Chapter 15 Combat Training Class
Luna didn't sleep well.
The note sat on her desk. Taunting her. She kept getting up to read it. Like the words might change. Like it might become less threatening.
It didn't.
By morning, she was exhausted. Jumpy. Her mark pulsed constantly. Warning of danger she couldn't identify.
Combat training was first period. Luna arrived early. Found a spot in the back. Tried to make herself invisible.
Didn't work.
Students filed in. Several glanced at her. Whispered. The video and the rumors had done their damage.
Professor Thorne entered last. He moved with military precision. Scars covered his exposed arms. Old injuries. Battle marks.
"Listen up." His voice cut through conversation. "Today we start hand-to-hand combat. Human form only. No claws. No teeth. No shifting. You need to know how to fight without relying on your wolf."
He paced in front of the assembled students. "Your wolf is a weapon. A powerful weapon. But you are the warrior. The strategist. The one who decides when and how to use that weapon. If you can't fight in human form, you're vulnerable. Weak. Easy prey."
Luna's mark tingled. She rubbed her wrist absently.
"We'll start with basics. Stance. Movement. Defense. Then move to offense. Strikes. Grapples. Takedowns. Pair up. Find someone close to your skill level."
Students scattered. Luna stayed put. Hoping to pair with Marcus or another first year.
"You."
A boy approached. Taller than Luna. Muscular. Beta rank based on his confident posture. Second or third year.
"Let's partner."
"Sure."
They moved to an open mat. Other pairs surrounded them. Everyone watching everyone else. Sizing up competition.
"I'm Derek," the boy said. Cocky grin. Too much confidence.
"Luna."
"I know who you are. The Eclipse girl. The one who can't control her wolf." He cracked his knuckles. "Try not to cry when I pin you, fresh meat."
Luna's temper flared. Her mark heated. "I'll try to contain myself."
Thorne demonstrated basic defensive positions. Students mimicked him. Luna focused. Tried to ignore Derek's smirk.
"Now pair up. One offense. One defense. Switch every minute. Go."
Derek lunged immediately. No warning. No buildup.
Luna dodged. Barely. His momentum carried him past her.
"Fast," he admitted. "But speed only gets you so far."
He came at her again. Calculated this time. Testing her reflexes. Her balance.
Luna blocked. Redirected. Used techniques Ryder had drilled into her during private training.
Derek's expression shifted. Less cocky. More focused.
He grabbed for her arm. Luna twisted away. Used his momentum against him. He stumbled but didn't fall.
"Not bad for a first year."
"Thanks. I think."
"Don't get cocky. You're still going down."
The sparring intensified. Derek pushed harder. Luna held her ground. She could feel her wolf rising. Wanting to help. Wanting to shift and dominate.
But she held it back. Controlled it. Used her training instead of her instincts.
One minute passed. Thorne called time. "Switch. Defense becomes offense."
Now Luna attacked. She started cautious. Feeling out Derek's defenses. Looking for openings.
He blocked easily. Smirking again. "That all you got?"
Luna's competitive streak flared. She moved faster. Harder. Combinations Ryder had taught her.
Derek blocked most. But not all. Luna landed a hit to his ribs. Light but solid.
His smirk vanished.
"Lucky shot."
"Sure. Let's call it luck."
Around them, other students slowed their sparring. Watching. Luna and Derek's match had drawn attention.
Thorne approached. "Interesting. Eclipse, you've got decent form. Where'd you learn that combo?"
"Private training with my mentor."
"Ryder?"
"Yes, sir."
Thorne nodded. "Makes sense. He's one of the best combat students we've produced." He raised his voice. "Everyone stop. I need a demonstration pair. Eclipse and Thorn. Center mat."
Luna's stomach dropped. "Sir?"
"You heard me. Center mat. Now."
She walked to the middle of the training space. All eyes on her. Ryder waited there. Expression neutral. But his eyes held something else. Concern? Warning?
"We're going to demonstrate advanced defensive techniques," Thorne said. "Thorn will attack. Eclipse will defend. No shifting. No holding back. Give them a real show."
Ryder met Luna's eyes. "Ready?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Not really."
He attacked without warning. Fast. Precise. Nothing like Derek's cocky attempts.
Luna blocked. Barely. Ryder's strength was shocking. He wasn't going easy.
She stumbled back. Caught her balance. Blocked his next strike.
