I woke up in my bed, staring at the ceiling. How did I end up here? Oh, yeah. Thank goodness for Sophie. She brought me home after the incident with the Jerk...I mean the Alpha. She took the twins and Nate home then brought me upstairs and put me in bed. I could not help but let out an exasperated sigh. I turned to my left and reached for my phone.

"Ohh! What the-" I yelled when I saw my forearms and hands. My tattoos had expanded to wrap around my forearms and across the back of my hands. "Did I get a new power?" I laid back into my pillow and took a deep breath, relaxing myself and falling into a small, trance like state. I tried to feel my body, feel the power within me. Nothing felt new, at all. I threw the covers back and headed to the shower. Once out, I went to my closet, recalling that today was the ridiculously long training day. I grabbed a sports bra and spandex shorts. It was cool outside but it got so hot in that auxiliary room, I died everyday when working out. Plus, these shorts made it easier to tease Nate, for payback of course. To be kosher, I grabbed a pair of long sweatpants to wear over the shorts when I was outside. I also grabbed a fitted jacket and my tennis shoes as I walked out of my bedroom door at eleven.

I saw my grandma sitting at the island reading the paper as I came into the kitchen.

"I was hoping you were up. And I see you remembered training day as well. Good. Are you hungry?" she asked.

"Ummm, I'll just grab an apple, I don't want to get sick" I answered, grabbing an apple out of the fruit bowl on the counter.

"Ok dear. Did you have fun last night?"

I hesitated and choked on a piece of apple I had bitten off. "Uh, not really. But that's ok" I said with a semi smile. I waved and walked out the door, deciding to walk to the Pack House today. I put in my headphones and turned on one of my favorite Lana Del Rey songs. The walk to the Pack House was peaceful and I really took time to enjoy the scenery. I reached the front of the Pack House and instead of going through the house, I decided to go around to get to the back yard. As I rounded the corner, Beta Andrew and Alpha Alex came into my sights I immediately threw my body with all my might backwards so that I was concealed by the corner, but I couldn't help the small squeal that left my mouth out of surprise. I ripped my headphones out of my ears and listened, hoping they hadn't heard me.

"Terri?" Beta Andrew's voice said curiously from around the corner.

"Shit" I mumbled and stood up with a deep breath. I made my way back around the corner to see them standing in the same place they had been, but now they were looking at me. Andrew had a huge grin on his face and Alpha Alex looked like he couldn't care less whether I was dead or alive. I meekly waved at Beta Andrew with an awkward smile and attempted to quickly make my way to the center of the back yard were a bunch of other random people I had never talked to sat. I'd rather brave cruel strangers than Alpha Jack-off.

"Where are you going" Andrew stopped my progress.

I went ramrod straight and fought the urge to stamp my foot in frustration. I pivoted on my heel to face him.

"To the field to sit. It's not time to start and I would like to fraternize" I said directly to Beta Andrew. I was not going to look at him. I refused, otherwise my blood pressure would skyrocket.

"Alright social butterfly" Andrew said with heavy sarcasm, "but when twelve gets here, you better be ready to work".

"Sir yes sir" I fake saluted then booked my way to the field. Although, instead of sitting with the group, I sat off to the side. I popped my ear buds in and prayed for Sophie or someone to get out here quickly. I laid back in the grass and shut my eyes, trying to soak up as much sun as possible. About five minutes later, a shadow blocked out my sunshine. I pulled my headphones out and opened my eyes to see Sophie standing over me.

"Having fun?" she said with a chuckle.

"Tons" I said with heavy sarcasm. Sophie plopped down opposite me, our knees touching so she could speak with me privately.

"So how awkward was it, seeing him this morning?" she asked excitedly.

"Ridiculously awkward!" I yelled grabbing her hands, "he acts like I am non-existent. And I tried to escape notice but Andrew called me out!"

"Well apparently Jason really worked him over because Jason said that he's not going to kick you out or even punish you. I guess that means he's just going to ignore you" Sophie whispered to the best of her ability. She looked down at my hand then. "Whoa! You're tattoo got bigger? New power?! What is it?!"

