I awoke to a gentle movement moving up and down the skin of my spine. Sparks moved through my body, all steaming from the motion on my back. I opened my eyes as I let out a loud yawn, causing Greyson to chuckle. "Good morning, Avery," he said, his voice saturated with sleep and his finger still tracing up and down my spine.

"Good morning, Greyson," I replied, my voice equally as husky. I realized that instead of having his face buried in my stomach, my face was buried in his.

"How did you sleep, little wolf?" he gently asked.

"Good," I answered as I rolled off of him so that I could see the clock. It was a bit past nine-thirty. Perfect. I threw the covers off my body and stretched. I felt Greyson's calculating eyes watch my every movement. I pulled my hairtie from off my wrist and threw my hair in a bun before I turned to him with a smile. "We have a pack training session to call."

Greyson groaned as he threw his arm over his eyes. "Avery, it's too early for all that," he playfully whined. "Why don't you come back to bed for a few more minutes?"

"Sorry, Grey, but war waits for no one and nothing. You can rest a bit more if you want, but I'm going to whip this pack into shape." I walked into our shared closet and picked out some clothes for training and by the time I walked out, Greyson was no longer laying on the bed and I could hear the sound of running water coming from the bathroom. I smiled to myself before I threw my clothes onto the bed and walked into the bathroom just to see Greyson's clothes already discarded all over the floor. I rolled my eyes before I added my clothes to the pile that had already formed and met him in the bathroom.

"So nice for you to finally join me," he joked as he grabbed my towel and started lathering it up with soap.

"Shut up," I chuckled.

"Only if you make me," he childishly responded, though we both knew what he really wanted.

"Whatever, Greyson. If you want a kiss from me, you have to earn it."

He pouted. "Fine," he said with a mock frown that quickly morphed into a crooked smile, causing me to smile as well. I didn't know what made him so boyish and carefree this morning but whatever it was, I liked it. I liked seeing him let loose a bit, and I could tell he liked it too. I even noticed that he didn't seem to have a struggle with him while we were in the shower either. It felt good. It felt normal, as if we didn't have a vengeful Alpha knocking at our door or a dangerous monster hiding in the depths of Greyson's psyche. It felt amazing.

When we were done, we got out and dried off. I wrapped my towel around my body before I approached the sink and began to brush my teeth, something I'd been unable to do before, when Greyson was suddenly beside me with his towel wrapped around his waist. He grabbed his toothbrush and started brushing his teeth as well. We continued in perfect silence, but sharing such a simple moment like this with him felt kind of sacred, though I didn't know why. All that I knew was that I loved it. A lot.

"So what do you want for breakfast?" Greyson asked as we slid on our clothes, him opting with sweatpants and a simple tank top while I opted with leggings and a sports bra with a windbreaker on top.

"Protein shakes," I instantly answered, causing him to hum in response.

"Do you want to wake them up, or should I?" he asked as we exited our room and passed by the rooms Natalie and Matthew were staying in.

I shrugged. "Let's let them sleep for a little while longer. It's the least we can do."

"Okay," Greyson agreed before we continued our trip to the kitchen in silence. I took a seat on the counter next to the sink as he washed his hands. "Do you want to help?" he asked, raising his eyebrow at me and I instantly shook my head.

"I'd rather not burn the house down this morning, but thank you for your offer." Greyson rolled his eyes before he started gathering the ingredients that he needed.

"But we can start talking about how we can organize the training session."

"Okay, what do you have in mind?"

"Here's my plan: we have a three day intensive, the first day's going to be like any other Warrior training session with the same intensity and schedule. The second day's when we separate our strong fighters from our weaker ones, though we still train the weaker ones but just in a separate group than the others so they can get the help that they need. Finally, the third day is when we give them actual battle sequences like a code crimson and other stuff to see how they hold up. By the end of those three days, we should be able to see who should be o the front line and who needs to be placed elsewhere, that way virtually all of our able bodied pack members can fight while the others get trained by the medical staff for basic procedures in case of injuries, as well as some other jobs we might need."

Greyson nodded. "It sounds like you really planned this out, huh little wolf?"

"Yeah," I admitted. "I want to make sure that this pack has the best chance of success. Plus, I'm the person who got us into this mess so it's only fair that I try to come up with a solution as to how to get us out, isn't it?"

Greyson stopped what he was doing and in two mighty strides, he was in front of me gently cupping my cheeks. "Avery, for the last time, what happened to your old Luna is not your fault, neither is Phoenix's little revenge scheme, okay? He just wants you to feel that way so that you'll start doubting yourself, but you can't let him get to you, okay?" Greyson's words were full of conviction and honestly, and I almost believed him. Almost.

He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. "We'll get through this. We all will," he softly said and I nodded. He looked down at me for a moment before he nodded his head and went back to the task at hand. "So who is the ideal age group you're going for?"

"Anyone who has a mature wolf and is willing to fight," I said instantly. "Everyone else will all help in some way whether their with the medical staff, taking care of the pups and elders, or whatever else we may need."

