Chapter 285 A WARRIOR’S JOURNEY
Edeline
So, I have come to realize that I have been a total stage five clinger when it comes to emotions. I have been keeping my distance this past week. I bounced back from the battle scars of losing, like, the very next day. Instead of wallowing, I just went out there and asked for more. I have been training day and night, throwing down, just trying to show myself that I really earned this tattoo on my arm. I can totally handle my emotions on my own now.
I have been keeping my distance from Conor, from Alexa, from Damon—anyone I have connected with here. I just needed to break away and remind myself that I can do this on my own.
Conor and I are still cool with each other. He gets that I am working on depending on myself, and he is fine with it. We have chatted a bit, but I do not wake him up anymore to train with me in the mornings. Nope, I have been handling it solo.
He mentioned that Dark Moon is pretty different. If I thought his pack was more wolf-like, I honestly would not know what to do with Dark Moon. They are definitely the most wolf-like pack around. I guess I might not have any friends there. I could be going solo, having to hustle for everything I have got.
I gave my cellphone back to Conor the day I checked into the clinic. If I am going to figure things out for myself, if I am going to become emotionally independent, I had to stop talking to everyone until I felt ready. I get that it might not be the best approach. My family definitely misses me, but I have to do this for me and my wolf. She really misses the pack life—the life we lived when Conor was always around. Conor and I are definitely going to be friends for life, no doubt about that. But I just have to do this.
Everyone has their own styles for handling stuff.
This is mine.
Totally shut off from the outside world, I am pushing myself to carve out my own path.
It is for the best.
Slipping into my yoga pants, comfy hoodie, and trainers, I quickly brush my teeth before heading downstairs and out to the training field. I kick off my mornings with a five-mile run before hitting the gym to work on my fighting skills.
I have to step up my game.
I am looking to improve myself.
I stopped training to feel pain so I would not have to think about the looming doom in front of me. Nah, it was not like that at all. I was actually thinking about my friendships. I was thinking about Percival and Darius. All the stuff I had been pushing away came rushing back, but now I am determined to be a stronger version of myself.
My wolf will totally appreciate it later.
So, there was this day when I would finally head back home, ready to face the people I had been avoiding. I wanted to confront the fears that used to haunt me.
Percival's actions still stick with me. And what Darius was up to, too. I cannot shake the feeling that there is more to this story. There is definitely more about Percival that I do not know—about his wolf that I have yet to uncover.
With a huff, I stretch out before kicking off my sprint. Jogging through the early morning mist, the dew soaks my Nikes and the bottoms of my pants as I push into the open field.
Five miles feel like a breeze to me now. It is easy with that Beta blood running through my veins.
Beta wolves are pretty strong, but girls could not train at Praimfaya Moon.
Now that I can, I am checking out how fast I am improving.
Faster than any other low-ranking wolf out there.
So, what about the fights I lost last week? The ones where all the girls strutted their stuff, ready to take down the “unstoppable beta female”? It only sparked more curiosity in others to give it a shot. This week, I totally turned things around. My day off ended up making more people want to pick a fight with me, and it became clear they could not handle me.
Since the day I got better, I have won every match.
Trees zipped by in a blur as I dashed through the forest, loving the burn in my muscles. They do not hurt like they used to anymore.
I am a tough trainer now, and I am not stopping. Ever. My wolf has turned into less of a diva; she is more like the warrior I always pictured. Everything we have been through has made us a bit less naive. But those feelings… What is going on with Darius, Percival, and now Conrad? Those experiences have toughened me up and keep doing just that.
As I finished my five miles, I took deep breaths, but I was not tired at all.
The sun started to peek over the horizon, lifting the vibe, clearing the fog, and drying the morning dew. The breeze carried a chill, but I was used to it by now.
Back on the training field, I noticed a few folks finally showing up to kick things off early. Conor and Tatiana were among the seven.
I took a sip from my water bottle and strolled over to them with a friendly smile. “Hey, everyone!”
Tatiana looked up at me. Her body was getting a bit fuller from the food she managed to keep down. “Hey,” she said, returning my smile. Conor flashed a grin my way. “Looks like you are improving on those runs,” he said, nodding toward Tatiana. “She is improving too. I am really proud of her.” He smiled at her, and I noticed her blush as she ducked her head shyly.
This was the Tatiana I had never really gotten to know.
I glanced at her and said, “You are doing great, Tatiana. Just keep your focus on being your best self. I really think things are going to turn out well for you. For both of you.” I smiled at Conor, but it did not quite reach my eyes. I was not feeling as happy as I had a few weeks ago.