"No actually, I don't have a new power this time. It just...grew." my voice displayed my confusion.

"Maybe you're just having a delay. It might show up in a day or two" Sophie said encouragingly.

"Maybe" I agreed vaguely.

"Hey! Slap Happy" Beta Andrew called from his spot, "it's almost twelve, get going" he motioned to the weight room with his thumb. I glared at him coolly and could not help but notice the smirk on Alpha Alex's face. Oh, so now he thinks it's funny.

"Alright grandpa, calm down" I mumbled hopping up, "See you after hell" I told Sophie. I was looking at the ground as a made my way to the weight room when I felt a rock hit my chest. I looked up to see Nate standing in front of me with a smile.

"Meaner! Don't move, I want a piggy back ride" Nate turned and I sprinted toward him, jumping on his back. He caught my easily, wrapping his arms around my thighs as I crossed my ankles in front of his stomach. I threw my arms around his neck and held on tight.

"Ready?" he asked with a huge smile.

"For what?!" but he had already begun to spin in circles and I could not help but laugh out loud. The world was spinning quickly in front of my face, but one scene caught my attention real quick.

As the Pack House entered my vision, I saw Alpha Alex watching us with a tight jaw and clenched fists. His face was definitely angry, no emotionless void now.

"Al-alright Nate, let me down" I said with a shaky voice as I tapped his shoulder and dropped my legs. Nate stopped moving and sat me down gently. I locked eyes with the Alpha and he stared at me with disdain. I could feel the tension between us mounting, almost to breaking point, but then he slowly looked away and unclenched his fists. He barked orders at the wolves on the lawn and walked toward them, putting his muscular back in my line of sight. I turned slowly toward the Weight Room and found Beta Andrew looking from me to the Alpha and back. I then turned and looked at Nate with what must have been a dazed look because he put one hand on my shoulder and gave me a concerned look. I had no idea what just happened.

"Hurry up love birds" Beta Andrew said from the Weight Room. Nate and I ran the rest of the way to the Weight Room.

"We're lifting first" Andrew announced. Nate and I nodded and Nate started stretching while I took my jacket off. Nate looked up from his stretch and took on a slight awestruck face. I stuck my tongue out at him and started stretching. For the next hour, Beta Andrew had us benching, squatting, pulling, and pushing anything he could find.

"Alright you two, water break then head to the mat room. We're sparring" Nate and I stared at each other wearily then grabbed water. We slowly made our way to the mat and stood in our standard spots, waiting for Andrew to join us.

"Alright, face each other" Andrew said as he walked through the door rolling his sleeves up. Nate and I looked at each other in confusion. Beta Andrew sighed. "I said we're sparring. As in each other. So face each other" he explained.

"I'm not fighting him" I said pointing at Nate with my mouth open while Nate simultaneously said, "I'm not fighting her!"

"What? What's wrong with me? You're the super hulk" I asked.

"You slapped the Alpha with flaming hands yesterday" Nate said with a 'are you dumb' look.

"He has a point McSlappy" Beta Andrew said, "But here are the rules. Nate, you can't break her, Terri, you can't incinerate him. No powers. At all...yet".

And as you can expect, the next hour consisted of my body eating mat time after time. Every now and then I would pin Nate, but I think that's because he let me.

"Come on Falana! You're not using your head! Think! Are you really going to out muscle him?" Andrew yelled in frustration.

"You know" I said between pants, "I'd like to see you get out here and try this".

"Oh gosh no, I'm not crazy" He said, "Again! And focus!".

Nate and I stepped back from each other and got in a ready position. The sweatpants I had on were really starting to restrict my movement and I was getting frustrated. Nate and I circled each other slowly. Suddenly, the door to the auxiliary room opened and Alpha Alex walked in. I glanced at him briefly then went back to giving Nate my ultimate attention. I could feel the Alpha watching me as he strolled across the room to Beta Andrew though. He was becoming another pain my butt. Agh! That doesn't matter, focus. Focus. Think. I am smaller and faster than Nate. We had already determined this days ago. But this is a small mat so it doesn't matter how fast I am, he'll see me coming and counteract....Or will he. I started moving my feet quickly, bobbing and weaving around him. Making sure to travel in circles, I tried to find any weaknesses in his stance. I saw an opening near his left hip and hit him fast with a solid punch, then flitted away, barely out of his reach. I continued to do that until I caught him off guard by letting him grab my wrist. I then proceeded to swipe my leg under him and take out his feet. He hit the floor and I jumped up with an excited smile on my face, fixing to face Andrew, when I felt my body fly sideways. Nate flipped me and pinned me faced down to the mat. Needless to say, my smile was gone.

