Chapter 1: Can You At Least Try to Look Presentable?
Skye's POV
Saturday morning training. Again.
I love this time. Six a.m., most people still sleeping, only the most dedicated warriors show up at the grounds. The sun's just climbing over the tree line, and the air still smells like wet grass and dew.
Today's the quarterly evaluation. Every Delta has to go through combat assessment.
I've already taken down three opponents.
When the fourth one steps up, I hear murmuring from the crowd at the edge of the training grounds. This one's a veteran warrior, served the pack for over a decade. He's got at least ten years on me and probably fifty pounds of pure muscle.
"Ready, kid?" He grins, but his eyes are serious.
I adjust my stance, rolling my shoulders back. "Always."
The whistle blows.
His first punch comes fast and heavy. I dodge left, using his momentum to throw him off balance. He stumbles, surprise flashing in his eyes. Clearly didn't expect that.
The next five minutes are pure instinct. Dodge, block, counter. He's experienced, I'll give him that, but I'm faster. More flexible. I can feel everything my parents taught me flowing through my body, every technique they drilled into me coming naturally.
Finally, I sweep his legs out from under him and lock his arm before he can recover.
"Give up?" I'm breathing hard.
He taps the ground. "I give."
The crowd erupts. I stand and pull him up. He claps my shoulder, laughing. "Your folks would be proud, Brennan."
Something hot pricks behind my eyes.
After training ends, I'm drenched in sweat, hair plastered to my neck, but I feel amazing. Then I spot Caden standing at the edge of the grounds. He actually showed up to watch me train for once.
I jog over, excited to share this with him. "Did you see that? I—"
"You're covered in sweat. Can you at least try to look presentable?" Caden cuts me off, frowning. He actually steps back, like I'm contaminated or something. "Being that aggressive... it's not a good look."
My smile freezes.
A few pack members walk past, and someone snickers. Heat floods my cheeks, though I'm not sure if it's from the workout or humiliation.
"I thought... I thought you'd be happy."
"Happy about what? Watching you act like a wild animal?" Impatience edges his voice. "Skye, when are you going to get it? This isn't what a lady does."
Cole appears from the other direction, water bottle in hand. "You were incredible, Skye." His voice is warm as he offers me the bottle. "Textbook perfect moves."
I take it, mumbling thanks.
Caden's jaw tightens. He grabs Cole's arm. "Come on, we've got things to do." Then to me: "Stop encouraging her. She needs to learn what being ladylike actually means."
They walk away, leaving me standing there alone, not sure if I should feel proud or ashamed.
I met Caden Hartwell freshman year.
Crescentmoon Pack has plenty of members at the state university, but the Hartwell twins stood out from day one. Future Alphas of the pack, gorgeous, accomplished. Everyone wanted their attention.
Caden was the popular one. Student government, always at important events, always in the spotlight. Cole was quieter, spent most of his time in computer labs or the library.
But I noticed Caden first.
It was freshman orientation. He stood at the front of the auditorium giving some speech about pack traditions. Sunlight streamed through the windows, making him look like something out of a movie. I sat in the back row, couldn't hear a word he said, just stared.
That's when it started. The pursuit.
Saving him seats in lecture halls. Dedicating my trophy to him after I won the intercollegiate fighting championship. He'd just said thanks, polite and distant. Showing up to every pack moonlit run just to trail behind him.
My roommate thought I was crazy. "He doesn't even look at you, Skye. Why waste your time?"
"He will," I'd insisted. "He just hasn't noticed me yet."
Spring semester, junior year. Random Thursday night, outside the library.
It was almost eleven. I'd just finished training. He looked like he'd come from a student government meeting.
"Hey, Caden." I walked up to him, heart pounding.
He glanced up, seeming surprised. "Oh. Skye."
"I..." I took a breath. "Look, I know I've probably been annoying, always... you know. But I really like you. Can we just try? Just once?"
He stared at me for what felt like forever. Long enough that I started regretting opening my mouth.
Then he sighed. "Alright. We can try. But I have standards, Skye. Don't embarrass me."
I could've cried from happiness in that moment.
I thought I'd finally gotten what I wanted.
I thought he'd fall for me eventually.
I thought a lot of things.
But three years later, we're still a secret.
No photos of me on his social media. No hand holding in public. When friends ask, he gives vague answers about us being "complicated."
"We'll figure it out after we awaken our wolves," he always says. "Once we know what our future looks like. When the timing's right."
So I wait.
Carefully wait, terrified of doing something that'll make him change his mind.
I changed my wardrobe. Less athletic wear, more skirts. Started learning makeup, even though I'm terrible at it. Cut back on training because he said I was "getting too muscular."
But he's still not satisfied.
Something's always not good enough.
Something always needs improvement.
I stand in the middle of the training grounds, watching Caden and Cole's backs disappear in the distance.
Cole glances back at me, gives me an apologetic smile.
Then they're both gone.
I look down at the water bottle in my hand, and all I feel is bitter.
