Moonbound

Chapter 3: Preparation

"Freya, honey, wake up."

A soft voice pulls me from sleep, and I instinctively pull the covers tighter around myself. "Mmm... I'm tired. Don't want to get up. Go away."

Mom laughs gently, but she tugs at the blankets. "You need to get up. Your father has decided on an early morning run and training session before you leave."

My eyes snap open, and I groan, rolling over and trying to bury my face in the pillow. "What? He didn't say anything about this last night! I planned to sleep in. My bags are already packed, Mom."

She tugs harder, pulling the blankets away. "No rest for the daughter of an Alpha! And you know how he is about schedules, especially now that you're heading off for more training."

I sigh, accepting defeat. "Fine. I'll be downstairs in ten minutes."

"Make it five, and I'll have some bacon waiting for you," she offers with a laugh before she leaves.

Bacon, Athena murmurs eagerly.

{You're always thinking about food,} I reply, yawning as I climb out of bed. I quickly dress in my training clothes, pulling on a hoodie and running pants, and make my way downstairs. The smell of bacon is already wafting through the air, pulling me along like a lure.

As I reach the kitchen, I sense my mother's presence near the stove. I move toward her, and she presses a piece of bacon into my hand. I grin, taking a bite. "Thanks, Mom."

"Now hurry, before your father comes in here and drags you outside himself. You know how impatient he can get."

"Yeah, yeah," I mutter, chewing quickly before heading out the door.

Dad's waiting for me, and I can feel his energy even before he speaks. "Took you long enough."

"You didn't tell me about this last night," I grumble, stretching my arms over my head to wake myself up fully. "I wasn't prepared."

"Life won't always give you a heads-up, Freya. Adaptability is a critical skill." His tone softens a little, and I sense a bit of pride in his voice. "Today, I want you to really push yourself. The training with Alpha Killian is going to be intense, and I want to make sure you're ready."

I nod, centering myself. "Okay, in human or wolf form?"

"Human first, wolf later." He gestures toward the path leading into the forest. "Let's start with a run, and then we'll move to the training grounds."

I settle into a steady pace beside him, listening to the quiet sounds of the early morning forest. The earth is cool and damp underfoot, and the faint smell of dew mixes with the scent of pine needles and earth. Running with my father feels like a familiar ritual, a reminder of simpler days when I was just a young girl learning the basics of strength and agility.

{Athena, you with me?}

{Always. Let's show him what we're made of.} Her voice fills my mind, steady and reassuring. I can feel her energy surge as we pick up the pace, moving through the forest with fluid ease.

After an hour of running, we arrive at the training grounds. Dad has set up a familiar obstacle course, and I can almost hear the smirk in his voice as he speaks. "Today, I want you to complete the course in under twenty minutes. Yesterday, you took twenty-two. Think you can handle it?"

"Make it seventeen," I reply, confidence warming my voice.

"Alright, go!" he commands, and I take off, my muscles tensing with the effort.

I close my eyes, letting Athena guide me. The first challenge is a set of heavy bags that swing toward me, and I duck, letting the rush of air pass overhead. I follow up with a sharp elbow to the back of another bag, twisting around to deliver a high kick to the next. The bags sway and rattle as I make my way through, feeling each one move before it strikes.

{Behind you, left,} Athena warns, and I pivot, blocking a swing with my arm and returning a punch to where its "gut" would be.

Each movement feels more fluid, more instinctive, as Athena and I work in sync. By the time I reach the wall near the end of the course, I'm panting, but my body moves automatically, scaling it with practiced ease. I drop down on the other side, where a figure waits to engage me in combat—Dad.

He doesn't give me a moment to catch my breath, coming at me with quick, calculated strikes. I block, duck, and counter, feeling the satisfying impact as I land a hit. He presses forward, forcing me to retreat, but I recover, sidestepping to regain my footing.

Finally, he calls, "Time!"

I stop, breathing heavily. "How'd I do?"

"Sixteen minutes, thirty seconds," he says with a note of pride. "You've come a long way, Freya."

I grin, and he claps a hand on my shoulder. "You're ready. Let's head back so you can prepare. Alpha Killian will push you even further."

As we walk back toward the house, he explains more about the training I'll face. "Alpha Killian's methods are a mix of techniques—martial arts, conditioning, and strategy. You'll be learning a variety of styles and shifting between human and wolf form frequently. I expect you to give it everything you've got."

"I will, Dad," I say, determination hardening my resolve. "I'll make you proud."

"You already have, Freya," he replies quietly. There's a note of pride in his voice that makes my heart swell, and I feel the weight of his hand on my shoulder as a reassuring presence.

A few hours later, I'm in the back seat of the car as we drive toward Alpha Killian's pack. I start to settle into the rhythm of the road, breathing deeply as I try to clear my mind. I close my eyes, attempting to meditate, letting the vibrations of the road fade away until it's just me and the quietness within.

Slowly, I slip into a vision.

I'm standing in an open field, my feet sinking into cool grass. Around me, there are children laughing and playing, their voices echoing like distant memories. I feel a warmth beside me, a presence that fills me with a profound sense of love and peace. I reach out, my hand brushing against a strong, familiar arm. The scent of pine and earth surrounds me, grounding me, and I lean into the warmth, letting it fill me.

{Athena, who is this?}

{Your future,} she replies softly, as if the answer is both simple and sacred.

The vision fades, and I feel a sense of loss as the presence disappears. But I also feel a quiet hope, a certainty that my journey is leading me somewhere significant.

I open my eyes as the car slows, my heart racing with anticipation. We've arrived.

We step out, and the cool air brushes against my skin. Alpha Killian is waiting to greet us, his presence exuding an energy that is both calm and commanding. I hear his voice, strong and welcoming.

"Alpha Sam, it's good to see you again. And this must be Freya," he says, his tone warm. "Welcome. We're looking forward to working with you."

"Thank you," I reply, feeling a surge of excitement mingled with nerves. I can sense the power of this place, the potential it holds for me to grow and learn.

Killian leads us into the packhouse, where I'm introduced to his Luna, Sarah, and his Beta, Max. They greet me warmly, and I feel a sense of belonging settling over me. These are people who have faced their own battles, who understand the challenges that lie ahead.

As we settle in, Killian explains what I can expect over the next few weeks. "We'll start early each day with meditation and conditioning. Then we'll move into more intensive training—martial arts, combat drills, and strategy sessions. By the time we're through, you'll be more than ready for any threat that comes your way."

I nod, my determination hardening. "I'm ready."

And as I stand there, feeling the weight of the necklace against my chest, I know that this is the beginning of something new. I'm not just training for myself—I'm preparing to fulfill the destiny that the Moon Goddess set before me.

The future may be uncertain, but I am ready to face it, no matter what challenges lie ahead.