Chapter 3

I stumble over a fallen branch skiting across the forest floor twigs slicing my arms and legs. I push myself back up running as fast as I can. The feeling of being watched grows even more as I make a sharp right turn to lose whoever is chasing me.

The piercing scream of the sirens echo throughout the trees. Claws dig into my arm throwing me to the side. The wind gets knocked out of me as my back makes contact with the dirt. I claw at the leaves trying to catch my breath. A women's scream pierces the sound of my heartbeat pounding in my ears. I look around to make sure no one is near before running. Tears are streaming down my face as I push myself to run faster. Dread seeps into my bones a second before someone slams into me.

"Tessa!" I sit straight up taking a big gulp of air. The sunlight streaming through my widow illuminating my room helps remind me it was all just a bad dream. Ryder's expression is the same it's been for the past few weeks when he's had to come wake me up from a nightmare, worried. I used to have really bad nightmares when I was younger, and only had them a handful of times as a teen. Ever since my birthday it's been like clock work every night.

"What should I make for breakfast?" Dad knows by now that the last thing I want to do is talk about it. The first few nights I know they thought it was because of the events on my birthday, but the longer they've gone on the more worried they seem.

"Whatever is fine." I rub the sleep from my eyes stretching my arms above my head. He stands up walking to my door, turning around at the last second.

"Emeric's coming over today to work with our warriors." A genuine smile takes over my face for the first time in a while. The rest of the family couldn't stay around long after my day of disappearing, so I didn't get to spend as much time with them as I would have liked. My tiredness is long forgotten as I jump up rushing to my closet. Ryder chuckles at my excitement closing the door behind him.

I pick out basic black leggings and a lavender t-shirt because I know I'll most likely train with them later. The one big change I made after my birthday was starting to train with my dads. If I would have run into any bad rogues while I was out there I wouldn't have know how to fight them properly. Sure my dads made sure I knew basic self defense, but to be honest that was more for defense inside pack territory. I don't plan on willingly running back into dangerous territory, but once you do it with no clue how to defend yourself suddenly learning how to fight becomes top priority.

"Good morning." Fletcher kisses my temple as I step into the kitchen. I give him a side hug being to distracted by the delicious smell of cinnamon rolls. I'm not sure why I'm surprised, they always bake cinnamon rolls when Emeric comes over because they are his favorite.

"Morning." I say moving over to the bowl of fruit salad popping a blueberry in my mouth. Fletcher continues to set the table as I pick out the blueberries until Ryder takes out the container of them from the refrigerator handing them to me. I take them from him without hesitation. You would think after so many years of eating blueberries I would get sick of them but it just hasn't happened yet.

"Emeric should be here soon." Fletcher says helping Ryder bring the food to table. I turn around on the stool so I'm facing them.

"Can I train with you guys today?" Ryder automatically looks elated, but Fletcher looks a little apprehensive. I'm pretty sure the first day I asked them if I could tag alone to training Ryder cried tears of happiness. Ever since I became old enough to train with everyone I always declined the offer and wanted to spend my time with Asher. Speaking of Asher I haven't seen him since the day I came back. I know my dads are making sure he stays away for the time being which I'm thankful for. Thinking about the situation alone hurts, and I can't imagine the pain it would cause if I saw him.

"Of course." Ryder has been so happy about me training, but Fletcher not so much. I can tell he's worried about me. The other day I heard him talking to Della on phone about me. He's concerned that I'm not telling the truth about what happened out in the woods, and said I'm coping with this whole mate thing the same way I did to my moms death when I was little, by not dealing with it. To be fair I know I should be a bit more open and talk to someone about Asher, but I can't remember anything about my moms death. I think my brain might of surpressed most of it.

They have always been open with talking about her. I remember her name was Laura, and she's the reason I love blueberries. I can still picture her face, but can't pinpoint the change of being with her to being with Ryder and Fletcher, in my memories.

"Do you want me to go with you on your run?" Fletcher offers but I shake my head. Instead of warming up with the rest of the warriors I go for a quick run through the woods, but still on our territory. It helps clear my head getting ready for the rest of the day. Fletcher frowns slightly looking down so I don't see his disappointment but I still do. Ryder sees me cringe and attempts to lighten the mood.

"The annual council meeting with all the packs is coming up." He effectively changes the topic causing Fletcher to snap back into Alpha mode. I grumble out loud at the news. Every year all packs Alpha's and Luna's have a huge meeting with the council to discuss any issues or problems going on between packs or with rogues. Our family doesn't exactly get along great with the council so they don't let any of us kids tag along, so every year I stay with Asher and his family until they get back. It's going to be a cold day in hell if they think I'm going to stay with them again. Plus I'm eighteen now I can stay home by myself.

