Once we were back with the pack Talieus pushed me inside my den following behind me.
Avoiding his eyes I was still ashamed by what I'd done.
"Sorry about earlier I don't know what came over me. I just got so angry-"
He held up his hands to silence me.
"It's me who should apologise i goaded you into it."
I snapped my eyes up to look at him.
"You what?! Why would you do that?!"
He shushed me.
"I did it to see if you had the power."
I stared at him confused.
"Wait what? But you said-"
He cut me off again.
"I know, I only said that to put the idea in your mind. The reality is only very few wolves have the ability to deprive someone of the air they breath. You don't understand how exceedingly difficult it is too do, yet you did it with ease."
He looked around like he was suddenly scared we would be overheard.
"This could be what turns the tide in our favour."
I stepped back shocked.
"You want me to kill thousands by suffocating them?! That's barbaric, I won't do it!"
He shushed me again.
"WHY DOES IT MATTER IF ANYONE HEARS US?"
For the first time ever he growled at me.
"I wondered when your father would show in you!"
He turned to leave.
"I refuse to talk to you about this here I'll be back again tomorrow."
Without another word he left.
'What the hell was that about?'
'I think there's a lot of tension between Loki and Talieus.'
'Clearly.'
I sighed as I started eating the food someone mysteriously keeps leaving in my den. I'll have to find out who it is so I can thank them.
After I'd eaten I lay down closing my eyes. All I saw were How Zeld's eyes looked.
'What was Keyon doing to him?'
'We can't worry about that now we need to stay focused.'
'I know but I can't get the look in his eyes out of my mind.'
'Try thinking about something else.'
I rolled over The knife Talieus had given me in my hand.
'How can Talieus think we would ever agree to suffocate our enemies?'
'Raven there is a war coming you will have to come to terms with the fact that many will die and by your hands.'
'I know that Caryi but it just seems like an unfair advantage.'
She sighed.
'Think of it this way then if situations were reversed and your enemies had the power to do what you could, do you think they would hesitate to use it?'
'Of course not but that's what makes us different. No there has to be another way.'
'Raven if the only way to save your pack is by using this power wouldn't you do it?'
I sighed.
'I don't know I just don't want it to change who I am. The idea that I can take a life by literally sucking it out of them scares me.'
'There's no difference to when you use tooth and claw.'
'There's a big difference when using tooth and claw or even knives at least it's an even fight.'
'Raven we are at a disadvantage you heard Talieus this battle is coming the American packs out number the forest lakes packs twenty to one. We need to use everything within our disposal to even those odds.'
I growled.
'I'm sick of talking about this we aren't even alpha yet can we not talk about battles later?'
'Very well small one but just remember some things are worth sacrificing.'
I was about to question what she meant when I smelt I presence outside the den.
Quick as lighting I jumped up flattening myself against the wall just inside the entrance knife still in my hand. Seconds later a young wolf in human form entered. Slipping in behind him I held my knife to his throat.
"Nice try."
I whispered proud of myself. That was til I felt another knife pressed to my side. Turning my head another wolf had entered behind the first.
He leaned in whispering.
"Never assume there is only one attacker."
I scowled I should've known it wouldn't be that easy. The one with the knife to my side stepped back smiling.
"The names Exon and that's Jax."
I stepped back from Jax tucking the knife back into my clothes.
"Let me guess you two drew the short straw this time round?"
The one called Jax answered first.
"Not quite I drew the short straw to come in first. Exon volunteered."
Surprised I turned to face Exon as I took a closer look. His hair was white blond his face told me he was not much older then me. His eyes green like all of us were staring at me even as I was him. He seemed to be sizing me up.
"Why?"
His grin widened.
"Just wanted to meet the future alpha is all."
I sighed as I went to sit back down on the furs that was my bed.
"I'm not alpha yet."
Both the males sat down in front of me. Jax seemed younger then both me and Exon definitely no older then sixteen.
"No but we saw what you did to Drake, even Keyon was impressed."
