The Hidden Luna

Chapter Eleven

The next morning, Asher ducked out to see his father, leaving Scarlett to the wolves – literally. Carter led her to the backyard where there were people training, Scarlett supposed that would be the appropriate word. They were off in pairs doing some sort of hand-to-hand combat. She arched a brow. "Please don't tell me we are doing that."

Carter shook his head. "Negative. To be honest, there is no way to prepare for the first shift. The only thing I can help you with is letting you know how it will happen."

"So, training like that is useless?" She asked as they approached a table where someone was waiting with orange juice and pancakes.

Carter pulled out a chair and gestured for her to sit. "Not completely useless. It's important to keep up with healthy living when you're a werewolf. The weaker you are, the more painful it is for you to shift. Your first shift will hurt regardless, so right now, it's not crucial for you to train."

"That's comforting," Scarlett replied, my lips in a thin line.

Carter opened his mouth to reply but the man sitting across from them interrupted. "What he means is, before your first shift, it's best if you rest. The training will come later." He reached across the table and held out a hand. "I'm Zion."

"Scarlett," she replied, taking his hand. Scarlett inspected him as she did so. He looked to be a little bit older than Asher and her, probably early twenties. He skin was sun-kissed and had sandy blond hair and incredibly blue eyes.

"I thought Zion would be best to speak to about this," Carter stated as she pulled her hand away. "He was in a similar situation."

Scarlett cocked an eyebrow as she poured an unhealthy amount of maple syrup on her pancakes. "So, his best friend and her brother were murdered and got bit by presumably the same werewolf that did it?"

"Uh—" for the first time ever, Carter was at a loss for words. His phone chimed and he jumped up. "I need to debrief the watch crew. I'll be back."

Zion and Scarlett nodded our heads, saying our goodbyes.

After, Zion shook his head. "Not exactly. I wasn't born a werewolf, I was bitten."

Scarlett stopped pouring the syrup and looked up at him. "How did it happen?"

"Camping," he replied. He took a sip of orange juice before he continued. "I wandered off from the site. I was thirteen."

"That's horrible," she whispered. "What did you do after?"

Zion scratched his head as he pondered over what to say next. "It was rough at first. My family didn't know what was happening to me. I went through my first shift by myself. It wasn't until the Alpha found me that I knew what was happening to me. He took me in and I've been a part of the pack ever since."

"The Alpha? You mean Mr. Argent?" Scarlett asked, her voice laced with distaste. She cut a piece of pancake and chewed it slowly.

Zion chuckled at her tone. "Alpha Argent can be a little...intense. But he means well. He just wants what's best for the pack, even if it means for him to act like a complete douchebag."

She let out a snort. "Tell me about it."

Before Zion could reply, a fight broke out between two of the people training. They threw their gloves off and lunged at each other, yelling profanities as they did so. Some other guys who were training tried to pull them apart, but it seemed to make things worse. Tearing her eyes away from the scene, Scarlett looked back at Zion, who seemed unfazed. "Shouldn't we do something?"

"Nah," he replied, grinning to the point his canines were exposed. "This happens a lot near the full moon. We have a hard time controlling our impulses."