When I had agreed to go training with Alexander and the rest of his posse, I hadn't expected it to be nearly as soon as what he had in mind.

Carefully, I knotted my fingers through my hair as I plaited it into two intricate braids. I left all my piercings in, as usual, just ensuring that there was no chance I would have hair flying in my face. Accompanied by a pair of tight, black leggings and a green sports bra, it almost felt, just for a moment, like I was back at base.

But I wasn't.

I exited the bathroom and headed down the stairs, knowing that everyone else in the house was in the kitchen. It had all been organised last night at dinner, Alexander had called me out, I agreed and then both Harmony and Myra decided they wanted to come too. Not that I had any issue with that.

Only Alexander stopped when I walked in the room, everyone else continuing on with whatever they were doing, be it having a light meal or a quick drink.

I noticed that the kettle had just been poured, so I used my minimal knowledge of the kitchen layout to grab myself a mug, some sugar and an English breakfast tea-bag.

I poured the hot water, letting the inky, brown tendrils slowly take over the clear hot water as I poured in the smallest bits of sugar. After a few moments, I brought the mug to my lips.

"All ready to go Cas?" Harmony asked excitedly,

I raised my eyes, my body stilling. "Please don't call me Cas,"

Her smile dimmed slightly, "Oh, sorry, of course."

It seemed I had the unnatural ability to suck every inch of energy and enjoyment from a room, turning the whole environment quiet and tense.

I sighed, "Sorry, it's what my friends would call me. I'm just not sure I'm ready for that sort of moving on."

In one large gulp, I finished the rest of my mug, suddenly feeling very quiet. I should have just kept my mouth shut. Let her call me whatever she wanted.

Vance stood up, "Well, should we go? No point in wasting time, we've got a training session to go to."

There seemed to be a lot of anticipation for something that happened practically every day. While Alexander was probably exempt from attending every single session, I doubted that it would extend to Vance and Farren.

Maybe it was that Myra and Harmony never came,

Or maybe it was because of me.

I sighed as started to walk, probably the latter.

As always, I gravitated to the front, ending up right at Alexander's side. I shoved my shoulders back to make myself look even just the slightest bit taller. In long, powerful strides, I had no problem keeping up with Alexander as we walked. Clearly, It was close, otherwise, I could have almost guaranteed that we would have shifted, an action that I certainly wouldn't object with.

My entire body was shaking, and not from nerves. I loved training, the freedom and power it gave me would run an endless course through my body. But I was used to always dominating, beating every other person there until they were nothing but a bloodied pulp on the ground.

I'm not sure I would be able to do that here.

As we walked, I was able to truly admire the Bloodlust pack. Technically, this was the first time I was seeing it, mainly since the only time that I had spent here was locked up in a hospital or a bedroom and my escapades had all been performed under the cover of night.

It certainly was beautiful.

Tons of shade provided by tall, looming trees, clean streets and matching houses lining the streets that were cohesive, yet each had its own individual flair.

In a split moment, I could picture myself living here for the rest of my life, among the creeks and ancient trees. And then I remembered.

Three months.

Still, It was a beautiful pack. I knew that I would never be able to get it out of my head, even when I returned to the constant underground.

Finally, what had to be the training facility came into my view. A large building that opened up into the natural forest. It was just one large room, packed to the brim with equipment, machines, and fighting squares.

It was also packed to the brim with people.

Some were on the floor stretching, others we're talking animatedly as they excitedly eyed the machines.

Obviously, nothing started without the Alpha.

The moment we walked in, everyone was silent. Ever so slightly, I watched as the gaze of many slid over the group, curiously landing on me. Then the whispers, starting small but ever so slowly increasing as time went on. As if it was muscle memory, everyone started moving and formed one large group, while Alexander, Vance and Farren moved forward in a closely packed trio. Myra and Harmony, while still in the front, moved to a pair just on the side. I already knew that they would be leading the entire session. I caught Harmony's eye, her body beckoning me over. I knew that wasn't an option for me. I threw my water bottle down on the ground and let it roll over to the edge of the wall before I walked forward, placing myself amongst the pack itself.

