The past two weeks had been a whirlwind of strength and self-discovery for Awa. She had developed a nightly routine of dropping Beatrice off at Tina's after work, then heading straight to her Krav Maga class. The familiar scent of sweat, leather, and effort welcomed her as she stepped into the gym each evening. The sound of grunts and body slams echoed through the air, a rhythm Awa had quickly grown to love.
Her trainer, an ex-military man who had seen his fair share of battles, often praised her. "You're a natural, Awa," he'd say after each session, wiping sweat from his brow. "Your instincts are sharp, and you move like you've been doing this for years. I've never seen anyone progress so quickly."
But Awa knew that it wasn't just natural talent. Ever since her encounter with Kelsey, her body had changed in ways that no one else could understand. Her strength, speed, and reflexes had sharpened, as though something primal had been unlocked inside her. Krav Maga became more than a physical release—it was a way to tame the beast that lurked just beneath the surface.
The only problem was Marco.
Marco was one of those guys who thought he was the king of the gym. Tall, broad, and with a permanent smirk plastered on his face, he made it a point to hover around Awa during every class, offering her unsolicited advice on her moves and casually hitting on her whenever he got the chance. He was big, yes, but he was all talk. His massive build meant he had power, but his technique was sloppy. Awa could see that with a single glance.
"Hey, Awa," Marco called out one evening after class, striding over to her as she wiped the sweat from her forehead. "You're looking good out there. You know, if you ever need a one-on-one session, I could help you out."
Awa rolled her eyes inwardly, trying to remain polite. "Thanks, but I'm good. My trainer's got me covered."
Marco leaned against the wall beside her, crossing his arms. "Come on, don't be shy. I've got some moves that could really take your game to the next level. Plus, I think we make a pretty good team." His eyes roved over her in a way that made her skin crawl, his smirk widening as if he thought he was doing her a favor.
Her patience was wearing thin, the primal energy inside her simmering. She forced herself to keep calm, but Marco wasn't getting the hint. He was persistent, his ego too big to see that she was trying to brush him off.
"You're good, Awa," Marco continued, "but you're still new here. You need someone with experience to—"
That was it. Awa's irritation bubbled to the surface, snapping through the thin thread of control she had been holding onto. She turned to face Marco, her eyes narrowing. "How about we have a match, Marco?" she asked, her voice sharp and cutting. "Let's see if your experience is really worth all that talk."
Marco blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting the challenge. But his cocky grin returned in an instant. "A match? You sure about that, princess? I'd hate to hurt you."
Awa felt her fingers twitch as she imagined unleashing her full strength, but she tamped down the urge. This wasn't about showing her true power—it was about shutting him up. "I'm sure," she replied, her voice steady. "Let's go."
The other students in the gym started to gather around, sensing that something interesting was about to go down. Word spread quickly, and soon everyone was watching as Awa and Marco squared off in the middle of the mat.
Marco rolled his shoulders, cracking his knuckles as he eyed Awa with condescension. "Alright then, let's make this quick."
Awa didn't respond. She simply took her stance, focusing on controlling her breathing. She wouldn't let Marco provoke her. Not yet.
The moment the match began, Marco charged at her with all the force of his large frame. He was bigger, stronger, and confident that he could overpower her. But Awa had other plans.
With a swift, fluid movement, Awa sidestepped his attack, her body moving faster than even she had anticipated. She let his momentum carry him past her before spinning around and planting a sharp kick into the back of his knee. Marco let out a grunt of surprise as his leg buckled beneath him.
He tried to recover, but Awa was already on him, her movements precise and efficient. She grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back, and forced him down onto the mat with a single, calculated motion.
The gym fell silent as Marco hit the ground with a thud, completely winded. He scrambled to get up, his face red with embarrassment, but Awa didn't give him the chance. With a swift roundhouse kick, she sent him sprawling back onto the floor.
"Get up," she said, her voice calm but cold. "I thought you had some moves to show me."
Marco staggered to his feet, his arrogance faltering as he realized he was completely outmatched. He lunged at her again, this time with desperation, but Awa caught his wrist mid-air, twisting it with ease. She swept his legs out from under him and threw him onto the mat again, this time pinning him down with a knee pressed into his chest.
The match was over. Marco lay there, gasping for breath, his pride shattered. The other students exchanged glances, murmuring amongst themselves, while Awa simply stood up, brushing off her hands as though the whole thing had been nothing.
"Still think I need your help?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Marco didn't answer. He just got to his feet, muttering under his breath as he slunk out of the gym, his tail between his legs.
Her trainer approached, shaking his head in disbelief. "Awa," he said, his voice full of awe, "you've got something special. I've never seen anyone take down a guy like Marco so easily. You're a natural, no doubt about it."
Awa smiled, but inwardly, she was already moving on. This wasn't about showing off—this was about control. Every time she sparred, every time she fought, she got closer to mastering the power inside her. But it was also a reminder of just how dangerous that power could be if she ever lost control.
Later that evening, after her victory in the gym, Awa returned home, still buzzing from the adrenaline. Tina was already sitting at the kitchen table, a glass of wine in hand, looking relaxed after a long day of work.
"Guess what?" Tina said with a grin, swirling her wine. "My team hit our target this quarter. We're doing amazing, so we're celebrating with a weekend trip to the beach. I was thinking of taking Beatrice along. She loves the ocean, and it'll be nice for her to get out of the city for a bit."
Awa's ears perked up at the mention of the trip. The beach, a weekend away, and Tina's entire team—including Forrest. This could be exactly the opportunity she needed. Not just to relax, but to get more answers about Forrest and her strange connection to him. The craving for him had dulled over the past week, but she still felt a strange pull whenever he was near. She had to find out why.
"Actually," Awa said casually, trying not to seem too eager, "I think I'll come along too. It's been a while since I've gone to the beach, and it could be fun to hang out with you and Beatrice."
Tina raised an eyebrow. "You? At the beach? Since when do you like sand and salt water?"
Awa shrugged, playing it cool. "Hey, I can enjoy the beach every once in a while. Besides, it'll be nice to spend time with you guys. And I wouldn't mind getting to know the people you work with a bit more. You always talk about them."
Tina looked suspicious, but after a moment, she relented. "Fine, fine. But no drama, okay? This is supposed to be a relaxing trip."
Awa smirked to herself. Drama? That wasn't her intention. But if things got interesting with Forrest, she wasn't going to back down. She still had a lot of questions about him and, now, about the other supernatural beings she had encountered.
As the weekend trip loomed closer, Awa found herself thinking one strange question over and over again.
Can a werewolf breathe underwater?
The thought stayed with her, growing in curiosity. It would be fun to find out.