Awakened at Last

Chapter 4

After a few hours of sword training, my arms and back ached terribly from the weight of the sword. Every time Valerie swung her blade, I blocked and swung back, finally being able to hold myself upright after each swing. My teeth ached from clenching my jaw, my bones vibrated from intercepting each blow, my hands blistered from holding onto the handle, but I stayed upright, a feat I was sure damn proud of.

Listening to my body's needs, just as I had promised Axel I would, I took a break and began  walking over to the water dispenser. Valerie followed, starring in Axel's direction. I glanced at my familiar, Ryder was teaching him how to get out of a werewolf hold.

Axel had ditched his shirt hours ago, leaving his nice toned tattooed body on display. I smirked as I saw Valerie's eyes taking him in.

"He's gorgeous, isn't he?" I asked as I filled my water cup.

"Your mate?" she gave me a pointed look, I chuckled lightly.

"My familiar. The one you've been eying all morning" I grinned, to hell with Grey's advice to butt out. When it came to Axel, I just didn't know how, apparently he didn't either.

"I'm just watching to make sure the idiot doesn't get himself killed, because that would upset you, not that I give a shit, but if you are upset, then Greyson would be upset and that,  I do care about" she rolled her eyes at me.

"You don't have to play the ice queen with me Val. Axel is my familiar and best friend. I am very aware of how unfairly gorgeous he is. To top it off, he's one hell of a male; funny, smart, caring, protective as hell and athletic. All around catch. So stop beating around the bush and make a move" I took a drink.

"If he's so damn perfect then do us a favor and go fuck him, so Greyson could get rid of the trash and I wouldn't have to pour hours into training your ass. We are done for today. I need to be somewhere in half an hour" she snapped before walking off back to the arena, leaving me laughing at her denial.

Val was a bitch, I knew that. She couldn't say much at this point that she hasn't already made clear. She was only training me because her Alpha asked her to. She still hasn't referred to me as her Luna and I could care less about it. I just wanted my familiar to be happy and for some reason, the damn dope liked her.

I sat down my cup and glanced up to see Bryse leaning against the entrance of the center, trying his hardest to pretend he hadn't just heard our entire encounter. I twisted my lips to the side and slowly made my way over to him.

"You never could get along with other females, could ya?" Bryse, teased. I shrugged and laughed awkwardly.

He wasn't wrong, I just never found a girl I really vibed with, Harper was the closest thing, look how that turned out. I just hated how much he still knew me, I was supposed to be different, I was supposed to have outgrown the old me. But here I was, the same girl in new skin, rehashing the same old insecurities.

"I guess some things never change" I  swung my arms nervously at my sides trying to avoid eye contact.

We trained nearly every day but every conversation between us was always short, always to the point. Bryson had tried on several occasions to rebuild the burnt bridge between us, but I didn't see a point of revisiting a side I had already mourned the ashes of.

"You ready? I was thinking we could try out something different today" he gestured for me to follow.

I turned back to see if Axel was coming, only to find him in an intense boxing match with Ryder. I know he'd give me shit for not telling him I was leaving, but a part of me wanted him to enjoy not having to watch over me every second. Plus, just this morning he was insisting on me letting shit go with Bryse, this was me giving that a shot, in my own way.