"Did you really have to do that?" Eli yelled from the office.
Serena perked up her ears as she kicked off her shoes. She crept toward the cracked office door and leaned quietly against the wall.
"Yes. I did. You know that she's not ready for this life." Atlas barked back, slamming his hands on his desk. "I was a fool to say yes to her training."
"It's only been a day. Give her time." Eli pleaded, leaning on Atlas' desk. "She will be ready if you give her time and don't completely annihilate her every sparring match."
"You have two weeks. Until then, you better be out there training. I need her ready."
"Yes, Alpha." Eli sighed, ran his fingers through his hair, and turned toward the door.
Serena inhaled sharply and scampered back to the front door. She grabbed the first shoe she found and pretended to be untying it. Eli burst through the door and halted as he saw Serena standing on one leg, foot in the air, awkwardly balancing a shoe on her hand and foot. "Sorry about Atlas. He just needs some time to come around to this whole idea of your training..." Eli scratched his neck lightly. His usual joyful eyes were vacant and tired.
"Thank you for taking the time to help me. I appreciate it. You probably have better things to do." Sereena smiled weakly and tossed the shoe to the side.
"Serena...You know that's not it." Eli sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Atlas has a lot of pressure from the elders right now, and he got frustrated with how new you are, but you've only been training a day. Don't get discouraged. It gives us a chance to work on our own tactics and such. Not just work with you. It's helpful for both Venus and me. I promise." Eli clasped her shoulder gently. "I promise you that you will be better within a week." He released her and exited the house with a slam.
Over a week passed, and the four continued to spar every day. Serena and Venus would train during the morning, and in the evenings, Atlas would spar against Serena as planned. But each day, Serena ended it with her face full of the dry dirt her blood and sweat dripped onto.
Today was not unlike the days that had passed already. Sweaty and tired, Serena entered the ring, and Atlas took the opposing side. And just like before, Serena took the first move. Jumping forward, she was within Atlas' reach, close to his body. She hugged up close to him and thrust a fist into his chest. He hunched over in an attempt to minimize the punch, but it still landed solidly against his sternum.
The punch was harder than a week ago. More force and determination were behind each of her swings, kicks, and punches. The corners of his lips quirked up into a slight smile and he raised his head to meet her gaze. Her emerald eyes were hardened and angry. Frustration boiled in her gaze, but when they met his, they softened. She took a step back and dropped her guard slightly.
"That was better." Atlas nodded.
"Thank you, Alpha." She replied, stepping further away from him.
Atlas' hand twitched out toward her receding figure but soon closed back at his side. He scoffed as he lowered his head.
"You don't need to call me that." He sighed, stepping toward her.
"Why shouldn't I? It's your title isn't it?" She turned around to meet his chest. She looked up at his frustrated gaze. Their eyes met and held.
"Not to you. To you... I am Atlas..." He trailed off, breathless. He peered down at her glowing hair and dewy skin. He licked his bottom lip and backed away a few spaces. "Again."
The two sparred until the sun ducked under the horizon. The warm glow of the sun vanished. The cool shine of the moon took center stage.
"Yay!" Venus cheered from the ring's edge. Her hands were in the air, and she was hopping in place lightly. "You didn't end today in the dirt!"
Serena laughed lightly as she rubbed her hair with a towel. The mass of wet curls cascaded down onto her shoulders and stuck against her skin.
"You're right. I didn't today!" She smiled. "I'll take the win and go shower."
"I'll meet you in the house later. I need to put Regus to bed." Venus waved and walked off toward a small house on the edge of the woods.
Serena trudged back to the packhouse, sore from the constant workout out, training, and beatings. She pushed the door open and slowly made her way up the stairs toward Atlas' bedroom. A soft light peeked out of the door, a guide through the dark hallway. She opened the door and squinted, blinded by the bright light. As her eyes adjusted, she saw the bare skin of a man at the foot of the bed. Each muscle and scar were clearly defined by the bright lights and shadows. She blinked a few times and focused on his back. A massive black tattoo took up its entirety. She stepped forward and squinted again, focusing on the outlines and shapes.
