I Dare You

six

"CLEO I REALLY THINK YOU should go to the pack doctor." Wyatt says from behind me as I tighten the laces on my combat boots.

I roll my eyes, but he can't see me. He's been going on about the stupid cupcake for almost 2 hours. I tie the other boot and stand up straight, turning to face him as I start to braid my hair. "I told you, I'm fine."

Something in the way I said that didn't seem to resonate well with him. It didn't sit well with me either, I didn't believe myself.

'You're not fine. You're furious.'

Cali tries to extend her claws but I hold her back.
  
'Don't fight me on this Cleo. You know you're not fine. You can feel it.'

I swallow the nausea I feel rising in my chest. I can feel my face pale only a little, but not enough to raise suspicion. I use the back of my hand to dab at the cold sweat that has formed at my hairline. I am not missing a training day, especially when I can feel the fury radiating off of me.

Wyatt stares at me with a look of concern. I playfully punch at his arm with a small smile. "Ready for me to kick your ass?"

His look of worry doesn't go away. I roll my eyes again, this time very obvious so that he can see me do it.

"I'm fine! I promise." I grab his hand and pull him up off the edge of my bed. "Now let's go. I am itching to fight someone."

•••

I'm flying through the air before I'm slammed down hard up against a mat lying on the floor. Wyatt kneels above me, pinning me to the ground.

"Goddess Wyatt." He lets me up and I rub the back of my head.

"I'm sorry." He mouths to me so that the trainer doesn't see him apologize. We are not allowed to go easy on anyone or feel bad for beating them in a fight. Wyatt has never won against me, ever.

"You're a little off your game today Cleo." Patton, the trainer, says with a raised eyebrow. "Everything okay?"

Wyatt looks at me with worry waiting for my answer. I raise both of my arms up and shrug.

"I said I'm fine. Can we please just drop it already?"

I start to feel a little faint, but I brush it off. Blinking my eyes a couple times to clear my blurring vision. "Let's go again. I could do this all-"

And then everything turns black and I feel myself hitting the mat for a second time today. Someone catches my head and pulls me close to them. I recognize Wyatt's warm cinnamon scent and that's the last thing I remember before becoming completely unconscious.

•••

I open my eyes and stare at white.

White walls.
White floors.
White ceilings.
White blanket that covers my warm body.

I kick it off, but realize I am no longer in my training clothes. They have been replaced by a white, backless hospital gown. I try to sit up but the IV in my arm pulls me back.

"Seriously?" I try to sit up again but the needle in my arm doesn't allow me to.

Wyatt and Pete burst into the room and rush to my side. The pack doctor follows them in, but with less urgency.