The Long Lost Tribrid

16. Wolf Training

Hope's Pov:

I stood in the center of the training arena, my heart pounding in my chest. The circular space was surrounded by a sea of faces, all eyes fixed on Landon and me. The air was thick with anticipation, and I could feel the weight of expectation pressing down on my shoulders.

Landon stood opposite me, his usually cheerful face now a mask of concentration. We'd been friends for years, but this was different. Today, we were opponents, thrust into a world neither of us fully understood yet.

The king's voice boomed across the arena, "Begin!"

For a moment, neither of us moved. I caught Landon's eye, seeing my own uncertainty reflected there. We were both new to this - the raw power coursing through our veins, the heightened senses, the struggle for control. Being a werewolf was still foreign to us, a wild, untamed force we were only beginning to grasp.

Landon made the first move, lunging forward with newfound speed. I barely had time to react, my body moving on instinct rather than thought. I dodged, feeling the rush of air as he passed me. The crowd gasped, and I realized how much faster we were moving compared to our human selves.

I spun around, facing Landon again. He was already recovering, turning to face me with a determined set to his jaw. We circled each other, our movements fluid and predatory. It was strange, feeling so in tune with my body yet so out of control at the same time.

"Come on, Hope," I heard someone shout from the crowd. "Show us what you've got!"

The encouragement spurred me on. I feinted left, then quickly changed direction, aiming a punch at Landon's midsection. To my surprise, my fist connected with solid muscle. Landon grunted, stumbling back a step, but he recovered quickly.

He retaliated with a series of quick jabs. I blocked most of them, but one caught me on the shoulder, sending a jolt of pain through my arm. It was stronger than any hit I'd ever felt before, a stark reminder of our newfound strength.

We continued to exchange blows, our movements becoming more fluid as we gave in to our instincts. The world around us faded away - the shouting crowd, the watchful king - until it was just Landon and me, locked in this primal dance.

As the fight wore on, I felt something stirring inside me. A wild, untamed energy that threatened to overwhelm me. I could see the same struggle in Landon's eyes, the battle to maintain control.

Suddenly, Landon's eyes flashed golden, a low growl escaping his throat. For a moment, fear gripped me. Was he losing control? But then I saw the panic in his eyes, mirroring my own emotions.

In that instant, our roles shifted. We were no longer opponents, but allies in a shared struggle. I reached out, grabbing Landon's arm, anchoring him to reality.

"Focus, Landon," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the roar of the crowd. "Remember who you are."

His eyes met mine, recognition slowly returning. We stood there, panting, as the wild energy inside us gradually subsided. The arena fell silent, the tension palpable.

The king's voice cut through the silence. "Enough!"

As if broken from a spell, I suddenly became aware of our surroundings again. The crowd was murmuring, a mix of awe and concern on their faces. Landon and I stepped apart, both of us trembling slightly from the exertion and the near loss of control.

The king approached us, his expression unreadable. "You both show promise," he said, his voice carrying across the arena. "But you have much to learn about control. That will be your next lesson."