The morning training was interrupted by three guys talking towards the back. This type of disrespect for the others is something that makes me furious. I start stalking towards the back, and the people part to let me through - knowing the look of anger on my face is not something to be messed with. I finally make it up to three rather large guys, the shortest standing about 6'4 and stop abruptly. They have a different smell than anyone else here at Blackrose. From their smell, it seems that we now have bear shifters as members of this pack. This should be very interesting.

"Is there a problem with my training session today - boys." I demand.

"We're not interested in what you have to teach." The tallest one states cockily.

"Really? So you can beat me in a fight?" I question him.

"We don't want to hurt you sweetness." the guy with the light brown quiff, lightly tanned skin and an accent I don't recognize.

"Oh I'm sweet - like a sour patch kid. And my sour has quite the punch."

"I can't see that happening babe."

"Really, and what's your name - mon nounours. " The last word elicits a chuckle from behind me and I turn to find Julian and Tyson trying to hide their grins behind their hands. Thanks to Julian for the small amount of French lessons he's been giving me - of course the first was in terms of endearment.

The guy next to him starts to growl but stops abruptly and grins.

"What's that look for Osborn?" the gorgeous blonde looks over at the guy with coffee colored skin and a genuine smile.

"Oh nothing, Bjorn - mon nounours." Osborn responds.

"So you understand French, Osborn?" I ask.

"A little."

"Me too. I need to start learning more hanging out with the Beta back there. He likes to hide what he's saying sometimes by speaking in French, but one day I'm going to surprise him."

"I'm sure you will." He answers as a beautiful girl, I recognize as Itxaro, comes to join him.

"I like you Osborn, but if ignorance is bliss, your friends must be the happiest people in the world."

Osborn starts laughing along with most of the other warriors and the other two guys have heavy scowls on their faces.

"That's not funny Oz."

"Sure it is Karu. Sure it is."

"Lits!" Karu hisses out.

Julian is continuing to chuckle behind me, and the new guys seem to take offense to this.

"What's your problem - half-pint?" Karu sneers.

"Half-pint?" Julian scowls, his face starting to turn a shade of red.

"Julian ignore these ...ummm...these wonderful, cheery members of the pack - who don't seem to understand the importance of ranked members." I grit out.

"Ranked member? How can he be that important?" Bjorn comments.

"I'll show you important, you..." Julian starts, but I turn to him with a sympathetic look and mouth "I've got this, please." to him - and he stops where he is.

"Boys, are you both always such idiots, or do you both just show off when I'm around?" I half-joke - but know I'm trying to goad them.

"I've played nice long enough! If you think you're so much better than us - fight us?" Karu demands.

"One or both?" I reply and wait for the answer.

"Me first!" Bjorn jumps in.

"Whatever floats your boat, mon nounours." I spit out. "Skin only - no fur for this fight." I command.

"Whatever floats your boat." Bjorn mimics.

"Begin!" Julian calls out, and Bjorn comes towards me.

He stalks me like I am his damn prey. Pfft. As if. Lunging at me, I sidestep him - still trying to find his weaknesses. Where am I going to strike? Swinging a couple of times, I dodge these still calculating my next moves.

He roars at my continued lack of engagement. He is going to learn today's lesson even if he didn't want to pay attention to me during the training session.

"Fight me or are you afraid?" He growls.

"Nah, not afraid of you, mon nounours." I chuckle and see his face redden. Good I'm pissing him off.

The first actual swing is slopping showing how agitated I've made him. On his next swing, I push his right arm out and use the momentum to kick my left leg hitting him directly in the right knee - noting earlier that he has a slight limp when putting all his weight on that leg. After hitting my mark, he buckles as his balance is thrown off.

Once he's recovered slightly, he punches at me, which I barely moved out of the way of. He lunges again and catches my left hip. That's going to hurt. He takes this opportunity with the slight change in momentum to send a right punch that catches me in the left jaw. Now that really is going to hurt. Asshole.

I love a good match, but I need to bring this big guy down before one of his strikes connects again. Acting like I am going to kick him in the right leg again, he moves to the left and I track his movements and punch him in the ribcage with a right hook. He retaliates by throwing a punch that catches me in the stomach - earning a good grunt from me. Of course, I'm beyond mad at myself for being punched, so I go back to a proven method - the nose break. Kicking again, I use his momentary distraction at my leg movement to give a quick right jab to his nose - ending with the satisfying cracking sound.

His face reddened and his eyes narrowed at me, although I'm not sure with the trickle of tears if the narrowed eyes are from pain or being pissed - probably both.

My small amount of victory is shortened when I hear someone yell, "Watch out!" I turn just in time to see a pissed off Karu. Before I could react, a blur of black went in front of me and Karu is on his back.

"That's not fighting fair!" Julian hisses.

"So." Karu shrugs.

"You need a lesson yourself." And they're off on their own fight.

Suddenly I hear a grunt and scream from Julian. I look over and see blood coming out of a claw mark on Julian's side only to see him go down - hitting his head on an exposed tree root. Now I'm tired of these games, so I decide to give another lesson - Expect the Unexpected.

There is plenty of Spanish moss hanging from the massive live oak trees surrounding the training area - the perfect "cover". Teleporting myself away from the action, I use my telekinesis to move the Spanish moss to first partially cover Karu's face and then Bjorn's.

"How is that fighting fair?" Karu whines.

"If you had been paying attention to me during the training you would have known that today's lesson was about expecting the unexpected. With more interspecies couples, you might not know that the werewolf has witch powers or the witch can suck you dry. You didn't take the time to know that I am a werewolf with special powers, during battle anything is fair. Plus how is it fair that you obviously brought your claws out in a skin only fight?" I demand.

