Chapter 1

Bellona's POV

Walking up to the forest edge I am sure to keep my steps quiet and unnoticed, not the easiest task when the ground is littered with twigs and leaves. I can hear my heartbeat in my ears as I reach the edge, finally able to see the warriors’ train. I can see Jeremy and Kevin circling each other. My excitement begins to rise as I watch the two men in front of me. Jeremy rolls his shoulders, bouncing on his toes, and shaking out his hands, never taking his eye away from Kevin.

Watching Kevin, I notice his back muscles flexing and relaxing, his jaw tense, and his hands twitching in front of him.

Suddenly, Jeremy steps forward and swings his right leg towards Kevin's ribs, Kevin's muscles tense as he jumps to dodge Jeremy’s attack. The smack and sound of a groan prove he was not quick enough. My fingers start twitching and I can feel the energy just from watching the two men go back and forth, each attack resulting in my jumping from the anticipation. Suddenly, both men stop, I watch as their eyes fog over, after a few moments they both nod their heads and get back into their stances. I wonder what that was about? Jeremy lunges for Kevin. Kevin drops to his knees causing Jeremy to fly to the end of the training ring where I am hiding. Just before Jeremy hits the ground, I can hear bones cracking, my eyes widen, and I let out a scream before turning on my heel ready to run.

Before I can even take a step, I am shoved to the ground by a large brown wolf. Raising my head, I roll to my left to dodge Jeremy. I jump up and take off before he can catch me. I dodge the many fallen trees that litter the forest floor. I can hear him catching up to me. I go to jump over another fallen tree when I land straight on my face. Jeremy grabs my shirt between his teeth and drags me back towards the training field. The twigs and rocks on the ground nip at my bare legs and feet, leaving behind little cuts that I am sure will bruise.

As we approach the training grounds, I spot my grandfather. I can feel the large smile on my face as I start wiggling around, free from Jeremy's grasp I take off running towards my grandfather.

"Grandpa!" I screamed as I jumped into his arms.

"Ah! There's my little warrior! Sneaking away to the training grounds again I see." He says giving me a pointed look.

"Sorry Pawpaw... I just really love watching the warriors train." I mutter sheepishly, staring at the ground.

"Yes, well, you are supposed to train with the other 13 to 14-year-olds you know this." He points out.

"Come on grandpa they are ignorant! Plus, I have already beat them all!" I cry. "I just don't understand why you don't let the instructors move me up to the 15 to 16-year-olds you kn-"

"Because I said so!" he cuts me off. "Now we are not having this conversation again. understand?" he asks me with a look that says, 'don't push it'. But what can I say, I'm a pusher.

"NO! I don't understand I am ready for this and it's stupid to keep me behind!" I shout.

"Bellona Leighann! That is enough! I said no and that's final!" he bellows.

"Fine! But I'm not forgiving you for this! You are making a mistake!" I scream with conviction.

'How can he do this to me?! He knows I'm more than ready, and how much this means to me'

'Calm down bell, he's just angry. Plus, you know he worries about you.' Figures my wolf, Hera always has an opinion.

'Really Hera? he's been do-’

‘BELL DUCK!’ Ducking my head, I take on a fighting stance as a knife grazes my cheek. Growling I take in my surroundings waiting for the threat to present itself. Dropping to the ground I watch another knife buzz over my head and wedge itself into a tree. Jumping back to my feet I carefully scan the area where the two knives came from. My heartbeat is in my ears, my fingers are twitching ready to take down whoever is toying with us. I feel a dull pain in my left side as I am thrown to the ground. I roll onto my back, pressing my heels into the attacker's chest, kicking with as much force as I can. Standing back on my feet a take in my attacker, male, 6ft, scruffy beard. Taking a deep breath, I pick up the ashy smell he carries.

“What do you want rouge?” Knowing he can hear the disgust at the word, I prepare myself for his attack. Growling, I notice his right foot move ever so slightly, He lunges. I step to my left, bringing my elbow down onto his back. Getting back into stance I can see the fire in his eyes, his teeth clenched and white knuckles. I hear it before I see it, a knife clips my ear, splitting it at the top. My growl is murderous as I look at the filth in front of me. Lunging for me again I grab his leg with both hands, squeezing, SNAP! Dropping his broken leg, I grab his throat, the fear in his eyes satisfies me. I extend my claws, grabbing his throat. I silence his pleas with a satisfying CRACK of his neck.

"Rouges have trespassed our borders. Women and children to the packhouse. Warriors report to the south wing of the packhouse." one of the warriors sent through the mind link. Yeah, no shit sherlock. I roll my eyes and head towards the packhouse.

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I can finally see the packhouse after 20 minutes of fighting my way through rouges that tried to take me down. I ended up shifting to stay at an advantage against them. With my fur coated in blood and my lungs heaving for air I begin closing in on the packhouse, where my grandfather and the other warriors are fighting off the last of the rouges. Then, I see it a large burgundy wolf, creeping in the shadows, watching everything unfold out of anyone's line of sight. In slow motion, as I shift back to my human form he jumps, going straight for my grandfather's throat.

"NO!"