Lycan’s Kiss — Bending not breaking

Diversion

Elodie

“You’ve got this.”, Blanca’s voice sounds as raspy (and a little nasally) as ever. When I learned she was deaf, I didn’t believe them. I… don’t know what I expected a deaf person to act like. Stupid, I know. But they convinced me by showing me her cochlea implants. She always hid them in her hair so that they weren’t obvious. And thanks to technology taking a big step forward, the digital signal processor and the wire connecting to the coil that transmits the signal through the skin were so tiny you could mistake them for a stray strand of hair and a bigger mole around the top of the ear.

The fact that the speaker is on and I can hear quiet wiring over the line reminds me that Blanca no longer has those. They’re using the app I downloaded that one of my brother's firms has been working on for a few years. It takes what is said on the call and puts it into text on the screen… hands the speaker phone. It’s been about a year now. Both of them left to help Blanca’s sister… with what they wouldn’t tell me. And when Noor called, and I went out to Boston to see them, she was in bad shape and in a medically induced coma. Almost all her ribs were broken, she had severe brain swelling, and her left leg and right hand were completely smashed. And someone had taken a hammer to her implants. Even after the tissue was healed, it wasn’t possible to fit her for a new one. Neither of them told me what happened, but Noor left a few times to ‘take care’ of someone. They behaved oddly, but then again, they did even before that.

The two of them are a unit, and yes, we are close, but they have been friends since they were ten and grew up together. And after building a business together in New Orleans, I wouldn’t be surprised if they did the same here. They might be young, younger than me even, but both know how to take care of themselves. I felt sorry for not being able to use the cochlea, though… that hit them hard. Even tried my healing powers when I thought they weren’t paying attention. They somehow knew I was a wolf…but it never mattered or came up afterward unless I wanted it to. Blanca and Noor know a lot about ‘my world,’ and I never got a clear answer as to why. Apart from Blanca saying it was due to ‘family relations’ that she knew about wolves.

And now that I think about it, her eyes….Tray..they do look alike, don’t they? Shaking my head, I focus on the conversation and the various sounds in the background on the other side of the line.

Because now, it’s back to basics with stomping, clapping, waving to get Blanca’s attention. And you can hear most of that, apart from maybe the signing. I’m about to answer when I hear a giggle that doesn’t sound like any of them.

“W-Was that a baby?”

“Uhm…yes.", Noor says slowly while I hear steps retreat and then Blanca cooing at someone. “It’s a long story, and we’ll tell it another time.”

Secretive as always. Why the f**k do they have a baby with them? I rub my fingers over the bridge of my nose. If I have learned one thing during my time with them, it’s that they would do anything for each other and whoever they come across who needs help. Like me. But there will always be things they will not tell you. And I don’t know if I like that part of our friendship. I already keep too many secrets, and they are the only two people I haven’t been hiding from in those past few years.

“OK,” I say slowly. Not like I can do anything about it. I have no idea where they are staying at the moment. After the situation in Boston, I returned to New Orleans, where I had taken over their lease for six more months and they….went on their merry way. We stayed in touch like this, but they never came back.

“Back to the a**hole.”, Noor says matter-of-factly.

“No man can make you feel like less unless you let him. Don’t do that. Show him what you can do, and don’t back down when he’s given you sh**. Not criticism. That’s necessary. But petty bullsh**? Na, don’t take that, sister.”

I smile to myself. “I know.”

“I usually support your ‘Taking the high road’ and killing them with kindness thing, but that doesn’t seem to work here. Time to bring out your tough….Do you think you can do that?” And the change in her tone of voice warms my heart. Noor, of all people, understands what it’s like to live up to the expectations of people around you.

“I think so.”

“You are allowed to react, you know? Just because some people have known a different side of you doesn’t mean you now have to hold your breath and not be who you are, say what you want to say.” Blanca’s voice is now closer to the phone while someone rattles a toy rather loudly. “I understand doing that to protect your family from seeing you like this …even though there is really no ‘this’ to see…. But someone you don’t care about, hell you don’t even like? Kick his a** and be done with it. Three months. Then you can go back to the way it was.”

I sigh.

“Yeah, I’m not sure I want that. Even though the colonel is a d**k, I actually like it here. And if I could do my job…here…. This would be perfect.”

“Then fight for it.”