I scowled at the mention of Keyon. As I watched the males in front of me I realised this was the first time I had had a proper conversation with anyone in the pack other then Talieus. One that didn't involve battles, the future of the pack or training anyway.
I smiled.
"What is Keyon's deal anyway?"
Jax and Exon shared a look before Exon answered.
"I know he's a bit intense you see both Grit and Keyon think that the forest lakes pack should be the only pack."
Jax continued.
"After the attack they wanted to retaliate. They were prepared to wipe the city packs out just like they tried to do to us."
"So what stopped them?"
"Your dad."
I sat back in surprise.
"My dad? As in Loki?"
"Yes as Lyieta's beta he convinced the rest of the pack it was better to wait til another alpha was chosen giving the pack time to regain our numbers."
I couldn't believe it I hadn't even thought about Loki's life in the pack. I hadn't even known he was beta til now.
"And they listened to him?"
"Of corse he was one of our best fighters everyone respected him. He was the only one with the power to suffocate his enemies, well apart from Talieus anyway."
I cringed, so that's why he was testing me. Turns out it runs in the family.
"So the pack has just been waiting for an alpha?"
"Yup but now your here so we can finally get pay pack."
Exon elbowed him in the ribs.
"She has to pass the trails yet."
He looked to me.
"And with the way you failed miserably tonight even if you pass the trails your prospects of lasting long enough to make it to the battle are slim."
I scowled in his direction.
"Do I need to break your arm too?"
He chuckled but remained serious. I stared at Exon.
"I'm no stranger to assassination attempts and sneak attacks. You forget I grew up surrounded by it. I had hoped such things had not reached the forest lakes pack, seems I was wrong."
"I won't pretend that we are beyond such low tactics but there are many in the pack that lost loved ones in the attack. They just want a chance to make it right."
I sighed.
"I can't begin to know how any of you feel. While I lost my mother I was too young to remember not to mention I wasn't around to be reminded of the aftermath."
I paused to look into both their eyes.
"But revenge in not the answer don't get me wrong I will do what I can to protect this pack in the coming battle. I will fight, I will kill but I do not want this pack to be full of hate. Hate only leads to more death more pain. If I become alpha I refuse to let this pack become as corrupt and power hungry as the city packs. I've seen what it can do and it's not worth the pain and suffering that comes with it."
Exon and Jax stared at me taking in my words until they both stood up. Looking down at me Exon smiled.
"That's all we wanted to hear."
I stood aswell confused. he laughed at the look on my face.
"Those who support you were worried your upbringing had tainted you. Your words tonight have proven that you have not come out of it with a city packs way of thinking. If you pass the trails and I surely hope you do, you can count on our fealty."
Both of them exited the den leaving me feeling like I could actually do this.
'You were born to do this Raven.'
I lay back down taking out the knife I closed my eyes and went to sleep the sounds of howling melding into my dreams.
The next morning I was up before Talieus even arrived I had decided that I would do everything I could to become a good alpha. Part of that was proving that I could handle anything. I smiled to myself Talieus words echoed in my head. This was a game I had to play it better.
Early this morning I had hollowed out part of the roof of the den just big enough for me to hide in. Then I waited for the sound of his footsteps. I had made it look like I was still in the bed and when he entered I caught the smile on his face.
As he knelt knife in hand I waited for him to pull back the fur. Grinning I jumped down from the ceiling knife pointed at his throat.
Exon entered knife ready my wind snapped out snatched the knife and pinned him against the wall. Turning my smile matched Exon's
"Check mate."
Talieus's chuckle resounded against the knife I held at his throat.
"You are learning Raven,"
I stepped back releasing both of them. Talieus looked up at the ceiling admiring what I'd engineered.
"Resourceful."
His eyes returned back to mine.
"We will make an alpha out of you yet."
I returned the knife inside my clothes as I flipped the second handle first I held it out towards Exon.
He shook his head pushing it back.
"It's yours now."
