Not Your Luna

Greta’s kick lands square in my chest causing the air to seize in my lungs and I almost double over, the constricting band of my sports bra is cutting into my ribs and making it all that much harder to regain the oxygen I need.

“Woah Willa, you good? I thought you would be able to block that kick or at least take the hit?” Greta tries to joke but I can hear the concern laced in her voice, but she isn't wrong. I am born of alpha blood and I have been training for years as a warrior but I'm distracted with my upcoming birthday and everything that is expected of me, expectations that I don't think I can ever meet no matter how hard I try. I take a few seconds to regain my composure and then bring my arms back up into a defensive stance.

“I'm fine! My mind was elsewhere but that's a weakness I can't afford. Hit me again " I dare but she doesnt come into position instead she simply shakes her head. Strands of her perfectly straight crimson hair have started to slip out of her tight ponytail and she lets out a deep huff to blow them out of her face before she eyes me up and down. I can see there is still some fire behind her eyes as she contemplates whether to take me up on my challenge.

“Sorry Kid, but I am not going to get reprimanded for knocking out the alphas daughter in training; I’m calling it a day, go hydrate and wash up.” She doesnt leave room for argument which is entirely frustrating and as much as I’m frustrated by the shortened session and I want to fight back and insist on another round I respect Greta too much to disobey.

“FIne, but tell James to pick you up from training tomorrow because I’m gonna kick your ass” she lets out a small smile at the mention of her mate, and tells me that she is looking forward to tomorrow.

“I’d like to see you try Pup” I groan a little at the nickname, but it is one I haven't been able to shake since I first met her a few years back.

…

My father Alpha Romeo did not want me training in the first place, I was his baby in his eyes and I had him to protect me and eventually I would have my mate to protect me so I did not need to learn to fight. Father was also terrified of me getting hurt at the training grounds thinking the other wolves might gang up on me if I was smaller than them which is ridiculous, I am by no means short for my age and who would want to hurt the alphas kid? So whenever I asked he would try to dissuade me by saying it wasn't necessary so I should instead focus on my studies or helping the pack in other ways.

I spent my entire 13th year helping around the pack clinic at his recommendation, obviously at my age I couldn't really do more than study remedies and put on a bandage or ointment here and there under the watchful eye of Dr. Muller our pack healer.

Then one day Greta, a young female warrior in her early 20’s with deep maroon hair and fierce grey eyes, came in after a small rogue attack with a large slash down her arm that was taking a while for her wolf to heal so I was disinfecting and cleaning around the wound waiting for the doctor to come in and stitch her up.

“Why are you a warrior, you're just a she-wolf like me?” I asked her curiously, and she simply huffed out a laugh, not the reaction I expected. I grumbled insisting that it was a serious question and she raised an eyebrow at me.

“To answer the question Pup, I'm a warrior because I'm damn good at it, for instance this “she-wolf” was able to take down 3 male wolves today all by myself” she boasts but my eyes drift from her face to the deep gash I’m cleaning.

“It's just a scratch, don't worry about it. You know warrior James?” I nod my head at the question, it’s always a big deal when we have a new member join the pack and my father just recently brought him in from a pack that was devastated by an enemy pack.

“Well he is my mate and it was the first time he saw me fighting and he was tried to step in to help but instead I got distracted and next thing I know I’m in the clinic being patched up by a pup”

“I’m not a pup, I’m already thirteen!”

“My point exactly now, why did you ask?” Greta boasts and I explain to her that my father won't allow it because being his ‘daughter’ I don't need to fight, or put myself at risk.

“Look kid, no promises but I can talk to your dad and ask to train you away from the rest of the pack: one-on-one lessons for an hour or two a day, Sound good?” she suggests and the excitement bubbles up within me. I almost tackled her into a hug completely forgetting about her arm until Dr. Muller entered the room and pulled me back by the collar of my jacket.

“Careful Willa, this is a clinic, I need you to remain level headed so we can get our warriors healed up, not leaving them worse than we found them” he reprimands softly and I simply nod and give him space while he calls in a few nurses and they get to work. Once they have Greta all patched up we head to the pack house to talk to my father. While they talk I wait outside his office I find myself rocking back and for on my heels full of nervous and excited energy; and after what feels like forever she emerges and gives me a cool thumbs up before walking off followed by my father who tells me my first training session is tomorrow so I better rest up tonight. I run into my fathers chest squeezing my arms around him as tight as I can, promising to make him proud.

“I am already so proud Willa, You could never disappoint me baby girl, you're going to be the strongest luna this pack has ever seen” he exhales and I can hear the apprehension in his voice at letting me fight tomorrow but I am not letting this opportunity go.