160 Better days ahead .


    L I let out the breath I held as soon as I put enough distance between me and Ramscy .


    Leaning against the wall outside the pack house , I took deep , restorative breaths to calm my racing heart .


    Nymeris stirred within me , growling with approval .


    Well done , L .


    I thought you were going to crack under that steely gaze .


    The exact words I need , I hissed , pushing down to the base of the wall , letting the tension drain from my body .


    My heart was still pounding , and my palms felt mmy .


    All of this happened because of you .


    If you hadnt gone to Ramsey , acting like … I trailed off , unable to finish the words .


    A bitch ? A slut ? Nymeris finished , Is that the new name you want to call yourself ? I groaned , pushing myself to my feet .


    That was close , Nymeris .


    Its okay if Im freaking out .


    I muttered under my breath .


    Just tell him it was you , L .


    Whats the worst that can happen that hasnt happened before ? You heard what he said to the High priestess .


    Hes looking for you ; he didnt sound like he will harm you when he sees you .


    Hes our mate , L … how many times do I have to say this .


    I scoffed .


    You dont know Ramsey like I do , Nymeris .


    You just met him .


    And youve known him since forever ? she retorted .


    L … you have this bad habit of picking through someones words and hearing whatever suits your mood , and then you self sabotage and act like the victim .


    Ramsey is a nice person , better than your Nathan .


    I opened my mouth several times , too shocked to make a sentence .


    Ramsey is nicer than Nathan ? Yes ! she replied .


    Nathan bears grudges and looks like the kind of person that would remind you every day of your life , while Ramsey is only cold on the exterior .


    Hes a sweet man .


    Oh , please ! I hissed .


    You dont have to say nice words about him to get in bed with him .


    Mate or not , Im not ready to trust him , Nymeris .


    Im speaking from experience and another reminder : Nathan is the person in our life now .


    Hes my boyfriend .


    So , please dont confuse it and forget yourself .


    Ramsey has a fiancée already .


    Shes practically his mate and wife .


    You cant tell me what to do , L .


    The only instructions I would take from you are regarding changing my form or not .


    Otherwise , youre always mistaken .


    Wrong about your emotions , intuitions and sometimes , I wonder if youre even the Moonsinger .


    You have bad taste in everything , including men .


    Getting roasted by my wolf wasnt what Id envisioned .


    It was far from it .


    For some reason , Nymeris wasnt scared to tell me exactly how she felt .


    She practically has no filter .


    11:05 100 Better day I didnt wait for her to finish .


    I disconnected from her immediately , breathing in the mid morning breeze to calm the angry tremors teasing at the edge of my mind .


    I also pushed the lingering sensation of Ramseys presence out of my mind .


    A few minutester , I arrived at the training ground .


    The whole ce buzzed with activity .


    Warriors sparred in pairs while others practised forms .


    under the watchful eyes of the training instructor .


    I hovered at the edge of the ground , my eyes following each trainee .


    Despite still feeling sore from todays fighting and barely resting afterwards , I felt a strange itch -a restless need to do something physical .


    However , I had arrivedte , and no one was admitted .


    to the training ground after the morning drills .


    Resigning to my fate .


    I leaned against the dwarf fence and continued watching them , trying to store their tactics in my head .


    I was so engrossed in it that I didnt notice someone talking to me until a shadow fell before me , blocking out the morning sun .


    When I looked up , it was the training instructor .


    He was a burly Gamma with greying hair and a gravelly voice .


    Moonsinger ? He looked surprised and awkward at the same time .


    I cringed at the word Moonsinger but maintained a polite smile .


    Just L would do , Gamma Theo , I said quietly , straightening my spine and giving him my hands to shake Oh ! he nodded , cleaning his palms on his trainers before shaking my hand lightly .


    Its just that I dont know what title to give you yet .


    Anyways , Im surprised to see you here .


    I was told you went into a semia up until yesterday , but you dont look like you were sick .


    Tell me about it , I chuckled .


    I think its the gics .


    I always look this good whenever I recover from any illness .


    He didnt believe me .


    I could see it in his eyes , but he simply nodded .


    Thats a relief, then .


    Are you feeling better now ? Better than I have in the 23 years of my life .


