Chapter 221 Training with Torren

Chapter 221 Training with Torren
Chapter 221

RAVENNA

Dawn came cold and grey.

Torren was waiting for me at the pack training grounds—a massive clearing surrounded by forest, far enough from pack housing that no one would be disturbed.

"You're late," he said, though there was no real reproach in his voice.

I dropped my bag on the ground. "I couldn't sleep."

"Understandable," Torren replied. "But we have a lot of work to do, so let's begin."

He gestured to the open space. "First, I need you to understand the difference between human instincts and wolf instincts. They're not the same. Your human mind thinks one way: logical, controlled, measured. Your wolf thinks differently: primal, territorial, aggressive."

I nodded. "I've noticed."

"The key is learning to separate them," Torren continued. "To channel the wolf's strength without letting it consume your human reasoning."

He demonstrated, shifting into his wolf form smoothly, then back to human.

"Your turn," he said. "Shift for me."

I closed my eyes and reached for Moonlight.

The shift came fast, my bones cracked, muscles reforming, pain lancing through me.

When I opened my eyes, I was on four legs, my vision sharper, my senses overwhelmed.

Moonlight surged forward immediately, wanting to dominate, to establish territory, to prove we were strongest.

"Shift back," Torren ordered.

I tried, but Moonlight resisted, growling low in our shared throat.

"Ravenna," Torren said firmly. "You control the wolf. Not the other way around. Shift back. Now."

It took effort—real, painful effort—but I finally forced the shift back to human.

I collapsed onto the ground, gasping. "That was harder than it should be."

"Because you're letting Moonlight take control," Torren said. "Again. Shift again."

I groaned but obeyed.

We did it over and over, shift, hold control, shift back.

Each time was excruciating. Each time, Moonlight fought me for dominance.

By the tenth shift, I was sobbing, my body trembling uncontrollably.

"I can't," I choked out. "Please, I can't do it again."

Torren gave me exactly thirty seconds to recover. "Again."

"I can't—"

"Again!" he commanded, his voice sharp.

I shifted, tears streaming down my face, my wolf form shaking with exhaustion.

But this time, I held my human mind whilst in wolf form. I could think clearly, reason, control myself.

"Good," Torren said. "That's exactly what you need. Now shift back."

The shift back was smoother this time, less painful.

I lay on the ground, my chest heaving. "How many more times?"

"Until you can do it without losing yourself," Torren replied. "We're not stopping until then."

After what felt like hours of shifting practice, Torren moved on to combat training.

"Fighting as a wolf is completely different from fighting as a human," he explained. "Different balance and tactics. Your jaw becomes your primary weapon."

He shifted into his wolf form and demonstrated a low stance, using his back legs for power, his jaw snapping with deadly precision.

I shifted and tried to mimic him.

It was awkward, clumsy. My wolf body didn't move the way I expected.

Torren corrected my stance, showing me how to use my weight properly, how to anticipate an opponent's movements.

We sparred carefully, and every time I made a mistake, he corrected it immediately.

Sometimes harshly.

When I left my flank exposed, he knocked me sideways hard enough to wind me.

"Never leave yourself open like that," he said. "A real enemy wouldn't hesitate to rip your throat out."

I was exhausted, bruised, my muscles screaming in protest.

But I was also learning. Actually learning.

During one particularly intense one, something shifted inside me.

I felt power building, not Moonlight's strength, but something else. The moon's power.

It surged through me without warning.

The ground beneath us trembled. Rocks levitated. The temperature dropped suddenly.

Torren shifted back to human immediately, genuine fear flashing across his face.

"What was that?" he demanded, backing away.

I stared at my glowing hands, horrified. "I don't know. It just happened."

The power dissipated slowly, the rocks dropping back to earth, the trembling stopping.

Torren looked at me seriously, his expression grave. "You need to learn to control the moon's power. Because if you don't, it will control you."

He stepped closer. "And then you won't be any different from the other carriers who lost themselves to madness."

His words sent ice through my veins.



Later that evening, I grabbed my bag and headed to the hospital to see Darius.

He was sitting up in bed, looking much better than he had days ago.

His face lit up when he saw me. "There's my girl."

I dropped my bag and went to him, wrapping my hands around him and kissing him gently. "How are you feeling?"