I wasn't going to spend this training session as a leader, practically leading the whole thing. That wasn't going to happen.

And so, I put myself with the pack.

Alexander raised an eyebrow in confusion in my direction, but nothing more than that.

"Alright, everyone!" He started, voice booming. "We're starting with laps. No different to usual, you run until you can't breathe. Anyone who can't make it past fifteen laps is required to stay behind for an extra half an hour of training. In formation please,"

Everyone started moving out into the complete open area of the facility. I could see faint colour on top of the grass, lining out a giant square. "Remember, no one stops until they physically cannot continue. Should one of you be the last one standing, as per usual, you keep going until you can no longer continue, not because you're the last one." A slow chant of 'aye' resonated through the field, a slow preparation to start.

The others joined into the square, standing a few metres in front of everyone else. And then we started.

No one dropped out until level thirteen, which, in itself, was astonishing.

Harmony was one of those people, quickly collapsing to the floor as she came off onto the edge.

No one really started dropping out until level twenty-seven. Even with all my just-healed injuries, I still wasn't even struggling. We were all on the same level, running at the same speed and all in one group. You knew that when someone started to fall behind, they were only a moment away from falling out.

I pumped my arms, keeping my breathing steady as I moved along the track at a steady pace. I was completely in control, maybe slightly winded at this point, but I could keep going.

I stopped keeping track of the number of levels, channelling my energy inwards and focusing on keeping my body calm and stable. I had nothing to prove, no reason to show off to this pack of strangers, nor the people I had found myself living with. But I wanted to win, I wanted every single person here to know that I was just as strong, if not stronger than them.

Now my legs were burning, the constant heat that was beginning to beat down on my skin becoming more of an issue than I had originally presumed. I watched as Vance slowly huffed his way onto the side-line.

That's when I realised, there were only three of us left.

Alexander, Farren and me.

I had this in the bag.

I sped up, just the slightest amount so that I could be running in front. I wasn't too far ahead, but it was enough to give the two siblings the impression that I wasn't struggling at all.

One more lap turned three, which turned to six which turned to ten.

That's when I watched Alexander, hair slick with sweat and a reddish race fall to the side, grasping onto a water bottle and pouring half in his mouth, half on his neck.

I felt a smirk slide onto my face.

Farren, in one quick, desperate attempt, made a leap, pulling herself equal with me.

"How much longer can you go?" She heaved, "You could pull out right now, you know."

Farren's brown hair was plastered onto her face in clumps, her eyes watery as she watched me.

I turned the corner, "Maybe another fifteen laps, minimum."

I watched her gulp, "Yeah, same."

And so we continued, I pulled out faster and this time, Farren made no effort to place herself equal with me. I said another fifteen laps, so that's what I did.

Farren, however, collapsed into the fence at fourteen, the sound of her spluttering coughs filling my ears.

Alexander said you kept going until you couldn't stop.

And so I kept going until I couldn't stop.

It was only when my mouth was completely dry, I couldn't feel my feet and my vision was blurring when I finally let myself stop. Not letting my body fall to the floor, but bending down, squatting with my chest open wide as I regained the oxygen I had lost.

A strong, broad hand placed itself in front of me, fingers stretched as I placed my hand in theirs.

It pulled me up completely, bringing my eyes to meet Alexanders.

He placed a hand on my shoulder, practically holding my whole body up as he hardened his grip.

"You know, when I said to go as long as you physically could, I didn't mean to run yourself into your grave." He muttered, dangerously running his finger over my jawline as he pushed my hair back.

"Yeah well, I could have kept going." I defended, "But I didn't want to make you look even weaker."

He slid forward, closing any distance that was between us. "Trust me, Cassandra. I have no problem being beaten by my mate. Besides, I can admit my strong suit doesn't lie in prolonged activity."

I lifted my chin, "I think I like hearing your praise."

"Get used to it," He chuckled, "I've always said my mate would feel like a goddess once she finally decided to grace me with her presence."

