The Power Within

Chapter Nine

What the hell was I thinking! Physical training is not easy or for the faint-hearted of people. Malcolm has me running ten laps around the training area, which is about three miles in one lap. Yes, three miles in ONE LAP. After I complete that then comes the weight training, which again, is not easy. Doing bench presses, dead lifts, squats with weights, kettle bell swings, and pull-ups. My body has been sore for days.

We started three days ago. Malcolm wanted to see what I was capable of before coming up with a training plan. After eating lunch and discussing what I wanted to gain from his training he took me out to the training field to test me. I thought I did great. I didn't realize how fast I could run now that I have my wolf or how strong, weight wise, I really was, but he told me otherwise. I didn't run the three miles in less than five minutes; I ran it in seven minutes. Also, my max weight lift was 120 pounds and he said I should be able to lift double that being a werewolf, most of his female warriors could lift around 320 pounds, which is crazy, I know. But being a werewolf, we are a lot stronger and faster than humans and this proves it.

After that test, he told me we would meet every morning at 7 AM sharp to start training and train for five hours until lunch time. For the first month I will have the afternoons to regroup and rest but after that first month I will train for three hours in the afternoon. I honestly do not think I will be able to do that, but he says after the month is up my body will be stronger and I won't be as physically tired as I am now. Hopefully this is true.

Luna Teresa and Shelia took me shopping for clothes that day after I did my little training session. I needed clothes to workout in and also everyday clothes. We spent four hours shopping. I hate shopping and I hate it even more now because these women know how to shop till you drop. We went in every store at the mall and they made me try on everything. I now have 15 pairs of jeans, all colors and shapes, 30 tops, 10 dresses, casual and dressy, also five days worth of work out clothes. They made me get four pairs of sneakers, six pairs of high heels, four pairs of flats, and six different sandals. I seriously have no idea when I will wear all this clothing, but they insisted I get it all and they paid for it all.

"OK that's enough for today Hailey," Malcolm tells me.

"Oh thank god," I say breathing hard. My whole body feels like it is going to break apart. I am sore all over, I can hardly walk off the field, so I lay down to rest my body for a few minutes.

"Here, drink some water," Malcolm laughs at me while handing me a bottle of water.

"Thanks," I say sourly to him.

"You are progressing well Hailey. You should be proud of yourself. Today you did three miles in six minutes and 15 seconds. That is a huge improvement from three days ago. Keep it up," he tells me with a smile.

"Really?"

"Yes really. Keep it up and you will be ready for warrior training in no time."

"Wait, this isn't warrior training? Ugh, what am I doing?" saying the last part more to myself than Malcolm.

"You are starting training," he laughs, "everyone has to start somewhere and this is how we start all trainees. You are doing great Hailey. Don't second guess yourself, OK?"

"OK. Whatever you say boss man."

"Go and soak in an Epsom salt bath for 30 minutes. It will help with the sore muscles and we will continue tomorrow."

"OK." I say to him dryly. I slowly try to get myself up from the ground and fail terribly. Malcolm laughs but takes both of my hands to help me up. Once I am steady on my feet he gives me a pat on the shoulder to send me on my way. The pack house is about a mile and half from the training field, but I can make it. Well, that is what I keep telling myself. A bath is calling my name and I have to get there. The worse part of it all is the stairs to my room. Two flights of stairs after doing 200 squats are hard to do. My legs want to give out but I know by morning I will have healed due to my wolf speedy recovery time, only for Malcolm to bring me back down.

Finally making it to my bedroom, I go straight to the bathroom to run a bath. The Epsom salt is on the edge of tub from yesterday and I pour it in the hot water. While it is filling I strip out of my sweaty clothes and step into the tub.

"Oh the power of hot water and salt. Take the pain away my darling." I say to myself as I close my eyes to relax.

When I notice the water is cooling down I think about it being warmer and how relaxing warm water makes me. As the temperature was rising I realized I was causing this. I haven't been practicing my water powers yet; only my wind. Cassandra wanted me to master one element at a time to get better control over it.

"How is this happening?" asking myself to try to figure it out.

"You were thinking about the water temperature and it made it happen. Remember our powers are linked to our emotions and mind. Whatever to feel or want to feel will happen. You have to cautious of this Hailey," Cassandra tells me.

"OK. Sorry I wasn't really thinking about that." I state as I am getting out of the tub. I don't want to cause myself to boil before I have even found my siblings or mate. Drying off with my towel; I walk to my closet and stare at all my new clothes. Not sure what to put on because I don't think I want to go do anything today. I need a break from all this training. My mind and body need a break; at least every now again it needs a break. Deciding casual is the best option; jeans and a t-shirt. I get dressed and head downstairs to the living room.

As I enter the living room through the dining room I hear people talking, more like Shelia and another woman. I don't know who she is or what they are discussing so I make my present known because I don't want to be ease-dropping on them.

"Hello Shelia," I say with a smile towards her and wave to the other lady.

"Hello Hay, this is Monica. She is one of the pack doctors," Shelia tells me.

"Hello Hailey. It is good to finally meet the newest member or soon-to-be pack member," Monica says while reaching her hand out towards me.

"Nice to meet you Monica," I say while shaking her hand. She is a beautiful lady. About 5'8, tan, slender build, brown straight hair, and crystal blue eyes.

We continued small talk for about an hour until it was time to start making dinner. I decided to help make dinner today. I never really cooked before but I am welling to learn how to. Shelia was cooking today and told me she would show me how to do things.

"OK. Have you ever chopped vegetables before?" she asked.

"No."

"Well then, I will show you," she says as she grabs a few cucumbers, peppers, and onions. "First rule is, don't cut yourself! Always cut away from you and do it slowly since you never done this before. Like this." Shelia shows me how to slice each vegetable slowly and carefully before handing me the knife to try it. I did as she showed me and I thought I was doing well until I looked at how uneven all the slices were.

"That will do. Not perfect but good for a first timer. Now on to the chicken and steaks."

She showed me how they seasoned each one. Chicken does not get the same seasonings as the steaks because they are two different meats. Chicken goes in the oven to be baked and the steaks are cooked on the grill along with some of the onions. I will admit everything smells delicious right now. I couldn't believe the amount of food we were cooking and how little each person actually did. It didn't take long for everything to be completed and dinner was being served.

It was a meal we all enjoyed. There was small talk going on all over the dining hall. Mates loving on each other at times; and lots of laughing at different stories that were being told. It was peaceful and enjoyable. Something I could get used too, for now at least.

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Author's Note

Sorry this was more of a filler chapter then anything. I needed her to have some training and interactions with other pack members. Sorry for it being short as well, but again it was a filler.

Stay tune for more updates and things are about to heat up for Hailey ;)