Chapter 3. Training

Lamia's POV

Friday morning. Up bright and early for our sparring session. We stood on the training grounds, stretching our limbs, when the instructor walked up, his voice booming across the open field and sparring rings, rattling us out of our thoughts and snapping us to attention.

“Right, cadets! Today we will be going over hand-to-hand combat skills. We will start with sparring in pairs. We will then be grouping you together and working on handling multiple attacks. NO kill shots! We are not looking to maim your opponents! NO shifting! You must keep control of your wolf at all times. When you hear the whistle, the attack stops. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?”

“YES, SIR!”

We all said in unison. This was my favorite part of training, and I had been looking forward to it all week. I could almost smell my victory.

“If you manage to win your fight, you will then go into a second round of one-on-one fighting. You win your fight if you: one, do not tap out; two, take down all your attackers; or three, your fight is not stopped by the whistle. Your fight will only be stopped by the whistle and the instructor if we feel you cannot carry on with the fight.”

The instructor finished speaking, and we all went to line up for some light sparring. I was giddy and excited, raring to go. I was wearing a navy athletic crop top and black shorts, with my hair tied in a braid and then knotted. I didn’t want any of these boys grabbing my hair and using it to swing me around.

I looked up and down the line of Alphas; there were almost thirty men and only four women, including me. The girls were all dressed similarly to me—it made moving easier, and it was harder for people to grab clothes and use them to their advantage. I looked at Kel, who was across and a few guys down. He winked one of his ocean-blue eyes at me and gave me a you got this smirk. I returned it with an I know look.

“When I read your name and number, please step over to that ring,” the instructor bellowed as he started reading off his list. I looked down the line again and caught Mike’s eye.

Almost all the guys were just in shorts or sweats, no tops. And Mike was no exception. His broad, muscular chest and stocky shoulders made him look like a force to be reckoned with. Even though he was a Beta, he looked like an Alpha and had the strength of one, too. My eyes moved down from his chest to his torso, sporting a well-defined six-pack, his shorts hanging a little low so you could see the V-shape that went deep down.

I licked my lips and ran my eyes back up. So many yummy guys here, but for some reason, Mike always had me blushing. I hadn’t really noticed him or been that into guys until I turned seventeen. And even then, it took me a couple of months to really appreciate his body. I found it fascinating how I grew up with this hunk of a guy, but never really paid any attention to him in that way until we came here and started training more.

He had gone from a lean, tall kid to a bulky, muscular man. Mike was a little older than Kellen and me, but only by a few months. He would be hitting eighteen in two months, and Kel and I would be eighteen four months later. I knew what a man-whore Mike had already become, but still, as my eyes traveled back up to his, I lingered on his hard, strong jaw, his sharp nose, and beautiful hazel eyes.

“Like what you see?” he called out to me.

Shit. He caught me staring.

“Just admiring that ass I’m gonna kick!” I hissed playfully, narrowing my eyes.

He grinned widely, and I could swear I saw his eyes darken with lust before the instructor called out his name and he went to his respective ring. I flicked my eyes back over to Kellen, who was glaring at Mike, and I could just make out a low rumble of a growl from him. I smirked—Kellen, always the protector. He hated guys hitting on me and hated it even more if a guy caught my attention.

I was glad to find myself in a circle close to Kellen; I didn’t like being too far away from him. I could keep an eye on him from here. That was the problem with being next in line for the throne—somebody always wanted a piece of him, to test him, to prove themselves. But not on my watch. Being closer to him meant I could watch out for anything these soon-to-be Alpha boys tried on him. It wouldn’t be the first time someone pulled a dirty move.

I was also happy to see that I hadn’t been paired with any of the females and that we had been split up into different rings. We were given straws to pick, and the person with the shortest straw would be the defender. The others in each group would work together to attack.

I drew the short straw and smiled, looking at my opponents. I loved a challenge when it came to fighting. Three soon-to-be Alphas against me might be a challenge, but I was sure it would be a quick fight. My father had trained me well, along with the Royal Beta and the Royal Guard. I had just as much training, if not more, than Kel and was a powerful wolf.

However, for whatever reason, the Goddess had decided to bless me with extraordinary strength, speed, and skill—and a kick-ass wolf. It did not go unnoticed.

Inanna, my wolf, hummed inside my head as we took up our fighting stance. My wolf was fierce and strong. She was smart too. She was possessive like a dominant Alpha wolf but also held compassion in her heart. And she was so beautiful and big.

I love you too, Lamia. Now let’s kick their sorry asses, she said, waking from the back of my mind. Our connection was close, and she was a more active wolf than most.

I sized up my opponents as the three sweaty, topless guys began to circle and taunt me.

“I’m going to enjoy having you under me, little wolf,” one said with a smirk.

Another chimed in, “I wouldn’t mind having her on top.” The three guys laughed at the last comment.

Idiots. Didn’t they know I was going to annihilate them, or did they somehow think the three of them could take me down easier than one-on-one?

I straightened my back and shook out my hands, preparing for their attack, watching each of their postures and feet to gauge their next move. I then slightly crouched and put my fists up, using my right hand to extend my fingers and wave them on.

“Bring it on, boys. Bring it on,” I smirked.

The first one who had made a comment lunged at me, throwing a right hook. I spun out of the way and cracked him with a backhanded fist, making his head snap to the side and sending him stumbling. I then lifted my right leg and threw a kick into his stomach, forcing him to fly back and land in the dirt.

