Chapter 7: So…This is How I Die

"This is cruel and unusual punishment," I said to Evan as I pulled my old Nikes on.

"This is living in a Pack," Evan retorted. His broad frame leaned against the door, watching me move slowly as molasses.

"It's going to be worse if you're late. The Pack Trainer hates excuses more than he hates chicken. And he hates chicken more than anyone I've ever seen."

"It's too early for lame jokes," I snarked as I rolled my eyes and finished tying my shoes. It was five a.m., and every part of me felt like a salted slug. Getting up early wasn't always awful, but getting up early with the anticipation of getting pummeled in a training ring by people who are quadruple your strength sent an unwelcome pang of fear through my entire body.

"They're the only kind I have," Evan said. He held out his hand and pulled me up when I took it.

"Grab a protein bar from the cabinet. You're going to need it."

And with that prophetic statement, we were out the door.

***

At least fifteen teens and younger adults sat in a circle gathered around a mountain of a man dressed in a tight t-shirt and flowy black pants. He wore no shoes and walked with the authority of someone who knew who he was and where he belonged in the world.

At Evan's nudging, I sat at the back of the circle. Before going in, he'd pulled me to the side and warned me.

"The trainer seems normal at first, but there's a reason he's in the position he's in. Be careful. He's tricky…" Whatever that meant.

The man's eyes lit on me for a moment, curiosity lighting in his dark gaze before refocusing on the other students.

"Discipline is mind over body. Mind over your urges. Your wolf does not control you. You are one with your wolf. You should merge together like wind and water and create something new. Be a wave that crests onto the shore only to return and repeat."

I looked around to see if anyone understood this, but he held the shifters' attention rapt.

"We experience stronger urges than others do because we are half animal, but our human side must win because we live amongst the humans. We train to ensure both halves are balanced. We train to seek peace."

With a bow, the man stepped back and waved his hand. The shifters surged up from the floor and went in all different directions. I watched, thoroughly confused, until I felt a hand on my elbow.

The trainer stood above me, his dark eyes curious and thoughtful.

"Come. You must be Aspen."

I nodded mutely and let him help me up.

He was beautiful in a way I couldn't explain, a sense of peace flowed around him and into me. Was this what I could expect if I worked with him? Because if so, I was totally in.

"I am Jun, the Pack's Trainer. We meet three times a week for martial arts. The other three days will be with Kenneth. He focuses more on calisthenics and physical fitness. I am more mind over body, but do not let that deceive you. This class will be physically demanding."

Jun led me over to a group of shifters standing closer to the main mat.

"This is Aspen," he said to the group. "She will be in your group for now until I assess her ability."

I smiled lamely.

"Um. First let me say, I have no ability."

A bark of laughter came from the back, which told me whoever was back there was just as cool as I was, but the others simply continued to stare at me. No hostility, though. Winning!

Jun patted me on the arm. "Everyone has an innate ability. You just haven't discovered yours yet."

"Sure," I said cheerily, wondering why in the hell I had to get up this early to get my a** kicked when I could do it at any time of the day.

Jun's look was measured before he tilted his head in acknowledgment and left us for another group. Everyone wore matching gear, so I stood out like a sore thumb. My workout leggings had seen better days, and my hot pink racerback tank had two oil stains in it from when I made pasta one night and spilled olive oil on myself.

Jun didn't look like the type of guy who ever ate pasta. Just vegetables. Maybe air for dessert.

I smiled again, but everyone chose to ignore me, which was cool with me. Watching and waiting was usually one of my favorite things to do. This always resulted in me not dying, so I took that as a daily win.

I recognized a few people and spotted Cassie's dark hair in the crowd a few groups over. She spoke animatedly to another girl, and I wasn't able to catch her attention.

"Jun always has the new people spar."

I jerked at the voice right next to my ear.

A girl stood there. Taller than me by a full head and thin as a reed.

"I'm Jaycee."

She stuck out a hand, and I stared at it dumbly for a second before I remembered how to be a human.

"Oh. Hi! Nice to meet you."

Jaycee was pretty, as I was coming to realize most shifters were. She had sea-green eyes and light brown hair plaited in a thick, neat French braid. Her outfit was the same as the others, but her shoelaces were chartreuse, and she wore a white bracelet with writing I couldn't make out on it.

"It's weird being here, isn't it?" she asked me, her gaze taking in the other groups. There was a friendly but calculating gleam in her eyes as if she was figuring out pairing odds in her head.

"It is." I followed her gaze. "Who are you hoping to pair up against?"

Her cheeks colored prettily. "Am I that easy to read?"

I shrugged. "Lucky guess." Telling her I felt things sometimes wouldn't endear me to her, so I held onto it. There was a strong possibility I'd never make friends here, and keeping my secrets safe would make it much easier to leave when the time came.

Jaycee jerked her head to the right.

"Taller, dark-haired girl. She's the best of her group."

I frowned as I searched through the crowd.

"Oh. Cassie?"

She hushed me. "Yes," she hissed before her brow furrowed.

"Wait. How do you know her?"

"We worked together at the town's coffee shop before I came here."

"Oh." Her expression cleared. "She takes private lessons with Jun. No one has beat her yet."

I blinked. Seeing Cassie as a martial arts badass didn't quite compute, but yesterday morning I didn't think shifters were real, so I guess I had a lot to learn.

A familiar head of hair popped up in my field of vision. I couldn't suppress my groan of dismay. Jaycee tilted her head and looked.

"Oh," she breathed. "You managed to get on Rory's bad side?"

"Rory?" I whispered. What a nice name for such a terrible person.

"Yeah. She's kind of a b*tch."

I laughed.

"I agree."

The thunderous sound of a single clap silenced the class like a spell. Jun stepped into the middle of the ring.

"We have a new student here today. As such, I'd like her to go first so I can properly judge where she is and how much training she will need."

"All the training," I muttered. A bad feeling was starting to make my belly cramp.

A really bad one.

"Today, all the bouts will be practice. No weapons—man-made or claws—and no injuries. Spar only until someone hits the mat. Understand?"

The class murmured its assent.

"Good." Jun turned and motioned for me.

"Come, Aspen."

I took a deep breath and stepped into the ring. Jaycee slapped my back for good luck, but it made me stumble forward instead. A few nervous laughs rang out, and heat stained my cheeks. Jun nodded when I made it to his side.

"Your sparring partner today will be…"

Even before he said it, I knew. Sparks lit up behind my eyes as the feeling of inevitably tore through me.

"Rory Wilcox."

***

It was like the sea parted. All I could see was flaming red hair and her smirk. Jun stepped to the side, and Rory took her place in front of me.

"Hello, Aspen."

Her lips quirked in a vicious smile. Glee lit her eyes from within. She'd be way prettier if she wasn't such a raging b*tch.

"Rory," I said with a nod.

"I'm going to enjoy this soooo much," she murmured.

Her workout gear was the same as everyone else's, but she looked like a stupid supermodel. I looked like the discount version, one of those best friends you rented when you didn't want to show up alone to a funeral or a party. Sometimes the same thing depending on how crazy your family was.

I looked over at Jun.

"What am I supposed to do?" This didn't seem very zen of him. I was a newbie with zero martial arts experience, and he was thrusting me into the ring with a freaking shifter? Was I on a hidden camera show?

Jun grinned, and a malicious glint appeared in his eye. I swallowed hard.

"Survive."

His hand went down, and Rory launched herself at me.