"I thought you would be calling packs by this time, Connie," Azalea picked the dirt under her fingernails. "What's the hold up?"

"I already did that," he grumbled, "not that it's any of your business. There's an old ancient rule that when two or more are battling for the Alpha position, that they get to choose their own trainer."

The Rogue Ghost stood up, tilting her head to the side. "Yes, I'm aware of the ancient rule. Why does it matter to your pack now? It's not like they cared about this rule before," she questioned.

The Alpha shook his head, almost like he didn't want to admit what he was about to say.

"She wants you to be her trainer," he grumbled.

Azalea laughed, "Did you think she was going to let you train her?"

He roared, "I'm her father!"

"And you betrayed her. Why would she trust you when we both know you want your second born to be Alpha?"

He shook his head, "Issac has everything to become a great Alpha."

"So does Sophia," she reminded him. "Maybe if you pay attention, you could see the set of skill she has. After all, I answered those questions for her — not for anyone else. She surprised me.

"She will be an amazing Alpha if given the chance."

Connie paused her a moment, "I see a lot of my sister in her actually. The way she looks at a challenge. It was the reason why I lied to her about her birth.

"Azalea went to the extremes to get what she wanted."

The Rogue Ghost chuckled, "I'm going to tell you what I told Sophia. Azalea spent weeks at your boarders after she was banished, begging to be able to return through her howls.

"She protected your borders for weeks before she finally left — did you know that?"

Connie shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck, "Do you have any idea where she could be?"

"She's alive. That's all I can tell you," Azalea shrugged.

Connie nodded his head, "Alright. You will be move up to a room in the pack house, with guards at all time. Training times will be on your schedule."

He signaled, and Daniel rounded the corner.

"Keep her on your sights," Connie ordered before leaving.

"Really made an impression on everyone," Daniel greeted. "Everyone in the pack is talking about you."

She snorted, "Wouldn't be the first time."

They left the cells, moving around the pack. Azalea caught some of Connie's pack members staring at her, but those days when they glared daggers at her didn't affect her any longer.

She's lived through many hurtful situations.

This was nothing to her.

"Daniel," she poste quietly, making sure no one could hear her. "I have no wolf."

He shook his head, "Completely?"

Azalea nodded.

"How are you alive?"

"I honestly don't know," she told her old friend truthfully, "but I can't train Sophia in her wolf form. At least, not wolf to wolf fighting."

"Hey! Wait up," Sophia yelled from behind them. She sprinted towards them, wearing a pair of leggings and a sports bra. Azalea noticed that she was sweeting, and she wondered if Sophia had to train herself in the shadows, making her parents unaware of the fact. "Did... did my dad tell you the news?"

Azalea smiled, "He did. I have to say, I'm a little surprised."

"Well, you did survive the wild — that has to count for something. Plus, you're the only one who told me the truth," she added.

"Remember," Azalea advised, "there could be more to the story."

Sophia rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I'll remember that." She perked up quickly, "Let's just focus on my training."

Azalea nodded her head, "Let's head towards the training grounds." She turned towards the fields.

The three of them walked.

"How close are you to your wolf, Sophia?"

"Um," she thought for a moment, "close as everyone is to their wolves?"

Azalea nodded, "I can work with that, but before you do, you must be strong. With me, we will work as you are now. It will be your job to build a stronger connection with your wolf."

Sophia glanced at the guard before looking back at her trainer, "How exactly do I do that?"

Azalea shrugged, "It's different for everyone."
She clapped her hands together when they reached an empty spot in the field. The time was nearing noon, so more and more members of Sophia's and Daniel's pack started to show up. "Sophia, this is Daniel. You will be sparing him. I need to see what you have learned," she nodded her head forward.

Daniel sighed, but he obeyed.

"Under no circumstances, Sophia, will you be able to shift into your wolf," Azalea warned.

Sophia examined, "What if he does?"

"Your human and your wolf have the ability to share strength. With the right choices, you will be fine," she explained calmly.

Sophia only got beat up for a couple of hours. Every time she fell, the Rogue Ghost knew exactly what Sophia was thinking of: her position, her pack, her family, her friends, her betrayal. It was definitely enough motivation to keep going. With each failing mistake, Azalea would correct something — only one at a time.

Sophia groaned on the ground for the last time. She bit her lip, tasting blood. She huffed, "I'm tired. Who even taught you how to fight?"

"In the beginning, it was self taught with a friend," she took a quick glance at Daniel, watching him help the Alpha's daughter to her feet. "Left too young to take the warrior test," she explained a little more of her life, "and meet a pair of mates in the wild. They taught me how to survive. They made me into a warrior I've always dreamt of."

Sophia brushed her pants, "do you think I can beat Issac?"

Azalea smiled, "That depends on you, not my judgment, but I do believe if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything you want."