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Chapter 2

Grace

We’d been at it for two hours, but I didn’t give up.

“GO GAMMA!” Screamed Warrior Commander Adam. I’d known him since I was a pup, but he was only a little over a decade older than me. We’d all agreed that he’d cover for me when I left. I wasn’t giving up until I landed a hit.

“Go sis!” Yelled Tyson.

“Kick his ass!” Yelled Kaizen.

We were just outside in the backyard of the packhouse, though there was a large gathering now. Everyone had sodas, some had food, while Delta even had his laptop to video call my parents. It was sat in a chair so they could watch too, and I intended on making them proud.

“Pay attention.” He said, tripping me with his stick. I growled getting up, with my branch over my head charging at him again.

“I Was!” I complained, but it fell on deaf ears.

“Come at me Grace.” Xaxas goaded with a smug smile. He shook his horns to challenge me. Unlike ours, his were double in size, and in between them was a flaming crown.

“Give me a second.” I said a little winded.

He teleported in front of me, swinging the makeshift stick sword. I had to dodge just to get out the way. I barely missed, falling into the dirt in my pack’s backyard.

“That’s cheating! You said no magic!” I growled.

“I didn’t. It isn’t My fault you can’t move as fast.” He snickered.

My father growled. He said nothing, but I could tell he was a little upset as he held my mother in his lap. He knew I wasn’t hurt, Uncle Xaxas would never do that, but he didn’t like it.

“Take my pup a little more seriously.” Grumbled my father.

“Hey She Said One second, not me.” He countered. The grin on his face could eat shit. It actually made me a little mad.

I couldn’t help but help let my competitive spirit take the best of me as I panted heavily, thinking of my next move.

I was even more excited with the idea of challenging others later too. My brothers didn’t crave battle like I did.

“I still can’t believe you haven’t surrendered yet.” He chuckled.

“I won’t.” I said with a confident grin.

“You can do it.” Said my father, who honestly looked slightly older than his eldest brother. He too was a force to be reckoned with, holding the titles of Bryson the Beast as well as the King of the Forest, and God of Retribution or rather Justice. However, at first glance, I doubt anyone could guess all that by the way he so casually sat in his office looking like a regular Alpha, while mom looked like she wanted to get keys and come over. He still ran the second largest pack in existence, since he was raised as an outcast, but still a regular wolf just the same.

For her to be one of the most fearless she wolves I knew, she was also much more calm now that we were adults. She originally didn’t have the title of Risen One, just Charred. She was the first and Only female on the royal council…. She was the only one of five known females to ever hold a title of Alpha… if only for a short time. She had to fight for what little respect she was given…. Since old men hold old mentalities… And they were both watching. Both my parents had to earn everything that they ever had…. I Really wanted to do this. Not to prove anything to them, but to myself that I was right.

Here I would be stagnant. Here I would remain only a Gamma, but that was not what destiny meant for me.

“I guess I could take a nap and come back when you’re ready.” Chuckled Xaxas.

“Your taunting won’t get me!” I charged again using my full force, being parried instantly.

He blocked such a blunt blow with his palm, though at least this time I’d gotten him to slide with the momentum of my swing.

In my training I willingly pushed myself every day to keep up with my comically stronger brothers. Their natural strength made it Hard being the only female, nearly identical triplet, but none was greater than what I set out to do at this moment. With my Earned might I Will be victorious.

I bombarded him again with as many swings as I could muster, but he blocked every single one. He held the branch so casually, as if he were reading the news… Though I was starting to struggle. With each swing, he parried, and with each parry, I grew a little more tired.

So much so that I noticed that I was getting slower. He hadn’t broken a sweat, nor was he even a little tired…. It was almost as if he were bored.

We’d been at this for 2 and a half hours after all.

I would end this. To me this was more than sparring. To me, this was a Goal.

I missed, and he got me on my backside with the branch.

“Ha.” He said when I growled at him.

“… RAHHH!” I screamed in frustration.

I swung at him with all my might. Training had made me strong, but not strong enough. I missed again, while he planted the end of it across my back leg. I was sent flying, though I spun around, catching my balance as I did so.

“I know you’re holding back.” He teased.

