Rejected and Claimed by his Best Friend, Book 1

Chapter 23: Learning to Stand (Alice's POV)

The morning air was cool against my skin as I stood on the edge of the training field. My heart hammered in my chest, and Winter stirred restlessly in my mind.

*"We can do this,"* she whispered, her voice a soft breeze of encouragement.

I swallowed hard, clenching and unclenching my fists at my sides. I wasn’t sure what I was more afraid of—failing in front of everyone or freezing up like I used to whenever my old pack barked commands at me.

Remi was standing a few feet away, dressed in black joggers and a fitted T-shirt that showed off the hard muscles of his arms. He looked calm, and composed. A stark contrast to the storm swirling inside me.

"Just you and me today," he said, giving me a small smile. "No audience. No pressure."

I nodded, grateful. I wasn’t ready to be surrounded by other wolves, judging, laughing, waiting for me to mess up.

"First," Remi said, stepping closer, "we're going to focus on balance. Everything starts there."

He crouched down and drew a wide circle in the dirt with a stick. "Stand in the center. Feel your feet on the ground. Plant yourself like a tree."

I stepped into the circle, feeling ridiculously self-conscious. My cheeks burned as I tried to mimic Remi’s strong stance.

"Close your eyes," he said.

I hesitated.

"No one’s going to hurt you here," he added gently.

Trust. It was so much easier said than done.

Still, I forced myself to close my eyes. For a moment, there was only darkness and the sound of my breathing.

"Good," Remi said quietly. "Now, listen. Feel. You’re safe."

I let the sounds of the pack settle around me—the birds in the trees, the faint rush of the river nearby, the solid earth under my boots. Slowly, the tight knot in my chest loosened.

"Balance is about more than standing upright," Remi continued. "It’s about finding your center. Knowing who you are."

I opened my eyes to find him watching me, something fierce and proud in his gaze.

"You’re doing great, Alice."

A lump rose in my throat at the praise. No one had ever said that to me before. Not without a sneer or a slap afterward.

"Okay," Remi said, clapping his hands once. "Now let’s see how you move."

He stepped into the circle with me, his movements fluid and careful, like he was trying not to spook a wild animal.

"Try to push me out of the circle," he challenged, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

I blinked up at him. "What?"

"Push me," he repeated, laughing softly. "Don’t worry, I won’t break."

I hesitated, but Winter growled in my mind, urging me forward.

Gritting my teeth, I shoved him.

It was like pushing a wall. He didn’t budge an inch.

Remi chuckled. "Not bad. Again."

I tried harder, throwing my weight into it. This time he shifted slightly, grinning wider.

"There you go! Again."

We kept at it, me pushing, him resisting just enough to make me work. My arms ached and sweat beaded on my forehead, but with every shove, I felt a little stronger. A little less afraid.

Finally, Remi stepped back. "That’s enough for today. You did amazing."

I was panting, but a strange, giddy energy buzzed through me. For the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t feel useless.

"I... I liked that," I admitted shyly.

Remi’s smile softened. "Good. There’s more where that came from. We'll take it at your pace."

"Thank you," I whispered, meaning it with every fiber of my being.

He shrugged like it was nothing, but I saw the way his eyes warmed. "You don’t have to thank me, Alice. You’re part of the Crescent Moon pack now. We take care of our own."

The words wrapped around me like a blanket, filling up all the empty, broken parts I thought would never heal.

For the first time in a long time, I believed them.

---

Later that afternoon, Remi led me back toward the packhouse. Naomi was waiting outside, a tall glass of water and a sandwich in hand.

"Training makes you hungry," she said with a wink, pressing them into my hands.

I took them with a shy smile. "Thank you."

As I sat on the porch steps, sipping the cold water and letting the sun warm my face, I caught Remi watching me from a few feet away.

There was something in his eyes—something tender and fierce and patient all at once.

My cheeks heated, and I ducked my head, pretending to focus on my sandwich.

*"He cares about us,"* Winter murmured, pleased.

*I know,* I whispered back.

And it scared me how much I wanted to trust him.

But maybe, just maybe, it was time to start believing that I deserved people like Remi in my life.

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