I braided my hair to keep loose auburn strands from clinging to my sweat-slick neck and shoulders. The makeshift gym had become a second home this last month spent training tirelessly with Natasha and the others. Sore muscles protested but I basked in the glow of hard earned progress nonetheless.
"Not bad today, Cross."
I grinned at Natasha's backhanded praise, accepting the towel she tossed my way. Coming from the formidable she-wolf, I'd take what I could get.
"Don't get cocky yet though," she warned, emerald eyes glinting as she sank gracefully cross-legged onto a mat. "You've only tasted the shallow waters of what I can teach."
The other girls groaned exaggeratedly, having endured Natasha's rigorous coaching the longest, but I simply dipped my head in readiness.
Ashley sidled up
