THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 58 - TRAINING

MARIA

I started training with Lucas. It was harder than I thought. Nova and I were not in sync and Lucas' presence distracted Nova a lot. But if he was going to be on the battlefield, Nova had to get used to him.

-Harder, you are not keeping your ground! You need a hard stand!

Lucas pushed me and every time I went flying.

-I’m not even using my whole strength and I am not even close to being as strong as a wolf so you need to keep your ground!

I stood up and cleaned the mud from my face. I was tired of this. I wasn’t improving… I was slow when shifting, not as fast as I should be. Nova’s reactions were also slow and weak. I wasn’t doing how I thought I would. Before I didn’t think that the training was that hard but now, it is my personal hell.

-You are not focusing your attention or your energy!

-It's hard oaky! It's not that easy!

-It’s not easy because you are not doing it!

It’s not easy because Nova kept focusing on him and how he touched us… But he was ramming us and Nova in some way romanticizing it. So my energy was on controlling Nova's sad thoughts, so they didn’t pass on to me. And then again I was flying across the forest and hit a tree as I fell down. My body was sore and tired.

-Maybe if I train with wolves…

-How are you planning to confront a wolf if you can’t defeat a human?

He said with a mocking voice. I hate him! Nova was really focused on him, she didn't like wanting to be near him and stuff like that more like she said he was ours and claimed him… Still, a big distraction, and again I was flying across the forest.

-I wasn’t ready!

-In a fight, they are not waiting for you to be ready, stand up fast!

-I need a break, I’m out of breath.

And I wasn't lying. I held my breath every time he got close so his scent didn’t hit me as often as it could.

-You have 10 minutes.

He said. He was a cold teacher. I know we are not together but I was hoping for a bit of consideration since we are mates or something, but no.

-Ten minutes are gone, stand up.

-What? No, I have at least 3 more!

-You don’t come on!

-Please have a bit of consideration…

-I do, that’s why I'm telling you the 10 minutes are over instead of just attacking you without notice.

-Lucas I need…

He started running towards me. I jumped, grabbed his shoulders with my hands, and then I pushed myself up so I could have a better landing.

-I wasn’t ready!

-A fight doesn't wait for that!

We kept fighting like he kept attacking me and I tried to evade him but most of the time I couldn’t and ended up flying.

-That’s it for today. I need to go and train with the pack. Practice your jumps and get your legs in shape, they are shaking and we didn't even train for 3 hours.

He said and then left running. I fell to the ground and laid face down.

My body hurt like hell, it’s been days and the pain wasn’t going anywhere. “Want to practice shifting?” Nova said but my pain was so big, I didn't want more bones breaking into the mix. “Not now.” “Not now or not today?” “I don’t know Nova, I’m all sore I can't even lift myself up right now.” I finally got the courage to stand up and walk to the main house. I had many strange looks directed at me, but with my body full of mud and limping, it was expected. I crawled into my shower and took a long hot bath. I could see bruises all over my body, but the burning water made it feel more comfortable. I took a towel and crawled back to my bed. I looked to the empty bunk bed across the room and closed my eyes. I woke up and heard footsteps.

-Hotson is getting rougher at training, don’t you think?

-I think he is trying to compensate for the fact that Miller isn’t here and making us work even harder than before.

-But my body is so sore I'm not sure I would fight if we were attacked.

I heard a conversation of members passing by. So it was not just me, Lucas was indeed a heartless teacher pushing everyone to their limit. At least he isn’t making me suffer out of spite and it's just how he teaches. I closed my eyes again and fell asleep.

-Doctor Miller?

I heard knocks on the door.

-Doctor Miller?

“That's us, Maria! ¡Wake up!” I tried to open my eyes but chills of pain invaded my body.

-Yes…

-We need you at the clinic.

I sat on the bed, grabbed a pair of jeans and a shirt, put it on, and opened the door. One doctor was waiting for me.

-What happened?

-I’m not sure, they told me to bring you there…

I started running to the clinic. Is it Gabe? is he back? Was he hurt? I ran as fast as I could. I entered the clinic and saw Brittany with Eliot. I searched for wounds on them but they looked fine.

-What's wrong?

-Nothing dear, but can we talk?

Brittany said while pointing into a room. She entered there with Eliot and I followed them inside.

-I’m sorry dear, I didn't know you were not here, since you are always here I just asked for you. I never knew they would take you out of bed to bring you here.

-How do you know…

-Your hair talks by itself dear.

I saw myself in the reflection of the window and she was right I had a huge mess. I started to brush my hair with my fingers.

