Chapter 33

Sadie "Watch him carefully," Nyx murmured, looking at John as if we were prey and we were the predators. "See how he is favoring one side?" she asked. I nodded my head. "Yes" "His other side is the opening you need. If you can land a strong kick to the left, then you'll take him by surprise long enough to defeat him." I see what she means. I continue attacking his strong side, before changing sides and kicking his left. It takes him by surprise, making him release a groan of pain. Before he can recover, I jump on him and easily bring him down. He taps his hand on the mat, and I let him go. "I win," I beamed before standing up. It's only then that I hear the cheers around me. I turn and look around, only to find the training arena filled with pack members who were currently cheering on. I wave to them, giving them a small smile. "How did you do that?" John asked, standing up. I've been steadily moving up the list of the strongest warriors in the pack. King had been my teacher, but when Nyx took over as my trainer, my fighting skills went up a notch. Sometimes I wonder if she was a warrior in her past life because she knew more ways to take opponents down than all warriors combined. Her guidance has helped me get stronger and better. I don't want to brag, but I am legendary in the pack, and it's all thanks to her. "Sadie?" John called. "Sorry, I got lost in thought a little," I said before shrugging and replying. "I just watched you, you were favoring one side, so I attacked your other side, figuring that it was your weak side." John is a vampire, and it's hard to take a vampire down given that they move at the speed of light. They have similar abilities to wolves, such as super-strength and perfect vision, but what gives them an advantage over wolves is their super speed. It makes them hard to kill. "If you want to be safe, you'll have to learn to use both sides. Strengthen your weak side. No one in the pack has ever noticed your left side is weak, but during war, you never know who'll notice and take advantage,” I tell him as we get out of the arena. "I got attacked a few years ago, and I almost died. A rogue wolf bit the left side of my abdomen. It never healed completely," I said, looking ahead as if lost in a trance. "Have Raven check you out; I'm sure she can find out what's wrong." I patted his shoulder before turning to address the room. "Training is postponed. We'll have it in the evening." More cheers rang through the open space as I walked to the pack house. I wanted to spend with Aspen before I started my duties. Rushing to my room, I take off my sweat covered clothes and jump into the shower. Minutes later, I'm done. I wrap my body in a towel before stepping out and heading to my vanity mirror. I apply smoisturizer and sunscreen. I stare at the scar on my cheek, feeling the familiar bitterness raise its head. Raven told she could erase it with a spell, but I refused. I wanted it to serve as a reminder of what Alec truly is. I open the door and leave the bathroom, only for my body to collide with a little one. "Mommy!" Aspen screamed, happiness radiating from her. "Hi, baby." I picked her up, careful not to let my towel fall. Despite what humans read in books, we don't strut around naked in front of kids. Werewolves shift a lot, but we are careful not to be seen by kids. It would be traumatizing for them to see not only their parents but also pack members naked. "Let change, baby, okay?" I asked her, putting her on the bed. "Okay" Walking into my walk-in closet, I pick up a white t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Once I'm done, I get out. Aspen is on the bed, with a framed picture. "I miss grandma,” she says, her eyes tearing up. Sitting down on the bed, I pull her onto my lap and hug her tightly. "I know my love, but she'll cto visit, okay?" "When?" "I'm not sure; you know your grandmother is busy," I reply. "Don't worry, she'll visit and she'll bring lots of gifts." It was lie, but I didn't know what else to tell her. The two had bonded so fast, just like she had bonded with ha aunt Rave and uncle King. Just like she'd promised, Beth had found us after things had settled. No one knows how, and she refused to tell us. She stayed with us, but around mid-last year she left the pack, saying she had something important to do. She never cback and it's been a year. No one knows where she went or what happened. Efforts to find her have been futile. It's like she just disappeared. We believe that she isn't dead; we know the kind of power she holds, so I doubt she was dead. That being said, she also never told us how she managed to fool everyone into believing that I was dead. She said that it was her secret to keep for now, because none of us were ready for the truth. "You promise?" Aspen asked, pulling back to the present. "Yes, I promise,” I replied, kissing her plump cheek. She burrows deeper into my arms while closing my eyes and inhaling my scent. This is something that we do when one of us is anxious, nervous, or just needs comfort. We inhale each other's scent because it calms us. "D a m n, we make a cute baby," Aspen purred in my head, so proud of our pup. She was right. I don't think we are biased, but Aspen is just the cutest child I've ever seen. Her long, curled eyelashes and her green eyes sealed the deal completely. A knock sounds on my door before the door opens to reveal Martha, my nanny. "Hi Sadie, Kingsley askedto cwatch Aspen, as you are needed downstairs," she said, walking towards. I don't know why she never calls him King, despite his insistence every time. "Martha!" Aspen screamed upon hearing her voice. Her eyes were now open and she was scrambling to get out of my hands. I let her go and she runs to Martha, her body colliding with hers. "I missed you," she whispered in an angelic voice. Martha chuckles. “You just saw a few minutes ago, baby girl... But I missed you too." Standing up, I smile. Aspen was a sweetheart, and you could tell just by how she was adored by the whole pack. It warms my heart to see her so happy. "I'll leave you two," I told them. "Let's see what King wants." I leave the room after saying goodbye to Aspen and head downstairs. I spotted him and Raven standing near the entrance of the pack house. "What's up?" I asked. "I got a call from the main gate that an Alpha has arrived, and he claims it's urgent," King answered. groaned. "So?" "Since Mason isn't here, we will have to deal with him." "Seriously, must I be there?" I grumbled, whining like a child. "Yes, now come... I think I hear them," Raven said, pulling towards the door. We get outside and I smell him before I see him. This is just f**g perfect. Alec was standing at the steps of the pack house. "Sadie?" Micah called in a shocked whisper. Everyone is frozen. I recognize sirseb of the warriors and of course m recognize that fed, Jason. My group tenses behind since they already knew who Alec is. Alec stares in shock as I stand still, Nyx growling inside my head. The shock in his eyes quickly turns to hatred and anger. Pure fury radiated from him. His eyes turning completely yellow is the only warning I get before he attacks. He wraps his hand around my neck, his nails digging into my skin. "I don't know how are alive and I don't care," his guttural, distorted voice growled. "But this tI'm going to finish the job right before I end this entire f**g pack for hiding and sheltering you." With that, his hands tighten around my neck, and I just know he's about to rip out my throat. He had not only threatened me, but also my pack and daughter. The fear and anger drive me, pulling something from the deepest depths of my soul. I start feeling something inside shift. It reminded me of a snake slowly uncoiling before it struck. "It's time," Nyx said inside my head, right before something inside snapped, coloring my nothing but pain.