The Reincarnated Luna

Training

"Over here." Rowan called from across the gym floor. He was standing on a blue matt and was wearing the uniform just like everyone else. The black compression top stuck to his caramel skin and complimented his toned body. He threw me a pair of fingerless gloves which I nearly dropped since I hadn't been paying attention.

"Eye's on the prize Al. In here it might be all fun and games but out there it's life and death." Shocked I gulped. Sliding the gloves on I tried to calm myself while doing some warm-up stretches.

Everyone is looking at us.

"They haven't announced that you're the future Luna yet. The Alpha brings home a woman he finds in the Colonies and she starts changing things around the pack? Then you show up during their combat training with their head instructor? I'm sure they're just curious as to who you are." I silently thanked Selene for making me feel better.

I'd be suspicious if I was them too. Even more of a reason for me not to get my ass handed to me by Rowan.

"Let's limber up by doing some low lunges, and a tricep stretch." I followed his movements with ease and got low to the ground. After ten minutes or so of stretches we finally got into sparring stances.

"What is that?" He laughed motioning to my body.

"What?" I started to feel insecure.

"That stance. Your feet are too close together-" He walked towards me and kicked my feet apart then put his hands on my hips and turned me slightly. I held my breath as his warm fingers grazed the exposed skin of my stomach. Goosebumps erupted from his touch. "Your core needs to have a little more tension and your hands need to be a little lower." I let him adjust my stance as he wanted until he finally took a step back and stopped touching me.

"Is that better?" I felt awkward and laughed to myself.

"Yeah if you didn't look like a newly born deer." In seconds I was flat on my back coughing.

"Can you give me a warning?" I grunted getting back up and trying to move back into my stance. Everyone was still staring as my heart thrummed in my ears.

Come on get it together.

"I said eyes on the prize Al." A sharp jab hit my stomach making me double over. "This is not the reflexes you showed earlier when the ball almost crushed your skull." He threw another jab, I sidestepped that one but immediately was hit with another. Stumbling backward I clutched my ribs.

"That was life or death-" he swept my feet out from under me again, my head connecting with the matt.

"So you don't think avoiding injury is important?" He teased motioning for me to get up. I grunted and got back into my stance. "Eli had told me to be careful of your senses but seems like he didn't have a reason to be worried." I gritted my teeth.

"Are you just going to keep nitpicking or are you actually going to teach me?" He smirked, relaxing his stance for a millionth of a second. I didn't wait for him to react, nor did I wait for him to retaliate. I moved in fast on the offense going straight for his legs. I was centimeters away when my world tumbled and I was flipped over his shoulder. once again my back landed on the mat with a loud smack.

"Good job at detecting my opening, try to follow through next time." I stayed on my back staring at the ceiling listening to everyone else's punches land.

"That's all it takes to discourage you?" Rowan offered me his hand and the only reason I took it was so I didn't look as pathetic to the people watching us.

How am I supposed to lead them when I can't even land one hit. I look like a joke.

"They will follow you no matter how strong you are. You are the one who needs to make sure you're worthy of their loyalty." Selene's words just made me feel worse I folded my arms over my face and tried to fight the tears that were threatening to spill over. I felt rowan tug on one of my arms and he guided me to a storage room in the back of the gym. When the door clicked behind us he sat on a bench near the wall.

"What's going on? You don't seem like the type to give up that easily." Everything I have been holding back let loose. I tried to hold back the breakdown but to no avail. He slowly took my hand and made me sit next to him as I sobbed. Patiently waiting until my fit was over he kept a reassuring hand on mine. When I had finally gotten over the worst of it I tried to explain how overwhelming everything was.

"Not even a month ago I was vacationing with my family outside of the Colonies." I inhaled, sniffling and trying to calm myself. He nodded motioning for me to continue. "My whole life I believed I was human, and before Eli brought me here my dad was murdered by Eli's scout."

"That was Derrick. Eli briefed me on what went on that night." His face was clouded in emotion when he said Derrick's name.

