"Good luck," Marcus said.
I stopped and called his name as he began walking back towards where we had come. "Are you not staying?" I asked.
He gave me a genuine smile and shook his head. "My duty is to look after the hotel whenever the Alpha is too busy to do so. I must go back."
When he said this my heart dropped a little. He was like a father figure, and although I hadn't even been here for a full day, I was starting to like him a lot.
"Please stay," I begged, not ashamed that I was sounding a bit desperate. My heart was pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat. The thought of having people stare at me was beginning to make me feel uneasy.
He looked at me with empathy and smiled again. "I will ask the Alpha if he will allow it."
**********
Adrian's P.O.V
"Delilah, your level of skill is increasing, but the attack will not be effective if you lack speed." I circled the two teenagers fighting, observing how well they executed their chosen move. Lionel, an 18 year old werewolf who originally came from Tanzania, was making Delilah, his opponent - look stupid.
She huffed in annoyance, but never once took her eyes off her opponent. "I would be faster if my powers were present," she moaned, dodging one of Lionel's punches.
"Your powers are gone for a month Delilah, you must learn to practice without them and still be just as good."
Just as I said that, I spotted three silhouettes coming towards us from the clearing. I was familiar with Jack, and the red head I had spoken to last night, but the tanned girl with the dark hair I had never seen before.
Marcus was walking with them, beside the unfamiliar girl that I assumed was in the shower when I entered her room. My wolf growled only slightly at the sight of her walking with him, then disappeared as fast as it had come. She wasn't my mate.
I glanced at my watch and realised how late they were. Jack wasn't going to get it easy today. The rogue had to learn a lesson.
"ATTENTION!" I shouted.
All werewolves stopped immediately, facing the front with their hands to their sides and their heads looking straight forward. Silence filled the air as they awaited my commandments.
"We have three new students here to train with us, but they are late," I said, still looking at them coming towards us from the distance. "I need your help to give them a warm welcome."
I stepped forward and smirked. "And teach them a lesson."
With that, some of the faces before me started smiling. Young girls were excited, perhaps willing for one of the students to be a boy, or their mate. None of them turned their heads behind them though, all remained focused on me.
"SPLIT!" I commanded.
Instantly the werewolves divided themselves into two halves, leaving a wide gap in the middle of the training ground. Now instead of facing the front, all students were facing inwards, so that they could see the young werewolves who were about to enter.
I waited at the end of the pathway that had been made, with both hands placed gently behind my back, and a small grin on my face.
**********
Ailani's P.O.V
I stopped dead in my tracks. "What the hell is going on?" I asked Marcus.
In the split of a second everyone stopped what they were doing and assembled into a position that made a pathway for us to walk down. I was hoping that I could sneak myself in and join them somehow, but now that was looking impossible.
Marcus had a solemn concentrated look on his face. "The Alpha knows you're here. And he isn't too happy that you're late." He said matter-of-factly. "Keep walking."
We approached a wooden deck that led up to the training arena, Jack led whilst we followed behind him. I tried to keep my eyes glued to the floor as we walked down the aisle, but my curiosity forced me to take quick glances to the people that were staring at us.
I was astounded at the fact that every-single-one of them were extremely good looking, each in their own peculiar way. There were men of various ages, the ones that looked my age stood tall and muscular, and the ones that stood at the front smirked at me as I walked by. Some of the girls smiled welcomingly, and others held a mean glare as I passed - the competitive ones.
No one made a sound though, and I figured it was because they were given strict orders by the Alpha to remain silent.
As we neared further to the front, the sweet smell of cinnamon flooded my senses and nearly knocked me to the ground. I would have fallen over backwards, if it wasn't for Katie behind me who helped me steady myself.
"Stay calm," Marcus whispered, perhaps thinking I was feeling uneasy because of my nerves. "Are you okay?" He asked.
I sniffed quickly, quivering over the luscious smell hovering in the air. "I can smell him," I mumbled through gritted teeth. We were nearing the front faster.
"Keep your eyes open and hold your breath for as long as you can, when you exhale you will no longer be able to smell him, but this will only last for 30 minutes." Marcus stated.
I looked at him with confusion, that was a bit too easy wasn't it?
He winked at me. "Trust me, I've tried it."
**********
Adrian's P.O.V
"Ailani, Jack, Katie, to be accepted in our pack you must prove to us that you are worthy of becoming soldiers." All three of them stood small at the front of the training ground, silent, waiting. "Jack you shall go first. Do you have any talents?"
"I can box." He said confidently.
The male werewolves scoffed and sniggered at his remark. Many of the females stood at stared at the young, good-looking boy in front of them.
"Lionel, please step forward."
The tall, dark skinned werwolf approached the front with ease, unperturbed. At 18 he stood taller than some of the grown men in my pack.
"Jack, if you will step forward."
The two werewolves met at the centre of the training ground. Both were the same height, but it was clear the Lionel had the advantage, his muscles were stronger and more defined. When Jack smiled slightly at his opponent, Lionel frowned.
"Fight!" I commanded.
Excited murmurs erupted from the crowd of werewolves standing around them. Jack and Lionel broke apart and began lightly bouncing on their feet, hands balled into fists ready to fight. It was Lionel who took the first opportunity to lunge at Jack; and it was Lionel who missed first. Jack reacted faster than I would have expected, stepping aside and punching Lionel across the right cheek.
"Come on Lionel, finish him." One of the werewolves shouted.
Lionel dropped to the floor when Jack placed a punch straight in the middle of his forehead. There were no cheers amongst the werewolves, but Ailani and Katie were buzzing. Jack was left untouched, and unscathed. Christopher didn't look too happy about it.
"Impressive," I mused. "Amanda. Please step forward."
Amanda, a short girl with dark hair walked to the front. She was from Chinese descent, and was a Tai Chi expert. Jack looked at me with a confused look when he saw her. I smiled.
"Fight."
Within a split second, Amanda executed a round house kick to the side of Jack's face, and he stumbled backwards with one hand on his cheek. Regaining composure, Jack lunged at the small girl, but was too slow for her speed, Amanda moved to the side and kicked him in the side of the ribs, this time causing Jack to fall down to his knees.
Amanda continued, wrapping her left arm around Jack's neck. Jack tapped twice on the wooden deck floor, but Amanda was relentless. I chuckled to myself quietly.
"That's enough!"
Cheers erupted from the werewolves eagerly watching, and Amanda jumped up and bowed her head slightly towards her opponents direction.
"Quiet," I commanded.
Once there was silence, I circled Jack who looked bewildered as to how he had lost towards a small girl.
"Your hands are strong boy," I said. "But to fight you must learn how to use your whole body."
I turned to Amanda who was now amongst the crowd again.
"In our pack we do not discriminate. Both men and women learn how to fight, and both men and women will fight in our battles. You must learn to let go of your past judgements as to how strong women are. Amanda here is only 16 years old, and yet she finished you within 2 minutes."
Jack smiled at the young girl, who blushed and smiled back.
"Jack," I said, drawing his attention back to me. "You have a lot to learn."
He nodded respectfully.
"Katie. You're next."