And I can basically hear the teeth grinding. Both of them never had it easy. In that, we are very different. Maybe that's why the colonel's comment got to me. Because I was fortuned growing up. Yes, I worked hard, but I had the respect of my peers without any effort due to my standing. I had parents and an extended family supporting anything I wanted to do…and I went to excellent schools. I didn’t get my accomplishments gifted, but I had a warm and comfortable nest to take flight out of and aim high. My friend never had that.

“I will.”

“Our work here is done!” I hear Noor laugh at Blanca’s pleased tone, and I have to smile myself.

“Thank you guys…and take care. Maybe one of these days, you tell me where you go, the baby?”

“Maybe.”

“You take care too.”

Talking over each other like usual.

But when the call clicks off, I do feel better. I can do this. I have to. He will not get this win. And like they said: why would I have to pretend to be less b**chy around him? The colonel is the last person I want to think of me as pleasant. I want his respect and that he lets me do my job. So, since my usual ‘old’ Elodie act hasn’t gotten me anywhere near that and will only give me a stomach ulcer with all the suppressed rage, I think I will go with a different approach.

::::::::::::

Squinting my eyes against the sun, I take in my opponent. Goddess, that guy is enormous! His dimensions are similar to my soon-to-be brother-in-law’s, but Nael is charming and more than just a little good-looking. Wes Henson looks like someone drew a face on a lump of minced meat and glued it onto a slap of marble. See, old Elodie would never say stuff like that. She would look for the one good thing about him…like…his eyes are very symmetrical, or his nostrils are the best size for his face. Truth is, he is as ugly on the outside as he is mean, dumb and ill-spirited on the inside. And believe me… I had a chance to talk to him…at length. Thought I should try to get to know my ‘partner’. He was more engaged with my cleavage than with our conversation. When he finally did open his mouth, I just smiled painfully and wished for him just to close it again right away.

Wait a minute, that gives me an idea. And I can’t help the smile that spreads on my face.

“Ready.”

I look at the colonel, his hands behind his back, stepping up next to me. I suppress the urge to punch him and just roll my eyes.

“Yes, I am.”

“I like the confidence. Try to fall on the grass. It’s softer. Don’t want a lawsuit on our hands, huh.”

Before I can even retort something, he’s gone. F**king a**wipe. He led the drill this morning, and now everyone has assembled in the area dedicated to one-on-one combat training. Most of it is just lined with thick grass and this bouncy stuff they use to line playgrounds. But there is a bigger space in the middle fitted with mats. They use it to demonstrate certain moves and later on for the actual one-on-ones before the end of basic training.

So far, we have been going through the motions with endurance, strength, and agility exercises, and it’s kind of thrilling to see what everybody will be like when it comes to actual fighting. I never thought of it that way before Jordan died… or before I met my badass friends. They showed me just how freeing it can sometimes be to channel your frustration, fear, anger, helplessness…all of it, into a good one-on-one. And I did nothing else for the whole year I stayed with them

Under Blanca’s guidance, I finally found what I was good at, what I maybe shouldn’t attempt, and I understood why both my siblings love this so much. It sounds completely insane, but they are not good at expressing their feelings. They either have a hard time finding the right words and struggle with the fear of being judged due to past experiences (Maeve), or they simply don’t see why they should share personal details with the world, which would only make them vulnerable (Theo). So I guess all the Hartgrave triplets have reached the ‘emotionally scarred and handicapped’ stage. Although Maeve has outgrown that slowly over the last few years, I‘m happy for her… my brother, and me then. Fine as well.

“Goddess, that guy is massive. Want me to ‘accidentally’ knock you out so you can get out of this?”

Cansu has come up next to me in the spot the colonel just left, Brooke, her sparing partner appearing shortly after.

“Hmmm, no thanks. It’s just the first match, and then we’ll be switching around anyway… so I’ll take my chance. Plus, I’m not as dainty as I look.”

“You might have a pretty face, but you got a six-pack, my love. You don’t exactly scream ‘dainty’ to me. I have a feeling the colonel hasn’t noticed that yet.”

I grin at them wildly.

“Psst. Don’t tell, but I catch and wrestle grizzlies in my free time. Fun hobby.”

They both laugh, Cansu kisses my cheek, and they pick a spot somewhere close to oaf and me.

“Done with the girl talk? Can we fight now?”

Jesus Christ, his voice is like nails on a chalkboard. Ugh.

“Sure. Let’s roll.”

Henson scoffs and takes a fighting stance across from me. I see everyone around us to the same, and then there is a whistle blown somewhere close, and Gamma Archer and Beta A**wipe are starting to circle.

