The Werewolf Hunter

Chapter 4- Not Ready

Alina's POV

It's been weeks since we started training, I won't lie. I almost quit countless times, the training was very tough, but whenever I was struck down by an opponent during training, the scene where both my parents were taken down like war targets by those monsters began to play.

Well, that was the only thing that kept me going amidst those traumas. I had to avoid being struck down so I don't get to relive those scenarios in my head again.

So, I sat down to catch my breath after another round of training.

"Ali, what are you doing?" said Jayce as he shouted and started walking towards me.

"Nothing sir," I replied. I quickly got up and stood erect before he could walk up to me.

"You know I'm only messing with you, right?. You can rest now, training is done."

"Wheew," I said as I gave a big sigh of relief.

"You know, do you think I'm getting used to this, already?" I asked Jayce.

"To what," Jayce replied.

"To you acting so tough to everyone during training, even to me. Ah ah, don't get me wrong I'm not asking for special treatment, I'm a tough girl myself," I said as I sat on the floor and rested my back on the wall.

"First of all, I'm not acting tough, I am tough and strict when it comes to training or battle matters. Secondly, it is something I have to do, you know. I don't want to give room for complacency. I don't want an unserious team," Jayce said as he sat on the floor with me.

"Yeah yeah, I know and I'm not complaining, just stating facts. Well, apart from the acting tough part," I said.

"Word of advice? Tomorrow will be the final round of training before we go for our intended attack on those monsters. We got a lead from one of our sources." Jayce said.

"Well, you should get going before he sees or hears us," I said and patted him on his back.

Jayce stood up and started walking away. After walking for a few steps he turned back and said with a smile on his face, "See you tomorrow, agent."

"Yes sir," I replied with a salute gesture and a smile.

Jayce has been a father figure to me since he found me, he advised me and made me feel like I had filled the void left by my parents. Unfortunately, I lost two parents.

I stood up from the floor, and headed to my room to take a shower and of course rest. Throughout my shower and while I laid on the bed till I slept off, all I could think about was training.

I felt this was my chance to impress, and given the fact that I needed to draw some of those monsters' blood, I was so restless and waiting for tomorrow to come already. All I wanted to do was to kill monsters.

I didn't sleep much during the night and Oh! that annoying sound again. God! I hate the sound of that alarm, thought I'd be used to it by now but it only gets more annoying as the days pass by, but today is an exception, the prospect of me making my first appearance on the field made the alarm sound so pleasurable to me. I was so eager and ready to impress.

"Ready yourselves agents," the voice on the speakers said.

I quickly wore my training kits and headed straight to the training center. They shouldn't be surprised, I would be the first person to get to the center. Hopefully, they took note of that.

After waiting for some minutes everyone arrived then, we did some of our routine drills.

"Today, we are going to switch things up a little bit," Jayce said.

Every one of us looked surprised or maybe shocked because none of us had a clue of what we were about to do, but I was so fired up, I'm ready for anything at this moment.

We were divided into two groups, I was put with Chris and the others, and I was also made to lead the squad, something Chris wasn't happy about.

We were taken into the forest where we were made to hunt each other, my group dressed in the same black colored kits while the other group wore white. Nothing to complain about because I don't even like the color white.

The hunt began and whoever was shot was taken off. Don't get me wrong, we don't use real guns or weapons for training.

So, after some time hunting each other, my team was down to three men and the other team, two. One of the three of us was caught by an opponent and held at gunpoint.

"Put your guns down," Jacob said.

Chris bends down to drop his gun.

"Slowly," Jacob said again.

Immediately, I flipped over the trench I was hiding behind and shot at Jacob. Jacob, due to reflex action shot at our man. Instantly, I shot the other person left of his team and we won.

The training ended and only Jacob, Chris, and some other agents were picked to go with Jayce to the field.

Once Jayce was done calling the names of the people that were picked, I angrily walked to Jayce.

"How was I not picked, I performed the most amongst all of us, why am I being side-lined?".

"You performed the most? Who told you that?" Jayce asked.

"Look here, the main aim of grouping you guys was to see how well you can work as a team, hell I even made you the captain of your team over an experienced Chris and the highlight of that decision was that you in turn made a decision that made you lose one of your squad members." He continued on. "Where is your leadership skill?. If we let our enemies kill us like this, UA would have shut down by now."

I just stood looking lifeless, only I was consistently blinking my eyes and short of words because I knew all he was saying was right. Then, he continued going on about it as every parent does, talk and talk till you are irritated by yourself. Perfect father figure.