    Good ! he sighed with relief .


    I was so worried wed pushed too hard on youst time .


    Alpha Ramsey threatened to punish us … Ramsey I mean , Alpha Ramsey threatened you ? Why ? He said I let you spar with someone with more advanced skills than you .


    As if I didnt spar with him first … I scoffed under my breath .


    Im so sorry about that , I said .


    Dont worry , it wasnt your fault .


    I wasnt feeling great that day , but I am now ,pletely fine .


    I hesitated , then added .


    I know Imte for todays training , and its almost done , but … could I join ? What ? his eyes widened with shock .


    Im sorry , but I cannot allow that .


    You just recovered .


    1 11:56 Better days ah What ? his eyes widened with shock .


    Im sorry , but I cannot allow that .


    You just recovered .


    I dont want to be the one who has to exin to that young priestess why youre passed out on my field again .


    She almost fought with me I swallowed theughter that bubbled to my throat at the picture of Nanny trying to fight this giant standing in front of me .


    I promise .


    I said solemnly .


    The moment I feel any difort , Ill step back .


    Please … He shook his head .


    Im sorry … I cant … I pouted my lips , trying to make a cute face at him human girls do this a lot ,, and it always works Please ! I drawled with an unnatural high pitched tone .


    I promise to be careful .


    Just for a few minute .


    I need to exercise my body a bit .


    It feels stiff from lying in one position for a long time .


    He stared at me for a few seconds before he nodded with a grunt .


    Im only doing this because youre the nicest woman Ive ever seen .


    But only light drills .


    If I see you wavering , youre out .


    Thank you ! I raised my hands , indicating for him to pick me Gamma Lycans was practically giant physically .


    Most of them grow as tall as 67 or more .


    He picked me up like I weighed nothing and brought me to the other side of the dwarf fence .


    I quickly ran to the small stall with their training safety kits ,, and a momentter , I was ready .


    Watch carefully Gamma Theo began by demonstrating intermediate defensive moves since I already knew a lot of basic defensive moves .


    I watched him , taking note of all his movements .


    Keep your stance firm but flexible , he instructed , correcting my posture by nudging my with his boot .


    Good .


    Now , step and strike .


    knee I executed all the defence moves with a fluidity , which surprised me .


    It was as if my body was the one that remembered all the techniques and not my brain , and all my strikes were perfect .


    After a few more rounds of practice with him , he paired me with a sparring partner a broad shouldered warrior with years of experience training with newbies , ording to the Gamma .


    The warrior came toward me , a friendly smile on his face .


    Dont hold back , he teased .


    Wouldnt dream of it , I replied , my grin matching his .


    The sparring began , and the moment the warrior made his first move , I reacted instinctively , sidestepping effortlessly and countered with a punch of my own , my knuckles grazing his shoulder with enough force to make him stagger back a step .


    The other warriors training paused in their drills to watch ; their eyes had gone round with 30 160 Better days ahead .


    +53 The other warriors training paused in their drills to watch ; their eyes had gone round with disbelief as I moved with speed and a precision that only long time warriors could .


    My footwork was wless ; my strikes were powerful yet controlled .


    Every move I made was calcted as though Id been training for years .


    When the match ended with the warrior on the ground , panting and grinning up at me , Gamma Theo approached ; he looked stunned .


    How did you … he began , then caught himself .


    Where did thate from ? Where did you learn to move like that ? Why didnt you show these the other day ? he asked , half usatory , half impressed .


    I shrugged , wiping sweat from my brow , but I was trying toe up with a quick exnation .


    My moves , too , had surprised me .


    I used to train back at my pack .


    Twice a day with the Alpha .


    I guess it stuck , andst time , I was sick .


    Gamma Theo nodded slowly , though his expression suggested he wasnt entirely convinced .


    Well , this is so impressive .


    Keep it up .


    When the training session ended , I walked back to the pack house feeling invigorated , alive in a way I hadnt felt before .


    My muscles that should have been sore felt strong , and if anything , it was as if the training had given me several bouts of energy , and my mind was clearer than it had been in days .


    Thinking about everything that had changed in less than 24 hours , I knew better days were ahead .