The Mark of Ankh (Book One of the Mark Series) (Completed)

Chapter 20 (Edited)

I stood in front of my pack and looked at them with a mask covering my face, making sure that no one could read my emotions. All eyes were on me, and I couldn't help but feel proud about this group of young woman because even though there were a few mild disputes, we were still a family and acted like one.

Two young men stood in the back, and I wasn't sure why my father had insisted on them being here to a female pack meeting. Yet, I couldn't do anything to the fact that both James and Blake decided to show.

I cleared my throat, stopping all chatter that was happening amongst the members about as to why I had called a pack meeting. "I want to inform you all that I am fine, even with the... untimely events that took place last night. I can not remember what had happened, but all I know is that there are other... myths that are alive as well."

"Did this have to do with the two men that tried to chase us?" Kate asked. "I knew that I shouldn't have left you alone." Guilt shone on her face, and I knew that she was upset with the turn of events.

"I am safe," I assured her. "You followed orders and that was to run."

Kate huffed but nodded her head. She better than try to disobey my orders, because I usually thought about the pack first before myself.

"Something dangerous is coming," I said, looking at my pack members. "I don't know what it is, but I do know that we have to be prepared." I glanced at my father who nodded. "I am calling for training two times a day for those older than 15 and then training one time a day for those younger than 15."

"What times?" Faith asked. "And is Taloo Pack going to train with us?"

I glanced at Blake and raised an eyebrow. I didn't know if they were going to train with us, but I knew that they would have to be prepared as well.

"Those older than 15 will train with the Soare Pack in the morning," Blake said, looking at me for confirmation. "The times will be up to Miney."

I rolled my eyes and grunted, annoyed with the fact that he still called me "Miney" even though he knew I hated it. "Alpha Blake will train with us in the morning at five sharp til seven. It will be held on my territory so that we will have space to move about. If that is all right with Alpha Blake." There were a couple of covered up snorts when my brother tried to hide back a groan. "The afternoon trainings will be at four in the afternoon sharp til six, and no one is to leave the house without a Warrior." I glanced around when I heard a couple of groans. "And no one will leave the pack house at seven in the evening. That means you better have everything done before training."

"Why are we training for four hours a day? I mean, we don't need it," Jo Anna asked.

"Technically, we do not know who we are facing as an enemy," I replied. "But, I do know that they might be just as good as fighters as we are if not better."

"That is why I am training my pack with the schedule that Alpha Miney has suggested," Blake said. "If this person is great, then we need to keep getting stronger and be prepared for whatever happens."

I nodded my head in thanks, ignoring the fact that he called me "Miney". "Are there any other questions?" I asked. I looked around at the others shaking their heads and smirked. "Good. Enjoy your last free night, and you all are dismissed."

***

The weeks flew by, and they were filled with heated arguments and a lot of cussing. Everyone's feelings were all over the place, and it lead to some scrimmages in the pack. This was probably because I had stopped evening pack runs, knowing that something bad might happen, and I didn't want my pack to go through anything.

Clarice came to one of the pack trainings, complaining that we were all so weak and how she hated being there. She didn't even understand why we were playing games like Dodgeball, stating that 'they will not make you better fighters'.

Faith "accidentally" threw the ball too far over our heads, hitting the tree beside her. She got Clarice to shut up, and I was proud even though I had to scold her.

But the most annoying thing was getting prepared to be wedded which was tomorrow. My mother had thought that it would be a great idea to come over every night and make a dress for me.

That lead me to the multitudes of being pricked by needles as well as becoming a manikin for my mother. I had to try on many dresses until we decided on a lacey dress, that I didn't even like.

"I'm bored," Kate said, flipping through a magazine for a veil, even though I specifically told them that I didn't want one. "Jaz, entertain me."

"Come over here and get stabbed like a fucking push pin cushion," I grunted. I yelped when my mother stabbed me the hundredth time. "What was that for?" I glared at her, causing her to raise an eyebrow.

"Language," she scolded, causing me to roll my eyes. She raised a push pin and narrowed her eyes. "Do you want to get stabbed again?" she warned, causing me to shake my head. "Good." She went back to pinning up the skirt.

"I think that Jaz doesn't need a veil," Kate said, tossing the magazine to the floor. "They are all too... ugly looking."

"Do you want a veil?"

"Not with all this lace of a dress," I replied, gesturing to it. "I think I have enough."

"Fine," Mom said with a sigh. "And I know that you don't want high heels."

"Nope," I replied, popping the 'p'.

"Hmmm. So, how is training with the young men going?"

"Good," I replied. "We're beating the boys most of the time. Kate's been defeating James."

Mom hummed and moved the dress. "Well, I think you are done." She gestured to the full length mirror. "Go check it out."

I huffed and walked to the mirror to look at myself in the dress. "I'm going to need heels," I grumbled, causing Kate to snort. I looked at myself, and I was shocked to see that I could clean up so good.

Butterflies flew around in my stomach, and I couldn't help but be nervous for my wedding day, hoping, no praying, that nothing bad was going to happen.

Oh, how wrong was I.