I growled my deepest growl, “One blow. One hit. One tap. If I get you even a Little, I want you to train me in swordplay too.”

“As Sloppy as those swings are I think I Have to at this point.” He said seriously, if only for a moment.

“A hundred bucks if she actually nails him this time.” said Delta jokingly. He was a stern wolf with buzzcut grey fur, and piercing brown eyes.

“Come on, that’s at least a $200 bet. I’m in. GO GAMMA!” shouted Warrior Commander Adam. He pumped up damn near the whole pack with his cheering. It made me even more determined.

“I don’t know, my money’s on Uncle.” Said Tyson. “She looks about at her limit.”

“You dick. Deal. GO SIS!” Yelled Kaizen. He took off his shirt and waved it like a flag, and the Warriors cheered with him.

“I’m giving you 30 seconds to recover.” Xaxas said standing relaxed. “I can’t ignore how amped they are for you.”

I put my almost black hair in a ponytail while my uncle waited smugly counting backwards…. My subdued amber orange eyes around others were a deep, almost black crimson, their true color.

“At least take this as seriously as my pup.” Said my father stoically. He’d gotten completely fed up with my uncle’s horseplay.

“Then 30.” Uncle Xaxas said coming at me so fast I thought he teleported, but I knew he would. He came at me leaving a wide, purposeful opening, giving me a chance to go for it, but I knew better. My uncle liked to tease too much to actually let me get him on his terms.

But I ran anyway. I held my staff above my head like I was going to swing it, but instead, I tossed it at him.

He was surprised genuinely, catching it subconsciously, thinking I would stay in this imitation human form. He did not expect me to shift as he swung the stick, and when I got on all fours, I headbutted him with my true form with Everything I had.

That would have Killed anyone else, but he only laughed.

“That’s My Girl!” Screamed my father, getting up, holding my mother high in the air, then clearing his throat, before returning to his stoic nature.

He slid quite a bit, but was not marred, nor did he fall. He grinned wide. “Alright. You got me.” He smiled. “I’ll teleport us to my island.”

“Right NOW?” I asked.

Uncle rolled his eyes. “Well Duh.”

“Don’t worry Gamma, I got it.” Said our Warrior Commander Adam. He didn’t know anything about the MoonPack management system, but it wasn’t hard.

“I can train him.” Said Delta.

“You planned on leaving this afternoon anyway. What’s a few hours difference?” Said Tyson.

“Also Gamma… you already asked me to cover for you.” Said Adam.

“… Um…. I hadn’t packed yet….” I sheepishly admitted. Xaxas tisked. This time it was a silent glare directed at my brothers.

“I will provide whatever you need.” He held out his hand for me to grab, and I took a look at my brothers, and even my encouraging parents, who disappeared off the screen.

I was embraced by both of them, who in a rare moment father decided enough was enough.

He could not say whatever it was behind a screen. He engulfed me with his hold…. It was Very rare that he ever used his powers…

“You are My little girl.” He said letting go, revealing a wide smile. “Go live your life for yourself. And no matter how far you go, or where you end up, know your papa still remembers when you fit in the palm of my hand.”

“Ah! I’m Excited for you!” yelled mom. “I want pictures. And don’t forget to call. The island has cell service you know.” She hugged me with all her might, but I was gentle about it. Unlike her, I was a demigoddess. She left to find dad… so she understood this primal instinct.

Leaving to find a mate was common, and if he was somehow stronger, it was tradition to move in with him.

“I think I’m ready.” I said letting go of my parents. My brothers chose to stand there and be stoic, but I knew it was because they were moments away from shifting to attempt to make me stay. That was part of our bond as siblings. I can’t read their minds or anything, but I knew their hearts… and they were broken.

This would be the first time that we Actually were separated. The island my uncle held was in the middle of Nowhere in the Northern Sea… and no human contraption could access it. It wasn’t even on a map despite being the size of a state.

I hesitated for only a moment, and I took his hand.

It was rare to leave packs; many of our members have been here since birth, but… I would remain in the same position… in the same predicament. Here I would remain Gamma, remain mateless, and unfortunately remain unhappy because of it….

This felt like the beginning of a journey I wanted, no, Needed….

If I didn’t find my mate, at the very least I could find myself.

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