"God damn it." Serena cried, pounding a fist into the dirt. "Why can't I get this?" She leaned her head back and let out a heavy breath. The soil was solid and touch against her scabbing knuckles. Dirt coated every inch of her, as though it was a second skin.
"It's okay. It's a bit more difficult than the moves Eli and I have taught you so far. Just give it time." Venus placed her hand on Serena's back gently. She grabbed the collar of Serena's shirt and hauled her up with one swift motion.
"I don't have all the time in the world to get better. It's already been over a week and a half. Today is the last day..." She trailed off and closed her eyes. The sun rays penetrated through the blowing leaves creating shimmers on her face. Her curly hair clung to her sweaty neck and face. She pulled a stray piece away from her eyes and stood up, brushing off her knees.
"Why have you been dead set on that two-week deadline? There is no reason for you to b-"
"You don't understand." Serena threw off Venus' comforting hand and stormed off a few paces. Venus sighed and followed her after a moment.
"What don't I understand?" She grabbed Serena's wrist and whirled her around.
Serena's eyes were moist, and her lip quivered ever so slightly. The mid-day sunlight glistened in the tears welling up in her eyes and the sweat running down her face and exposed collarbone.
"I-" Serena hesitated, biting her lip. "I don't want to burden you any more than I already have."
"Oh, Serena..." Venus pulled Serena into a warm hug. "You are not a burden. Whoever told you that?"
"I... No one told me that." Serena squeezed her eyes closed and hugged Venus back. The two held each other for a brief moment before Venus pulled away. She looked up at Serena's dirty and tearful face.
"Come on. Let's get this combination down so you can kick my brother's ass tonight." She gave a wink and dragged Serena back toward the shade.
Serena spat the dirt from her mouth. She was flat on her stomach, arms and legs sprawled out in the dirt, after being tossed over Atlas' shoulder. She had fallen face-first into the ground with a heavy thud. The sour and earthy taste of the dirt almost blocked out the grainy texture and overcame all her other senses. The salty taste of sweat melted into the sour, creating this ocean water mix. She wiped her nose with the back of her hand and sniffed the blood back inside.
"Get up." She mumbled to herself. She pushed off the ground and rose to a slight crouch.
"Are you okay?" Eli called from the edge of the ring.
"I'm fine." She gritted her teeth and glared at Atlas. His hands clenched at his sides, and he breathed rapidly. His face was leaning up toward the evening sky, soaking in the remaining light of the day, awaiting the coolness of the night. His hair plastered this way and that. If she was not furious at him for being rough, she would have thought he looked good. Too good, actually. The two had been sparring for the last twenty minutes without so much as a breather between Atlas' tosses.
"You're doing great!" Venus cheered with a fist in the air. "Try what we were practicing earlier!"
"That!" Serena snapped her head toward Venus and gave her a concerned and scared look. "I never got it though!"
"Just try! Okay?" Venus shot a thumbs up, and Serena rolled her eyes.
"Okay..." She whispered as she stepped toward Atlas' relaxed figure.
At the sound of her shuffling feet, Atlas snapped back to the fight. He lowered his body to meet her gaze and put his arms up into a loose guard. He wiggled his fingers and gave her a slight smile.
Serena ignored him. She gulped hard before she threw a punch toward his open arm. He countered the punch with a quick block, but by then, it was too late. Her other hand grabbed his wrist firmly and bent it backward with all its might. She took a quick step forward, and Atlas was on a knee. He grimaced and pulled his hand away, but her grip remained. She put both hands on his wrist and pulled him forward, he fell forward, into her body, and the two fell with a thud. Atlas, on top, grabbed her hands and pinned them above her head. She squirmed and rocked her hips, but he remained steady. He locked his feet behind her thighs and squeezed tight. Serena tried to kick, but her feet and legs wouldn't move far. He leaned down until they were inches apart. Each spot of dirt and drop of sweat seemed magnified. Her cracked lips parted slightly, and his eyes flashed down to them.
"Submit." He commanded, a slight twinkle in his eye.
"No." She gave a low groan and squeezed her eyes closed. With all the force she could muster, she thrust her head up toward his. He pulled his head back quickly and released her hands. Her bun grazed his nose and landed hard against his chest.
"Ugh." She groaned again, rubbing the top of her head.
Atlas shrugged and dismounted. He reached out a hand, and she grasped it firmly. With a sharp tug, she was on her feet, her face planted against his sweat-covered t-shirt.
"Oh. Sorry." He muttered. His voice sounded muffled, and her ears tingled at the sound of him speaking against her ear. His ears tinted pink and she jerked his head up toward the sky, avoiding her gaze and presence.
"Serena!" Venus yelled from behind her. Another pair of arms wrapped around Serena's body and latched onto Atlas' back, pulling the two even closer. Heat rose into Serena's face and suddenly, the whole atmosphere became ten degrees warmer. "I'm so proud of you! Didn't she do well, Atlas?" Venus beamed up at her brother.
"Y-Yeah. Better." He turned his head away and ruffled his hair.
Venus stared up at her brother for a second, blinked, and then gave a sly smile.
"She'll make a fine Luna, won't she?" She winked at her brother before releasing the two from her grip. Serena gasped, inhaling as much oxygen as she could before another wave of potential strangulation could crash.