It was a massive bird. Not an ordinary bird, however. A bird with outstretched wings. The tips reached the edges of the shoulders and ran down to the end of the shoulder blades. Each feather was shaded and ruffled. These feathered, sweeping wings met the body of a lion with the front feet reaching out. Reaching out to grasp something as though it was in the middle of the hunt. The massive talons sharp. Its face was that of an eagle. Its beak opened as though it was captured mid-screech. The tail curled down the spine toward the small of the back and ended with a tuft of feathers.
Serena reached out and gently touched the feathers, mesmerized by the barbs. The man whirled around and grabbed her fingers tightly. She looked away from him and bowed her head.
"I am so sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. I just came to take a shower, but the griffin-"
"What did you say?" Atlas breathed. "What did you call this?"
"A-A griffin...?" She stammered, refusing to meet his intense glare. "Is that not what it is?"
Atlas released her and she quickly retreated a few paces.
"It is. I'm just surprised you knew what it was." Atlas turned toward the bed and threw a shirt on, covering the griffin tattoo.
"I may not have known about werewolves existing, but I did learn about mythical creatures in school." Serena huffed and moved toward the bathroom.
"Why?" Atlas called quietly from the bed frame.
Serena popped her head out of the bathroom, her face puzzled.
"Why what?"
"Why would you learn about mythical creatures that don't exist?" He turned toward her and leaned against the footboard.
"How do you know they don't exist?" She exited the bathroom and leaned against the wall, her arms crossed and head cocked. "Have you ever seen one?"
"Well no but-"
"Exactly. You can't prove something doesn't exist just because you haven't seen one. The myths had to have come from somewhere, don't they?" She interrupted. "Since you've never seen a dinosaur, you would say that they never existed, but they did. We have their bones to prove that."
Atlas watched Serena as she rambled on about the dinosaurs, ghosts, and other mythical beings in awe. She moved so animatedly and intensely when she was arguing about something that she cared about. He smiled slightly and chuckled. He felt the heat rise to his ears and he cleared his throat slightly. Burying the warm, tingling sensation in his face and heart.
"My friend used to have a fascination with vampires. She thought they were the hottest things out there. Especially after that one book series came out. What was it again? I can't remember. The one about that family of vampires and that girl who couldn't do anything or whatever." She waved her hand dismissively. "Anyway-"
"I'm gonna have to stop you at vampires." Atlas placed his hands firmly on her shoulders and squeezed gently.
"What why?" She looked up, wide-eyed and confused. Atlas laughed lightly and continued.
"Vampires are real, but you don't want to meet any of them."
"What!" Serena cried, throwing off Atlas' hands. "Why not?"
"I don't know any personally... My father did when he was Alpha, but that was a long time ago. And they can't be trusted... Especially with attractive women..." He muttered, his gaze shifting to the floor and away from Serena's intense gaze.
"Come on..." She whined. "That's a load of bullshit."
Atlas whipped his head up and met her gaze.
"No, it's not!" He retorted, frustrated at her defiance. "I don't know any and if I did, they'd be the last group of people I'd ever introduce you to."
"I don't believe that."
"Well, you should. I haven't lied to you so far, Serena. Take me at my word, that they are not good people. I am not just saying that because I'm a..." He hesitated and reached for his face" A werewolf." He sighed and traced a thumb over his scar.
"Okay... You say that like it's a bad thing..." She trailed off, leaning against the wall.
"What?" He breathed out and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"That you're a werewolf. You say that like it's a bad thing."
"Because it is." He groaned.
"How is it a bad thing? You are powerful beings that have the power to control your own fate and destiny. You can return to your roots with any questions and you'll get answers. And you know more about yourselves than any of us humans ever could." Serena pushed against the wall and moved closer to Atlas. "I envy that." She whispered at his chest.
"No, you don't..." Atlas moved closer to Serena. Their faces were inches apart. Her warm breath tickled his exposed neck. His eyes flashed a bright scarlet. The gold flecks melted away and his pupils dilated. "We are primal creatures. Known to be untamed and uncontrollable. You do not want this curse. Or as you would say this blessing."
Altas backed away and moved toward the door.
"But isn't a werewolf a symbol of rebirth? Of new beginnings? Protectors?"
Atlas stopped his hand on the doorknob, halfway out the room, and looked up at her. His bright red eyes dull and his pupils small again.
"Or they symbolize death, deceit, trickery, and moral decay..." Atlas closed the door softly. His steps receded, leaving Serena in the quiet expanse of his bedroom.