Lost in Worlds

A Way Home

Avery woke up frantic the next morning. After having her chat with the Dark Creature, she realised how desperate she felt to obtain freedom. To escape. And if that meant pushing herself to the limit, so be it.

She worked harder. Legs trembling by the time she had finished the running warm-up. Face sweaty, hands clammy, cheeks on fire, hair sticking to her forehead. Her mate could to go hell for all she cared. If he found her state unattractive she really didn't have the damn time to deal with anything other than training right now.

She sparred, ducking and weaving, feinting left and right, striking only when her opponent stood at a vulnerable position. For once it were an even match, between her and a young teenager. Constant movement, back and forth. This was the best kind of conflict, the one where you didn't know who the victor might be. She could feel people staring.

Too caught up in her thoughts, Avery allowed her left side to be left open. Stupid, so damn stupid. Her opponent struck right there, elbowing her before doing a roundhouse kick, sending her to the ground. They held up a sword up to her face yet she continued to grin.

"Excellent work, Soldier Rosella." The officer paused his praise and gave her a long glance. No longer has a glare or disappointment frown. Then he shook his head and mumbled to himself a filthy curse before taking a deep breath and once again looked through the windows' to her soul. "There's room for improvement...but...that wasn't half bad. There's a new fire today, Soldier. I can't see past its centre for a deeper meaning, but I do know this." He grabbed her hands gently, making her eyes widen considerably.

It was against the Pack's rules for officers to touch their soldiers in such an intimate way unless for medical emergencies or specific circumstances. But this, this was nothing of the sort.

"Don't lose it," he said before a large figure came up behind him.

"Careful," the figure said, "Don't let the Alpha catch you touching his mate unnecessarily.

"Oh, it's quite necessary, I assure you," the officer remarked.

"Mhmm. You know..." The large figure spun the officer around and wrapped his arms around the other. From any faraway onlookers, it looked like an embrace between two male friends. But up close. Oh, up close, it was so much more.

Avery became reminded of who she once was. A fan-girl, she supposed. A deep part of her not even Connor knew of. Still, this side of her had disappeared down the drain long before she fell into a state of-

The officer gave what seemed to be an embarrassed groan, sending Avery into a burst of hidden excitement, as he said, "Caleb..."

Even at the mention of her lost friend, the excitement didn't differ.

Who Avery assumed to be Caleb, touched a finger to the officer's lips before picking him up and swinging him over his shoulder. He slapped the officer's ass and muttered something incoherent. "Punishment for such behaviour" being the only words Avery deciphered. She quickly looked and strolled in the opposite direction, cheeks blushing a bright pink. Her opponents and fellow fighters did the same.

Officer, indeed.

---------

The next couple of days followed a similar routine. Waking up, breakfast, training, lunch, and so forth. There being only one minor difference; she didn't throw up breakfast. Not fully at least, there were a hiccup and gag or two, but nothing drastic. Another step on the right path.

The officer had come back the next training with an apology and renewed stoic features that had faded when his Caleb had embraced him from behind. Training that day had been harder than usual. Even for her new-found strength. She hadn't been sure whether the embarrassment from the previous day, or Avery's significant improvement had been the cause for the brutal training session, but either way, a few days later, the frequent exercise and fresh diet had given her the stepping stone she needed to keep down food again.