(start of dream memory)The wind whipped at my face as I raced out of our pack's village toward our secret hiding spot. Dusk was falling on the lush river valley that lay in the shadow of the Crystillian Mountains. The smells of summer filled my nostrils- wildflowers, rain closing in, moss, pine and lupine. Lightning bugs darted all over the forest scene like lanterns as I rushed towards him.
There was an old willow that stood on its own silt island in the middle of the river that at this time of year formed a thick enough cover that no one could see us. I tugged off my boots and rolled up my trousers before plunging into the clear ice cold stream to meet Nick. I looked around once before ducking into the shroud of the willow branches.
He was there already and I drank him in for a second as I always did. The future alpha- my soulmate. I was his Luna and I never got tired of thinking of that. We had found out a few months back, but hadn't told anyone because it was written in a scroll that Nick hadn't been meant to read until his eighteenth birthday. A lot could happen in ten years especially with a current alpha, his father who didn't believe in soulmates. He believed in making strong alliances. Nick and I could easily be betrothed to other people especially in the current state of our pack. Humans were taking more and more timber making it harder to hunt. The king was doing little to help protect our rights. (end of dream memory)
Something jolted me from the memory.
"Whose that?" murmured Twill tiredly.
Someone knocked on the door. I realized that's what had woke me up. I swung my legs out of bed and tugged on my boots. Twill was so tired he had just rolled over and fell back asleep. I undid the bar over the door and opened it a slit to see Sweede. The early sun made his hair look more vibrant than its usual light bronze. I opened it wide enough to pass through and it squeaked slightly on the hinges before shutting it promptly behind me.
"Ready?" he asked.
I yawned looking at him curiously. "For?"
"The training I offered?"
"A…aye."
"Lets get going then," he said happily.
He had a drab pine colored cloak that twirled behind him when he turned on his heel to heads towards the southern gate. I followed having to jog to catch up to him till he slowed his pace a little.
"Sorry," he said looking down at me.
"It's quite alright- I'm short compared to you."
The worn dirt streets were deserted as we walked. He didn't talk much and quite honestly I wasn't used to being up so early myself especially with as late as Twill had been getting in.
"Business?" asked the guards.
"Hunting, sir," he said casually. "Be back in a few hours."
They opened the gate without any further questions and we went out into the forest. I was honestly surprised that this is where he was taking me. Why not within the city?
"Sweede?" I asked after a few minutes.
I could no longer see the city wall through the dense pine and oak trees.
"Theres a small meadow just ahead," he said brightly. "Don't worry, pretty."
I felt my cheeks warm at his compliment. It was odd for a werewolf to like a halfling. The usually saw us as inferior forms of them since they looked more human, but Quinn and Sweede seemed to not have the same view as some other werewolves I had met.
We came to the meadow he had mentioned and removed his cloak and throwing it on a boulder. The action made his sleeves tighten on his arm as if they were too tight. I watched as he took unstrapped his sword belt and removed one dagger.
"This ones for you," he said offering it towards me.
I stepped forward taking it tentatively. It was a bit heavier than I expected . I started to pull it from its sheath, but he stopped me.
"Not yet. You need to learn the strikes and movements without it first."
"Then why-"
"Trust me," he said gently.
For the next hour, he taught me the motions of how to strike and dodge and how to defend myself. He was actually a pretty good teacher an he praised me that I caught on quickly.
"Tomorrow?" I asked as we headed back.
He smiled. "Aye. Don't forget to stretch some more when you get home or you'll be real sore tomorrow."
"Thank you."
He walked me straight back to my shack to make sure I was back safe before leaving himself to take on his own lessons with his father. I shut the door with a squeak to find Twill awake.
"Where were you?" he asked.
He sniffed the air. "And why do you smell like the forest and Quinn's son?"
I flushed. My brother had gotten more of the wolf gene from our mother than me.
"He asked to train me in self defense," I mumbled.
"Stay clear of him," he growled. "He is a womanizer and too old for you!"
I glared at my brother. "There is nothing romantic going on between us and he's maybe only two years older than me."
He rubbed his temple in frustration. "Sasha, just trust me alright? I'm around these men nightly- you have no idea…"
"I'm just trying to help gain you more protection since I can't do much more for you. I promise I know how to handle myself. Please, Twill."
"And I'm with them to protect you," he said in frustration.
"Twill, I promise nothing will happen between him and I alright? But I need to learn how to defend myself. This city is too harsh to not know something."
He threw his hands up in frustration.
"Fine, but one," he said holding his index finger up. "One tiny slip up and romance and this whole thing is called off."
I tried not to laugh. Twill usually didn't usually try to tell me what to do and it was actually kind of sweet if not a tad bit annoying.
"I got to get to work per Quinn's orders. Stay out of trouble."
With that he left giving me a small pat on the head as he went out the door.