The Alpha Selection

♔ Chapter 7 ♔

Today was the first day of my intensive training. Liam had me run two miles, which was a little difficult considering that I haven't been very active since I graduated two months ago. He pushed me hard, making me lift weights and exercises designed to build stamina before showing me a few combat moves.

"Liam, I need to take a break." With the back of my hand I wiped the sweat that was dripping from my face, and looked at Liam expectantly.

"Fine, but for the record my enemies won't give you a break. At least not one designed to give you relief." I could tell he was trying not to sound bitter as he said that but his eyes betrayed the true fear he felt. This was why he would be pushing me hard, he wanted me to be able to protect myself just in case I was somehow attacked.

I take a seat on a chair set near the corner of the basement that had been turned into a home gym. Liam takes a seat next to me, gulping down a whole bottle of water easily.

"I have faith that it won't come down to that." Liam's lips curve upward slightly after I give him an exaggerated kiss on the cheek.

"It won't. You won't be anywhere near the danger." I was a little upset by him wanting to keep me in some type of bubble while he was off facing sudden death. It's like he didn't think I was capable of defending myself at all.

"Well what will you have me do then?" I fold my arms and lean back onto the wall awaiting his response.

"My brother Gabriel can show you how to do basic first aid like cleaning and wrapping up wounds. Plus, we need someone to help keep track of how much supplies we have." He says.

"I guess..." I take one last sip of water and push myself back onto my feet.

"Nira, please. This is my only compromise."

I roll my eyes, trying to hold back a biting remark. "Whatever. Are we done for today?"

"Yes. I think you need to cool off. I'll see you tomorrow same time."

The next two weeks passed by quickly with me spending hours conditioning and training. I was nowhere near the condition I had been in back when I was a high school athlete, but I guess that was due to inactivity.

Things with Liam should have been getting better since I stopped giving him a hard time about fighting alongside him, but instead he's become increasingly distant. I wanted to think that it was because it was getting close to departure time, but I knew that it was more than that. I could feel it.

"So we're leaving tomorrow night. Is this everything?" He says as he motions towards the two duffel bags full of clothes and other necessities. I nod and he sighs.

"What? Is it too much?" I ask.

"No, it's fine. I'll take them upstairs and then we can go out."

"Go out? We're not sparing today?" I ask while pointing to the sparring mat behind me.

"No, we're going to rest up today. We're going to need our energy for what's to come." Liam gives me a swift kiss on the cheek before grabbing my bags and exiting the basement."

I take a seat to wait for Liam in the empty, windowless room and in the silence I really thought about what was about to happen. I was seriously about to go to war and it scared the hell out of me. I've heard too many stories about people who gone to war and returned maimed or mentally unstable.