Fated For Two

Like Walking On A Tight Rope

It has been two weeks since I arrived here. Since the council meeting, Felix sat through things seemed to have calmed down throughout the pack. There were still a few who disagreed with their Alphas and I didn't blame them, they were just looking out for their pack and their families. I had spent the last two weeks getting to know everyone better as well as finding a place in the pack. Almost everyone either knew or assumed that I would be their Luna, which was something the two Alphas and I hadn't talked about since we left the cabin I had called home.

"Hey, Astra? Wanna head over to combat? I hear the instructor is gonna be pairing up for Jiu-Jitsu." Silas asked as he ran towards me, followed by Willow and Finn. The three fae had quickly become my best friends. Their sister, Scarlett, was a bit untrusting of me but I never pressed it. They are elemental fae, Silas is a wind elemental, Willow is earth, Finn is water, and Scarlett is fire. "Yeah, sure. I wouldn't miss it." I said when they reached me. They were constant bursts of energy, a combination of joyous emotions and mischief.

Finn linked his arm with mine as we headed toward one of the dojos that were situated on the far side of the pack grounds. Silas and Willow walked ahead of us, trying to get ahead of the other by either tripping or pushing the other, both laughing hysterically all the way there. Finn was the calmest of the four, though he did enjoy the odd chaos here and there.

By the time we arrived at the open-spaced dojo, there were already at least twenty people circled around the mats. The four of us found a space at the front of the third set of mats, waiting for the instructor to begin. "Quiet!" He shouted, causing everyone to stop what they were talking about and focus on him, even the wind seemed to hold its breath. The man, who I knew to be Alex Thorn, son of Councilor Thorn, was tall and muscular from years of training. His very presence announced to everyone that he thought himself to be superior, taunting, and arrogant, just like his father, both of whom were the best Delta wolves in the pack, which they used to their advantage.

"Instructors Tomin Cannon and Dawn Swithe will be helping during today's training. We will choose six of you at a time, pair you up and help you harness and hone your skills in a combat situation using the Jiu-Jitsu style." He said before nodding towards Tomin and Dawn, who stood to his left to start off the training. Tomin took the first set of mats and called two people to join him. Dawn did the same in the second set while Alex stood in the third set.

We all held a breath as he called out a wolf named Rider Shawn and then myself. I stepped onto the mat along with Shawn. Alex stood next to me, his back turned to everyone as he whispered, "Let's see if you are as weak or dangerous as my father thinks you are." He sneered before shouting, "Fighters take your stance! Begin!"

I waited for Shawn to make the first move, deciding to take up a defensive position. He charged towards me. I lunged to the side as he moved past me. I waited for him to attack again. Dodging his swings grabs, and swipes faster than he could catch up. I could tell that he was getting frustrated, his punches only hitting the air around me. I planted a few blows to his body, my legs knocking him down eventually with a sweep to his legs. Before he could get up, I was on top of him, landing a clean blow to his jaw and another to his cheekbone which knocked him out cold.

I stood up as two medics came onto the mat and dragged him away. "Is that the best you could do?" Alex spat. "Is that the best you've got?" I replied. He growled lowly before calling another onto the mat. It wasn't long until he too was out cold being dragged away. Alex sneered, calling another two onto the mat. It took a minute longer than the last one but the two also ended up being dragged off the mat. "You have proved nothing, you will be nothing, and certainly not my Luna." Alex hissed. "Let's see if that's true." I challenged. The crowd around us had grown larger but everyone remained quiet, watching intently as Alex circled me as if I was easy prey.

"Prove me wrong then, Luna." He spat before throwing a punch that hit me square in the jaw. I stumbled back slightly as he laughed in delight. He landed a roundhouse kick to my chest, causing me to fall hard on my back. "You are too weak to be my Luna." He spat. I pushed myself onto my feet, which he swiped out from underneath me. I felt my body heat up, my fist clenched tightly as my very soul vibrated with anger and my blood felt as if it was boiling. I rose to my feet once more and faced Alex.