Something flickered across his face as he moved closer to me. “Maxim is back at the pack. Today is the day I take you to Dark Moon… to stay. Alone. Are you really sure you do not want to stick around here? You know you are always welcome…”
A sad smirk tugged at my lips as my green eyes met his dark ones. “I cannot. As much as I would love to… I just cannot. You know that. What time are we heading out?”
A little frown appeared on his face as he looked down. “Five this evening. We definitely want to grab one last dinner with you… warrior.”
I let out a shaky breath and nodded, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over me. I was nervous about what I was getting into, but I could definitely grab one last dinner before getting tossed to the wolves. For real.
Out of nowhere, I felt arms around me—little guns. I glanced over to see a tangle of blonde hair draped on my shoulder. Tatiana. She let out a little sniffle. “I am really going to miss you, Edeline. You totally saved my life, and I am super grateful for that. Dad mentioned it was you who pushed him to deal with his feelings about me, and I cannot thank you enough. You are such a good wolf.” She sniffled again as I wrapped my arms around her, smiling up at the sky.
The moon really knows how to bring people together in such a quirky way.
“Okay, ladies. Enough with the sappy stuff. Edeline, it is time to get out there and fight. Go prove that beta blood is running through you.” He laughed as we released each other.
I leaned in, rubbing my cheek against Tatiana’s. “You will be fine,” I said softly before heading off to the pit, ready to let my wolf loose on some of the others.
Who really knows?
Maybe I will finally get my shot at fighting a guy since it is my last day. I have pretty much beaten all the girls already.
…
I felt myself getting lifted up, my ribs creaking as General Axe hoisted me off the ground. “I cannot believe you won! Well, I can, but look at you! In just three months, you have finally fought your first two guys and came out on top! Sure, I picked the easier ones, but they were definitely tougher than the girls you have been up against!” He laughed, and I could not help but smile as he set me down on the ground.
Conor had a huge grin on his face. “Hey, Edeline, let us go add that extra dog to your tattoo! You are officially intermediate now!” He chuckled.
I raised my eyebrows, feigning shock. “So, like, if they put me in intermediate at Dark Moon, I am definitely going to get my butt kicked trying to fight guys!”
He paused, looking like he was pondering that. “You are right. Let us not rush into things.”
It is no surprise that Lunas are a thing. Guys would just take off with a group without a second thought. Conor totally needs a Luna, but his old fling Rasheda was just a memory now. They have kind of lost interest in each other for now, but I have a feeling it might spark back up in a few months. I heard from Tatiana that neither of them was into the whole commitment thing.
We were all getting together for dinner, and people were settling into their spots at the tables in the dining hall, with Conor leading the way. Tatiana took the Luna spot, and I settled into the beta spot. He definitely needed to choose a Beta from these warriors pretty soon. I could sense the tension; they were starting to get antsy.
Conor grabbed his plate first, then Tatiana, and I got mine before the rest of the crew could dig in. Every now and then, I caught some judgmental looks, but I just brushed it off. Conor lifted his drink and cleared his throat.
“Hey, I need everyone to pay attention.” He got up, the wooden chair legs scraping against the floor, making every wolf turn to look at him. “Tonight, we are celebrating Edeline’s first two wins as an intermediate! In just under three months, she has made such amazing progress. But we are also here to mark a big change in her life. This is her last night at Celestial Moon. She is leveling up her skills and heading to Dark Moon to wrap up her training.”
Everyone gasped and stared at me. “Let us all wish her good luck on this new adventure!” he announced.
Glasses were lifted all around, and I could tell some of those grins came from folks who were just glad to see me go since I had outshined them.
I clinked my glass with Conor's and Tatiana's, leaning back in my seat to savor my final meal here at this pack.
…
My face was still bruised, and my ribs ached from earlier fights. My stomach was black and purple from battling those guys, but I grabbed my suitcases and met Conor outside by his truck.
It was about that time.
I did not want any other wolves hanging around, so I said my goodbyes to the friends I had at the pack house.
With a bittersweet smile, Conor grabbed my bags and tossed them into the truck while I turned to Tatiana. Her eyes were welling up with tears. She still felt a bit fragile and emotional. “Edeline?” she said, unable to look me in the eye. “I just wanted to say thanks, and I am sorry. I have really come to love you and look up to you. I know it sounds wild given our history, but… I made this for you.” She smiled through teary eyes, holding up a leather braided bracelet with a stainless steel bead in the center. It was a flat round bead, about the size of a dime.