Karu jumps up wiping the moss out of his eyes, and turns his fury back towards us. Before Karu can even get a few steps in our direction, the aura of power rushes forward.

"Enough! The fight is over!" Scarlett's voice rings out, the Alpha tone making the bear cubs flinch.

"Oh, you're in trouble now. That's Alpha Scarlett..." Itxaro murmurs.

I take the distraction to rush to Julian's side - checking his head wound first.

"I knew you would have trouble with that head, it being so big and all." He smiles at this, but it doesn't reach his eyes.

Then I reach down to inspect the wound on his side, although it is already starting some healing itself.

"You just like having me patch you up." I tease.

"Maybe." He says sheepishly.

"Isn't this is a little too much trouble just for you to have me get my hands on you?"

"Maybe, but you have to admit it works."

"Beta Le Tourneau, do you need to go to the clinic?" Scarlett asks, her Alpha tone strong.

"No, Alpha Blackrose, I think Eva has taken care of anything that might need to be patched." He responds with a bit of amusement in his voice.

""Mmmhmmm." Scarlett begins. "Then why don't you guys go take a break. That's enough training for today." She tells us before turning to the boys sitting on their asses.

"And as for you two. Considering you're new to pack life, I'll give you some leniency, but consider this your first lesson in pack behavior. Such blatant and obvious disrespect to both my Second in command and an important guest and ally of my pack is not at all smiled upon. So for the next two weeks, you both both will be responsible for cleaning the pack house to learn some manners, I don't know how you bears behave as a unit, but this attitude is not acceptable in my pack. And you, Karu, if I see a repeat of the type of behavior you displayed today while training, you might not be able to remain a member of this pack."

Both boys remain tight lipped, a bit caught off guard by Scarlett's authority.

"Since you have no complaints, which you shouldn't considering your punishment could be much worse, then get to work."

At this, I turn to Julian. "Do you need help back to the pack house?" I grin.

"This isn't amusing Evangeline - I'm in obvious distress."

"Sure you are. Come on baby." I tease, and help Julian up. "No funny business." I playfully scorn.

"Whatever you say - whatever you say." But my heartbeat quickens, as he leans his head on my shoulder. I will not admit that I enjoy being this close to him.

It takes us longer than normal to get to the pack house, which doesn't surprise me, and I help Julian to his room.

"Are you going to be ok, JD?"

"Thanks Eva - for everything." He grins, and I just nod and shut his door. Damn males.

As I head down the stairs, I see Romain walking towards the front room. The last thing I want to participate in is conflict after this afternoon's exhausting training session. However, Romain seems to be avoiding me lately, and I plan on getting to the bottom of it - while I have a chance.

"So you're going to avoid me now?" I exclaim, grabbing his arm stopping him and then turning him to face me.

"I'm not avoiding you." he grits out - clenching his jaw.

"Bullshit Romain! You aren't around anymore. You aren't at group breakfast anymore. You said we were cool."

"I'm not going to try and compete with another male."

My chest tightens with his response. "No one is competing for anything. I don't want to continue a relationship with anyone."

"Well it didn't look like that the other day!" He yells.

"I've explained this once, and I'm not going to explain it again." I counter and leave the room.

Why are things starting to get so complicated in my life? I guess I was the princess back home, even if it was a crowded house. These types of issues rarely came up, and if they did I never saw much like this. Normal teenage stuff sure - break ups, make ups, dating, some cheating, but nothing major - well it was in our minds at the time.

Of course, I can't catch a break. As soon as I enter the pack house, I feel like I'm being followed. I quickly turn around and see a wall of caramel skin and looked up into the hazel eyes of Delano Torres.

"Is there a reason that you're following me, Delano?" I rush out, unhappy with the intrusion on my time.

"Why are you doing that?"

"Doing what?" Absolutely confused by his question.

"Going from one guy to another."

My muscles immediately tense. "Excuse me? And why do you think that? And how is that any of your concern?" answering sharply, as I cross my arms looking at him.

"You date Romain. You don't date Romain. You're attached at the hip to Beta Le Tourneau."

"Ok, I'm not having this conversation with you." I speak bluntly - hoping he gets the hint.

"I think you should." He speaks sharply.

"I think you should mind your own business and stay out of mine. Goodnight." I snap - swiftly to climb the stairs to my room - exhausted by today's events.

What is up with the pack today?

******************

Needing a break from the male drama, I decide to go visit Devaney. I've been visiting her for weeks, it has become a welcomed escape from training. Walking into the room, I quickly find the little beauty only to be greeted by her first word.

"Mama." she squeaks out while running to me.

I thought my heart would jump for joy and break at the same time. My wolf is howling with me. I knew I couldn't take her immediately with me, and I couldn't explain the situation to her. Hopefully after the message is delivered, I would be back to get her.

Mama? She can be our pup. My wolf howls excitedly.

I hope so!

We have to talk to someone. I want her to be our pup! My wolf continues.

I will talk with Scarlett, ok?

Ok. She yelps.

"How has my princess been?"

"Mama, what's wrong?" She questions, holding her little hand up to my jaw area. I have completely forgotten about the bruise that formed after the altercation with Bjorn.

"Things just got a little rough in training today. It will be all better soon." I reassure her, and she just nods her little head.

"Come." She beckons and drags me over to have a tea party with her favorite bear, Dylan and his best friend, Camille - a blonde-haired doll with big blue eyes. We play for a little while until it is time for her to have dinner.

*********************************************************************

Mon nounours - my teddy bear (French)

Lits - bitch (Estonian)