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I groaned as my body slammed forcefully down on the mat.

Was she trying to kill me?

I
lay
there for a moment
as I tried to draw air into my lungs. I smacked the mat with my hand a
nd
stood.

Chris smirked at me. I wanted to rip every single blond hair from her head. She’d already broken my wrist and I’d had to sit for twenty minutes while it healed. Her pale green eyes shimmered. She was enjoying kicking my ass
way
too much.

“Christian,” Caeden said for the one-hundredth time. “You’re supposed to be teaching her, not killing her.”

“Do you think Travis is going to teach her to fight before he kills her? I think
not
,” she
rolled her shoulders and raised her fists.
“Besides I’m not hitting her
that
hard.”

I could argue with that. My bruises were quickly forming bruises and I still had a round with Bentley and Bryce.

Chris lunged towards me and I ducked, swiping my leg around behind her legs to knock her down. Despite not having shifted, Chris’ reflexes were much better than those of a normal human. She easily jumped over my leg. “Nice try,”
she laughed and dove to tackle me.

I twisted my body so that I broke the fall with my hands and not my back. As soon as my hands touched the ground I turned back around and brought my legs back so that I could kick her in the chest. She rolled off of me and then smiled. “Better.”

“That
’s
enough,” Caeden said. I was abou
t to thank God when he continued
, “of that. It’s time you practice in your wolf form. That’s the form Travis will most likely use to attack you. Not that Chris hasn’t been a most excellent teacher,” he flashed her a warning smile.

“Kay,
kay
, I get it,” she put her hands up in a surrendering gesture. I was pleased to see that she was sweating and her chest heaving. Maybe I’d given her more of a workout than I thought. “I’m going to hit the showers,” she pointed with her thumb over her shoulder to the
separate guy’s and girls showers. We even had lockers. I swear, the basement was a
better equipped
gym than any around town.

“Sophie, you ready?” Caeden asked as he held out his hand.

No.

“Yes sir,” I
answered
instead.

Caeden’
s lips quirked as I placed my hand in his and he hauled me up.

“Outside,” he motioned to Bentley and Bryce.

Bryce hopped up like an over active puppy and squeezed my shoulder. “This is
gonna
be
so much
fun.”

“Oh yeah, loads,” I my words dripped with sarcasm. He grinned and ducked out the basement door and into the woods. Bentley was already ahead. “They are so going to kill me,” I said to Caeden as he lifted a branch over my head.

Caeden chuckled, “Don’t worry I won’t let them.” He led me to a thick cropping of trees and bushes. “Strip,” he said.

I quirked my brow and grinned, “You want a strip tease in the woods. That’s pretty kinky.” I unbuttoned my shorts and b
egan to ease them down my hips in a joking manner.

Color flooded his cheeks and he turned around with his back to me. “That was
so
not what I meant,” he said.

I laughed as I removed the rest of my clothes and the laugh turned to a bark as I switched forms. It was so easy for me to become a wolf, freeing. I shook my shaggy brown coat. Sometimes, it felt like I was coming home when I entered into my wolf form.

Caeden and I switched places
so that he could switch forms
.

Caeden understood that I was uncomfortable changing in front of the others. I didn’t grow up running around naked like they did. It took some getting used to. I didn’t really mind around Caeden, since he’d been there with me the first time
,
but I still appreciated the gesture.

In quicker time than it took me his gray wolf was beside me. His tongue lolled out of his mouth and his eyes took on a periwinkle cast. I wondered if my eyes got lighter, took on a different tone, like his. I guess I’d have to ask him.

Can you smell them?
He asked.

I lifted my muzzle in the air and sniffed. I turned my head northeast.
That way.

Very good.
He grinned but with his inch long teeth it seemed menacing.
I want you to run as fast as you can to them. Speed is your greatest weapon against an opponent. Female shifters have much more speed than males so we know to never underestimate our girls.
His human laughter filled my head.
Ready
,
get set
,
go!

I was gone. My legs stretched faster, and farther, and I soon left Caeden behind. The speed was exhilarating. I was sure that real wolves couldn’t possibly run this fast.

I jumped over a log and my claws dug in; bark chipping off. Birds, squirrels, and other woodland creatures scattered when they caught my predator scent in the air. I swung to my right and if my sense of smell was reliable I was
two hundred
yards from Bentley and Bryce.

I bound into the clearing and skidded to a stop.

A few second
s
later
,
Caeden came through the brush. He shook some brambles from his fur, panting, and plopped on the ground.
G
eez, I didn’t know you were
that
fast.

I came up to him and licked the side of his face.
Never under estimate me Williams.

Wouldn’t dream of it Beaumont.

Who wants to go first?
I looked between Bentley’s black wolf and Bryce’s reddish brown one.

Me, me, me!
Bryce chanted and turned in a circle.

Bentley barked a laugh.
Bryce can go first. He’ll be able to demonstrate an
unskilled
attack.

Hey!
Bryce said and bit Bentley’s shoulder.

Just speaking the truth pup.

Okay, okay.
Caeden intervened.
Enough arguing. We’re wasting time.

He started it.
Whined Bryce.

Enough!
Barked Caeden.
Get ready Sophie.
He turned to me.
Bryce over there, Sophie
stay
here
. He said so that we were on opposite ends.

Ready… Set…

Bryce started running towards me.

Dammit Bryce, I didn’t say go!
Caeden scolded but I was beyond listening.

I prepared myself for the impact but it never came. I looked to see that Caeden had Bryce pinned to the ground by the neck.

What the hell Caeden? I’m supposed to attack him
,
not you!
I scolded my mate.

Sorry. I’m sorry.
Caeden let go of his brother.
I can’t do this. I can’t watch it and just do
nothing
! My instincts to defend you kick in.

I need to learn this Caeden.
Maybe it would be better if you leave.

Leave! I can’t leave you! What if you get hurt!

Bryce and Bentley aren’t going to hurt me.
I argued.
You didn’t have a problem when I was fighting Chris and she broke my wrist.

That’s different.

No it’s not.
I said.
Besides, we heal. My wrist was better in no time at all.

Sophie.

Caeden, I need to be able to defend myself. You’re not going to be around all the time to protect me.

Caeden said nothing for a moment.

Fine. But I won’t be far away and I
will
be listening. If you get hurt I’ll be here in no time at all.
He looked warningly at Bryce and Bentley before taking off.

Bryce looked at me and said,
Ready?
Before I could answer he attacked.

Jerkface
.

He bit my shoulder and I nipped at his side. His teeth tore into my flesh and I gritted my teeth so that no sound of pain could escape. I didn’t want Caeden coming back after being gone for only three seconds.

Get angry, Sophie.
Use your anger as power.
Bryce coached me.

I pushed forward and pulled my skin from his mouth. Blood matted my fur and dripped from his mouth.

Speed, Caeden had said, use my
speed.

Even though we were no more than a few feet apart I rushed him. He wasn’t expecting that. I had him on his back and went for the sensitive skin of his belly. Distantly I could hear Bentley’s cackling bark and his human laughter floating through my head.

Time!
Bryce cried.
Tap out! Stop!

I pulled away and he shakily rose to his feet.
That was… incredible. You were like a freaking avenging angel… or wolf… whatever. If I had been a true attacker you would’ve killed me.