I said nothing as I stared, heat blooming in my stomach as I watched him.

Suddenly someone pushed Alexander out of the way, "Oh please, get a room." Farren rolled her eyes. She turned to Alexander, "Harmony started throwing up so Myra took her back home, Vance has gotten started with everyone else, I would recommend that you go join him."

She then turned to me. "And you, do you know what level you got up to?"

I raised an eyebrow, "No?"

Farren pursed her lips, "128 laps, that's twenty more than anyone has ever been able to do before."

"I've spent my life training to be better than anyone has ever seen. I'm not too sure why you're surprised." I shrugged.

Farren watched me, a stone-cold face identical to the one I saw Alexander pull all the time. "Alexander, stop watching your mate and go do something useful, I certainly won't kill her. And you, you come with me. We'll be training together today." Farren announced, clearly taking no input from anyone else as she walked away.

With a triumphant look on my face, I blew a sarcastic kiss in Alexander's direction before following Farren back into the training centre.

---------------------------------------

I half expected Farren to just leave me high and dry in the centre, yet she didn't, instead, taking me into one of the larger fighting rings. She placed her hand on one of the ropes lifting it up and gesturing for me to go in.

I did, following her prompts until I was standing in the arena, jumping slightly as I felt the trampoline texture beneath my feet.

Farren rubbed her hands together, "You up for a fight?"

I cracked my knuckles, no longer feeling the lasting effects of running all those laps. "Absolutely."

I heard a countdown, perhaps while I had been running, Farren had been planning this.

3... 2... 1..

We jumped into action. While I had done most of my training either in wolf form or with weapons, I certainly wasn't a stranger to this manner of fighting.

A Gamma's job in the pack to run the army, ensure that everyone is trained to their highest ability. Of course, it didn't surprise me that Farren was the Gamma, especially now that I was in the ring fighting her.

A fist in my cheek resulted in a kick to her side. Quick, Fast-paced, brutal. I had beaten her at the laps, and I certainly would be beating her now.

I could hear Master Skotus in my ear, screaming at me for weak posture, uneven kicks and everything else I seemed to be doing wrong. I kept going, fists, feet, legs. I hit her head, side, ribs, thighs. One after the other.

Though I was careful, this wasn't a fight to the death. And Farren wasn't the enemy.

In one quick motion, I found my fist launching into the side of Farren's head, sending her catapulting to the floor. This wouldn't end until she surrenders, as she attempted to get back up, I took that as a symbol that she wasn't quite ready to give up yet.

And so I kept going.

A crowd was beginning to form.

I suppose it wasn't every day that they saw their military leader being pummeled to the floor.

Finally, Farren held up her hands and bared her neck to me in submission. Carefully, I fell back, wiping my hand to collect the trickle of blood over my chin. I leaned back against the ropes, letting oxygen fill my lungs as Farren pulled herself into a stance.

She extended her hands, "You're good."

I smirked, "You're not trained for twelve years by the most ruthless murderers on the planet to just be mediocre."

Farren raised an eyebrow, "No, I suppose not."

She gave me a look, one of respect as she walked out, crawling underneath the ropes and heading out to another machine.

I took in my surroundings, practically everyone had pressed themselves against the very edge of the arena. Their eyes were wide as they watched my every move, slowly starting to part as I made my way down the steps and back onto the solid ground.

To no surprise, Alexander had been watching too. "You know, she doesn't lose very often. In fact, you've made it onto a very small list of people who can. If there is any way to gain Farren's respect, it's to beat her in a fight."

I raised an eyebrow, 'Oh yeah? And who else is on this obviously very elite list?"

He gave me a smile, showing off his pointed teeth, "Me."

He gave me only a moment to react before walking off, standing next to Vance as he grabbed onto the weights and began to lift, flexing off his arms as he did so.

I bared my teeth as I too started to move.

The equipment was slightly familiar, but I figured this training session would just be me learning as I go.

My face hardened as I climbed onto the bicycle machine.

I was done with my warm-ups, and it was time to get properly started.

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