14. You Raise Me Up.

In the hot steam of the sauna, the mood remained somber after I shared my story. I could feel telepaths probing my mind.

Wulfe spoke to me, "We are currently constructing new holding tanks and a system for your rage. It is inflamed, and Mariella needs to cleanse it. She will then return it to you, but in a whole new state of your mind where rage can be stored, given away, or used if necessary. There is no risk of it exploding."

I nodded in understanding.

Colin and Magnum stood up and suggested, "While they are occupied in your mind, let's go to the pool and swim a few laps. This will give us an idea of your fitness level and capabilities. You too, Princess."

Magnum gave Mariella a sharp look. She appeared slightly surprised, but she, Elena, and Katherine all stood up and left Damon and Wulfe alone in the sauna. Though I wasn't in the mood for exercise, I understood it was necessary. I knew my body well enough, and even though it would be difficult, it was true that a healthy mind lives in a healthy body. If I wanted to heal one, I had to take care of the other.

The motivation was there, almost. I hoped that one day, my body would allow me to be lazy without fear of losing my fitness. But then again, I had grown accustomed to being active. It just wasn't in my nature to be stationary all the time. My body was meant to move. 

We made our way to the pool, and without letting my lack of fitness get to me, I jumped in. I knew I had a long way to go in terms of speed and technique, but I was determined to do what needed to be done. Starting off slowly, I could hear Magnum's voice in my ear, constantly critiquing and reminding me about my technique. According to Magnum, having perfect technique was crucial, as it would determine how long my body could last, regardless of how fast I could go.

His favorite saying was, "You're not an Olympian in a show pool. You're a survivor trying to swim back home."

He wanted me to have good enough technique so that if I were ever stranded in the middle of the ocean without a boat, I would have the stamina and skill to swim ashore. It seemed like a tall order, but I was up for the challenge, even if I wasn't in the mood. 

To my surprise, I wasn't the only one receiving instructions. Magnum walked along the pool, instructing others as well. Colin stood nearby, giving his opinion on the matter. Just as I was getting into my rhythm, or what Magnum saw as a shadow of my former glory, he became even more demanding. He had no intentions of going easy on me, and I knew I needed a firm hand, not coddling, to improve. 

To my further surprise, Damon and Wulfe joined us. It seemed like a comical situation, with four instructors for one person. My sarcastic mood was clear as I rolled my eyes while swimming.

Wulfe had suggested to Damon that it would be beneficial for him to learn how to keep Mimi and the others in shape. It wasn't an easy task, as it required a sharp eye and a snappy tongue to address any issues that arose. As Damon entered the pool room, his attention was immediately drawn to the four females swimming, and Magnum barking orders at them.

Damon couldn't help but notice that Mimi, in particular, was doing exceptionally well. She had a decent speed, and her flawless perfection was evident in how her body moved. Despite her slender appearance, Damon could see the rippling muscles beneath her skin.

In Damon's mind, Magnum said, "If you want to understand what I'm aiming for here, use your eyes. Let's start with Mimi. In swimming, we aren't athletes competing for gold medals and trying to be faster than others. You can see Elena and Katherine attempting just that. However, we need proper technique. I'm trying to make sure Mimi remembers this. When your technique is flawless, it's not about speed but about stamina and fitness. In a tough situation, you don't need speed, but rather fitness. Just think about it."

Damon replied, "What do you mean? Speed is definitely important. You have to challenge your body."

Magnum responded calmly, "First, let me explain my favorite scenario. You're on a mission, traveling across the ocean. Don't try to change the scenario, just go with it. So, you're on a mission in the middle of the ocean, and let's say bad weather or nature strikes, causing your ship to sink. You can't teleport, the only thing you can do is swim. Now, do you need speed or endurance? It doesn't have to be the ocean, even a large lake is enough. My point is to have a technique that you can rely on to get out of there, not just speed. Put an Olympic swimmer in that situation, and after a few miles, they would exhaust themselves. But someone with supernatural abilities and the correct technique would reach the shore safely."

Damon grunted, thinking that he could come up with ten different ways to get out of the water, but Magnum had a point. The technique was necessary.

Magnum said, "Let's focus on Mimi here. Come on, walk this way and observe her. Look at her strokes, her kicks. I can tell you, she's a clever one."

Damon couldn't find many faults in her technique and wasn't sure what Magnum was referring to.

Magnum pointed out, "Look at her left shoulder, compare it to her right. It rises a bit more and twists a little too much. That's intentional. She's overexerting her left side, so she'll have a decent cramp soon enough and go back to resting in the sauna. She's not in the mood to give her best."

Damon noticed it and said aloud, "Baby, stop overexerting your left shoulder. I see it, stop it. Now, that's better. You better not try that again, missy!"

Colin grunted in surprise, not expecting Damon to be so assertive in this situation. 

Magnum turned to Damon and began, "Moving on, let's start with Elena. What seems to be wrong with her technique?"

Damon glanced at her and compared her to Mimi as he replied, "Her back is strained, she's kicking with her knees instead of her hips, her strokes are reaching too far, and she's trying to prioritize speed over stamina."

Magnum nodded in agreement, prompting Damon to correct Elena as well. She obediently tried to improve.