"Derrick tried to kill Lilly too, and I had such a strong urge to save her it awakened the Amaruq bloodline in me, which is apparently the Moon Goddess herself. After my brother tried to kill me and my little sister who I found out isn't even my blood. Eli is apparently my soulmate but hasn't even told me he's attracted to me, and we've apparently been reincarnated for hundreds of thousands of years but neither of us can fully remember everything. That's just the beginning! That's not even including being a Luna here or trying to end the war, along with finding out where the Manticores came from." It all came flowing out in one large breath that left me gasping for air. Rowan's eyes were large as he took a second to process everything I just told him.

"I knew you were the minister's daughter and the future Luna. That would be stressful for anyone in the pack, let alone someone who had no clue they were a werewolf just weeks ago." I was a bit taken back at his reaction, and that he completely skipped over the part about Selene.

"You don't think I should be handling this better? I'm trying my hardest to keep it together here but it seems like it all comes easier to everyone else. I'm not a natural fighter, I'm not a natural-born leader, hell I wasn't even that intelligent in school." I stood up trying to relieve some of my anxiety and frustration by pacing.

"Not really. Eli and I assessed your fight the night with Derrick to try to come up with the best course for your training. He wasn't able to see much, but you held your own against a specialist that trained his entire life. I won't go easy on you because I know you can do better-"

"If I can do better then why am I getting my ass kicked?" I yelled, taking my frustration out on Rowan who held his hands up in a surrendering motion.

"I am the best this pack, and probably all the other packs have to offer. You can't expect to land a hit on me that easily." That got a dry chuckle out of me.

"You're really cocky." I sat back down beside him. "Are you not going to ask about me having the Moon goddess living in my head?"

"If you really want to get into that sure, but you have to remember Eli comes to me with everything. So I've heard about your flashbacks, and his too. I know more about his since we've been best friends since we were kids, but I'm always here to listen about yours too." I stared at him in disbelief. I hadn't considered that Eli would have already told him. No wonder he was not surprised.

"So he talks about me?" I smiled and tried to wipe my tear-stained face.

"Quite a bit actually. Eli's mind goes a million miles a minute, but it seems like you're always the topic now. I've been wanting to spend time with you for a while to see what's going on in that head of yours. You have a different way of looking at things, and I think that's really what we need to make a difference." He got up and held his hand out to me. "Let's go, I've got a better place for us to train." Intrigued I took his hand and let him guide me out of the room. Even more people than before were training in the now crowded gym.

"How many people are currently in training?" I almost had to yell.

"I have about forty advanced students that I personally train and six other instructors who have anywhere between fifty to one hundred each." My mouth dropped open. Once we were finally out of the giant gym I finally blurted out what I had been thinking.

"How do you keep up with all your students? And who is training them while you're helping me?" He continued to lead me down the cobblestone path and more towards the forest.

"I've entrusted my second in command with my class. Training you is a bit more important right now. Especially since we had a breach." My heart sped up at his words remembering the intruder who spoke to Lilly. Then I noticed my heart had been acting normally this entire time.

Have I just been overthinking it? Is Rowan just a normal guy?

"No, there is something different about him. Something off."

Something off? Can I trust him? He doesn't seem like a bad person.

"I don't know. I do know that he is familiar. I know him. I just can't remember from where, and it isn't a complete good or bad feeling." We started walking up on a large lake in the middle of a field.

"This will be a better place for you to be able to concentrate." The sun was beaming down on him as he turned to me, flashing a wide smile that shone his deep dimples and bright white teeth. Just as he did an image of him on a cliff smiling at me flashed into my head. I could almost completely make out the memory but it was just beyond my reach. The only thing I could tell was that it was on the very same cliff where Eli and I had plunged the daggers into one another.

"Do we know each other?"

"What?" His smile was knowing, but he tried to play dumb.

"Stop beating around the bush." I charged at him with the intention of pushing him, but he side-stepped me. "You're hiding something aren't you?" I went to face him but he moved again and out of the corner of my eye I saw his punch just in time to duck.

