Welcome to Moongate

Six: Look Who’s Back in Town

Asher's POV



“Watch out!” I called across the open floor, my trainee Luke ducking just in time to miss the fist flying through the air in his direction. He was always distracted, but at least he had good reaction times, the two traits counteracting each other just enough to make him a semi-good warrior. Thank god for that, my nerves were already shot with the council leaning over the railing above. They watched my every move these days, and as hard as I tried to ignore them, my nerves still went a little haywire in their presence.

“He’s good, a little distracted though,” One of the council men had come up behind me, his hand closing around my shoulder and giving it a firm squeeze. “You’re doing well with him,” he added and I offered a nod.

“Thank you,” I muttered back, my eyes still focused on the spar ahead of us. Luke had his head on straight again, his eyes focused narrowly on his opponent. His feet moved fast, just like I’d taught him, as the two shuffled around the mat. Luke was barely breaking a sweat at this point, all that cardio he’d been putting in was well worth it. His opponent on the other hand, was starting to show his fatigue. I nodded my head a second time, but this time in reassurance to look. That’s a boy, tire him out. He was too small and too distracted to win with strength alone, but that didn’t mean he had to lose. It was the same advice my father had given me when I was just a scrawny kid, but I’d come a long way since then.

“We’re probably going to head out now, you staying much later?” The council man spoke again, and this time I turned my head to meet his gaze. David, my brain registered his name right away, even though I doubted we’d ever had a real conversation, he’d was one of the regular members following me around these days. In fact, I probably knew a lot more about him than he knew about me. He’d been on the council since his 30’s, admired by many of the pack. He had two daughters, one of which he’d surely probably try and set up with the new alpha this fall. All his life he’d been wishing he’d had a son, someone who could compete for the alpha title himself, but nevertheless, a Luna would have to do.

“Not sure yet,” I spoke sharply, even if I hadn’t meant to. I could almost hear my sister’s voice in my head scolding me. Be nice, you have to convince them to like you. She wanted me to charm them, that was definitely the better word for it. And if I was more like any of the other men in competition for the alpha position, I likely would be listening to her advice. I’d be following these men around with my tail between my legs and a ridiculously big smile on my face. The thought of doing that made my skin crawl though, so they’d have to take me as I was.

Being charming certainly wasn’t going to make anyone a good leader, contrary to my sister’s belief. We needed an alpha that was strong, a good warrior, a good decision maker. That was exactly what had put me on the council’s radar in the first place. I’d always been a good warrior, but it wasn’t until the night of the rogue attack shortly after high school that anyone really noticed it. I’d saved one of the council members kids, and ever since I’d been pushed harder and harder in my training.

“You would make a good alpha,” he’d said to me, when I’d dropped his daughter off at their house that night, and ever since it had become my only focus. Of course I wanted to be alpha, I’d be stupid not to. So I worked harder than any other warrior in my class, I got involved in the pack with training the young wolves, I took extra patrol shifts, I made sure I knew every pack members name. I worked harder than any other competitor, but that still wasn’t a guarantee that I would win.

Alpha trials were only held every 5 years, the next being in 2 months, and it was finally my time to compete this summer. Our current Alpha, Alpha John, has held his position for 3 consecutive terms, but after 15 years he had finally announced his retirement. He’d join the rest of the council members in their decision this year, but we all knew he was rooting for his son. His son had been in training to be alpha since he was a kid, in preparation for his father to hand him the title and control of the pack, just as John had been handed the title from his father. It had been in their family for nearly 3 decades now, but now that I was in competition, I was planning on changing that.

“Keep up the hard work Asher, the pack could use a change this year. Don’t tell anyone, but I know a lot of the council is really rooting for you,” I nodded back at him, shoving my hands in my pockets and trying to hide the way they balled into fists in my pockets. I appreciated hearing it, but man did it make the pressure build beneath my skull. You’ve got this. My wolf whispered his reassurances into my mind and I squared my shoulders with confidence again. He’s right, I’ve got it. I haven’t spent the past five years working so hard to let the pressure break me now.

I definitely needed to burn off some steam tonight though, that way I could refocus myself again tomorrow morning. I raised my hand in the air, catching Luke’s attention and letting him know that training was over for the day. Luke pumped his fist in the air as if he’d just won a medal and made me roll my eyes. We both knew what he was so excited for, or rather, where he was heading to directly from here. In fact, I was headed to the exact same place.

I slipped my phone out for my pocket, opening up my chat with my best mate Ryland, and sent the text I’d been so determined not to this morning. “I’m on my way over,” I sent it before I could second guess myself, and Ryland replied with a whole bunch of excited emojis. He’d been bugging me every week for months to come to one of his weekly Saturday parties, and while I usually turned him down to focus on my training, tonight was the night I was finally caving. Everyone needs a break sometimes, and one night off certainly wasn’t going to kill me.

I ducked into the change room, showering quickly then tugging on a pair of dark jeans and a plain black t-shirt. On the drive over, I silently pleaded for something good to come along tonight, something to help me blow off some of this tension and get my head straightened out for tomorrow. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, even as I strolled into the party and grabbed a drink from Ryland’s bar. The house was already packed with people, a few of the regular guys I hung around coming up to say hello or offer me a fist bump.

“He’s here!” Ryland’s voice bellowed across the room as he spotted me, and I couldn’t help but laugh at his excitement. By that level, you’d think I hadn’t seen him in weeks, when in reality I had only just seen him at the gym this morning. “How does it feel to be free to live your damn life tonight?” He said, joining me at the bar now. His arm hooked around my neck as he led me over to our group of friends on the couches in the main room.

“Just for one night,” I reminded Ryland with a laugh, then said my hellos to the rest of the group. I leaned back against the wall, my eyes scanning the crowd as the group dove right back into their conversation, discussing whatever sports game was on tonight.

Then, as if hearing my silent prayers, the moon goddess sent walking into the room the exact distraction I needed tonight. A face I hadn’t seen since graduating high school, one that I knew saved a specific kind of sly smile just for me. Talia Atonis, in all her glory, had strolled in looking finer than ever. Her brown hair tangled into perfect curls, her legs looking a mile long with those black heels, those hips instantly making my pants a little tighter. And of course, her ocean blue eyes scanning the room, completely clueless to my presence still. Oh hell yes.