Liberty POV
Three weeks later.
“Again!” Reuben shouts at me, again.
Again, again, again. I was close to shoving again up his arse. How was this even fair? I had joined an afternoon training session with warriors, with only Rex and I being the trainees.
I was training with a four year old kid….
A kid, who annoyingly was doing better than me.
“I need to breathe.” I groan out, placing my hands on my thighs as I bend over trying not to heave up my lunch.
“Dead Liberty. You are dead in a battle because you’ve paused. You don’t have time for breaks, time to recuperate. You need to keep moving.”
“Recuperate?” I sneer back at him.
“I’m just giving my lungs a chance to breathe the oxygen that they so desperately need.”
Three weeks we have been at Evelyn’s lake house, I mean it was beautiful and offered the space to train. But I was meant to have left three weeks ago! How was I still here?
Every time I tried something Pierce was on to me, even Beta Nate. I never had a moment to myself. Always watched.
“You’re behind, you need to work harder than this to catch-up. My four year old son is doing better than you.”
“Rex has known about werewolves all his life, I’m only a month in. Cut me some slack!” My legs give in and I collapse on my back, looking up at the clouds as I try to steady my wheezing lungs.
“Liberty!” He growls at me for not following his orders.
That was one bonus, the only person that seemed able to apply pressure was Pierce. Apparently a mate bond trumps a pack bond or something like that. I suppose no wolf, no pack….unless Pierce marks me.
“Go…away!” I yell at him, my fists clenching wanting to hit something.
“Come on Auntie Lib, a few more goes and then we can go swimming.” Rex kindly places his hand out to me, trying to encourage me to keep going. He was a sweet boy, he had warmed up to me since we arrived at the lake house.
But he had moments when he would switch and it’s like someone else is behind his eyes, not him. It never fails to make my blood turn cold.
I’ve kept my distance from everyone as much as I can. I think they think I feel uncomfortable being here, I don’t. What I feel uncomfortable about is what I did.
I’m not sure if he got out, but I know they’ll hit the roof if they realise I did what I did. Everyone was so busy getting us ready to go and ensuring the pack borders were safe that I took my chance. Just to give him a fighting chance.
He may not have even noticed. Hopefully he didn’t notice. It doesn’t matter now anyway. He is all the way over back at the Red Stone pack and we are here.
“Liberty! I’m losing my patience.” Reuben roars taking me out of my thoughts. I place my hand into Rex’s and he helps to pull me up.
Training was to try and avoid being touched by the warriors. We didn’t have to fight back, they didn’t have to hurt us….just touch us. Like the game tag I used to play as a kid. But massively different this time around.
“How’s she getting on?” I hear Pierce approach Reuben as we start the game again. My hearing was still improving, I was getting that buzz and when I concentrated hard enough I could slow my eyesight down and see the wings flap of the dragonflies that liked to surround the lake.
“She’s slow…” Reuben sighs, my chest squeezing with hurt at his comment. I wasn’t slow, I was just slow against supernatural beings. They forget I was still showing traits of being a human.
“She’ll get there. You’re too hard on her.”
“I’m not Pierce, you’re too soft. That’s why she needs to stay with me. You’ll protect her, go easy on her…she needs to learn to survive, to fight.”
“Reuben, I’m fully aware of what my mate needs. She needs love and support too. She’s been alone for a long time. Even with your difficulties with Odin, you had a pack to support you. She’s not had that. She’s had the four walls of an apartment block to keep her locked away. With trust and patience…she’ll flourish.” Pierce’s words warm my soul and guilt washes over me for what I might have done. Maybe I should tell him. But he’ll be disappointed in me, and he won’t trust me again.
“Auntie, watch out.” Rex shouts at me, as a warrior comes skidding into me, trying to knock me to the ground.
His warning gives me a chance to jump over the warrior missing his touch. I run towards Rex as he has three warriors hot on his heel.
I’ve had enough of this now. We’ve been out here for hours and I was exhausted. Time to cut the training short. What’s he going to do? Lock me away in the lake house?
“Rex, move.” I roar as I run towards him and he looks back to me as I pass him, running into the three warriors running at high speed.
I rugby tackle them. I dive straight at then, confusing them completely.
They have to switch mid fall from attack, to ensuring I don’t get hurt when I crash inevitably under one of them. They move quickly, shifting my positioning last minute so that when we crash, I am spread out on top of them.
A slight growl informs me that Pierce doesn’t like their hands on my arse and chest, but surely in a battle, things like this happen.
A warm coffee and cinnamon scent envelops me as arms wrap around me and pick me up, placing me back on my feet.
“Apologies Alpha.” All three warriors refrain from looking Pierce in the eye, his mood darkening before me.
“Don’t you men apologise…Liberty, what the fuck was that?” Reuben walks over to me, his shoulders tensed, his annoyance palpable.
“Rex was in danger, I protected him. You should be proud.” I smirk, loving how I annoyed him. It came very easy to me.
“It doesn’t work like that…”
“Look Reuben, I see it in two ways. If there’s a battle I’ll do what I can do protect the twins…so job done. Or I’m yet again kept in the safety of the house, which means if the security of the house is compromised…I’m screwed anyway right. I mean if they’ve got past the best warriors around, what chance do I have. I’d much rather spend my time swimming here in this lake, not worrying about things I have no control over.”
“You are fated to be a Luna….”
“A Luna without a wolf, therefore I’ll need warriors to fight for me. You tried ..” I sarcastically pat him on the shoulder.
“…can’t win them all Alpha.” I give a big goofy grin before putting my hand out to Rex, and us both walking in the direction of the lake.
“What is is about sisters?” Rex mutters next to me, as we continue to walk towards the still blue water of the lake. It was a beautiful autumnal day. Golden leaves reflected in the lake from the trees just hanging on to the last reminder of summer. There was now a slight chill in the air at night, but I’m the only one that seems to notice.
“What do you mean?” I look to him, as Elspeth comes running towards us.
“Able to push our buttons.”
“That’s what a sister is for Rex, to test you. You’ll moan about her, upset her all day long, but the moment someone else upsets her, you’ll kill for her. I’ll let you in on a secret…” I lower my voice as Elspeth gains distance between her and us.
“She knows it, and gets great joy in pushing your buttons.” I didn’t feel that with Reuben, but I could tell Rex and Elspeth had that bond. A bond I was quite envious of.
“Are we swimming?” Elspeth reaches us, a little out of breath from running so quickly. Before I can answer a loud roar erupts from behind us. I turn to see Reuben rushing back into the lake house with his warriors.
“Rex, Elspeth…inside now!” Не commands and for once I don’t dare fight his aura. It was deadly powerful.
The kids let go of my hand and rush towards their father, leaving me looking back to the lake. Another fleeting moment presents itself that I could use to my advantage to escape.
As if hearing my thoughts, Pierce calls to me from behind. He hadn’t moved yet, he is always watching.
“Libby, come.”
