The Path to Love

Chapter 17: Training

After I awoke from a restful sleep, I readied myself for the new day. Snow soundlessly falls outside my window. For the first time in a long time, I feel no anxiety at the thought of leaving my room. My new closet is much smaller, full of casual clothes and just enough space for only what is necessary. I decide to search through the clothes and was surprised to find a door at the back of the closet. It was a mahogany brown door with a golden door knob.

But first, I changed into a light grey sweater and black skinny jeans. From my peripheral vision, I could see my reflection in the oval standing mirror in a corner of my room. It would take some time for me to get used to how I look and my new life. Avoiding the police should be easy, since I practically live off the grid. Avoiding Griffin would be much more difficult. Either way, I did not want to fill my mind with worry and tense thoughts.

My thoughts shifted to the oddity at the back of my closet, and so I walked towards it and carefully turned the doorknob. I was led to another room, that looked similar to mine. Except, the walls were grey instead of white and it was slightly more spacious. It seemed unused. Perhaps, it was a guest room. I looked around, not searching for anything in particular.

"Are you looking for something?" Caelan asked. He stood, shirtless beside a bathroom door, awaiting my response. I opened my mouth, but I spoke no words, initially. I was partially distracted by his athletic build and the fact that I entered his room without permission.

I replied with more confidence than I felt. "Sorry, I didn't know that anyone was here. I noticed a door at the back of my closet." I explained, pointing towards it. His eyes travelled to where I pointed at and he smiled, slightly.

"Our rooms are connected. When the house was built, Phoenix ensured that conjoined rooms were an added feature. Most of the rooms in the house are like that. It's mainly for emergency reasons." He explained, entering his bathroom and washing his toothbrush. I heard some slight clatter come from his bathroom and peeped inside to find him placing his toothbrush in a rack above the sink.

The window behind his bed suddenly illuminated the room, as the sun emerged from behind the clouds. For a late November, it was quite sunny.

"There is so much contrast outside." I spoke aloud. Caelan asked what I meant and I explained. " It's a cold and snowy November day and its sunny. The Forest seems like an enigma, devoid of life, but mysterious creatures can be found there." I answered.

"You are quite the poet." He smirked, as he exited his bathroom and walked towards his bed. He put on his black sweater and said, " I would be honored to listen to your poetic musings over a bowl of cereal."

As he spoke, he motioned for me to follow him out of his room. I accompanied him down the spiral staircase and we entered a different kitchen, a smaller and less grand one.

"The two lovebirds have finally decided to come downstairs." Thane announced with a wide smile. He was lifting some dumbbells as he leaned on the counter top. To the right of him, Luna was preparing some breakfast.

"Can one of you please tell Thane that the kitchen is for cooking and eating and not lifting weights?" Luna sighed as she tried to shove her brother out of the kitchen. I laughed at her feeble attempts to move a six foot something man.

Caelan chuckled and shook his head in disbelief "Really, Thane? Really?"

"I don't want you setting a bad example for Lucielle and Magnus. They are coming back from Aunt Maia's house today. In fact, they are almost here." She beamed as she clapped her hands and returned to the stove.

Thane just grinned and walked out of the kitchen, still lifting weights. " So, can someone give me a tour of the kitchen?" I asked with smile. I was still familiarizing myself with the house and Caelan and Luna offered to show me where everything was. By the time we had breakfast, I knew were ,most of the cutlery and other kitchen utensils were stored.

As we all cleared up, Phoenix entered through the backdoor with the twins on both side of him. They both ran to their mom and I smiled at how loving their interactions were. I caught Caelan looking at me with an expression I could not identify as he picked up some plates from the table. This time, rather than look away, I smiled back at him.

Thane jumped on the table, which caused the twins to look up and burst into a fit of laughter. "So, who's ready to train?" He hollered.

"Unbelievable! Get down from there, Thane!" Luna began to lecture him about proper etiquette and slapped him on the leg before he jumped down from the table. Phoenix watched the whole altercation with a triumphant smirk as he crossed his arms and leaned on the counter tops.

After I arranged all the plates in the dishwasher, Caelan entered the kitchen. " We will be training in the forest for some hours today. After that, I will make an announcement, in order to discuss some recent attacks that have occurred in the city. I will be coordinating the training session and I will like you to be at my side, for your own safety." He said.

It was dangerous for a human to interfere with wolves, whilst they train. But the ide of watching werewolves train filled me with exhilaration and excitement.

"Well, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." I said.

----

"Run!" Caelan yelled. I watched in admiration as Caelan instructed other members of his pack. The sounds of wolves yelping filled the air and I could not hold back my excitement during the training session.

"I'm going to shift. I need to demonstrate a few things to my pack. Just remember to remain far from all the commotion ok?" He said, reaching for my palm and caressing it for the first time. Sparks erupted as I felt his touch. I was in a daze, all I could do was nod. He fondly gazed at me for some a few seconds before he let go and transformed.

He was much larger than all the other wolfs in his pack. I watched as all the other wolves crowded around him. He stood erect with his tail held high and growled in an intimidating manner. The other wolves around him stood with lowered bodies and tails. A member of the pack, smaller than Caelan but larger than the other wolves made its way to stand beside Caelan.

Then, they started to circle round each other before Caelan attacked. I watched in awe as the second wolf, struggled to disentangle itself from Caelans clutches. It began to whimper and Caelan let go. This cycle was repeated for several minutes until the second wolf could free itself. Once it could, Caelan continued to instruct all the other wolves. Then the wolves scattered and ran deeper into the woods, before sprinting back to where I was.

Whilst they trained, a small white wolf walked towards me and positioned itself in a crouching position under my hand. I carefully reached towards it and felt its fur. It rolled over on its back and I smirked at its playfulness. When I looked up, I noticed a white and grey wolf whimper loudly, before the small white wolf looked up and followed the white and grey wolf deeper into the forest. It must be Luna and one of the twins.

I never grew uninterested for one moment as I remained spectator to the event before me. Throughout, I was present, mesmerized and a part of me wishes I could partake, as a wolf.

Eventually, the training session ended and everyone was back to their human forms. They all looked tired as they regrouped.

"That was the most brutal training we have ever had." I heard Thane exhale with a tired tone.

"Yeah, but it was worth it." Another voice said. The owner of the voice eventually introduced himself as Hermes, the omega of the pack.

At the sound of Caelan clearing his throat, all chatter and conversation quickly diminished. " I know that today, training was difficult. It had to be and was necessary for our success. We will be joining forces with the White Water Park to train again tomorrow. I have just been informed that there will be an attack on our territory in three days." As soon as he mentioned this, a stream of nervous chatter began momentarily.

"We cannot be afraid. As many of you know, Griffin and his army of hybrids and vampires have been terrorizing the city, gathering food and supplies for their attack. They want to expand their territory by seizing our own. This is an opportunity for us to stand together, firm and bold. The margin for error is small. We can't and won't let them win. A revolution will soon begin and once it ends, we will be victorious." He declared, with confidence.

All were amazed, and so was I. For we all knew that a new era of prosperity would soon begin.