The Legacy: The Shewolf

2.

LAYLA

It took me another month before I was able to defeat the other warriors and collect their flags. Soon after that, Jody instructed the thirteen of them to attack me at once. According to Jody, we were meant to take it as a fight for survival, and so we were allowed to be ruthless. It was allowed to a certain point where the injured person would be gasping for breath.

Just like so many times before in training, I was beaten so many times and beaten so hard I thought I was going to die. I knew they weren't just fighting me to improve my skills; they were using the training as an opportunity to attack me for being different. But notwithstanding it, I never let it bother me because I knew soon I would be getting back at them.

I laid still on the ground as I allowed the healing process to take place. Though it was slow, I could feel my broken bones going back to their position and my wounds sealing up.

I heard footsteps approaching towards me. I sat up slightly, turning around to see Jody taking a seat beside me.

“Stay still,” he said, assuredly knowing things would be okay soon. “You can lie down on the ground and allow the healing to take place. If you had your wolf, it would have been faster than this.”

I scoffed, “I know.” I glanced down at my wounds as they slowly sealed themselves up before resting my back on the cold ground again. “In a month I’ll have my wolf and my hybrid transformation will finally be complete.”

“Yeah, that's true," he replied before resting his back on the ground too. “I'm sorry about the boys. I knew it was going to be difficult fighting them, even more so with the hate they’re harboring in their hearts. I wanted to stop them, but I knew you would be angry if I did. But still, I’m sorry about their behavior. I will get them in order,” he said apologetically.

“It's okay,” I muttered. “I like how they are fierce towards me; it makes me want to work harder and get stronger to meet their pace. Plus, I know soon they will be the ones going through this,” I chuckled. “Give me three days from now.”

“You know you are a stubborn girl," he scolded. “Always taking ‘no’ for an answer. But I like that about you! Soon you’ll be the strongest of them all, and I will be here watching your growth step by step." He smiled.

“Thank you. It means a lot to me that you are helping me… even though I know it’s only because your dad is my dad’s beta, so obviously you have to act like you want to be close to me, but-” I was starting to ramble. “But you don't have to force yourself into liking me or sitting here with me after training. I am used to it, the hate and silent treatment from everyone,” I told him. I sat up, getting into a sitting position.

“Is that what you have been thinking of me? That I’m doing this out of obligation?” he asked, sounding quite shocked. I bobbed my head, “Wow! You really think so little of me? I can't believe you’re comparing me to the likes of all those other werewolves,” he scoffed.

I could see the hurt in his eyes. Ugh, why am I always like this? Always thinking the world is against me when, in actuality, there could be some people willing to help me build a perfect world with them.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized to him, “I didn't mean to hurt your ego, but I just thought that you and your sister were being close to me out of duty to our fathers. The whole pack is against me! You know the rules, that hybrids are meant to be executed. I’m only alive today because my dad is the Alpha. If he was to be a commoner or lower rank, I would have been born in my grave.”

I laid back on the ground again, tilting my head to face him.

“I don’t think it's fair to the other wolves, especially those that have lost their pups due to being a hybrid, but I was kept alive because of my dad. That's the reason why I’ve never retaliated against them bullying me and I never did tell my parents. They have been put in a tight corner and I don't want to pressure them anymore by telling them what I'm going through. So, when you and your sister opened your arms to me, I thought it was an obligation, like your dad forced you both to do so." I told him and he shook his head.

“None of this was forced. We did it because we love you and care about you. I saw how isolated you were and how you didn't associate with anybody because everyone hated you. I wanted to be different; I wanted you to feel loved and know what happiness is all about. That's why I stretched out my hands to you, and I am glad you held onto it. So keep holding on tight and don't ever let go!”

I smiled when he said those words and I reached for his hand with mine before linking our hands together, making him smile wider, and I laughed out lightly.

“Thank you, and I promise I won't let it go," I assured him.

“Also, I think it's time for you to stop taking crap from them. I want you to stand up for yourself. Show them that even if you are different, you’re special and you’re powerful! You are not a weakling like they assumed you to be. Take back your glory as Alpha Braxton and Luna Eva’s only child, and also the heir to the Silver Crest pack!" he said, gripping our hands tighter and raising them up triumphantly.

“I would be the heir to Silver Crest if only my wolf turns out to be an Alpha wolf," I muttered. “Besides, I don't want to retaliate and hurt them, then have them swear at me, or my parents, that I am using my cursed powers to hurt their pups. It would put my parents in an impossible situation. They won't know how to handle it.”

“For once, Layla, stop thinking about others and start thinking about yourself. Carla and I are here for you, so man up…” he stopped to correct himself. “Sorry, woman up and fight! Get that self-esteem back on track!”

