nice." I stood up and stretched my arms.

"Yeah, did you have something you needed to do?" he said nervously getting up with me.

"I think I'd just like to head in for the night." I said about to walk away but stopped, "Will you walk me?" he smiled walking around the table.

"Of course." he smiled sticking out his elbow for me. With a little laugh I took it and we headed towards my room.