Hope for my Future

Chapter Five

Nicole

The moment I opened my eyes on my fifteenth day at Barrow, I knew it was going to be a tough day. I dragged myself out of bed, gave short answers at breakfast – even to Lily – and was beyond glad when both of my 'roommates' rushed out the door and left me alone.

I threw on some active wear and went straight to the backyard, but quickly found that it wasn't enough. I needed a bit of aggression today, to hit and take a few hits of my own.

It was time to check out the training grounds.

I strode out of the house and through the pack grounds. I had never been to the training facilities before but didn't need directions; it was the biggest building here, outside of the three-story pack house. This was a small pack, and most of the buildings were close together, a little village tucked into the endless forest. I found it cute, in a good way. Barrow was obviously a large, extended family, with less emphasis on rank and order than either Glenborne or Haven had exhibited.

I entered the training grounds, crossing the field where they trained as wolves, finding it empty at the moment. The sprawling training building was also quiet as I stepped in, and I felt a twinge of frustration.

"Are you lost?"

I heard a voice echo across the open space of the gym. I turned to the area where weights were neatly stacked and spotted a man. He wasn't overly tall, but his broad chest and bulging muscles showed obvious strength. He was in the process of sliding barbell weights into a rack and didn't bother looking at me even as I studied him.

"No. I was looking for someone to spar with."

"You've come at the wrong time, then. Most people are at work at this time on a Monday."

"Oh." I hesitated, wondering whether to try and burn off some of this tension on the treadmill or with weights of my own. "Why aren't you at work, then?"

He chuckled as he stood up straight, finally turning to look at me. He was older, maybe in his mid-forties, and he had black hair with speckles of grey and light brown eyes.

"I'm the Luna; I set my own work hours."

My brows lifted; this was Rachel's mate? I found it hard to imagine such an easy-going, gentle Alpha mated to this gruff, brawny male. He stepped forward, holding out a hand.

"I'm Andy James. And you're Nicole Hamer. Nice to meet you."

Of course, he knew my name; I must be an oddity around here. Another thing I was fairly used to from packs. I smiled wryly as I shook his hand.

"You, too."

I turned away, heading to the treadmills, but his voice stopped me.

"I'll spar with you, if you like. You look like you could use it."

I felt a smile tilt my mouth as I nodded at him, and we moved to the dark blue mats in the centre of the gym. I studied him; he was obviously very strong, so force wasn't going to take him down. It threw me a little; I was too used to fighting other females, all of whom had been trained by Az. Including me.

We shuffled around each other a little, assessing, before Andy decided to make the first move. Adrenaline kicked through me, already helping me to feel better. And we were off.

***

I lay on the mats, chest heaving, my opponent sitting beside me with his arms loosely wrapped around his knees.

"You're some fighter, Nicole," he wheezed out.

"Thanks. You are too." I was right about his strength. I'd been okay so long as he didn't touch me, but when he landed a blow it really, really hurt. I was sure my body was already coming up in a few dark bruises.