“I will, but not yet. Soon, I will definitely stand up for my….it”

I was cut off by a screeching Carla.

“Oh My Gosh, Jody Williams!!!!!!!!” she yelled out at the top of her lungs. I jolted up, grabbing my oversize t-shirt and putting it on quickly to cover the bruises while Jody shielded me from her.

“Carla! Calm down and let me explain,” Jody said, trying to find words that would help soothe the raging Carla Williams.

“Explain what to me!? I agreed to this training because my baby girl needed to build her self-esteem back up, but I did not sign her up for you to kill her! This is worse than what those bullies did to her. Layla, come here,” she ordered me, but I stood still behind Jody, too scared to face her.

When Carla is angry, you should avoid her unless you want her to strike you down in a way you wish the ground would just open and swallow you up instead.

“Layla Wyatt, come here this instant and pull off that t-shirt you are wearing, right now!” she yelled at me and I slowly pulled off the oversize t-shirt and she gasped out.

“JODY!!! What the hell!? How intense is the training for her to be beaten up so badly like this?” she asked while turning me around to access my body.

“First of all, Carla, she wasn’t beaten up. It was training and nothing more," Jody replied.

“Training? You call this the result of regular training? She is covered with bruises!”

“You should have seen me when we just finished training,” I muttered.

“Nice one Layla," Jody said sarcastically with a roll of his eyes, “Listen, Carla, it's just ten-to-one, a normal training routine. She needs to learn how to defeat those bullies, and I am pretty sure they don't attack one by one. They attack together, so she needs to know how to fight them together,” he explained.

“So, you told your bunch of well-trained soldiers to gang up and beat a seventeen-year-old girl who is just growing up? For fvck’s sake, Jody! She is just seventeen years old,” she repeated.

“I'm going to be eighteen this year," I murmured.

“Shut up,” they said in unison. I rolled my eyes.

“Eighteen or not, you are still young! You don't see me going through those torments because I want to get stronger?” she asked me.

I was about to answer when Jody stood up for me.

“I don't see you getting bullied every day because you have no control of how the Moon Goddess created you because you're perfect,” Jody spat out.

“That's it, the training is over. She is not coming back here ever again!”

“Who are you to dictate that for me? It's my life, Carla, and I choose how I want to live it. See you tomorrow, Jody, and thanks for the pep talk,” I told him as I walked out without glancing at Carla. She ran after me.

“Layla, wait up!” She called after me but I ignored her, and soon she caught up with me anyway.

“I know I made a mistake, Layla, but I am just looking out for you. Just take a look at yourself and your body. You will be long dead before you get a chance to carry out your revenge,” she voiced out.

“You are not my parents, Carla, you are my friend. Stick to your friendship's duties and support my growth. I want this Carla; I want to be strong to take my revenge on every one of them, and you should be proud of me for making progress, not condemning me!”

I didn't want to lose my temper. I tried controlling it, but I could hear the anger in my voice.

“I’m not condemning you, Layla. I am trying to make it make sense to you. You're hurting yourself daily. What if you don't make it before your next birthday?” she asked me.

“Have some faith in me, Carla! I'm not a weakling! I'm strong, and I'm damn fast at learning things. I will do it all. I need just three more days to master it all.”

I turned around to face her this time before pulling her closer for a hug. “Just three days and I will make you proud.”

“Hmm, three days it is, but if you don't kick their butts, we're calling it quits. Okay?”

“Okay, love”

She finally gave in to the hug.

Exactly the three days I promised Carla was all it took for me to defeat them all. The promise made to Carla was my inspiration and hope as it gave me the power I never thought I had.

Thanks to all the training I have been through, everything I have endured. I could take two bullies at a time. It was weird and scary with the way I launched after them, but it didn't scare me, it excited me to see the blood coming out of them. I had a smile on my face.

I was already called a psycho, so why not embrace the character I had grown accustomed to.

There were broken bones, bashed heads, and bloody faces. I’m pretty sure the last man standing was on the verge of dying when I was pulled away by Jody so that I couldn't complete the deed.

Not sparing another look at the groaning werewolf on the ground, who was grunting and crying in pain, I walked away with a proud smile on my face.

I had to beat him up so badly as a way of passing a message that I was ready for them, all of them.

Carla was cheering and clapping for me, though Jody looked concerned about his warriors who were on the ground. Nevertheless, he never misses the opportunity to give me a thumbs-up for a job well done, so he did.

I have finally unleashed the monster that was sleeping within me. Turning 18 in a few days, I won't be pitying anyone that dares bully me.

It will be blood for blood, and broken bones for broken bones, and I'll fight to the last.