Turning his attention to Katherine, Damon spoke tersely, "Pull up your core. Your belly is bulging. Look at Mimi and keep your body straight. Don't let your abs loosen up. And remember, this isn't a competition. The fastest doesn't get a medal but ends up burning themselves out."

Magnum grunted happily, and Wulfe seemed satisfied. This would be another new experience for Damon and the pack. It would make him a better leader, coach, husband, and lover. It was beneficial for him to witness how Mimi and the others pushed themselves to improve.

Moving over to Mariella, Damon positioned himself in front of the pool and advised, "Darlin', if you continue with your strokes like that, you'll burn out in ten minutes. Ease up, relax your arms, and glide through the water. Don't fight against it. Let your legs propel you and use your arms to guide you. Keep your abs tight, straighten your spine, and initiate movement from your hips."

Meanwhile, Magnum continued barking orders to Mimi. It was important for everyone to receive the same level of coaching, not just Mimi. Magnum and Colin's idea of including others was proving to be successful in this setting.

After ten more minutes, Mimi and the other females paused to catch their breath. Mimi climbed out of the pool and sat by the edge, letting her legs dangle in the water. She appeared tired, but Magnum seemed relentless in pushing her, not allowing her much time to rest.

As Magnum continued to harass me, I reached my breaking point. My mind was overwhelmed by everything, and the intense swimming had exhausted me mentally.

So when he demanded that I get back in the pool, I stood up and firmly said, "No, I'm tired, and you don't get to order me around right now! I have rights here, and I want to take some time to relax. Since I'm not working anytime soon, I'll focus on getting fit without pushing myself into exhaustion every single time you try to assert your power over me!!!"

I basically screamed at him, surprising not only him but everyone else as well.

I continued, "I'm still recovering. This situation is far from ideal, and if you think it's just about experiencing fleeting emotions, you're mistaken. I'm tired of pretending to be strong and capable. I'm not some superhero; far from it. So, find someone else to bother!"

I took a deep breath and felt the need to express myself further. "I just need some relaxation. I'm also grieving here. I don't need any more negativity, especially when it comes to criticizing my technique. It's exhausting and unhelpful. You could try offering constructive feedback, but instead, you're being destructive. Well, guess what? I'm not going to just brush it off and do as you command!"

I walked away, not wanting to listen to any explanations. My mood was swinging. I walked angrily under the showers, turned on the water, and suddenly, it hit me. Standing there naked, the water brought painful clarity as memories of Jake and Rob washing me flooded in.

It plunged me into a state of depression, and I couldn't help but cry. I let the water flow over my head, through my hair, as tears streamed down my face. I leaned my hands on the cold tiles, my shoulders shaking from the pain that tore through my soul. But I knew how to keep it from bleeding all over the bonds of the pack. I wasn't exactly sure why I was crying. Was it just because of Rob and Jake, or was it because of what happened with Bella and that damn story? My mind was a mess, and I was a sobbing, shaking mess under the shower.

Damon and the others stood by as Mimi screamed at them, and the females got out of the pool. The swimming lesson had ended, and it was time to come up with something new. Mariella thought this would be the perfect time for her little game. She sensed Mimi's mood and wanted to keep her distracted. So, she explained the plan to the men, and Damon smirked, eager to participate.

Mariella had yet to divulge the details. She simply said, "Next up, as number six or whoever it was told me, how you would one day make me try to identify you by your dicks. Well, we girls come first. So, there will be a spell that hinders you from seeing our faces or bodies, except our pussies. And then you have to taste us, trying to deduce who is who. You can use your mouth and your hands, but not above our hips."

Wulfe tilted his head, looking to Katherine, who smiled, but Elena was hesitant. She didn't have much experience with men eating her up.

Mariella said, "Easy, four men, four females, one of each, and you have ten minutes. Then you change partners and let's see what happens after you have all tasted everyone. It'll be fun to see where this leads. It's important for Mimi to have some fun in her life too, so make us squeal."

Magnum said, "Your wish is our command, princess. Oh, you betcha you'll scream, especially when I taste you."

Mariella added, "And one more thing, we don't know who is eating us up either, so I've cast a double blind date spell."

Colin shook his head, amused, and said, "You have some fun ideas there, princess. I'm all up for it. Let's see if we can coax Miss Springcove, who's currently crying her eyes out in the shower, into a better mood."

Mariella replied, "We'll go in first. You can have a powwow or whatever you plan, and I'll make sure Mimi is in the right state of mind for this. I'll let you know when we're ready."

She and the other two women briskly walked from the poolroom to the shower area, ready to entice Mimi into this fun play in the sauna. Pleasure was something Mimi needed, and she seemed timid. Mariella guessed that her funk and this damn syndrome still had a strong grip on her, making her believe she didn't deserve any pleasure in her life. Soon, it would be a new time for her, too.

Time to flood her brain with all those pleasures and feel-good chemicals. Mariella hadn't told Damon not to use his fangs. She was pretty sure he had a way to identify Mimi, so he might use a little enhancer from his fangs to make Mimi explode, not from rage, but from pleasure. It might tire her out, and Mariella wasn't sure what would happen after this spa, but she wasn't planning that far ahead. She was learning to live in the moment and not put any pressure on the future. She had a few other ideas as well as why this would be beneficial for bringing Damon and Mimi together.