Little Red

Chapter 8

The next morning, two sharp raps from the hallway make me turn.  Taking one last look at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, I nod before opening the door.

Today is my first day of training, and possibly the most important day of all.  Because today, I would see most of the pack warriors.  Not only that, but I would make my first impression.  Being an alpha's daughter comes with it's own stigma - everyone expects you to be the best of the best, and it's important to not let my parents or Eli down. 

They believe in me and spent years preparing me for this very moment.  

I will make them proud.

I spent some time yesterday doing basic exercises in my room.  Missing a day of training wasn't ideal, so I did some of the smaller reps that Eli taught me.  It's as though he knew I would need those lessons for this very moment.

First impressions are everything, so I decided to wear my favorite training suit.  I almost pack some of my weapons, but decide against it for the first day.  For now, I want them to see what I can do without them.

On second thought, maybe just the daggers.  It's better to expect the unexpected.

Since my hair is so short, I don't bother tying it up.  It falls just above my shoulders, complete with bangs that rest above my eyes.  The dark color along with the blunt cut gives me a more serious look.  When I first cut my hair, Myles claimed that I looked ruthless.  That's exactly what I need today.  

~~~~~~~~~~

I was 9 years old when I learned the most important lesson of all. 

It was a regular Tuesday afternoon at school.  I was on the play ground sitting on one of the swings.  Since the day Eli decided to train me, I had grown stronger, faster, and smarter about battle tactics.  However, mom forced him to keep it age appropriate, claiming she wanted me to enjoy my childhood.  

I remember daydreaming about the newest lesson Eli had in store for me, as I waited for Myles to get done with class.  We were supposed to walk home together.

Suddenly, something slammed into my back, knocking me off of the swing into the sand.  I instantly knew it was no friend.  I looked up sharply at my attacker.  Standing above me, with a cruel smirk for a child, was Bryce Jones - the Delta's son.  He always thought he was clever.  

"How's it going, weakling?" He asked.  

His two idiot friends laughed like it was the funniest joke in the world.  These boys were all the same - throwing around their weight and doing things to impress each other.  My mother said they would eventually grow out of it, but I didn't believe her.

My temper flared, but I tried to reign it in.  Alpha blood always rises to a challenge, but I didn't want to do anything rash, knowing my parents would be worried.  I schooled my face into a bored mask as I rose from the ground, ignoring my bleeding knees and palms. 

"What do you want?" I asked in a flat tone.

He gave me a hard look, calculating. "

Why are you sitting over here alone?  No one wanted to catch your wolf disease?"

I grit my teeth.  I hated that word and he knew it.