Returning Home

Chapter 01 - Up Before the Birds

POV - Felix

I let the cold rain run through my hair and down my face. My clothes have become soaked and I can feel my toes squishing through my damp socks. The moon lights my path as it has every other night when I come to train in the arena. Most of the pack are asleep and resting and those who are awake are patrolling the boarder so I am alone, for now, and free to burn the anger that resides below my surface.

After catching my breath and letting the rain cool me off I secure my ear buds and pull out my phone to play some music. I feel myself slipping into the beat as I slam the green button to start the automated training simulation. The machines clacking slows I take a deep breath and I wait for the first motion. The simulation is programmed to vary each time and is intended to be done in wolf form or by those with heightened senses but my wolf, Ferra, despite introducing herself to me early refuses to be known by others. So I train in human form trying to only use and hone in my human senses blocking back anything which may appare 'wolfish'.

Most wolves make themselves known through their humans aura around 16 and then shift at 18 for the first time, allowing most wolves to start sensing their mates and train using their heightened senses from 16 onward. Ferra however is committed to the bit and wants me to be too, she gives me access to our senses but asks me to avoid using them, that is other than our ability to scent things which we are typically just born with. She has told me that she will not come forward for my 18th birthday which is tomorrow, or well today. I will have to continue getting up at while it's still dark and train on my own untill she decides it is time. It is so f*****g frustrating, it bubbles over every once and a while. But now it the time to let it out.

"Breathe Felix." Ferra said pulling my out of my thoughts and back into the training.

Breathe...

I see movement for the corner of my eye at the back of the simulation and pull my bow from over my shoulders and start running through the obstacle course. Using my free hand I pull myself up the wall perching on top and grab a bow from my quiver lining it up with one deep breath and letting it fly. I know it will land but I also know better than to wait. After the first kill in the sim it speeds up and keeps gaining pace as it wears on. 4 wolves suddenly appear same holographic type as the first and run for me as i jump down the obstacle. I quickly place the bow back over my back and lean down to my boots pulling 2 throwing knives before grabbing my sword from its sheeth for the next two 'enemies'.

After more of the same honing in my human senses and perfecting my acrobatics and weaponry I see something new flying toward me. This is the fastest hologram I have ever seen in this sim and it seems to be in a human form. I catch a glimpse of it's red eyes and click that they have added vampires. I raise my sword unsure if my skills will allow me to be fast enough to pull this off. I heave in a deep breath and finally let it go as i sever the vampires imaginary hear from its body.

I could smell the pine forest scent of my brother and turn to face him showing him I'm done with a bow. He give a big grin which glows with pride eventually wearing away to pity. He often comes to watch me train. He is the only one of those who know who actually care to see my progress.

"Felix" I hear my brother yell as I remove my ear pods and run up to turn off my music. "great work little one, we updated the simulation yesterday it's been great seeing people panic over the change from wolves. You did well." he gave me a warm smile with a bit of pitty remaining behind his eyes. He is to be the new pack beta in the coming years replacing our father in the role. He is also one of the only three people who know about this training. Amelia and Alpha Axel my childhood friends are also aware. Regardless of the Alpha and the Beta being aware of my skills they all think it is to dangerous to train with the others with heightened senses and their wolves present. Despite not having my wolf (or at least as far as they are aware) I have spent all my time training my senses to be close if not on par with most wolves since Ferra told me she would not be coming forward and requested me to hold back on using my wolf senses.

"Thank you Jake. Maybe we can train together some time soon?" I puffed out as I smiled up at him regaining may breathe and composure.

"Perhaps" he laughed with the same pity as before "you better be planning to shower before your big birthday breakfast! There is no way I am going to sit at a table with your sweat blocking up my nose." he said as he pushed my back toward the pack house.

"Yeah, yeah. I know your sensitive little wolfy nose must be absolutely tortured" I gave a fake look of sorrow with a slight pout as I walked into the pack house towards the showers.

Though my dad Beta Andrew Ried is still alive he has never been much of a dad to me. Once my mother died he found a chosen mate and spent all his time with Jake and Dee, my step sister, along with his new mate Katherine. Andrew and Jake looked quite similar with tan skin, large muscled 6 foot 4 builds, deep green eyes and chocolate brown hair to top it off. Jake is really a clone of our dad in many ways. I sport blue eyes, blonde almost white hair and though I am not short I am lean but with wide hips and strong thighs (or thunder thighs depending on the person you ask) and about 5 foot 6 which isn't really tall by wolf standards more average. Kate and Dee are both 5 foot 10 with lighter green eyes and more of a golden blonde hair. They all have their tan skin and that may be the one thing I share with them but mine is more of an olive complexion so even then I still don't quite match.

They look like a family and with my brother being the soon to be Beta and both he and my step sister being over 18 with magnificent wolves I really am the mark in our family portfolio. But I know I look just like my mum. She was from another pack an alphas daughter and she and my father were fated mates so she gave up her life to come here only to pass during my birth. 'Luckily' my father's highschool sweetheart Kate was ready to take her place.

Not that my brother or father truly know how Dee and Kate have tormented me but I can't help but feel they would not care. They knew I was excluded to the point I had been living in the community portion of our pack house instead of their home for the last 4 years despite the fact the beta house had more than enough space. I'm unsure if they think this is what I want or if Kate convinced them it was for the best but here I am.

I wandered into the communal shower space setting myself up in a cubical and taking out my hair tie. I removed my docs from training and ran them under the shower to get out the mud and stinky water. I took off my training bra and sports leggings and moved under the hot water. One major benefit of being excluded from the group training was the hot showers. No competition for hot water at 7am. That is why I get up before the birds while the moons is able to guide me to train every day.

I heard some rustling from outside the cubical and could smell Amelia's fresh daisy sent woft over me. I knew that girl was up to something she's never up at this time but she knows my routine. I decided it would be safer to turn off the shower and wrap my towel around me and a second towel on top of my head. As I gathered my dirty clothes and shower caddy i stepped up the curtain pulling it back.