Chapter two: Unattainable
873 Words
The morning sun streamed through the cabin window, waking Claire with its warm glow. She stretched, muscles sore from yesterday’s training, but it was a good kind of ache—the kind that reminded her she was one step closer to becoming one of the pack’s elite warriors.
Today was like any other, or so she told herself.
Her 18th birthday was only a day away, and the thought had been gnawing at the edges of her mind since she opened her eyes. She groaned, swinging her legs out of bed.
“No time for overthinking,” she muttered to herself as she pulled on her training gear—a simple black tank top and leggings that allowed her full range of motion. She twisted her hair into a messy bun and laced up her boots before heading out the door.
---
The training grounds were already buzzing with activity. Warriors of all ranks sparred, ran drills, and honed their skills. Claire jogged to the weapon rack and grabbed a set of throwing knives. She didn’t need anyone’s permission to practice; she thrived on independence and determination.
“Hey, Claire!” a familiar voice called.
She turned to see Sarah, already sweaty from a round of sparring.
“You’re late.” Sarah grinned, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand.
“Or you’re just early,” Claire shot back, smirking.
They practiced together for an hour, throwing punches, dodging attacks, and laughing whenever one of them landed in the dirt. But even as Claire lost herself in the rhythm of training, her senses prickled—like the air had shifted.
She felt him before she saw him.
Evan.
He stood on the far edge of the training grounds, speaking with the Beta and a few other high-ranking warriors. His presence was magnetic, a gravity that pulled every gaze toward him. Claire wasn’t immune, though she tried to act like she didn’t notice.
He wore a black t-shirt that clung to his broad chest and shoulders, his muscular arms crossed as he listened intently to whatever the Beta was saying. His dark hair looked perpetually tousled, like he’d just run his hands through it, and his jawline was so sharp it could cut steel.
Claire swallowed hard, focusing on the target in front of her. She gripped a knife, her knuckles whitening.
“Claire.”
Sarah’s voice snapped her back to reality.
“Huh?”
Sarah tilted her head, her lips quirking into a knowing smile. “I said, your aim’s off. Too distracted?”
Claire’s cheeks burned. “No, just… tired.”
“Uh-huh,” Sarah replied, clearly unconvinced. She followed Claire’s gaze toward Evan and smirked. “He does have that effect on people.”
Claire rolled her eyes, but her heart wasn’t in it. “It’s not like that.”
“Sure it’s not.” Sarah gave her a wink before jogging off to join another group.
---
The rest of the day passed in a blur of activity. Claire sparred with the senior warriors, earning both praise and bruises for her efforts. She helped with training younger pack members, showing them how to hold their ground and trust their instincts. Through it all, she felt the weight of Evan’s presence, even when he wasn’t near.
It was maddening.
By mid-afternoon, Claire took a break, sitting under the oak tree on the hill. From her vantage point, she could see the entire training field. She spotted Evan again, this time alone, observing the sparring pairs.
He was unattainable.
He wasn’t just her Alpha; he was *the Alpha*. Strong, composed, and untouchable in a way that made him seem almost unreal. Claire had spent years admiring him from afar, ever since he’d taken over the pack at the impossibly young age of 18.
But admiration was one thing. He wasn’t the kind of man who noticed someone like her.
Or so she thought.
---
Later that evening, as the pack gathered for dinner, Claire caught glimpses of Evan again. He sat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable as he listened to the council discuss territory disputes. His mere presence dominated the room, and yet Claire couldn’t help but notice the way his lips twitched slightly when someone made a joke, or how his dark eyes flickered over the pack like he carried the weight of everyone’s safety on his shoulders.
She quickly looked away when his gaze briefly swept in her direction, her stomach tightening.
“Stop staring,” Sarah whispered, nudging her under the table.
“I wasn’t,” Claire whispered back, though her voice lacked conviction.
“Right. And I’m the Moon Goddess herself,” Sarah teased.
---
By the time Claire returned to her cabin, the day’s exhaustion hit her like a freight train. She collapsed onto her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Unattainable. That’s what Evan was. He might as well have been carved out of stone, perfect and unreachable.
But somewhere deep inside, a tiny voice whispered, *What if he wasn’t?*
Claire shook her head, shutting her eyes tight. Tomorrow would bring her closer to the truth, to whatever fate had in store. But for now, all she could do was wait.
- Writer
