Chapter 5: Until Today, I Never Really Saw Her

Ethan's POV

"Her mother recently married one of our scientists, so she moved here." I perked up at my dad's words. A new girl? He never mentioned anyone joining our training.

Right on cue, she appeared behind my father, and damn - she was so hot. Black wavy hair, killer smile, and these bright amber eyes that seemed to catch everything. She just had this vibe about her, like she knew exactly who she was and didn't care what anyone thought.

She exchanged a few words with someone, then focused on the session.

Dad had gone over the new moves earlier this week, so I tuned out his instructions. This newcomer was way more interesting.

Maxwell's brow furrowed. "That's the new girl?" His Alpha bloodline made him particularly sensitive to changes within our territory.

"Luna mentioned her," Christopher said. "Layla. From a West Coast pack. They fight differently there."

Benjamin grunted. "Hope she's not another Alpha-chaser. Victoria and her clones are enough to deal with."

"Scared someone might actually like your whole don't-touch-me vibe?" I teased. "Or still sore about getting shot down? You've got the worst social skills of all the triplets."

"Unlike some people," Benjamin shot back, "I don't lose my brain when I see a pretty face."

Noah squeezed between us, grinning like he had a secret. "Bet material right there."

"What's the challenge?" I asked, instantly hooked.

Noah nodded toward the new girl. "Get her to the party at the abandoned mall tonight."

"Rules?" I knew Noah never made things simple.

Maxwell jumped in. "No direct invitations. She comes on her own."

"Because she's into you," Christopher added with a smirk.

"She approaches you first at the party," Benjamin said, clearly doubting me. "You're her first stop."

"And here's the kicker," Noah paused dramatically, "no contact beforehand. No hello, no accidental bumping into her. Nothing."

Tougher than I thought. I'd need to get her attention without approaching her, while keeping Victoria's crew from scaring her off.

Christopher tapped his watch. "Clock's ticking. Party's tonight."

"If I win?" I asked.

"We'll stay out of your way for three months," Noah gestured around our circle. "No interference. Let's see if you can actually win her over."

"Deal." I smacked his palm.

I needed a strategy. Maybe Dad could pair us up? I turned and saw he'd already matched her with Briony – Noah's tiny sister. Hard to believe she and Noah were related except for their similar features.

"Today we need a demonstration," Dad announced. "Layla, Briony, show us the defensive counter."

I joined the circle forming around them. So her name was Layla. Standing next to Briony, the height difference was laughable – she towered over Briony by half a foot. What was Dad thinking with this mismatch?

Noah tensed beside me. He barely acknowledged his sister's existence, but when some freshmen started whispering jokes about the pairing, his eyes hardened.

"Ready," Dad called out. The girls took position while more snickers rippled through the crowd. "Layla attacks, Briony defends and counters. Let's see if she can subdue her opponent within twenty seconds."

Twenty seconds? What did he mean by "let's see"?

Everyone looked confused. Mutters of "impossible" and "what a joke" filled the air.

"Nobody can do that move in twenty seconds, especially not her," someone called out, triggering agreement from others. That moron didn't know I'd pulled it off in sixteen seconds yesterday.

Both girls locked eyes with intense focus – the kind you only see in serious fighters.

"We'll see," Dad said flatly. "Ready - begin!"

Briony exploded into motion the instant "begin" left Dad's mouth. Where the hell did that speed come from? Layla reacted fast, trying to sidestep and go for Briony's legs. But Briony was faster - shifting slightly, catching Layla's shoulder perfectly, and redirecting her momentum.

As Layla tipped off-balance, Briony spun behind her, arm around her throat, knee driving into her lower back. Layla tried turning, but Briony had already locked her arm high behind her back, completely immobilizing her. Just like that, it was over. The gym went dead silent.

Briony held position, eyes fixed on Layla until Dad tapped her shoulder. She immediately released Layla and helped her up. Dad turned to us with a grin I rarely saw.

"Under eight seconds! Sorry Ethan - that's more than twice as fast as your record!"

"Moon Goddess," Benjamin whispered, genuinely impressed. "How'd she do that? I couldn't even follow it."

"That's beyond basic training," Maxwell said. "That speed and precision doesn't come from practice alone."

Christopher nudged me. "Our speed demon Ethan, smoked by a Beta's daughter. Bruised ego, future Delta?"

I shook my head, surprised but impressed. "That was pure skill. Like she's been in real fights for years."

Dad appeared beside us. "Maybe it's time you reconsider certain pack members. Those two girls might be your toughest competition, and you never noticed." His lips curved upward. "Briony's been in my special training for two years right under your noses. Possibly the most gifted student I've trained – including all of you. And Layla has serious potential too."

"More interesting than anyone we faced at summer training," Christopher mused.

"Reminds me of that girl who rejected you," Benjamin added. "Said your fighting was all flash, no substance."

"Some people just don't appreciate style," I shrugged, feigning indifference.

Noah said, "Just to be clear - stay away from my sister. I know what you're thinking, Ethan."

"Chill, future Beta," I said, watching Briony talk with Layla. "But you have to admit, today showed a whole different side of her. Who knew that warrior was hiding under those baggy clothes?"

"I warned you!" Noah lunged for my throat, but I dodged and sprinted toward the parking lot, laughing as the guys called after me.

We piled into Maxwell's car for the short drive to school. Our houses in the "Crescent Moon" community were barely fifteen minutes from campus, but we always met at the main pack house first. Luna Isabella joked they should convert the triplets' floor into a dorm since we practically lived there.

At lunch, we grabbed our usual corner booth at Wolf's Corner that overlooked the dining room. The owner always kept it for us "future leaders." Halfway through my steak, something caught my eye.

"Isn't it weird? Layla's shadowing Briony like a bodyguard, but she's the new kid."

I set down my fork. "Something else just hit me - Briony's been in our advanced classes all year, and I never really noticed her until today. That's strange, right?"

"What do you mean?" Maxwell asked.

I turned to Noah. "You know how many advanced classes your sister is taking?"

Noah looked uncomfortable. "No idea. Dad never talks about her at home."

"She's in at least seven or eight top courses. Every science and lit analysis class. Apart from the future leader seminars, she's in all the hardest subjects. We're two weeks into junior year, and I'm just now realizing she's been there the whole time. You really care about her? I mean, you just acted so protective."

Noah shifted. "Dad's been telling me for years to keep my distance from her. I've been trying to follow his instructions, thinking it would mean he'd leave her alone more. But... "

His eyes narrowed. "Wait, you're not interested in my sister, are you? Because if that's - "

"Relax," I held up my hands. "Nothing like that. I'm just shocked."

"How does someone who can take down an opponent in eight seconds become practically invisible in a room full of elite students?"