Lessons in Love

Chapter 33: Training Day

POV: Riley Campbell

“Nothing that helps us.” He said and took a bite of his sandwich. “I did see Dr. Wilder coming from Marcus’s suite when I was coming out of dad’s office. I’m going to the hospital after lunch to have a chat with him.”

“That man is a weasel.” Claire said firmly. Ben and I both looked at her to explain. “He’s terrified of your father. He treated me for years. Whatever your father asked of him, he did it.” Claire shuddered.

Ben put his sandwich down and wiped his hands. “I think I’ll have that word with him now.” He growled and started to get up.

Claire grabbed his arm quickly, fear filling her hazel eyes. “Don’t do anything that’s going to tip your hand, Ben. He’s loyal to your father. Always has been.”

Ben nodded and headed out of the room. I didn’t see Ben for the rest of the afternoon, but I felt it when he talked to the doctor. At least, that’s what I assume had him billowing with rage.

Class ended, and my five trainees hung back, waiting for the school to empty. They were in the change room when Ben came back in.

“How’d it go?” I asked.

“He’s scared. Whatever is going on in that suite, he’s scared for his life.” Ben said quietly to Claire and me.

“He’s mated.” Claire said. “He might be your father’s man, but knowing your father, George has threatened him. There’s no faster way to a man’s loyalty than threatening his mate.” She said. “George has always said so.”

“So, what do we do?” I asked.

“We,” Ben used air quotes. “Aren’t doing anything. I’m going to talk to Rick tonight and see if we can’t arrange for the good doctor to have a family emergency. Him and his wife will be sent to live with one of their children, away from us and away from George in exchange for the truth.” Ben said firmly.

“That’s a good plan.” I said, trying not to be offended by his tone.

Ben raked his hand through his hair, and the corner of my mouth twitched upward. “I’m sorry,” he said gently. “I’m not trying to offend you. It’s pack business, and right now, you need to maintain your position as an outsider. Just until the time is right.”

“I know,” I smiled. “It’s going to be okay.” The change room doors opened, and the girls filed out. “Gather around, ladies,” I called out to them. “Luna Claire is going to go over a few basics of needlepoint with you today.”

“I thought we were training.” Shawna said, her words dripping with attitude.

“We are.” I smiled. “But first, we need to learn how to hide the fact that we’re training. Everyone, please take a spot over there.” I pointed to Claire’s set up on the far side of the gym. Shawna was the first to sit and attentively waited Claire’s instructions. It made me smile. Shawna was eager to prove herself. I was being just like her as a kid.

We did a few drills. Ben played our spot-checker. He even got the girls laughing with a ridiculous impersonation of his father patronizing us. Once the physical training began, I was not surprised to find Shawna excelling. It was clear she’d been given some training before. She had a brute force technique that was indicative of second-hand training. Still, it put her miles ahead of the other girls.

She picked up the more finessed moves I showed her quickly and was helpful in showing the other girls when they struggled. Lisa and May were both very coordinated. They too caught on quickly but lacked the strength training to put much fight behind the moves. Katie and Kelsey weren’t strong or coordinated, but they wanted to learn. They pushed through each exercise, taking advice from Shawna and I as they went.

As our time wrapped up, I gathered them up in a circle in the middle of the gym. “Before we finish up today, I want to spend a few minutes on an old training exercise I was taught. I always found it helpful, and I think it would be good for all of you to learn as well. Beta, Luna, you should join us.” I motioned to them.

“Oh, I don’t know anything about fighting.” Claire waved us off with a blush.

“Come on, Luna.” Shawna encouraged her. The other girls all chimed in, calling her over and waving at her to join the circle. Claire looked at Ben as if asking for permission. Ben just smiled at her and shrugged. Claire straightened her shoulders and slowly joined the girls. Ben stepped forward and joined as well.

“Why do we growl?” I asked.

“It’s a defense mechanism. A warning to stay away from us.” Shawna said confidently.

“Good, why else?” I encouraged them.

“Out of anger or frustration?” Katie phrased hers like a question.

“That’s also correct.”

“Fear.” Kelsey said shyly.

“Good,” I smiled. “Growling can help you expel your emotions and control the strength and speed you use your aura. We’re not going to worry too much about connecting with our auras today. What I want you to do is close your eyes and think of something that has made you upset. Could be anger, fear, frustration, sadness, hurt, or anything you want to push out of you.” I said as I walked around the center of the circle. One by one, their expressions changed as they visualized their emotion.

