The Rogue Warrior

Chapter Five- Warrior

The sun peaked through the curtains and glistened into the dark, monotone room. A streak of golden casting on my face was what stirred me from sleep. My eyes fluttered awake to find my mate already gone. I felt both disappointed and relieved to be alone in the room.

I quickly got dressed in comfortable clothes to train in. I couldn't sit around and do nothing waiting for my mate to show up. He had vanished without a single word or even a note.

I grabbed a quick breakfast from the kitchen that was already sitting out and headed towards the training grounds.

There were many warriors there finishing up what looked like some sort of training regiment. Normally, I was at the training grounds before the sun would even rise, but for some strange reason, I slept much longer than I was used to.

As I approached the edge of the training grounds, they had broken off into their individual training sessions. I stood there for a moment and observed them, feeling rather awkward and out of place. I noticed a few curious glances in my direction. I didn't blame them for their curiosity. I was a stranger in their pack.

Unable to be a mere observer for a moment longer, I started to do some stretches. Only ten minutes later, I heard an unfamiliar voice break my already shakey concentration.

"Hi, who are you?" One of the few females asked. She was already standing beside me. I stood up straight and turned to face her. She was the same height as me and appeared arounds the same age. She had blonde hair pulled into a bun with brown streaks in it. She watched me with her light brown eyes burning into me with such strong intensity.

"I'm Alina," I introduced myself. I studied her carefully, trying to determine if she had approached me in good nature or ill intentions.

"No, I mean what are you doing here?" She replied placing her hands on her hips and frowning.

"Well," I said and paused. I was still in disbelief of the reality of the situation myself. "Alpha Damen is my mate," I told her. I saw her eyes widen with disbelief.

"Oh wow, your mate's an alpha," she sounded impressed. She shifted her hip to one side and seemed to be contemplating something. "Alright, let's see what our future Luna is made of," she challenged me.

"Um, okay," I said with uncertainty. The confidence I once had in myself had slipped away so suddenly. I didn't know anything about this pack's ways of fighting. I didn't know how talented they were and I didn't want to embaress myself.

"Don't be so concerned with what other people think," I heard Cyra scoff at me and I knew she was right. I narrowed my eyes at my challenger and readied myself.

We lunged forward at each other simultaneously. Both of us were the type to like to strike first. We ended up colliding awkwardly, but neither one let that slow us down. She moved to tackle me while I danced away from her. Every time she came at me was with a power filled blow or an attempt at a take down. I managed to dodge most of them or redirect her attack.

I was able land a few blows of my own, but it was as if they didn't phase her. We kept going for what seemed to begin to be more of a test of endurance. We seemed equally matched, but I was not satisfied with that. I had trained too hard to be on her level. I was going to be a Luna!

Finally, I managed to knock her down onto her back. Once I had my opponent pinned, she couldn't move. She couldn't throw me off. I had her on her stomach, and her hands behind her back. I gave her a smug look as I noticed she glanced up at me from my strong hold.

"Satisfied?" I asked her as I released my grip. She rose to her feet and brushed herself off.

"Not bad, but you struggled for that victory," she critiqued.

"A win is a win. Don't be a sore loser," I mocked her playfully.

"My name's Nova Wixx. I'm Alpha Damen's cousin," she introduced herself, holding out her hand formally. However, her devious grin told me she was anything but the type for formalities.

"Alina Gray," I stated as I took her hand. One thing I didn't understand about her was that she did not have the alpha aura. If she was Alpha Damen's cousin, that meant she had Alpha Blood. It didn't make any sense. I decided against asking her about it for now.

I spent the rest of the day with Nova. Well, the rest of many days with Nova. The next few weeks went on as my first couple of days. I spent a lot of time training and exploring the area with my new found friend. Alpha Damen was often busy and spent little time with me. He still had not marked me or even announced when my Luna ceremony would be. I never asked him about it either because I wasn't sure that I was truly cut out to be a Luna. I was a fighter, and that was all I felt like I was meant to be. Maybe he was starting to believe that, too.

"One of these days, I will kick your ass," Nova laughed as we walked down the silver corridor of the pack house.

"Better be careful or you may break a nail," I bantered back at her. Her fiery gaze flickered back at me. It reminded me much of River except River was much more graceful and proper. Nova was an explosive bomb. Wild and fierce.

"Oh well," she shrugged going along with it. "It will be worth it." She giggled. I could only faintly hear her voice after that, but she had caught on to what was happening almost seconds later.

I gawked down the hall, both of us frozen in place. My face grew pale and my smile eroded into a frown. The world around me grew cold with sorrow at the sight I saw. My ears strained to hear what was happening, but all I could hear were soft whispers and giggles.

Alpha Damen stood in the doorway of our bedroom. He leaned against the wooden door frame wearing a blue button shirt and dark jeans. He also wore a sweet smile on his face as he gazed upon a strange shewolf.

The strangest part of it all is that she was buttoning up her lovely white blouse as she stood there talking to him.

She had long blonde hair that flowed to the middle of her back. She had a voluptuous form that was obvious even from the short distance away. There was something about the way he looked at her that made my stomach turn. Even Cyra was snarling wildly in my mind. Was this what jealousy felt like?

"What the f**k?!" Nova barked out loud. Her voice echoed down the hall. Both Alpha Damen and the strange shewolf turned to look at us for a moment before turning back to each other. The shewolf then walked off leaving us wondering what had happened without saying another word.

Alpha Damen stood there in his place, waiting for me to approach or say something. He raised a single eyebrow at us.

"I will catch up with you later, Nova," I said to her.

"Oh no, I want to punch him in the throat," she growled.

"He is your alpha. You can't," I stated the obvious. Furious, she stormed off. I watched and waited for her form to vanish around the corner before I approached my mate.

"Who was that?" I asked concerned.

"A pack member discussing pack business," he answered vaguely.

"What pack business?" I inquired, pushing for answers.

"Nothing you should concern yourself with, little one," his voice was slightly more firm.

"But I'm your mate. Who is she?" Now I knew I sounded jealous.

"Do not worry little mate, you are mine and I am yours," he said raising his hand to stoke the side of my face. I wanted to crumble beneath his touch as I did every night when I fell asleep in his embrace. Yet, this time I did not.

"What's going on?" I asked taking a step back from him though my heart protested against my actions.

"Don't worry about it," he was starting to sound frustrated with me.

"Damen," I began but he cut me off quick.

"You are not a member of this pack yet. I said it doesn't concern you. It was just pack business," he said sternly. His eyes were glaring down at me. He no longer was leaning against the door way but towering over me. He radiated power that made a part of me want to cower, but I didn't. I stood my ground.

"So when will I be a member of this pack?" I asked him bitterly.

"When I make it so." He grabbed a handful of my hair in his hand before I could stop him. I squirmed beneath his grip, my hands reaching for my auburn hair as it pulled against my scalp. "But if you are so eager to fulfill your pack duties, by all means," he said in a deepened tone. His eyes were growing black as he watched me struggle.

"Let me go," I growled through gritted teeth, and he did before stalking off and leaving me confused.

Enranged, I ran back to the training grounds and did what I did best, train. I was helpless in his grasp, but if anyone even my own mate did that to me again, their face would meet my fist.