"The difference between you and me is that you pretend to be strong, to take advantage of everyone around you, you prey on fear and provoke weakness because it makes you feel powerful," I growled out, punching him hard in the jaw. He stumbled but never fell. "You are only tall because you make others feel small." I kicked him in the chest, punching him a few times before he fell. With every punch, I felt my anger toward him grow. I stood over him, "Look at me!" I shouted at him, which caught his attention. He struggled to stand, instead, he sat on his knees. "You are a small man. Not better than anyone and a lot worse than you think you are." I said, my hand threading through his hair as I gripped it in a fist. He looked up at me just as I punched him in the face, over and over and over until I dropped him to the ground. "I was never weak. But I will be your Luna and you had best keep that in mind before presuming to know anything about me." I said, while he just whimpered in a small ball on the floor.

I walked off the mat as the medics rushed over to Alex. I made my way through the crowd and towards the pack house, trying to let go of the anger that had taken over. I was so lost in thought, trying to process what had just happened, that I didn't notice Felix calling out to me. I gasped when I felt him grab my arm, spinning me around to face him. "Felix..." I sighed as I sank into him. "Are you okay love?" He asked, his arms wrapping around me, holding me safely against him. "Just hold me," I whispered.

Minutes later, I pulled back slightly, his arms still around me. "I heard what happened..." He trailed off. His eyes searched my face as he waited for me to speak. "I don't know what came over me, different instincts took over. It felt like I wasn't in complete control but still sitting behind the wheel," I said. I felt him let go of me and watched as he took a step back. He was putting distance between us, not just physically. I could see it on his face, he had hidden every emotion, looking like a blank canvas.

He and Calin had been avoiding me since the meeting Felix had with the councilors, since the conversation I overheard between them and Thorn, whose son was just beaten. They didn't trust me and I can't blame them. I don't trust myself at times. Perhaps they are starting to realize Thorn was right about what he said. It would just be a matter of time before I would either be hunted down and killed or kicked out of this pack I now had considered home. Or worse, sent back to my old pack so they could deal with me as they pleased.

"Was it all a lie? Everything you've said, everything you've done...Was it some sick game?!" I shouted at him before pushing his chest. "Some twisted joke and I'm just the fool who fell for it all!" I shouted, pushing him again a bit harder this time. "How far were you willing to go? Until you could, what? Control me? Use me? Imprison me until you knew just what to do with me?!" I shouted in pained frustration. "I should have known from the start that all this was too good to be true. I should have known. I fell in love with you two..." I trailed off as the anger drained out of my body, leaving me feeling exhausted.

Felix took a step closer to me, his hand holding my arm gently. Felix was always gentle and calm, like a soft rippling lake, and like Felix it held depths of secrets he would never shine a light on. And I so badly wanted to see him in his entirety, I wanted to know all of him just as much as I wanted to know Calin, who showed more temperamental emotions to hide what she was truly going through. Not that she would ever tell anyone what was really going on inside her. Felix and Calin were polar opposites with glimpses of similarities. Like hot and cold, and I couldn't tell you which one I wanted more.

"None of this is a lie, not a joke or a game. And you are no fool. We love you, and fell for you the moment we saw you. Look at me Astra," He said gently. I looked at him as he smiled softly, "I love you. We kept our distance because we didn't want to pressure you into anything you were not ready for. We wanted you to find yourself in the pack, to be comfortable and feel welcome. We never meant, I never meant to hurt you. Can you forgive me?" He begged.

I grabbed the front of his shirt, pushing him against the wall before replying, "I will if you'll do the same and forgive me." I watched as he glanced down at my hands still gripping his shirt, at our bodies pressed together. He looked at me, his green eyes growing dark as he wrapped his arms tightly around me before he pressed his lips hotly against mine. I groaned into him as he took control of the searing kiss. His lips branded mine, his hands roaming freely over my clothed body. His kiss was addictive and all I wanted was more. More of him.