"Tap" Andrew said with a sigh as he unfolded his arms and took his hand off his chin. Nate immediately hopped off me, helping me up with a strong hand. "As much as I want to yell at you for your early celebration, I have to admit, that was much better. Good progress Falana".

Alpha Alex stood ramrod straight, arms crossed, coldly assessing the situation.

"She needs to put on more clothes" he finally said.

"What?" I asked in disbelief. Beta Andrew gave him a furrowed brow look.

"She's too worried about what her 'boyfriend' sees. She's busy flashing herself and not focusing on the battle". Hell no. He did not. There were girls outside with far less clothing.

I snapped.

I grabbed at the waist band of my sweats, whipping them off with anger and then throwing the pants on to the floor off the mat with a satisfying smack. I stood up straight and stared directly at Beta Andrew, who honestly looked like it was taking every ounce of his being not to laugh.

"SHE is ready for the next round" I said to Andrew coldly, completely ignoring the Alpha. Although, I did notice that he was significantly agitated out of my peripheral vision, if his terse jaw line was any sign.

"Begin" Andrew said, almost losing his composure. I blocked out everything. Noises, aches, pains, annoying Alpha's. I just thought about Nate and his weaknesses. He was strong, fairly fast, and incredibly smart. He adapted well. The only thing that I knew of the made someone act dumbly in battle was anger.

Anger! Obviously, Nate gets angry. I saw it at the game. I just had to make him angry so he would make dumber mistakes.

I started moving my feet quickly again, feeling considerably freer and quicker without the pants. I looked for weaknesses, but instead of punching and kicking, I slapped him. Hard enough to be annoying but not hard enough to be a ringer. I swung with my right fist and when he dodged left intending to block me, I slapped him in the face with my left hand. It was working. The more I slapped him, the more frustrated he got that he couldn't catch me. I hit him one last time in the face when he yelled "Enough!". He squared up to me and for a brief second I saw his eyes. They were golden, nothing like his usual hazel eyes. But I didn't get a long look because he barged at me in the next instance. Like a raging bull, he was just charging me, no thought involved. His arms were out stretched as if he planned on choking me. I waited until he got right in front of me, and then I acted. I loaded my legs for jumping and grabbed his wrists, locking them together in my hands. I proceeded to jump over his head, dragging his wrists and arms with me, twisting as I went down. He jerked backwards and toppled over, landing face first into the mat. I knew I had to act quickly, so I pulled both his arms as far back as they would go and then put my foot on the back of his neck where I could easily break it with pressure. I was breathing heavily and Nate struggled but could not do much.

"Tap! There you go Falana! That's what I've been looking for" I hopped off Nate and reached down to help him up but he shrugged me off and sat on his hands and knees for a second. Then he looked up at me and his eyes were back to normal. He smiled sadly, then put his hand towards me. I helped him up slowly.

"I'm sorry I got mad" he apologized.

"That's what I wanted " I admitted with a chuckle. He stared down at me with a sad smile.

"They are not up to par. They lack true skill" Alpha Alex said with narrowed eyes.

"Are you freakin-" I said taking a step toward him but Beta Andrew stepped between us with a hand in my direction.

"Really? Then I propose we have a little competition. A sparring competition. My two against your two best" Andrew said with a hint of a cocky tone.

"Fine" the Alpha answered gruffly then took long, lithe strides out the door.

"Alright, you heard the man, pack it up, we're going outside" Andrew said with a smile.

This chapter is a little longer! Thanks for reading. Please comment and vote. On the side is a video for "Born to Die" by Lana Del Rey, one of the many songs by her that I like. You'll notice I reference her a lot!