"Better now that you're here," he replied, pulling me closer.

We talked about my day—classes, the training session with Torren, the incident at hockey practice.

When I told him what the girl had said about me being a witch, his jaw tightened.

"People are idiots," he muttered.

A nurse knocked and entered. "Mr Pike, it's time for your walk."

Darius waved her off. "Don't worry about it. My mate is here. She'll help me."

The nurse looked uncertain but nodded and left.

I helped Darius to his feet carefully, supporting his weight as we began walking slowly down the corridor.

"Don't think too much about what people say," he said quietly. "Torren's training you. Soon you'll have everything under control, and you'll be normal."

I wasn't sure I believed that, but I nodded anyway.

"How are your parents?" I asked.

"Mum's getting better," Darius replied. "And Dad just woke up. He's still on treatment, but the doctors say he'll recover."

Relief flooded through me. "That's good."

"You're getting better too," I added, squeezing his hand gently. "You'll be out of here soon."

Darius chuckled softly. "I hope so."

We walked in comfortable silence for a moment.

Then Darius asked quietly, "Have you ever thought about how your life would have been if you'd never been pulled into the academy by your sister?"

I was thoughtful for a long moment, considering.

"I never really thought about it before," I admitted. "But now that you're asking..."

I paused, picturing it. "I think I'd still be with my bike club. Probably president by now. Maybe I would have married some biker boy, had children, made sure my sister was comfortable and taken care of."

My voice softened. "A simple life."

We stopped walking, and I turned to face him, cupping his cheek gently.

"But it's all maybes," I said, my eyes searching his. "Because I never really thought about it. And now I'm here."

I brushed my thumb across his cheekbone. "My sister pulled me into this academy to fight you. I ended up getting attached to you instead. Found my father and brother. Got mated to you. Discovered I'm a wolf and a carrier of an ancient heritage."

I laughed softly, tears pricking at my eyes. "My entire life turned upside down."

I stepped closer, my voice dropping to barely a whisper. "But I love you so much, Darius. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."

My hand moved to brush through his hair gently. "And if we ever get out of this academy, out of all this chaos, I want a real life with you. A future."

I searched his eyes. "Have you ever thought about that?"

Darius nodded slowly, his expression intense. "I've thought about it constantly."

He took my hand, pressing it against his chest where I could feel his heart beating. "I love you. I want you close to me forever."

His voice grew softer, more intimate. "I've thought about your father walking you down the aisle. You dressed in a white flowing gown with a veil covering your face."

My breath caught.

"Exchanging our mate vows," he continued. "The marking and kissing you in front of everyone and claiming you as mine for the whole world to see."

My eyes watered, and he chuckled, reaching up to brush a tear from my cheek.

His eyes were full of unspoken love—deep, overwhelming, completely genuine.

He smiled, his voice dropping even lower. "And after that, I want to fill you with my children. Watch your stomach grow round and full and have little versions of us running through our house:.your stubbornness, my temper, both of us trying to keep up with them."

I laughed through my tears, my heart so full it hurt.

He pulled me closer, his forehead resting against mine. "Do you want that life with me?"

He paused, vulnerability flickering in his eyes. "Even if we don't get the dream I just described, if things stay difficult, if we have to struggle, would you still have me? Forever?"

I didn't hesitate. "I don't care about wealth or riches or anything material."

My voice broke slightly. "I just want you, until death do us apart."

Darius smiled genuinely. He's completely happy and kissed me.

Not urgently or desperately, but slowly, tenderly, like he was savouring every second.

When we finally pulled apart, we were both breathless.

We returned to his room slowly, and I helped him back into bed.

He settled against the pillows with a sigh.

I closed the door and locked it.

Then I pulled off my jumper and trousers, leaving me in just my bra and tights.

Darius's eyes darkened. "Raven, what the hell are—"

"I just want to be close to you," I whispered, climbing into the narrow hospital bed beside him carefully.

I rested my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "I miss you."

His arms came around me, holding me close. "Be patient. I'll be all yours soon. I'll be completely healed."

I giggled softly and kissed his chest. "Promise?"

"Promise," he murmured.

His hand stroked my hair gently, and I felt myself relaxing for the first time in days.

This was home. Where I belonged.

Within minutes, I drifted off to sleep.