All at once, the other two surrounded me and lunged, grabbing one arm each. Using their weight, I propelled my feet at the third guy who was incoming, sending him flying back yet again. The two guys holding my arms tried to sweep my legs from under me.

I jumped up fast, throwing them off, and was guarding myself before the three had even gotten to their feet. The first two came at me, anger evident in their dark eyes and posture as they stalked toward me like true predators. I was done playing. These asshats thought they were all that and more. I needed to end this fight fast. I didn’t feel like going out tonight with bruises on my face.

As the two lunged toward me, one threw a punch, which I dodged, and I kicked him in the leg—hard. I heard a crack and a whimper as he fell to the ground. I knew I had broken something but didn’t pay too much mind to the pain I caused him. I was grabbed from behind, a pair of strong arms holding me as the other came forward.

Shit.

I flung my head back, hitting the one holding me right in the nose, and his arms dropped away. As a fist came flying toward my face, I caught it and twisted, breaking his arm. That left one I hadn’t broken anything on yet.

As I concentrated on the one standing in front of me, I failed to notice the guy with the broken nose come up beside me until it was too late. I felt a heavy hand land on the side of my face, jerking my head to the side and sending me to my knees. I spat the warm, metallic blood from my mouth. I had gotten too cocky.

I felt Inanna push forward, giving me more strength as I jumped to my feet. A series of fists and feet flew at me, some connecting but not doing much damage. I blocked most of it until I finally grabbed one of them by the neck and squeezed—hard enough to make him black out but not to break his neck—then threw him into the other two.

I punched and knocked out the next opponent. That was two down. The one with the broken leg stayed down; he had submitted. The remaining one started to circle me—the one with the broken nose, the guy who couldn’t wait to have me on top of him. I glared at him and pointed.

“I was saving you till last, and I’m going to make your dreams come true, baby,” I mocked, knowing I was going to straddle him just like he wanted and rain punches down on his face. He did not look amused.

He came straight for me, trying to fake me out. He leaned left, but his feet said right. I dodged his punch and flipped around, grabbing him by the back of the neck and kneeing him hard in the back, forcing him to the ground. As he went down, I jumped on him and landed an elbow on the back of his head. He literally ate dirt. I smiled and flipped him over, straddling him, ready to pummel him like I promised.

Right then, I looked past him and saw Kellen in his ring, holding his own easily.

I looked back down, sending a punch at the guy beneath me. “How do you like me on top now, asshole?” I seethed.

“Bitch,” was all he managed to breathe before losing consciousness, and I heard the instructor’s whistle, signaling me to release him. He was out.

Ha! Victory! They were no match for us, Inanna preened, her nose held high after taking out three Alphas. I smiled at her proud howl.

“TEN-MINUTE BREAK BEFORE WE START ROUND TWO! Victors to the right, everyone else to the left!” the head instructor shouted.

I walked over to the bleachers and took a seat next to Kellen, who handed me a water bottle.

“Looking good, Lamia. I would have thought you’d take your time and play with them a little more,” he laughed, grinning his Colgate smile.

“Mmm, I thought about it, but I really didn’t want a messed-up face for tonight’s party,” I laughed back. As werewolves, we healed fast, but broken bones or deep cuts took a little longer. Bruises took a few hours.

Kellen and I both won our next two fights easily. Then it was on to round three, where the final two would face each other.

Shit.

It was Kellen and me.

I had only ever seriously fought—or sparred against—Kellen once back at the Palace training grounds. We were alone, no witnesses. And I had beaten him. I was not thrilled to face him in any match. He was my King and Alpha; I was his protector. I would never show power over him, especially not in front of others.

“Moon! Langley!” the instructor yelled. “You’re up!”

Shit, shit, shit. I did not want to fight Kellen. I wouldn’t win—I would have to throw the fight.

No. We will NOT throw a fight, Inanna insisted.

But… Inanna, I will not fight my King. I will not hurt him.

Then you must take a knee. I will not hurt him either. As he is your King, Conri is mine.

Conri was Kellen’s wolf, and he and Inanna had formed a bond. Conri was the only one Inanna would submit to.

I walked into the ring and turned to face Kellen. His expression mirrored mine; his blue eyes held hurt. He didn’t want to fight me either.

I cannot fight you, Kel, I said through our link.

Come on, Lam. It’s all good. We’re expected to do this, he sighed back.

I nodded, and when the instructor blew the whistle to start the match, I dropped my hands, fell to my knees, and bowed my head, exposing my neck. I could not fight him, and I could not throw the match. I could only submit.

The whistle blew again. “Langley! Get up, or you will be disqualified!”

I watched Kellen step back and lower his arms. He knew I wouldn’t. I would rather be punished. I composed myself and turned my head toward the instructor. Wilson—his name was Wilson—and he looked livid.

“Sir, with all due respect, I cannot and will not strike my King. I have submitted my match, which is within the rules you stated.”

Ha. Suck on that, fucker, I laughed to myself.

“Get the hell up and give me 100 push-ups, Langley!” he growled, fist clenched. “In fact, make it 200!”

He stormed off the training grounds, handing his clipboard to someone else and whispering something in their ear.

Well, two hundred push-ups were better than having to show up to Kellen.