Chapter 14

Elena’s POV

Jane’s face darkens gruesomely as she bares her fangs. A sneer marks her face. “Want me to apologize?”

“You should! You shouldn’t be looking down on any humans!” I snap back.

The freckled girl’s crying has quieted down to a whimper, but it breaks my heart all the same.

Jane taunts me with a laugh. “Let’s wait until you are worthy of it, maybe. There is a fighting test in one month’s time! You pass the test; you get to fight me.”

Jane walks away from us proudly to her companions. I know in their eyes there is no way I, as a weak human, can get a passing grade in the werewolf fighting class.

To Jane, she has already won this fight and I have admitted my defeat by being a weak human.

Instead of wasting my time staring at Jane and her cruel friends, I turn to the freckled girl.

“Are you okay?” I ask as I pick out a piece of salad from her hair.

She nods softly. “Thank you… is it true you are promised to King Harvey?”

“…Yes.” I whisper.

Her eyes widen in complete fear. “Elena… do you know who she is? You offended Beta Harold’s daughter. She is known for getting her way and being brutal! She will not let you go! You are in a very bad situation.”

“She was so mean to you; I couldn’t help wanting to help you!”

The freckled girl shakes her head. “Forget it, try to think that humans can’t take the fighting classes at all. Even if they are allowed, they must get to 10(th) place to pass. 10(th) place! Do you understand how difficult that is! That group of werewolves with their overwhelming strength will beat you!”

I sigh and take a seat at the little bench tucked in the corner of the room. She follows me and sits with me.

Clenching my hands, I try to think of what to do next. I know and believe what she said is true. How will I fight a werewolf?

The bell rings and we are dismissed from lunch. The day continues…

Four hours later, I find myself in King Harvey’s castle once more unable to smile.

The words of Jane and the freckled girl leave my head spinning. I have been pacing my room for hours, wondering if I should even check my homework. I did it, not knowing what I was doing, but I attempted it.

I wanted to ask King Harvey for help but the thought of him staring at me so intensely was embarrassing, not to mention me not knowing simple questions.

King Harvey would think I am stupid to say the least. I can’t have him against me like everyone else.

This bad mood has left me unable to eat or even sleep. I have laid in bed for hours and just counted the stars.

Worry drowns me and all my hopes of being suited for King Harvey.

Why did I want to go to school? King Harvey. Yes, to finish my education, but…

I wanted to be trained as a proper luna. It is to please him and have him not look bad to other werewolves. I can’t be his downfall after everything he has done for me.

The obvious disdain the werewolves hold for me makes me feel aggrieved. I know this the norm for werewolves, but this is killing me and breaking my heart.

“Damn it… I need to vent…”

I know King Harvey has a training room. I run off to burn off my energy.

Running to the oak door, I throw it open and see a thick large dark red mat all over the floor. This room is as big as a football field.

The only equipment out is a huge sandbag in the center of the room.

Stepping to it, I mentally prepare myself to punch it.

I stand in front of the tan sandbag that hangs by a triple chain from the ceiling and shrink back. I do feel intimidated by it. On my second night, I had heard King Harvey beating into the bag with such speed and strength that my walls shook.

I was a few doors down from him and heard it clear as day.

I sigh. I need to learn how to fight to defend myself, the freckled girl, and my sister just in case from werewolves. At the least, I should know how to throw a punch.

Recalling seeing King Harvey in the ring standing with one foot in front of another at an angle, sideways, I do it too. Keeping my left hand at my ear like him, I push forward and punch the bag.

It doesn’t even budge.

I hit again, keeping my thumb out and across my fingers.

Nothing.

Switching to my left hand gives me the same results.

Is this some material that only werewolves can move?

In a flurry of frustration, I punch the bag with alternating hands until I feel the sting of blood on my knuckles.

All I see when I am done is my blood and sweat smearing the bag. It never moved.

“Ugh, damn it, why?!” Tears stream down my face in my frustration and I fall onto the floor on my knees.

I am a human. That doesn’t mean I deserve to be ridiculed and treated as if I am nothing!!

Sniffling, I punch the bag again, but a sharp pain runs up from my hand to up my arm. I hiss.

Suddenly, a large warm hand rests on my lower back and pulls me to his side. Shakingly, I look up and see King Harvey looking down at me with a frown.

Wiping my tears away roughly, I almost poke my eyes out. I don’t want him to see me in pieces on the floor. This is so embarrassing!

“King Harvey, I am so sorry… I used your practice room secretly.” I whisper as I bow my head.

King Harvey holds me closer to his chest and says nothing. He is wearing a simple black T-shirt and red athletic shorts.

“Elena, your posture is like mine. You were paying attention to me, weren’t you?”

I blush deeply as I gasp in a breath. “Yes… I do… admire your strength, King Harvey.”

“I admire yours, Elena.” King Harvey whispers to me as he leans in and presses a soft kiss to my cheek.

All my sorrows melt away entirely at his affection and for a moment I am not even mad.

“K-King Harvey!” I stutter as he laughs.

“Let us try again, Elena.”

King Harvey gets in position as he did on the battleground at the school and looks at me. Standing beside him, I copy.

“Is this right?”

“Yes, mostly, Elena.” King Harvey moves and corrects my left hand to be straighter and to tighten my fist on my right hand. “Elena, you have been putting all your strength in your feet. Your power stance is perfect, but don’t use all your strength there. Pull it up to your fists, twist your waist with your punches and concentrate with your fists. You were as stiff as a board. Let your power flow.”

King Harvey punches the bag twice, once with his right hand then his left. The bag jumps a bit with each of his strikes.

He offers me a chance and I punch the way he did.

The sandbag, which is as stable as stone, shakes slightly with my punches.

“Lean more on your left foot, Elena. You can, it is okay. You are still trying to relax. I see you are very tense.”

I nod, following his instruction and punch again.

The sandbag shakes more.

I can’t hide my grin and King Harvey copies my smile with pure joy. I blush without hesitation.

Even in the dark he is so handsome.

“I did it!”

“You did it wonderfully, Elena.” King Harvey’s joyous tone becomes stern. “…although, the werewolf’s natural fighting ability surpasses that of a human, as long as humans master their skills, a win is not impossible…”

“King Harvey, can you teach me how to fight?”

Is it possible? This sounds like a dream! I know he wouldn’t lie to me. He can do anything.

King Harvey smiles at me broadly.