Fated to the Blood Moon Pack

Chapter six

Alice Pov,

Ethan looked at me with a small smile. “Now, we begin your training. You need to learn how to control your wolf form, and how to live in the pack.”

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief that there was a plan in place. “Okay,” I said, “I’m ready.”

Over the next few weeks, Ethan became my mentor, teaching me how to harness my wolf powers and instincts. We spent countless hours practicing in the woods, running and hunting together. I began to feel more comfortable in my own skin, and even started to make tentative connections with some of the other members of the pack.

But there was always a sense of unease simmering beneath the surface. I couldn’t forget the fact that I was still a slave, forced to serve Gabriel and his twisted desires. And I couldn’t shake the feeling that Ethan was keeping something from me, some secret that he didn’t want me to know.

One day, as we were returning from a hunting trip, I decided to confront him. “Ethan,” I said, as we walked side by side, “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Ethan looked at me, his expression guarded. “What do you mean?” he asked.

“I mean, why did you choose me to be your protégé? Why did you show me kindness when everyone else treated me like a monster?”

Ethan hesitated, then sighed. “Alice, there are things about this pack that you don’t understand. Things that I can’t tell you.”

I felt a surge of frustration. “Why not?” I demanded. “Why can’t you trust me?”

“It’s not about trust,” Ethan said, his voice softening. “It’s about keeping you safe. There are dangers here that you can’t even begin to imagine.”

I opened my mouth to reply, but before I could say anything, we were interrupted by a loud howl. We both turned towards the source of the noise, and I felt a chill run down my spine as I saw a group of rogue werewolves approaching us.

“Get behind me,” Ethan said, his eyes trained on the approaching pack. “I’ll handle this.”

I did as he said, feeling a sense of fear and dread creeping over me. I had heard stories about rogue werewolves, about how they were ruthless and bloodthirsty. And now, they were here, threatening our pack.

Ethan stepped forward, his body tense and ready for a fight. The rogue pack leader stepped forward as well, his eyes trained on Ethan with a predatory gleam.

“Well, well, well,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Look what we have here. A pack of weaklings and a little pup.”

Ethan bristled at the insult, his hands curling into fists. “Leave now, before things get ugly.”

The rogue leader chuckled. “Oh, things are going to get very ugly, little pup. We’ve been waiting for a chance to take down your pack, and now we have it.”

With that, the rogue pack attacked, and I was caught in the middle of a fierce battle. I fought with everything I had, my wolf form fueling me with strength and agility. But it was clear that we were outnumbered and outmatched.

Just when it seemed like all was lost, a group of reinforcements arrived, led by Gabriel himself. The rogues were quickly overpowered and driven back, leaving us victorious but battered and bruised.

As we regrouped and tended to our wounds, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Gabriel. For the first time, I saw him as a protector, not just a cruel master. And I realized that maybe, just maybe, he really did care about me after all.

I awoke the following morning, stiff and sore, with the usual routine of breakfast and practice ahead of me. It was hard for me to concentrate, however, distracted as I was by thoughts of Gabriel, and the strange encounter we’d shared the previous night.

And it wasn’t long before those thoughts took on a life of their own, forcing me to question whether or not the pack was right for me. Maybe I was better off on my own, finding my own way in the world. After all, I had become a strong and capable fighter, able to defend myself against almost any threat.

Wasn’t it selfish of me to expect so much from the pack? Wouldn’t I be better off if I left them behind and disappeared into the wilderness, never to return again? Wasn’t that what they wanted, anyway? To stay away from the rest of humanity?

I shook my head, trying to break free from these thoughts. They were nothing more than fantasies, born out of frustration and uncertainty. I needed to focus, to push aside all distractions and forge ahead with my training. After all, I still had a lot to learn before I could truly call myself a member of the pack.

A few minutes later, I was standing in front of the mirror, doing my best to look presentable. My hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, and I’d put on a pair of loose-fitting clothes.

I glanced at my reflection, studying the new person staring back at me. She was pale and tired, her cheeks hollow and her eyes sunken. Her frame was leaner and harder, and the muscles beneath her skin were clearly visible.

I smiled. At least I was making progress.

I picked up my bag and headed out of the cabin, looking forward to spending some time with the others. I hadn’t seen most of them since last night, and I was eager to hear what they thought of our victory.

Ethan was already outside when I emerged from the cabin, and he motioned for me to follow him. “Come,” he said, leading me to a clearing near the edge of the woods.

There was a small wooden platform at one end of the clearing, surrounded by a large circle of stones. In the center of the circle, a fire pit burned brightly, casting flickering shadows across the stones beneath my feet.

Ethan pointed to a spot close to the center of the circle. “This is where you will train,” he said, “and I suggest that you start with your basic punches and kicks. Do you think you can manage that?”

I nodded. “Of course,” I replied.

Ethan turned to leave, but I called out to him before he could walk away. “Ethan?” I asked, pausing him. “Do you really care about me?”

He paused, looking at me curiously. “Of course I do,” he said. “You’re important to me, Alice.”

His words touched me, and I felt a shiver of warmth run through me. But I still had concerns. “But how can you love someone who doesn’t even know herself? How can you love someone who has no idea what she wants?”

Ethan shrugged. “That’s a good question, Alice,” he said, his face serious. “But I’ll do whatever it takes to see you happy. Even if that means taking you away from the pack.”

I stared at him, stunned by his words. “Take me away?” I repeated dumbly. “From the pack? Are you crazy?”

Ethan shook his head. “No, Alice,” he said quietly. “Not from the pack. From everything else.”

I was confused and a little frightened. “What are you talking about, Ethan?” I asked, my voice trembling with fear. “Are you planning on abandoning me?”

Ethan sighed. “No,” he said, his voice gentler now. “I would never abandon you, Alice. Never. But I want you to be happy, and I want you to be safe. If that means leaving the pack, then I will do it. Because I love you, and I would do anything for you.”

I was speechless. Ethan loved me? He was willing to give up everything for me?

I stood there, frozen in shock, unable to speak. I knew that this was coming, of course. I had known for weeks, ever since he had revealed his feelings to me. And yet, when the moment finally arrived, I didn’t know what to say.

After a few moments of silence, Ethan spoke again, his voice gentle. “Alice, please don’t be afraid. Whatever happens, I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

I couldn’t help myself. I threw my arms around him, and he held me tightly, stroking my hair. “Thank you,” I whispered, overwhelmed with emotion. “Thank you for loving me.”

We stayed there, embracing each other in the middle of the clearing, for several long minutes. Eventually, Ethan pulled away from me. He looked at me with a warm smile, and I felt a rush of happiness wash over me.

“So,” he said, “are we going to start?”

I nodded. “Yes,” I replied, “we’re going to start.”