"Better," Ryder said. Voice low. Only she could hear. "But you're thinking too much. Trust your instincts."
"You told me not to rely on instincts."
"I said control them. Not ignore them. There's a difference."
He came at her again. Faster now. Testing her limits.
Luna's wolf stirred. Warning. Protective. But she held it down. Used technique instead.
Block. Dodge. Redirect. Move with him instead of against him.
Their sparring fell into rhythm. Attack and defense flowing like a dance. Violent. Dangerous. But controlled.
"Are you trying to hurt me?" Luna gasped between exchanges.
"I'm trying to keep you alive." Ryder swept her legs. She rolled. Came up guarded. "Out there, enemies won't go easy. They'll push you until you break. I need to know you can handle it."
"I can handle it."
"Prove it."
He attacked harder. Luna defended desperately. Her arms ached. Her legs burned. But she didn't give ground.
Then she saw an opening. Tiny. Barely there. But real.
Ryder overextended. Just slightly. His balance shifted.
Luna moved. Pure instinct. Struck his exposed side. Put her full weight behind it.
The impact was solid. Real. Not a practice hit.
Ryder stumbled. Caught himself. Stopped moving.
The entire class went silent.
Luna froze. Had she hurt him? Gone too far?
Ryder straightened. Looked at her. And smiled. Actually smiled.
Not a smirk. Not a patronizing grin. A real smile. Proud. Impressed.
"Better."
One word. But it felt like victory.
Thorne clapped once. "Excellent demonstration. Eclipse, that last strike was perfectly executed. You saw an opening and took it. That's warrior instinct. That's what I want to see from all of you."
Students murmured. Some impressed. Others skeptical.
Luna caught Darius watching from the sidelines. He stood with a group of fourth years. All of them observing. Assessing.
He leaned toward one of his friends. Whispered something Luna couldn't hear.
His friend nodded. Glanced at Luna. Then away.
They were talking about her. Planning something. She could feel it.
"Pair up again," Thorne ordered. "Continue sparring. I want to see improvement from everyone."
Luna returned to Derek. He looked at her differently now. Less cocky. More cautious.
"That was impressive."
"Thanks."
"You landed a hit on Ryder Thorn. Fifth year. Top of his class. That's not something first years do."
"I got lucky."
"Twice in one day? That's not luck. That's skill."
They resumed sparring. But Derek approached it seriously now. No smirking. No condescension. Real respect.
Luna felt the shift. In Derek. In other students. Even in Thorne's approving nod.
She'd proven something today. Not just to them. To herself.
She could fight. Could compete. Could hold her own against students with more training and experience.
Maybe she did belong here after all.
Class ended. Students filed out. Luna gathered her gear slowly. Let the crowd thin.
Ryder approached. "That was good work today."
"You let me hit you."
"No. I gave you an opening. You took it. Those are different things."
"Why?"
"Because I need to know you can recognize opportunities in combat. Real fights don't have refs or rules. You take advantage when you can. That's survival." He lowered his voice. "Luna, about what Cassandra said yesterday. About me being absent during the video. I didn't know someone was following us. I should have. That's on me. But I didn't allow it. Didn't set you up. You need to believe that."
Luna studied his face. Looking for deception. Manipulation.
She saw exhaustion. Concern. Maybe even guilt.
"I want to believe you."
"Then do. Because we're running out of time. Darius is escalating. That note under your door? That's not the end. It's just the beginning. He's testing how much pressure you can take before you break or leave."
"How did you know about the note?"
"Because I know how Darius operates. I've seen him do this before. To other students. And I'm telling you right now, it gets worse before it gets better."
Luna's mark pulsed. "What am I supposed to do?"
"Fight back. But smart. Don't give him ammunition. Don't lose control in public. Show everyone you're stronger than his tricks." Ryder's expression softened. "And trust that you're not alone. You have allies. Even if you don't see them yet."
He walked away before Luna could respond.
She left the training building and headed toward her dorm. Her body ached. But it was good pain. Earned pain.
For the first time in days, she felt like maybe she could survive this.
Maybe she could win.
The thought barely formed before she saw him.
Darius. Leaning against the wall outside her dorm building. Arms crossed. Waiting.
For her.
Luna's mark burned. Warning. Danger.
This was it. The confrontation she'd been dreading.
Darius pushed off the wall. "Luna Eclipse. We need to talk."