Skinwalker - Completed

CHAPTER 36

(Rylie's POV)

"Stand up!" Hunter shouted at her.

Rylie glared at him and rolled her eyes. Just her luck. The man who hates her and wants to kick her out of the pack is the one training her.

Where is Aly? She hasn't seen the blue-eyed since yesterday. Apparently, she's out patrolling yesterday and now too. Now Hunter and Kelly are the ones training her for combat.

Even in the cabin, Aly had been avoiding her. It's like she got the place all to herself. When she sleeps. She didn't see Aly coming in or out of the house. She tried to stay awake once, but she couldn't stay up for long. So, she never really saw Aly.

She groaned. Her back is aching, and her jaw too. Hunter punched her real hard on the face like he was making up for that time. She gets off easy with the elders. And she didn't even land a punch on his rough face!

"I said get up!" Hunter held her under her arms and forced her to stand up.

Rylie winced and sucked in her breath. She stood up and dusted off her pants, but Hunter swung his long legs at her.

Thank goodness she was able to step back and glared at him. "For goodness sake! I am dusting my pants off! Can't I take a break!"

"The wolf inside you won't wait for a time out. Now. Swing that hand and feet at me!"

Hunter motioned for her to come forward. Rylie spitted out the blood gathered on her mouth on his face. He recoiled and swiped his face with his hands. Rylie took that opportunity to punch him in the stomach and face.

Kelly hooted. "That's good!"

Rylie looked at Kelly, smiling. "He said the wolf is not up for a break---"

She smiled when Hunter swung at her with his fist, and she was able to avoid it by taking a step back.

"Whoah!"

"Yes, and I mean it! That's a good one. At least you are learning." Hunter smirked at her. "But I am still pissed that you spitted on me. I'll get you for that!"

His form came to her, and as he kicks aimed at her head. She ducked down, waited, and sprung at the right moment and punched his face.

Rylie gritted her teeth from the pain she felt in her knuckles. She punched Hunter so hard, and his face felt like a hard stone. She looked at it and winced when she saw that her skin was torn.

Shit!

"A-Aw!" Hunter clutched his face and looked at her after checking his hands with blood. "Ok... Aly trained you really well. You are a fast learner. I admit that."

"Yeah, she's pretty badass, and we need to take a break now." Kelly stepped in between them and nodded at her. "You are looking good, Rylie. The first time you came here. You don't even know how to fight."

Rylie felt her heart swelled. Her face suddenly feels hot, and she knew she looks flustered. She cheekily rubs her eyebrow. "T-Thanks."

But she didn't get off quickly, though. She has bruises on her face, and her lip is busted too.

"Well... you can continue your research in the library if you don't have anything to do but if you are bored of the clouds of dust and wants to learn more about combat. Come find me in my cabin. I can train you in guns and swords."

Kelly winked at her before putting her arms around Hunter's shoulder to take him away. Rylie watched them walk away and shook her head.

Kelly's right. She doesn't even know how to fight. But they taught her how to.

She has a community of friends now. Everything changed for her.

"That's a good one."

Rylie sucked in her breath when she saw Aly. She was smiling and had her arms crossed her chest.

She felt like she was punched in the gut as she saw those blue eyes again. Her heart started pumping really fast, and her breathing began to slow down. She swallowed and avoided Aly's eyes.

"Yeah? I thought you don't want to ever see me. After that......that thing between us." She furrowed her eyebrows to make herself calm. "Why are you really avoiding me, Aly?"

She can't hide the hurt in her voice, and she coughed to get rid of the awkwardness she felt.

"I-It's not about you. It's me, Rylie. I---"Aly shook her head and looked at her. "I need to tell you something, but it has to wait until the full moon. I can't let you worry."

Her temper flared. She doesn't really get pissed off quickly, but her werewolf doesn't really like that idea. "Why? Do you think you had the right to decide what I should worry over?"

Aly must have felt her anger. She backed away, holding her hands in front of her. "I-I know it will piss you, but I don't have any excuse. I just had a secret I am keeping from you."

"And that explains why you are avoiding me? If that is really something about you. Then you shouldn't avoid me!"

"Rylie.... calm down, ok?" Aly closed her eyes and sighed. "Please just----let's just get over the full moon, and I will tell you. Promise."

"Whatever. I'm going to see Kelly."

She bumped Aly's shoulder and walked off to Kelly's cabin. If Aly doesn't want to tell her. Fine. She can really use some distance with Aly anyway. She just can't control her emotions with Aly anymore. First, she lusted and is crushing on Aly, then the next, she's seething in anger and frustration because she can't read Aly's mind.

--------------------

"Hey. I thought you would come by later." Kelly opened the door for her. "You're bored, aren't you?"

"No. More on pissed off."

She crashed on Kelly's sofa and bowed her head down.

"Who pissed you off, Hunter? If it is him, I could----"

"No. It's Aly. She said that she's avoiding me because she doesn't want me to know something." Rylie looked up and meet Kelly's eyes. "Why is she avoiding me, Kelly? Please tell me if you know anything."

Kelly winced and looked conflicted for a moment. "Well, it's not my place to tell you, love. Aly is Aly. She does her own thing, and I am here for support."

"Well, any idea at all? Maybe I pissed her off on the night of her birthday. A-And that one time she smelled my desire...I-I----"

"It's ok, love. You are new to this thing. You will learn. You are a natural." Kelly tapped her shoulder and stood up.

"Let's go blow off your steam somewhere. It will do you good."

Rylie smiled. "Thanks, Kelly."

"No problem, Love. It's one day before the big ceremony, after all."

She stood up and followed Kelly out the backside of the cabin. And she gasped when she saw rows of guns, sword, and bow on the side of a wall.

"Good stuff, right?" Kelly smirked and admired the weapons on the wall. Then reached out to take a rifle out. "This one is a hunting rifle. Remington Model 700. Manually operated bolt action with two forward dual-opposed lugs. The bolt face is recessed to fully enclosed the base of the cartridge------"

"Kelly. I don't need the history of the gun. I just need to know how to use them. Remember?" Rylie interrupted Kelly's rumbling.

Kelly's smile broke into a wince. "S-Sorry. I'm just passionate about guns."

Rylie smiled and tapped Kelly's shoulder. "It's ok."

Kelly nodded and taught her how to handle the gun, and they started shooting the cans Kelly put up far from them. Rylie has to hit the target from 4 meters from where they are standing. She was beginning to get the hang out of it.