Little Red

Chapter 39

Demitri's POV

This morning, I woke up early to prepare today's battle lessons with Derek.  It was hard to drag myself away from my sleeping mate, but I forced myself out of bed.  The threat looms on the horizon, and I want it to be over.  My wolf remains restless, eager for bloodshed and vengeance.  I, on the other hand, am ready for the calm on the other side of the battle.  

There really was no point in pretending that there wasn't something big looming on the horizon.  Once this was all over, I could spend long mornings in bed with Ara.  That was the motivation that spurred me on this morning.

Every wolf capable of fighting is here, creating a much larger crowd than usual.  I can feel the unease of the warriors as they wait for instruction from myself and Derek.  I'll be glad once Samuel returns, since he's better at teaching than me. 

Derek walks over, distracting me from my thoughts.

"Ready, Alpha?"  He asks.  His expression is weighted, and it seems as though we all feel the dread of battle.

I give him a sharp nod before walking closer to the group, ready for a long day of fighting.  Thankfully, Samuel and I drew up a few plans before he left, and he said he would keep working on them at Blood Moon.  

I call everyone to attention, and all conversations end as everyone looks to me for direction.  My wolf becomes prideful at the sight of his obedient pack members.

"Today, we're going to learn more techniques that will be useful in battle.  Pay close attention.  Myself and Derek will demonstrate the moves for you, then you will have a chance to practice.  So partner up and shift."  I command. 

The next two hours are spent fighting.  Wolves bite, charge, and pounce on each other.  I'm impressed by how quickly they pick up the techniques we show them, and the majority of have already mastered it.  Derek is telling them to switch partners when a new presence catches my eye. 

My large black wolf pads over to Freya's side, away from the group.  I don't bother shifting back to my human form, knowing she can hear me through mind-link.  I've never asked how she can do it, since she's not technically my pack member, but I suppose it's another perk of being a phoenix. 

"They look good."  She says casually, staring out at the different pairs.  

I glance at her from the corner of my eye.  

"They catch on quick."  I respond through mind-link.

She hums in response.

For the next few minutes, we simply stand together and watch on, not bothering with words.  

There's a solemn look in her dark brown eyes as she speaks again.

"Samuel called earlier.  Ara said he's coming back tomorrow."  She says, and I catch the weird undertone in her voice.  "He sounds well."  

"It killed him when you left."  I tell her.  I don't bother to mask my honesty in the link, and I see her jaw tick beside me.  "It took him months to come to terms with it.  And another year or two before he was back to himself."  I say bitterly.

Her eyes close tightly before she reopens them slowly, and the brown swims with specks of orange.  

"Where did you have to go that was so important?"  I press on, determined for answers.  

"Demitri," she warns lowly, but I keep going.

"No.  You left us after being gone for years!  So I think we deserve to know where you went."  I growl.  My wolf shakes his head uneasily at my behavior.  I know I'm playing with fire, with something unknown and dangerous.  But I can't help myself.  Samuel and I were devastated both times, and now she's reappeared as if she never left.