“Open your eyes.” I told them. I stopped in front of Claire. She looked nervous. I wondered if she’d be able to give us much of growl. That was why I chose her first, instead of going after one of the others. “Luna Claire, would you like to give it a try?”

Claire blushed. “It’s been a long time since I’ve growled like you’re talking about.” She said, a little flustered. I felt Ben glaring at me for putting her on the spot.

“No one will judge you.” I said firmly. “You’re safe here.” I said and felt a wave of something that felt dangerously like love wash through me from Ben.

“Okay,” Claire straightened her back, took a step forward, and let out a quiet growl. It was what I expected from her. It was timid, shy even, but it had some vibrato to it, and I knew she could growl a lot better than that if she wanted to.

“Would you like to share what you were venting with that growl?” I asked.

“I think it’s unfair we have to hide away in here to train.” She said firmly.

I smiled at Claire before turning to Katie. “What about you?”

Katie let out a sturdy growl. A hint of her aura slid out on the growl, but only enough that I felt it standing in front of her. “That I was not as good as the others during the drills today.”

“We’ll keep practicing. Just believe you can get there, and you will.” I gave her a smile. I moved on to May, Kelsey, and Lisa. May made Claire laugh when she said her very long growl was because she kept stabbing herself on the needlepoint.

“Shawna, would you like to try it with a bit of your aura?” I asked. Shawna beamed at the opportunity. She took a step forward, breathed in deeply, and growled viciously. Her aura pushed against me. Not enough to hurt or scare me, but just enough that I could feel pressure in my chest from it. All the girls applauded. I was impressed, too, but I didn’t want her to get ahead of herself.

“We’ll keep working on it. Very good for today.” I smiled.

I turned to Ben, who was staring firmly at his feet. I felt his fear. He didn’t want his aura to blow out and knock them all over. He’d controlled it last night. I believed he could again. Claire seemed to notice his demeanor and stepped forward.

“Would you mind if I took another turn?” She asked. “I think I can do much better, now that I understand the exercise a bit more.” She looked around the circle at the girls. They were all nodding and smiling. Claire looked over her shoulder at Ben and then looked back at me. Both of us nodded to her.

She gripped her hands tightly together for a moment before dropping them to her sides and letting out a growl so loud and so violent that all of us took a step back. Her aura was weak, but she controlled it as well or better than I could. It touched us all in the circle, and we all shuddered at the feel of it.

There was a beat of silence as the shock settled and wore off the group. The girls went wild! They were cheering and patting her on the back, talking a mile a minute about how awesome that was.

“Well,” she blushed deeply. “I feel wonderful now.” She looked at Ben and patted his arm. “It’s your turn, dear.” She challenged.

“Luna just called you out!” Shawna teased. The other girls all giggled.

“Come on, Beta Ben, you can do it.” May was the lone voice of encouragement.

Ben was blushing as he stepped forward. I waved at the girls to quiet down. “When you’re ready.” I said to Ben. He closed his eyes a moment and leveled a low warning growl. It was the kind that promised a slow, painful death, I thought. He opened his eyes and looked at me as his aura circled him and I in a rush. It felt warm and comforting despite the sound of his growling.

He raised the level of his growl and pushed his aura out slightly, just enough to reach the girls, but not enough to engulf them in it before drawing it all back in.

I saw Shawna shudder behind him. “That was intense.” She whispered.

“Well,” Ben cleared his throat and ran his hand through his hair as an excuse to break eye contact. “I believe that makes it your turn, Ms. Campbell.” He stepped back.

I looked around the circle. All the girls watched me expectantly. I smiled at them and closed my eyes to focus. I focused on Ben. I focused on the feel of his hand beneath mine last night, the way it felt when I admitted I wanted our bond to be real. I thought about how I felt when I was close to him. Then I thought about George. How George has hurt Ben, and how he could in the future. I growled with such intent, I nearly startled myself with the sound of it. I let my aura out. All of them, except Ben, took a step back when it hit them.

“That …” Shawna was stunned. “That was more intense than the Beta’s.” She whispered. She looked at me like she was trying to calculate how that could be possible. “What were you thinking about?” She asked.

“Someone keeps hurting this friend of mine. I haven’t figured out how we stop them yet.” I said, the growl in my voice still present.

“Ms. Campbell,” Shawna had a slow smile creep across her face. “I would hate to be the person who hurt your friend.”