"Don't remind me." Fletcher growls out frustrated. He's always said the meeting is a dangerous nuisance at this point, and he isn't wrong because it leaves every single pack vulnerable without their leaders. I suppose I should start to learn more about it since one day I'll eventually take over our pack because I'm their only child.

"Is there like a theme of each one, or is it the same every year?" Fletcher looks a bit shocked but delighted that I asked. Fletcher has always loved how curious and involved I am in learning more about running the pack.

"Not a theme per say, but usually we have a main topic to address. Most of the time it's the biggest issue going on in the packs for that year. We don't always know what it is until we get there." From his last sentence I have a feeling that they don't know this years topic of discussion.

A knock on our door cuts me from my thoughts. I hop of the stool running to our door as it opens. Emeric holds his arms open ready to catch me. I slam into his chest causing him to laugh and pick me up of the ground. He sets me down holding his back.

"You aren't so little anymore huh?" He pretends he hurt his back picking me up. I punch his arm playfully. Some people might be offended by his jab, but he's been doing this since I was like ten.

"Says you." He lundges for me, but I dodge him jumping on his back. He spins around trying to get me off, but Fletcher and Ryder stop us.

"Not in the house please!" Ryder declares as I slide off Emeric's back giggling. Emeric has always been like my older brother more than an uncle. Probably due to his immaturity, but none the less he's always been there.

"It's good to see you." Fletcher and Ryder take turns greeting Emeric pulling him into hugs. We make our way to the table sitting down. Emeric doesn't even hesitate grabbing three cinnamon rolls for his plate. I bite back my laugh because I know I'm the same way with blueberries.

We all dig in eating in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Emeric grabs more bacon before speaking up.

"So anything new going on?" I turn to my dads to answer his question. Ryder clears his throat before answering.

"We were just discussing the council meeting." Emeric leans back in the chair dragging his hands down his face groaning.

"That's coming up already? It feels like the last one was just yesterday." He grumbles as Fletcher nods in agreement.

"Is it really that bad?" I speak up wondering if Emeric's just being dramatic.

"Yes." Fletcher and Emeric both seem to hate this meeting with the same intensity.

"No." Ryder disagrees giving them both looks.

"Are you going to tag along this year?" Emeric's question is directed to me, but I turn to my dads to gauge their reaction. They both look at each other having a wordless conversation.

"It's up to you." Fletcher finally says. All attention is suddenly on me making me nervous. I am very curious to find out if this meeting is as terrible as they say it is. Plus if I go with, that gives me a few day where I don't need to worry about running into Asher or his mate.

"Sure I'll come." I shrug and they seem a bit shocked by my decision but quickly recover. Emeric rolls his eyes elbowing me.

"I'll start planning your funeral for when you die of boredom." He jokes making me laugh, but it doesn't go over well with my dads. Ryder growls at him while Fletcher glares at him. I wave them off.

"Oh calm down." I defuse the situation. Standing up I bring my plate to the sink washing it so I can head on my run. "I'll meet you guys at the field." I say over my shoulder heading for the back patio door. A chorus of okays come from the table. I walk to our backyard stretching my limbs as I make my way to the tree line, and I start jogging down the now familiar path.

* * *

I stop to catch my breath about a half a mile from the training field. Today is definitely warmer than the past few days causing me have to take more breaks than usual. I'll just walk the rest of the way.

Only I don't make it far when someone steps out from the trees. I freeze tensing up when my eyes connect with his blue ones. The same eyes I used to think I was going to spend looking at for the rest of my life.

"Hey Tessa." Asher steps forward but I back up two steps. Pain is the only emotion I have as I look at him. Any feeling of love or attraction is gone. My mood immediately plunges with each word that leaves his lips. "How are you doing?" I remain silent wanting to go around him, but worried he'll think I want to get closer to him. "I miss you."

"Don't!" I snap my voice turning venomous. I already don't like where this conversation is going.

"Tessa you're my best friend." I flinch at his words that stab me right in the heart. It feels like just last night he was declaring how awesome it would be if we were mates. "I don't know why you're acting like this." He frowns. My anger flares as he continues. "This isn't you. What happened out there?"

"Nothing! You want to know what happened?" I march towards him stopping a foot away from him. "You found your mate that morning, and get to live happily ever after. I woke up ready to spend the rest of my life with you, and you break the news to me by bringing her into my house and rubbing it in my face." I snap staggering back a bit to try and regain control of my temper.