I narrowed my eyes.
He shrugged Talieus chuckled as he spoke.
"The first ones free the rest you must earn."
I shook my head smiling widely, I finally got the point of all this.
'It's not just a training exercise. It was their way of excepting me into the pack. They are wild wolves every day for them is life or death. The game keeps their skills sharp while developing comradeship in competing for who earns the most knives.'
'We should be honoured that they have excepted us as one of them.'
I chuckled.
"May the best wolf win."
Exon touched my shoulder.
"Come on I'm helping with your training today."
All three of us headed out as we made our way towards the mountain and the summit. Exon talked the whole way up.
"That was ingenious hollowing out the roof."
I laughed.
"So does the whole pack get involved?"
He nodded.
"Of course it's kind of a pack tradition as soon as you reach shifting age."
"Who has the most knives?"
Talieus was the one to answer he voice darkening.
"Loki."
Exon went silent at my fathers name, tact would have told me to keep it at that but I wanted to know more.
"How many does he have?"
"He holds the record at one thousand five hundred and fifty four."
My eyes widened.
"That many?"
Exon leaned in to whisper.
"When he played the pack was a lot bigger in numbers. It was before the attack."
I smiled sadly.
"Sorry it's just i only recently found out Loki was my father so I don't really know much about his past."
"It's alright I don't know much about him either only what Talieus has told me and my mother."
Hearing him talk about his mum only made me think of my own.
"I know even less about my mother."
He gently squeezed my hand.
"How about after training Ill tell you what I do know about both of them?"
I smiled.
"I'd love that."
"Great its a date."
He winked as my cheeks went red. Embarrassed I speed up a bit so that he wouldn't notice, however I did catch the small smile on Talieus's face.
The rest of the day was spent training with not just Talieus throwing knives at me but Exon throwing them as well. By the end of it I was exhausted I did however manage to save my clothes from any cuts being torn from them.
"Good but you're still not attacking back."
I sighed panting.
"Its not easy when I barely have time to avoid the knives let alone throw them back."
"But that's my point Raven it should be instinctive your still thinking too much."
"I don't get time to think!"
Exon who had remained silent til now asked.
"What are you afraid of?"
Talieus whipped his head around to look at Exon.
"Well?"
I froze unable to answer. What was I afraid of? I guess there was quite a lot I was afraid of, but mostly I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to save my pack. I said as much as I answered his questions.
Exon shook his head.
"No there's more too it think harder. Now what are you afraid of?"
Staring into his eyes I remained silent as he answered for me.
"I think your scared of failing, of letting down the pack. Your scared that if you fail you'll be banished again for being weak. Left without a purpose without a pack, alone in a world where your curse has stuck you in the middle. Not a human but not quite a wolf."
I growled not wanted to hear his words.
"You pretended to hate packs but secretly its what you've wanted all along to belong to something to be apart of something. Now that your so close to having what you want your afraid that it will all go away if you fail."
My fists clenched as I gritted my teeth. What is it with these two they seemed to know the perfect words to push the wrong buttons with me.
"Exon please don't!"
"Why because I'm right!"
He started circling me. Talieus gasping for air flashed in my mind.
"I don't want to hurt you!"
"You can't spend your life being afraid To try. Now face your fears and fight like we both know you can."
He lunged throwing knives as he did, without hesitating I moved with my wind snatched each knife as I spun to the side I swiped at his legs. He back flipped using his wind to push me back. I spread out my hands using my own wind to keep me on my feet as I used my wind to create a tornado that lashed out gathering up all the knifes that both Talieus and exon held. Their eyes widened as the tornado swirled in front of them.
I growled my canines extending as the knives were propelled out of the tornado all aimed for Exon. They would have hit their mark if it hadn't been for Talieus's wind pulling Exon out of the way. The tornado exploded almost blowing us all off the side of the mountain.
Talieus and Exon stared at me in shocked as I managed a small smile before my eyes closed and I collapsed to the ground.