-But is everything okay? Are you or Eliot injured…

-No dear nothing like that.

I was getting anxious, she was the one calling me but she wasn’t saying anything. She just looked at the floor or the ceiling, at Eliot, but not at me.

-I’m really ashamed to ask you this but…

And she went silent again. Eliot took his mother’s hand.

-You know something about Eva?

Eva? I was surprised…

-Well she has done an amazing job in the kitchen…

-Right? She has grown so fast, and now she is participating with the pack and…

-Mom.

Eliot said to her and Brittany looked back at me.

-But what I want to know is how she has been for the past few days. Have you heard something about her? Kevin keeps telling me that if there is no news it’s good news but I can’t take it. She is my baby and I need to know she is fine.

-Why wouldn’t she be fine?

-I don’t know, I know Gabe went to check a pack that he thinks is the next target but I’m worried for Eva…

-She is used to Gabe leaving, in the city…

Well, that case didn’t end that well, she decided to follow him and then all the chaos started.

-I get your point, I will talk to her and calm her so she waits here patiently.

I said to Brittany with a smile so she could feel calmer.

-To wait here patiently? Oh my dear you don't know?

-I don’t know what?

-Eva went with Gabe.

-What? Yes, she left with him the day he left. They are both…

I exited the room and saw footmarks of mud all over the place.

-Who let in someone barefoot with mud on their feet here? We need to clean this fast!

No one said anything, they just lowered their heads, then I saw Brittany leaving the room.

-Those are your dear, you are not wearing any shoes… Do you feel alright? Maybe a doctor can check up on you?

I looked down and indeed I wasn’t wearing any shoes and my feet were full of mud and leaves. Great, I didn't need Brittany's condescendence.

-Just clean this up, please.

I said as I left the place. I ran into the training field and there he was.

-Why didn’t you tell me?

-Your training is later.

-I’m not talking about that!

He wasn’t even looking at me, he kept his eyes on the members sparring with each other. “He is not even looking at us.” Nova wasn’t happy about not having his attention. Then we would have to make him look at us. I felt heat spreading through my body and my pain started to disappear. “Now!” Nova said while Lucas screamed to a member. I ran and tackled him. We rolled on the floor until he pushed me off and got up.

-What’s wrong with you?

He said.

-With me? How you didn’t tell me Eva went with Gabe! I was too weak and a burden but she was okay?

-It was his decision.

-And you just forgot to mention? Why did Eva go?

-Gabe thought she was stronger…

-Eva? I used to kick her ass at training!

-You said it, you used to, now you can’t even handle a human.

Members stopped their training and were approaching Lucas.

-Stay back, I can handle it.

-You are going to regret that!

I said as I ran at him, He evaded me but I could scratch his lower back. He touched it and then he saw the blood.

-Finally, you are fighting.

He said while he launched at me. I jumped and evaded the attack and scratched his forehead.

-So how is Eva better than me?

-She would have me already under her paw, and not just with some scratches.

I hissed at him and ran at him. He started avoiding my attacks and now he was being extra careful with my hands. I couldn’t even touch him. He was still bleeding but he was moving as if nothing happened.

-Stay still then!

I ran again at him and when he jumped I pushed myself off and grabbed his leg. He landed on the ground and I was on top of him, before I could subdue him he grabbed my hair and pulled me to the ground. Then he lifted me from my hair and suddenly my feet left the ground. I tried to scratch him but he was taller than me. I tried to scratch his hand but he moved it and I just swung in the air. He had me by my hair and I couldn’t free myself.

-This is why he didn’t want to go. You are impulsive and still, need training.

I could feel the eyes of the members on me. I couldn’t free myself… I tried to scratch him but he pulled my hair harder. I raised my claws again.

-You can’t scratch me, I will just swing you again.

-I wasn’t aiming at you!

I said as I ripped the hair off my head with my claws. He then suddenly let me go and had a shocked face. I wasn’t going to lose this fight. Then I heard a commotion. I turned and saw the members looking at the main house. I saw uncle Chris running inside.

-Wasn’t Chris with Gabe?

Lucas said out loud but more like to himself.

-What Uncle Chris also went with Gabe?

I said while I tried to understand what was happening.

-Yes, Gabe took him and the twins to…

He stopped talking as soon as I saw the twins walking. They had bandages all over their bodies. I ran at them followed by Lucas

-What happened where is my brother?

They both looked away from me while lowering their heads. “WHY ARE THEY NOT ANSWERING?” Then I saw Eva, she had just one bandage, she saw me and ran to hug me while she cried. What the hell happened out there?