Greyson nodded in agreement. "I already have a few new wolves in mind." After he'd put everything he needed into the blender, he pushed the button, causing loud noise to fill the air.

"Turn it off," Matthew groaned as he tiredly stumbled into the room with Natalie on toe.

"Good morning," I greeted.

"You two have exactly seven minutes to get ready for a mass training session. We'll explain everything on the way to the fields so we can organize everything before the pack gathers."

"But Greyson," Natalie whined.

"Six."

They groaned before they trudged back upstairs. "There better be a shake waiting for me when I get back or I'm going to be thoroughly upset," Matthew called, causing Greyson to roll his eyes.

I laughed.

"Those two..." he mused before his eyes glazed over, letting me know he was linking someone. After a few moments his eyes cleared and he blinked a couple of times. "I let the pack know that we should be ready in an hour and a half," he announced as he poured the concoction into a cup before he slid in over to me.

I thanked him before I downed the drink and continued to mentally run through exactly what I wanted to accomplish today. It wasn't long before Nat and Matthew were back and luckily, Greyson had prepared drinks for them as well to avoid Matthew being "thoroughly upset".

"Okay, so what's the plan?" Matthew asked as we left the house.

Greyson raised an eyebrow at me, telling me to explain it. "Basically, we're holding a pack wide training session for anyone with mature wolves, while everyone else gets basic medical training or prepares to look after the pups and elders." Matthew nodded in understanding and I continued. "Today, we're going to break the wolves into three categories: beginner for the new fighters, intermediate for wolves who have a bit more than basic knowledge, and advance for the Warrior level wolves. I wanted Natalie to be in charge of the beginners with a couple of Warriors to help, Matthew with the intermediate again with Warrior help, and me and Greyson will take on the advance class...with Andrew."

Matthew nearly choked.

"Excuse me, what?" Natalie said, stopping in her tracks causing us to stop as well. I cringed. I knew this wasn't going to go over well.

"Greyson, can you please tell me she didn't just say what I think she said?" Matthew asked, but Greyson rubbed the back on his neck in response, causing Matthew to curse. "With all due respect, how can you trust that vile bastard? He defiled your mate and possibly many others and-"

"I know," Greyson tightly said as his hand that was gripping my waist became tighter. "And I want to kill him and make him suffer worse than what he did to Avery, but as much as I hate the bastard, we need him. Avery pointed out that he knows Phoenix and his pack. He knows how they fight and how they move and that's something we need. We can't waste such valuable intel, even if it comes from a low life such as Andrew." By the time he was done talking, his voice was cold and is jaw was clenched. His skin felt warm against my own letting me know that his wolf was rising to the surface. I needed to do something. Fast. So without thinking I grabbed him and pulled him down so that his head was buried in my neck. He tightly wrapped his arms around my waist and greedily took in my scent.

I gently rubbed his back. "Calm down, Grey," I gently said.

"I swear, Avery, I am going to rip him joint from joint as soon as this is over."

"I know you will."

He remained there for a few more moments until he was calm. "We will have him under close surveillance. We'll make him think we're sparing him so he won't want to act up and risk anything," Greyson said, though his face was still buried in my shoulder. "If he tries anything, I won't hesitate to end him."

Natalie nodded. "Okay. Though I don't necessarily agree, I trust your instincts," she said looking between the two of us. "But you best believe that if he does the smallest thing, Matthew and I will join you in taking him out."

"Agreed," Matthew said with a nod.

Greyson took a deep breath, his warm breath fanning over my neck, causing a strange feeling to settle deep within my stomach before he straightened up.

"Alright, the Warriors are waiting for us. You two take Avery and get things started while I get the bastard."

"Greyson, let me go with you. I can handle it."

"You might be able to, but I won't. I already don't like the idea of him being close for the training session, so giving him extra time close to you...I just might rip out his heart."

I wanted to press and argue, especially because though I still felt a bit of fear when I saw him, I wanted Andrew to look me in the face and see what he'd done to me, but I didn't push it. I'd see him soon enough, and maybe I'd be able to land a punch or two in his face.

I nodded and let him go before I followed Natalie and Matthew to the training grounds where the Warriors were waiting for me just as Greyson had said they were. They were in their clean formation and silent, awaiting their command.

I climbed onto the training platform so that they could all see me before I started. "Good morning, Warriors!"

"Good morning, Luna!"

I hated the L word.

"This morning we are going to have a pack wife training session. As many of you know, we were threatened by Alpha Phoenix, specifically me. So, in order to protect this pack, we are inviting any matured wolf to come and train with us so that we can separate the fighters from the medics and other help, understood?"

"Yes, Luna!"

"Good. Before we separate, I'm warning you that we will have a prisoner training with us, someone many of you may recognize. Former Beta, Andrew. He is an omega now, meaning that you will not interact or socialize with him unless special instructed to. I also need you to keep a close eye on him. He is still an active threat against me and this pack. We are only using him because of his in depth knowledge of Phoenix and his pack, understood?"

"Yes, Luna!"

