Chapter 11: Wolf lessons pt.1

It was 9 AM and Violet and Cora had been up for a while now getting the cabin in better shape for living in. They decided to take a break and lounge outside by the lake with coffee. "I can't believe your Uncle left you this cabin," Cora said earnestly.

"He knew I had no place else to go if he passed." she tried to swallow the hard lump in her throat. She still wasn't used to talking about him like he wasn't there. "The apartment was too expensive on my own. The Baitshop really only makes money in the spring and summer. I am so glad Tyler has agreed to be the manager. I am not sure I could run it, I am definitely better at being a silent owner."

"You didn't tell me Tyler took over. Is that the shift manager who took you out last spring?" Cora said with a mischievous grin. "Girl, he has it bad for you."

"No, he doesn't. I am just like a sister. He feels like he needs to help me." Violet said blindly.

"Vi, sometimes you are so clueless." Just then two shadows appeared. Cora and Violet turned around at the exact same time.

"She's right, I have only known you a few days and I can see you are pretty blind when it comes to guys and feelings." Alex says "Don't you think so Bro?" Alex looked at his brother, who slugged him in the arm.

"Vi, you need to start training so you are at least a little ready for the pack," Eli said with a serious look on his face. Violet looked at him, all work and no play she thought.

"I feel like I need to know more about this whole werewolf thing. Can't we do a history lesson instead?" Violet asked.

"Get up," he said, "We can talk while training." He walked towards the edge of the woods.

Violet gave Alex and Cora a weary look, then stood up and walked with Alex to where Eli stood.

"Alright, Violet, your first lesson is in shifting." Eli stood looking at her expectantly.

"Umm, Bro does she have extra clothing or what do you want her to do?" Alex asks, looking at his brother incredulously.

"She isn't shifting yet, I am and I have your clothes right behind that tree." Eli snapped back. "So Violet, all you need to do is focus. When you focus on your wolf it's like you can feel it just under the skin and then your nature takes over." Eli then gets a far off look in his eyes. Violet watches intently, all of a sudden his eyes turn darker and his whole body changes in a blink of an eye.

"See Vi, it's easy," Alex says. "Just let nature take over and visualize your wolf. That's what they say during training for nubs. I get to watch because my dad and Eli are in charge of training." He smiles, "You try."

Violet looks at Alex then at Eli. She closes her eyes to help her focus. She can feel a warmth spreading just under her skin. It was something wild and powerful than all of a sudden she hears Cora whooping and hollering. She opens her eyes and Alex is smiling. "You did it Vi!" Alex yells.

Cora comes running over and stands next to Alex. "You are beautiful Vi. I am so jealous." She comes over and puts a hand on Violet's shoulder. Violet realizes she is as tall as her friend in wolf form. When she turned to look at Eli he was gone. She started looking around confused and sniffed the air instinctively. She found him just past a large tree. He stepped out, human again.

"Cora, can you get Violet some new clothes she forgot to change first. " He had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. Violet growled at him. It isn't my fault he didn't tell me to get naked she thought. "Calm down, it's my fault. I didn't tell you the cardinal rule "no shifting unless you have extra clothes” or "you shift behind a tree naked."

Cora came back with a pair of shorts and a tank top. She runs behind a large tree and puts it there. "Okay, Violet it is really easy to shift back all you must do is picture yourself human. Then focus on your human side. Go ahead and go behind that tree and try."

Violet walked behind the tree. I don't want to go, whined Lettie. Too bad Violet thought, I need to learn. No, I am not ready. I want to run and smell everything I am not out enough. Lettie was being stubborn while Violet tried to visualize herself as human again. It took several tries before she started to feel like herself again and was suddenly on two feet. She put on her clothes and walked out from behind the tree. Eli was standing right there beaming.

"You did it Vi! I know your wolf was putting up a fight but you did it!" Eli snatched her up with his arms and swung her around in a circle before he realized what he was doing. Violet looked into his eyes seeing pride in them as he placed her down carefully. They both stared at each other for a long while Eli's hands were not moving from her waist.

Eli leaned his head down towards Violet when he heard a loud "Excuse me." Snapping him back to reality. "Do we need to give you guys a minute?" Alex asked loudly. Cora grinning by his side. "We could go for a walk if you guys need us to."

Eli let go of Violet's waist and moved away quickly. Leaving Violet very confused and even hurt. Why am I hurt? Violet asked herself there is no reason to be. But even Lettie was whimpering from the sudden rejection. Violet looked down and took a steading breath "So what's next?" Violet asked, trying to hide the rejections in her voice. She didn't want him to have that kind of control over her. She probably just miss read the situation, she thought. He wasn't going to kiss me, he was just excited to see me catch on so quickly.

"Well no offense but I need to know what kind of exercises you did before you turned so I can know what you can handle," Eli said, seeming to not catch on to Violet's inner turmoil.

"Well if you must know I am very fit and take care of my body. Let's see I ran, mountain biked, swam, did yoga and one other exercise class but the name is escaping me at the moment." Violet turned her back on Eli and looked at her best friend and very carefully put her fingers to her lips giving Cora the clue not to give away her secret. Cora nodded.

"Well, that's all cardio and flexibility. Did you do any kind of strength-building?" Eli replied not catching on to the little exchange.

"Dude you and I both know she doesn't need strength training now that she's a wolf. All she needs is endurance, agility, and the ability to fight." Alex said, calling out his brother.

"Fine Alex, then you can take Violet on a run around the Lake as a warm-up and then you will be her sparring partner. Now go." Eli said with authority. Alex nodded and off they ran.

"That's like 8 miles right?" Cora asked. Eli nodded "That's nothing she used to run four every morning. Now that she is a wolf, eight shouldn't be that bad." They stood in silence watching the runners off in the distance. "So what was that all about a little while ago?" Cora asked frankly.

"What are you talking about?" Eli replied, annoyed.

"You know what. You almost kissed her. Didn't you see how hurt and confused she was?"

"I didn't" Eli took a deep breath trying to center himself. What does he say, he thought. He decided honesty was best. Cora was her best friend and she already knew what was going on so why not. "I was just so proud of her. It all came so naturally to her. Then she was in my arms and I got carried away. I didn't realize I upset her." He said with sadness in his voice.

"You can't do that again. She is not great at reading men but I think she knows there is a connection between you too. Rejection was written all over her face after you backed away so quickly." She looked at Eli in the eyes "You have to tell her or stay focused."

Eli looked at the pair they were a little over halfway around the lake. "I didn't want a mate, you know. I was going to be a warrior for our pack. I don't need any distractions." Eli looked at Cora and thought, "Why did I just say that?"

"Eli, you are looking at this all wrong. Don't you see? She is not a distraction. She is your reason to protect. She is going to make you a better warrior than you could have ever been without her." Cora explained.

Eli looked at Cora. Why hadn't he ever thought of that before? He isn't a mate to just anyone. His mate is the Alpha. She is the thing he was willing to fight for. Now she is the only thing that would motivate him to win. "Wow, you're smart."

"Don't you forget it." Cora replied smiling.