"Y-Yes, she could." Atlas turned from the two women and made his way toward Eli, who was waiting at the door.
Venus punched Serena's arm gently and flashed a giddy smile. Her eyes and nose were crinkled and her eyes were bright.
"You hear that?" She teased.
"Hear what?" Serena stared blankly at Venus. Venus rolled her eyes and gave Serena a gentle shove.
"He totally is into you. I mean it's mostly in thanks to me, but I can't take all the credit-"
"What are you talking about?" Serena interrupted, brushing off the dirt all over her shirt and shorts.
"Oh, don't play dumb. Atlas, my brother, the Alpha of the Riverwood Clan, is into you." She pointed her finger at Serena and traced circles in the air. "He is never nice to anyone except Eli and me, but you. He is nice to you on a whole other level. Anyone who has even remotely hurt him in a spar ends up knocked out at the very least. I would know. It could be because of the mate bond-"
"No. He is not. Just because of that whole mate thing doesn't mean he likes me." Serena waved her hand dismissively and walked toward the door. Venus followed closely at her heels and leaned into her ear.
"Yes. It does." She jumped in front of Serena and opened her arms, blocking Serena's path. "Well, not entirely. I know my brother. He's different when he's around you. And it's gonna be my job to convince you of that. Just you wait..."
Serena walked around Venus and continued her journey toward her favorite shower.
"Oh, wonderful. I'm looking forward to it." Serena rolled her eyes and ignored Venus' desperate cries.
"Oh dear brother..." Venus called from the office doorway.
His dark oak desk was placed in the center of the medium-sized rooms. Commentaries, biographies, and other assortments of books lined the shelves behind him. Most of these books were from the many generations before him and have been left untouched since they were bought. Two high-backed, leather chairs faced the desk and away from the door, sitting neatly on a sleek pelt rug.
Atlas looked up from his pile of paperwork and notes. He rolled his eyes and sighed, squeezing his eyes shut tightly and wincing.
"What do you want..." He pinched his nose slightly and straightened. "You never say that unless you want something."
"I don't want anything from you, actually." She huffed, flipping her short hair slightly and walking toward the desk. "I just think you should be honest with yourself."
She sat on the chair facing the desk, crossed her legs, and intertwined her fingers. Atlas sat into his chair and brought a hand to his scar, tracing it down his face. A constant reminder of what could have been.
"Honest with myself?" He quirked a brow.
"Yes. You are fighting what the moon goddess dropped in your lap. She is your destiny. Can you not see that?"
"This pack is my destiny." Atlas flashed a glare at his sister. She cocked her head and leaned back.
"That is not the Atlas I knew growing up. You wanted nothing more than to have a family one day."
"That person is gone, Venus. He died with our father, don't you remember that?"
"Of course, I remember..." Venus dropped her gaze and sighed. "Father was everything to you, and you were everything to him..."
"Then don't forget that. Some things need to be done first. Romance and other childish things can wait." Atlas grabbed the nearest stack of papers and smacked them loudly on the desk. Venus closed her eyes and rose from her seat slowly tracing her hand along its leather armrest.
"Romance isn't childish, Atlas." Her voice was barely a whisper. "You are an important part of this clan. You need to set an example to the members of the pack."
"I am setting an example to the pack. I am making sure that those who have wronged us pay. I am leading us into a prosperous time. I'm protecting us from the outside world. And I am taking in a stray and protecting the potential future Luna when we both get around to it."
"No, Atlas. You are looking for revenge and you are hurting. No one can replace Father, but you need to move on. If you don't, any of us can replace you if you keep going down this path. Revenge is not the answer. Anger is not the answer... Didn't you see what Father and Mother had? They were happy, weren't they? They had love, children, and then the pack. You need to move on and find love. Forgive whoever you think did this..."
Atlas slammed a fist onto the hardwood desk sending a loud smack through the room. Venus flinched and turned her head away from him out of reflex.
"You weren't there, Venus. You wouldn't know. You only know the stories. The happy ones that Father told you after he could stand to look at you." Atlas said bitterly. He wiped a hand over his face and looked up at Venus.
She was standing behind the chair, hands firmly clasping the leather, squeezing it tightly. Her eyes were wet, and she was biting her lip. Atlas sighed and rose from his seat. He grasped her firmly by the shoulder, and pulled her into a loose hug, patting her back gently.
"I'm sorry... I went too far." He sighed, running his hand along her head.
"I just want you to be happy." Venus' voice cracked, and she wiped her eyes.
"Am I not happy right now?"
"I can't tell anymore..."
The two stood in the dark office. They held each other as brother and sister. It is a brother's job to protect and comfort their younger siblings, and now is the time for comfort.
"I am happy, Venus." He gave a soft smile and closed his eyes.
"Only when you are with Serena. Can't you see that? She is good for you. She has grown so much in the two weeks that she's trained with you, she won't need my help much longer at this rate. She will need yours..." Venus closed a fist and shoved Atlas back toward his desk. "I'll leave you to your work." She closed the door softly, leaving Atlas alone, again.
Atlas turned back to his pages and flipped through a few of them. The contents went through his fingers and head, but he caught none of it. The only thing that he caught, was a feeling of change.
"Damn it, Venus..." He sighed as he cupped his face in his head. "Why are you always right..."