My hulking opponent huffs and puffs like a bull in the arena, and I wait for him to start scraping one of his feet over the ground. I have watched him during the training sessions over the last two weeks, and I’m faster than he is. So that’s something I can use. He’s a lot stronger than me, though, so getting close enough for him to hit me or get me in any kind of ‘lock’ would be bad.

Oh, and I got what Blanca and Noor taught me… no shame in using what you have at hand. So I tuck on the zipper at the front of my sports bra. It’s decorative, so it doesn’t move an inch, but it sure catches Henson's attention, and he slows a little, his jaw going slack for a second. Forgets all about getting to me first. Tss, some men are so simple.

He doesn’t even notice that I came closer until it’s too late. My fist juts out, and I punch his Adam’s apple as hard as possible. Stumbling back and wheezing, he swings blindly a few times, and I evade his punches. Feeling the air move close to my face a few times. Then, bending, I swipe at his right leg before he can collect himself, pushing him back with a well-placed punch to his massive shoulder. But at the last moment, he grabs my waist, pulling me down with him. Damn it.

Instead of trying to get away, I only push up a little to get my knees into the ground to either side of him. The second I feel his hands tighten on me trying to roll us over with bruising force, squeezing hard, I plant my knees in as hard as I can and raise my arms, elbows first. Can’t let him get a hold of them, but he’s busy elsewhere anyway.

I let one of my elbows come down on his face aiming for his nose right when we are already tilting to the left. There’s a crack, blood bursting out, and I see tears well up, just in time. His hands loosen a little. So I do it again. One more to the nose with the elbow, a closed fist punch to the jaw, and bending forward. I get a hard punch to the side. Basically rubbing my boobs in his marred face, I jerk up off him and rammed my knee into his liver. He groans, and I’m on my feet next to him a second later. Ready to kick him again should he try to get up, which he doesn’t. I can feel the pleased smile starting to spread on my face.

When I look up, I see most of the others are still engaged in their one-on-one, Brooke giving Cansu a run for her money. That girl moves like a dancer. She’s not the strongest, but she’s faster than I have ever seen anyone.

Then I meet the gaze of the two people judging today, and while Gamma Archer looks pleased, a small smile playing around his mouth, the colonel glares at me.

And sure enough, a second later, he comes stomping over. I suppress the eye roll, my chest still heaving, trying to catch my breath. Henson is slowly collecting himself on the ground. Sitting up and spitting out some blood.

“You won’t be able to pull that first move on everyone.”, the resident a**wipe says, throwing my wheezing opponent a disgusted look. A little intense but OK.

“What move?” And my innocent tone gets him where I want him.

“Please, did you think I didn’t see you fumbling with your clothes? Seduction might work on idiots like Henson, but that’s about it.”, he scoffs.

“I think the more interesting question is why you were looking at my boobs in the first place.” I throw him a challenging look, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Oh, don’t flatter yourself. I’ve seen better.”

I let out a laugh. “Seriously, that’s what you're going with? Pathetic.”

“Watch your tone.” The menacing growl is meant to shut me up, but it has the opposite effect on me.

“Or what? Are you going to humiliate me in front of the others? Make me do stupid chores and do extra push-ups for no good reason? Or are you going to pair me with an even bigger piece of man meat in the hopes he will crush every bone in my body the first chance he gets? Huh, what then?!!”

I took a step toward him while talking, and I swear I see his eyes widen for a millisecond. But he collects himself so fast I’m not sure my mind’s not playing tricks on me.

“Those are serious accusations. I have treated you like every other recruit. It’s not on me that you can’t keep up and try to push the blame on others. Your technique was alright, but your method to gain the upper hand was low. So no. That doesn’t earn you points in my book.”

The colonel takes a threatening step toward me.

“The chores are not stupid. They are necessary. The push-ups might build your character, even though I’m not sure you have one,… all this smiling surely makes you look a little…vapid. And there will not be another ‘piece of man meat.”

I glare at him, not even thinking about taking a step back. I’ve really had about enough of him.

“You have treated me nothing like the other recruits. In fact, you treat them worse because of some problem you have with me.” I can see others slow their fights to listen to our hissed conversation, although I’m sure they can’t really hear anything.

“I take full responsibility when I have made a mistake. But I have taken your criticisms without complaining, even the completely absurd ones, for weeks. I thought: ‘be a good sport. Your colleagues, you guys have to get along. He might just need a little time to get used to the idea.’….” I scoff.