"Good, now I need you to separate yourselves into three groups. I need a group to work with Natalie with the beginner level wolves, a group with Matthew on the intermediate level wolves, and a group with me and Alpha Greyson with the advanced level wolves. Hurry because we have less than an hour to get everything organized."

"Yes, Luna!" They chorused before they started doing what they were told. I watched as they all got into groups until they were satisfied. Natalie went with her group off to another section of the training grounds and Matthew went to opposite way just as Greyson made his way over with Andrew who was beaten with a bloody nose while Greyson had bloody knuckles that were healing.

As soon as Andrew saw me, he stopped in his tracks. "L-Luna," he said, almost shocked. "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I was naive and stupid and-"

"You are not to speak to me unless you're spoken to, am I clear?" I coldly stated, though my heart was beating out of my chest and my wolf was eager to rip him apart.

"Yes, Luna. Sorry, Luna."

A growl resonated deep with Greyson's chest before he shoved Andrew into the group of Warriors, causing him to fall with a whimper. "Keep a close eye on him," he instructed the Warriors in the front row. "If he tries anything, immobilize him and let me know immediately."

"Yes, Alpha!"

Greyson nodded before he told everyone to stretch. They instantly did so before he turned to me. "So I was thinking that we started with some basic maneuvers then do some partner work, take a break, then get into more advanced combinations then free for all sparring. How does that sound?"

"Perfect," I said with a nod, causing Greyson to nod as well.

"I hope you know that during the demonstrations, I won't go easy on you."

I raised an eyebrow. "Who said I was going easy on you?"

A grin stretched across Greyson's handsome face before he gave me a chaste kiss. I couldn't help but smile. He winked before he turned toward the Warriors and said, "Alright men and women, this is the plan and listen carefully..."

***

I locked eyes with my opponent as we circled each other. I was covered in sweat and my eyes burned as it dripped into them, but my eyes remained on Greyson. The pack was watching, anxiously waiting to see who would win: their Alpha or their not-yet-Luna.

I scanned for any weakness in his stance, but I spotted none. I would have to let him strike first. After circling each other for a few more seconds, he grew impatient and striked. He grabbed me by the waist and I slammed my elbow into the sensitive part of his back, but he didn't waver. I growled and drove my knee into his stomach, but he saw that coming and grabbed my knee and threw me down.

Sorry, little wolf, he apologized through the link, causing me to growl yet again before I quickly pushed myself up and lunged at him, catching onto his ankles and causing him to stumble. I took the opportunity to kick him in the chest, sending him down. I quickly pinned him, but before I could think about doing anything else, an immense pain unlike anything I'd ever felt before exploded in my skull like a supernova.

I screamed as I fell off of him, writhing in pain as my blood was seemingly replaced by lava and my airways painfully closed.

I felt my bones break as if I was shifting, though my wolf wasn't fighting for control. "Avery, are you alright?" Greyson frantically asked as he touched me, but his touch caused a white hot pain to move through me and I screamed again.

Greyson opened his mouth to say something else, but a scream escaped his mouth before he too writhed in pain, his eyes shifting as pain moved through them. "Stand guard!" A Warrior instructed before he let out a howl, letting the pack know that there was something wrong.

My eyes were watering due to my lack of oxygen and my vision was blackening. River was frantically fighting for control in an effort to take away the pain, but it was like something was blocking her. I screamed as my back broke. I was about to pass out when suddenly, the pain stopped as quickly as I had started.

I shot up and gasped for breath as my airways opened again and my eyes watered. "Wh-What happened?" I gasped out as tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Are you alright?" Greyson asked as he gathered me in his arms, this time producing the familiar sparks I loved so much rather than pain.

"Yeah, but what happened? What was that?- Oh my Goddess, your nose."

Greyson's eyebrows furrowed as he wiped his nose, revealing the black blood that had been trickling out. He cursed before he wiped my nose, revealing the same inky substance. "What is this Greyson?" I frantically asked, confused and afraid.

"This was the work of a witch," Greyson tightly said. "Phoenix has a witch, and a strong one at that if they can cast a spell from such a long distance away."

"What do you mean? They could be right outside the border!"

"If they were that close, this wouldn't be blood. It would be Wolfsbane or silver and we'd all be dead," Greyson grimly stated. "He's sending us a message. He really means war."

I became more and more frantic with every passing second. "Then what are we going to-"

"Greyson, what happened?" Matthew asked as he and Natalie quickly approached.

"That bastard has a witch," Greyson bitterly stated as he wiped the rest of the blood from his nose.

Natalie cursed and Matthew let out an irritated growl. "What's the plan?" He asked.

"We're ending today's session early. I need Andrew to be put back where he belongs and you two are going to run the pack while Avery and I are gone. Start again tomorrow but you'll have to assign a Warrior to one of your roles, understood?"

"Yes, Alpha," they said in unison as Greyson scooped me up in his bare arms and started walking back toward our house.

"Where are we going?" I asked as I cleaned the rest of the sickening black substance from my face.

"That runt isn't the only one with a witch at his disposal."