BRITNEY'S POV
I got back to the pack house, ready to go back to training even though Alpha Jordyn had told me not to train.
I went straight to the arena, hoping to see another fight going on, but what I saw was everybody standing erect in an organized formation.
What were they doing? Is this also some kind of exercise?
I sneaked into the arrangement, trying to blend in and avoid drawing attention to myself.
"Alright!!" A female voice resounded in the open space.
"I'm gonna tell y'all why we're doing this," she said, standing in front of the crowd.
"I got orders from above," she continued, her eyes scanning the crowd before finally landing on me. "We're going to start the basics of combat training," she said, her voice firm and authoritative.
The crowd murmured, the complaints visible on their faces.
Some people turned to me, which made it even more awkward. It was as if they were blaming me for what the instructor just said.
"Silence," The instructor yelled, tuning down the murmuring from the crowd.
"Welcome, everyone," The woman said, her eyes still on me, it was as if she knew me. "My name is Layla, I'm your instructor, and I'll be teaching you the art of combat."
"We won't train with our wolves for the time being," She continued.
"But why?" A loud voice echoed from the crowd. The murmur started again, this time growing louder. People nodded their heads in agreement with the question.
"Simmer down." The instruction commanded, but the murmurs only grew.
"SIMMER DOWN!!" Her voice came again, thundering in the arena. And with that, the crowd went silent.
"We won't be doing such training...reasons best known to the one who gave the orders," She said, her eyes landing on me as she spoke the last words.
Why does she keep looking at me? I wondered, feeling a sense of curiosity and unease under her persistent gaze.
But as I pondered, a new thought occurred to me this sudden rule change was actually to my advantage! A wave of relief washed over me as I realized I wouldn't have to fight off angry wolves and fear for my life every time.
This was more in line with what I imagined training to be like-a chance to learn and grow without the constant, fear of attack.
I felt a sense of hope and optimism, my heart felt lighter and a slight smile crept onto my face.
The first part of the training was finally over, and although I was exhausted, I loved the new training and the improvements I'd made.
With a satisfied sigh, I reached for my bottle of water and unscrewed the cap. I tilted the bottle back and emptied half of its contents into my mouth, the water refreshing my parched throat and dry lips.
My fatigued body felt revitalized as I savored the cool liquid, the water tracing a refreshing part down my throat.
But suddenly, a cold chill crept up my neck, making me shiver. It was as if someone was watching me, I could feel it, the weight of their attention, it was unsettling.
People in the arena always glance at me here and there, but this one was different, my senses heightened. I only feel this way when I'm in danger.
My instincts went on high alert, I turned around to check, my eyes scanning the arena with a mix of curiosity and unease. The air seemed to vibrate with an unspoken presence, I kept looking around, searching for the source of the weird sensation.
And then…there he was, lurking in the shadows, his gaze fixed intently on me. I couldn't be mistaken, my mind raced with the familiarity of it all. That same black hoodie. The same tall and imposing figure that seemed to blend into the darkness, yet stood out with an aura of menace. My heart skipped a beat as I realized, I was sure of it, it had to be him. The same person who had been following me on my way home the other day.
The memory of being stalked came flooding back. My eyes locked unto his, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.
Who was he and what did he want? I wanted to know why he was stalking me, I wanted to ask him, to confront him, to understand the reason behind his sinister surveillance.
I turned back to look at him but he had vanished into thin air.
"Where did he go?" I exclaimed, my eyes darting around the arena, searching for any sign of him. But he was gone.
Something in me wanted to follow him, to uncover his identity and motive. I wanted to know who he was, so I took a few steps forward, my heart racing with curiosity.
But then, driven by a fierce resolve to know what he wanted from me, I rushed towards the dark corner where I had last seen him.
At this point, my survival instincts had apparently taken a leap out the window, because why was I recklessly chasing danger instead running away from it? My rational mind screamed at me to turn back, to flee from potential threat, but my feet seemed to have a mind of their own.
I hurriedly walked into the corner, adrenaline cursing through my veins, hoping to catch up with him.
As I turned into the hallway I was surprised to find it not as dark and foreboding as I had expected. The dim lighting still cast eerie shadows on the wall but I could see well enough to make out the empty corridor stretching before me. I was scared of being seen by someone, but I kept going forward, with my senses on high alert.
Suddenly, I heard a sound coming from the next turn, and I quickened my pace, 'that must be him' I thought, my mind racing with anticipation. My heart raced at the thought of what might happen when I came face to face with him. But as I made a turn, my body collided with something…or someone and I felt myself flying backward, landing flat on my butt with a thud.
"Owww I groaned, rubbing my sore backside as I opened my eyes, I saw a girl standing over me, staring down with a concerned expression. How come she didn't fall ? The collision was hard but she still stood tall.
"Where were you rushing off to?" She asked, her voice a sweet, melodious sound that could soothe any frazzled nerve. Her eyes looked familiar, and I realized they were the same hazel-golden color as Alpha Jordyn's.
She stretched her hands to help me get up, smiling softly at me. Her smile was warm and gentle, putting me at ease despite the unexpected collision.