“Yeah, I’m done with that.”

By now, we are chest to chest, his earthy scent wafting my way.

“My ‘method’ wasn’t low. It’s called a diversion. I could as well have started to whistle, ‘The wheels on the bus go ‘round and ‘round. It would have had the same effect.”

Beta Sharp lets out a humorless laugh.

“Goddess, it must be nice to be so sure of yourself for no good reason.”

“It is. But you obviously are the expert on that.”

I cross my arms in front of my chest again to fight the urge to slap him. He scoffs again, and then it’s quiet for a minute. No emotion is visible on his face, and I have no idea what he’s thinking. But after two more minutes of our staring contest, I’ve had about enough.

“Is there a poi—

“Take position. I’m your next opponent.”

Then, taking off his shirt and throwing it to the ground, he takes a few steps back to give me space to get into a fighting stance.

I scoff. “Why would I do that? You just want to feed your male ego.”

“Well, if you don’t do terrible, I will forget the subordination I saw today, and you won’t be kicked out for insulting the second in command.”

And the almost smirk kind of makes him look even grimmer than when he wasn’t smiling.

I think about it for a second, then taking my place, I look up at him again. The sunlight reflecting of his prosthetics is almost too bright. Talk about a diversion.

“I’ll do it if you let me teach one lesson.”

Snorting, he shakes his head. “One lesson. If I do well.”

I won’t budge on that. F**k him.

An evil gleam passes over his face.

“OK”

I get a second to straighten before the Beta leaps into action. F**k, he’s fast. His fist connects to my jaw before I can even lift my hand to protect my face. I take a step back and manage to evade his next body hit. Keeping my hands high, I try and look for an opening. But there is none. He keeps his arms tight to his body, and any time I think I might get a chance at getting him off his feet, they jut out, and I have to jump to one side or the other not to be kicked. Sweat starts running down my temple.

“What’s wrong, doc? No diversion for me?”, he pants. And my vision turns a little red with anger. The next time he aims for me, I duck under his arm and slam myself into his body and manage to knock him off his feet—both of us falling to the ground. But of course, I get only one or two good hits in before he punches me in the gut hard and almost manages to roll us over. I let my knee jerk up since it ended up between his legs. All the air leaves him, and I see him clench his teeth, nostrils flared. Using my chance of having him immobile for a second, I try and push up, giving him another good punch to the jaw. I spring to my feet, wiping my mouth and lifting my hands. Got to be fair. He gets up faster than I thought possible.

“Hmm. Not bad. More force next time.”

I just bare my teeth at him. Then, taking off toward him, I push off the ground far enough off to be out of reach of his hands, getting ready to do a flip. Aiming for his neck, I grab on to it, but my flight is slowed down by him grabbing my upper arms. We crash to the ground, the air being pushed out of my lungs. My vision dots and I feel a bit of bile rise in my throat. He’s over me in a heartbeat, pinning me with a leg to each thigh, my hands over my head.

Beta Sharp’s breath is fanning my face, just as erratic as mine, coming out in pants. At least I gave him a little bit of a challenge. My eyes wander over his face, and I’m surprised to see how long his lashes are. And his jaw is chiseled, isn’t it? Are there exercises for that? Maybe it’s all the ‘jaw clenching’ he does. I inwardly shake my head. What’s wrong with me? I—-

Suddenly his eyes change color. The gold swirling with little flecks of orange in it is mesmerizing. And the Beta’s face is almost relaxed for a moment, something resembling a sultry smile tugging on the sides of his mouth.

It’s gone as instantly as it appeared. Looking down at me coldly is the same d**k I saw there the last two weeks.

“Looks like you’re still not going to teach. But I will give you a ‘D’ for effort and dismiss the charges for insulting the second in command.”

I glare at him. That’s when I realize he’s still holding my hands pinned to the ground over my head and he feels uncomfortably close all of a sudden.

“Get off me!!”, I hiss through clenched teeth.

Scoffing, he jumps up, and the a**hole he is, he doesn’t even offer me a hand to get up. My wrists are burning where he held them, and I brush dirt off my leggings and back. Since a few people around us stopped to watch, I hear him yell for them to ‘get back to work.’

When I turn to Henson, I see him throw me an almost respectful look. Well, I didn’t get the d**khead to respect me... at least I don't think so... but I got to blow off some steam and scared the meatball a little.

Take the small wins, I guess.