"What the hell?" I yelled, turning again but he continued to zip past me. Another punch came and then a kick. I didn't hit back, and none of his blows landed on me. Continuing this dance for a few moments I grew angrier the more it seemed like he was playing with me. Finally, I caught his leg and was able to take a breath.

"What is your issue? Just answer the damn question!" His smile grew before he jerked his leg throwing off my balance. I wasn't able to catch myself before I landed face-first into the grass. Quickly I rolled to my right avoiding another kick. Jumping up I went on offense.

I don't know what's happening but I could use your help. Selene didn't answer. I swung my fist towards his face, just hoping to end this. He caught my fist and went to land a jab to my ribs but I jumped backward and immediately followed it by sweeping his legs out from under him. He would have recovered without falling if I hadn't tackled him. Within seconds he was on his back and I was straddling him with his hands held above his head. It was a very awkward position considering how small I was compared to him, but I didn't care. I need answers and he's pissing me off. Just as I was about to yell at him he began to move under me, it took me a few seconds to realize he was laughing.

"What the hell man? What about this situation is funny to you?" I dug my knees into his sides trying to show I was serious.

"You did well. That fight was great." I blinked.

"That isn't what I asked you!" I felt a bit stupid now but continued holding him down.

"Yes, I know you. We met a few months ago during one of my visits to the New York colony." I let go of his hands and sat back.

"Wait what? You mean like recently?" He laughed even harder.

"You going to let me up? Or do you just like rubbing in your victory?" Realizing I was still straddling him I jumped up flustered.

"Where else would I know you from? It is weird though. I never thought I'd run into you again in Eli's office." He stood, brushing himself off.

"I'm sorry. I just get this weird feeling around you. Like I'm on edge and my heart-" I stopped myself before I said too much. I'm supposed to be Eli's mate. Wouldn't it look bad to the pack if I told another man he made my heart flutter?

"I went into your coffee shop every morning the whole week I was there for training. We talked a few times, and you seemed like a nice kid." I still couldn't remember, but the number of people I'd help on the daily basis there was more than a hundred. I rubbed the back of my neck, now flustered.

"Y-yeah. That must be where I know you from then." He hit my shoulder in a playful way.

"Don't feel bad that you don't remember, feel bad that you actually thought you could hold me on the ground with the terrible grip you had on me." He started to walk back towards the cobblestone path.

"What? I took you down!" I jogged to catch up with him.

"Yeah, I definitely didn't let you do that. I think tomorrow we'll work on ways to restrain your opponents. If you do what you did to me in battle you'll lose the upper hand."

"So you just let me sit on top of you?" I was annoyed and almost yelled it.

"You what?" I hadn't realized Nia had been walking towards us from the training building.

"What are you doing here? We weren't supposed to get together until dinner." Rowan asked, completely dismissing her question. At the same time that she closed the space between us, Mana swooped down out of nowhere and landed on my shoulder. He almost made me lose my balance mid-step. He wasn't growling, but his hair was standing up and he was obviously aggressive towards Nia. She flinched, then crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"I'd appreciate it if you kept your dog on a leash." Disgust evident on her face.

"What is your issue?" I didn't let my emotions show in my voice; I wanted her to know that I wasn't fazed by her.

"My issue is that you just waltz in here, take over everything, and expect everyone to bow down and follow what you say. When A few weeks ago you were a Colonizer." My blood started to boil and I felt my neck begin to heat up.

"That's uncalled for Nia, she is the future Luna." Rowan tried to take up for me.

"I was supposed to be the future Luna!" My eyes shot open as my hands grew cold and clammy. No one spoke for a good minute until you could tell Nia was uncomfortable.

"Does Denver know?" My voice was barely above a whisper but my glare never left Nia's eyes.

"W-what do you mean?" Her entire deminer changed at the mention of Denver. She obviously regretted what she said now.

"Does Denver know there was something between you and Eli? Hell, that there could still be?"

"That isn't what I meant I-"

"You should go. You've done enough." At first, I thought Rowan was talking to me, but his icy glare never left Nia. Just by his face I could tell this was a touchy subject.