"Look, your decision was poor and we can't risk that during a fight. So, work on your decision-making, learn how to work with your team and hopefully you'll make the cut next time". Jayce said and started walking away.

Jayce has never spoken to me with a straight face like this, at least not when we are not training.

"Wait!" I called out as I ran to him.

"Please, I know I made a mistake, I only wanted to impress everyone, not that it justifies my decision, but please let me come with you guys." I begged.

"Ali, you are a good agent, maybe one of my best, you are very good with weapons, you are fast, and you are everything but not ready. Just keep doing what you are doing and improve on your decision making and you will get called up."

"Can't you just let me come? you know you can put me on that list," I said with tears hanging in my eyelids waiting for that "no" reply to roll down.

"Well, I can..". Jayce started to say.

I quickly interrupted him.."But?" I tried to counter.

"I can't," he replied and walked away.

I felt so disappointed in myself, stood at that spot the same way I stood, and watched my parents get devoured by those werewolves, soaked in anger and disappointment.

At this point the tears didn't come out, I was just confused.

The guilt of not being able to save my parents from those monsters began to run through my mind, I felt I had let my parents and Jayce down.

I sadly walked to my room, shut the door, never came out throughout that day, and didn't eat either.

I cried all night and slept for like 2 hours only if at all I had any sleep.

It was morning and the alarm sounded as usual only, I woke up before the alarm.

Usually, I'd wake up by seven o'clock but this time I stayed in bed. I had planned to remain there till whenever, but then a thought strolled through my mind, what if they are watching me if I will give up so easily?

Instantly, I jumped up from my bed, put on my training kits, and headed for the door until, my caring mind thought again, "How do I look?".

I went to look at myself in the mirror, my eyes were swollen from the cries and sleepless nights. I looked like I had been crying for days, So I went into the toilet and washed my face.

I came back and looked in the mirror and there were no changes only, my face looked washed. I can't go out like this, looking like a little girl crying over spilled milk.

I went into my wardrobe and grabbed a black mask and then wore it to cover my face.

As I stepped out to go to the training center, I saw a plate of food covered on a tray at the front of my room. I didn't even care to check what it was, I just opened my door wide and kicked it into my room, shut the door and headed for the training center.

I got there and met everyone doing light drills and lifting weights. Immediately I got in everyone turned and looked at the masked person in their midst. I didn't care, I just walked in and started doing drills, I worked like it was my last training.

People were consistently staring at me, but I kept doing what I was doing and didn't care about them.

It was noon and everyone had left but I kept on training like I was on steroids.

"That's enough," Jayce said from behind me.

I turned to him and said, "I am not tired."

"I know you are not tired, but that's enough, training is over," Jayce said.

I stopped what I was doing and turned to leave but Jayce grabbed my arm and drew me back to his front.

"Take off the mask," he said.

"No, I'm cool," I replied.

"I know, just take it off," he insisted.

I shrugged my shoulders and took off the mask and he was shocked when he saw my red swollen eyes.

"I am certain you stayed up all night crying because those are 'I had no sleep and was crying all night' eyes right there."

I stood before him without saying a word.

"I also heard you didn't eat before going to bed and didn't either this morning. Ali, hey stop doing this to yourself." Jayce implored with a soft voice.

"I was emotional yesterday, is all," I said, with a straight face, and attempted to walk away.

He drew me back again, this time holding my wrist then, placing his palms on my cheeks.

"Hey, look at me, you are like the daughter I never had and I am the father you lost, I only want you to be the best version of yourself so when you go out there you can give these monsters a run for their life."

I was already feeling emotional then, he went on saying, "Look, I'm caught up between being your father and a mentor or boss, please don't make it any harder, I care for you and..."

I couldn't let him finish his sentence as tears rolled down my eyes and I hugged him so tight.

We held ourselves for some seconds and then let go of our grip.

"Thank you for being there for me and you want me to be better? Say no more because I'm coming for your rank," I said with a big smile on my face.

"Go on girl, go and take a bath, you stink," Jayce said.

Then I started jogging back to my room.

"And make sure you eat your food!" he yelled.

I was so famished. I couldn't even take off my clothes before eating. Immediately I got into my room I quickly ate my food before heading for the bathroom.

I took my bath and had a very good sleep, I felt so relieved. It was the best I've felt for days after the hype before yesterday's training.