"Tessa I never promised you anything, and it's up to fate to decide who our mate is. I'm sorry if that's how you felt, but I didn't mean it that way." I scoff at his excuses. I'm done with this conversation.

"I'm late for training." I dismiss him moving to walk around him, but he grabs my arm stopping me. I rip his hand off as if it burned me because in a way it did.

"That's it. This is how you're going to be now." He waits for me to say something, and when I don't I can see his anger flaring up. "Well I guess I'm glad fate didn't make us mates if this is how you really are." That does it. He might as well have twisted the knife in my heart. It would have hurt less than his words. He walks away as if the conversation never happened.

I sprint the rest of the way to the training field needing to blow of some steam. I wipe away the angry tears just as they leave my eyes not wanting anyone to see them. I break the tree line walking over to my dads and Emeric. They seem deep in a conversation luckily not noticing my change in mood.

"How about we work on one on one defensive tactics." Ryder suggests to Emeric who nods in agreement. "Are you okay working with a warrior?" Ryder asks me noticing my presence next to them. I nod not trusting my voice. Fletcher gives me a questioning look but I pretend I don't see it. Fletcher calls some guy up who is about a foot taller than me, but is a bit lanky. Nothing wrong with that, but I know they don't want to have me fight anyone out of my weight league.

"Carl you'll be fighting Tessa today." Fletcher tells him setting a hand on his shoulder motioning to me. Carl gives me a small wave smiling. I force a smile not wanting to take my anger out on this poor kid.

"Alright everyone pair up." Ryder voice bellows throughout the field catching everyone's attention. All the warriors get into their groups picking partners and waiting for the next instructions. I move standing next to Carl in the front right by my dads. "Start with a basic sparing session, and we'll go from there." The warriors all start sparring each other leaving enough space between each pair so there is no unnecessary injuries.

"Ready?" Carl asks getting into position. I nod my head mirroring his placement. I can see the hesitation in his eyes frustrating me. I move throwing the first punch which he dodges easily. He steps forward kicking out hoping to nail me in the gut, but I quickly side step out of the way. Kicking out my own leg I nail him in the kidney causing him to growl out. He throws a punch out of anger which was his first mistake. I easily block it slamming my fist into the side of his head. You never make a move out of anger. In order to gain the upper hand you have to make each move a calculated decision. I use his shock to my advantage kicking out again, but he sees it coming. He grabs my ankle flipping me on the ground. I grunt rolling out of the way before he can land another blow.

"Pathetic." I hear a voice mumble from the side. I know it wasn't Carl so I look around trying to find the source. A lot of people are now paying attention to our fight forgetting about their own. Turning my attention onto others was a bad idea because Carl takes this as an opportunity to land another punch. I stumble back but catch myself before I fall back.

"I don't know why they even let her fight, she's so weak." My temper flares at that one. I'll show them fucking weak. I charge at Carl faking a punch so he goes to block but landing a kick to his ribs. I land a punch to the side of his face, but he retaliates shoving me back. I don't let that deterrer me by going to swipe his feet out from under him. Unfortunately he's a lot quicker than I thought by jumping missing my swipe, and copying my move by swiping my feet out from under me. I hit the ground harder than before hurting my wrist.

"No wonder Asher rejected her." Someone snickers from behind me. That does it. I spring back up lunging at Carl attacking him. I throw punch after punch only taking a break to throw a kick here and there. I can hear a chorus of gasps around us as I ruthlessly beat Carl. Impressively he does counter my attack with a few punches. Arms are suddenly grabbing me around the waist pulling me off Carl. I yell out trying to fight whoever grabbed me.

"That's enough!" Emeric's rarely used stern voice fills my ears, and I settle down slightly. It isn't until Fletcher steps in front of us blocking my view of Carl do I stop trying to get out of Emeric's hold.

"Calm down. What's going on?" Emeric sets me down as Fletcher goes to comfort me by placing a hand on my arm. I shake it off looking around at the rest of the warriors who are staring at me in shock, disgust, and shame. I also don't miss the look Fletcher and Ryder share between each other. The same look of concern they been sharing for the past few weeks.

"Go run it off." Ryder sighs telling me as he checks on Carl. I turn around spirting a few feet shifting mid air not bothering to look back.

************

Song: The Way I Do by Bishop Briggs

I want to give a special thanks to everyone who has stuck with me from the first book. It's means a lot that you guys give constant support for my work, and I wouldn't be here without you. Thank you to all the new readers as well! I hope you all fall in love with my story and the characters as much as I do. I usually update about every five days or so unless something comes up. I hope you all liked this chapter, and if you did don't forget to like and comment! Until next time.

~Stella Gordon