The morning air in Havenwood carried a crisp energy, unlike anything I'd felt in the city—or during the chaos with the hunters. I walked beside Tyler toward the Elder's training grounds, a clearing surrounded by towering trees that seemed older than time itself.
Elder Rowan waited in the center, staff in hand, eyes sharp and calculating. "First Blood," he said, his voice echoing through the clearing. "Your power awakens. It will demand control, precision, and focus. Today, we begin."
I nodded, trying to steady my nerves. The Elder's presence alone made the ground feel charged, alive. Tyler stood beside me, silent but alert, his protective instincts evident even without words.
The Elder cleared a space in the clearing, gesturing for me to stand in the center. The grass felt soft under my feet, but the air itself thrummed with energy.
"First Blood," Elder Rowan said, his voice low and resonant, "you carry a lineage of power older than this forest. But raw strength is not enough. You must learn control. Focus on your senses, your perception, and your energy as one."
I nodded, swallowing hard. My chest ached with anticipation, my heartbeat racing. Tyler stood beside me, calm and grounded. "You've got this," he said quietly, his hand brushing my shoulder. Not too close. Not too distant. Just perfect.
"Begin," Rowan commanded.
I closed my eyes, reaching inside myself. The hum of energy was familiar now, but stronger than I remembered. I tried to summon it, draw it to the surface. At first, nothing happened. Just… pressure in my chest, a tingling in my fingers, and a thousand tiny sounds—leaves, birds, distant footsteps—overwhelming my senses.
"Focus," Tyler murmured. "Don't fight it. Let it flow."
I inhaled deeply, centering myself. Slowly, a thin silver light began to ripple from my chest. My vision sharpened. I could see every detail—the veins in the leaves, the tiny movement of insects in the grass. My ears picked up whispers of wind and the faint rustle of the trees.
"Good," Rowan said, his voice approving but stern. "Now, channel it. Make it visible. Do not let it fragment."
I clenched my fists. The silver light surged outward, forming a faint shimmer around my body. The energy crackled, tugging at the edges of my control. I faltered. The shimmer flickered violently, and a jolt of panic hit me.
"Steady!" Tyler called, moving closer. "Don't let fear take it from you. You're stronger than you think."
I focused on his presence—on the calm rhythm of his breathing—and the shimmer stabilized. Slowly, the silver glow spread evenly, surrounding me like a protective aura. I could feel the forest's energy intertwining with mine, guiding me.
Rowan's eyes narrowed. "Now, challenge yourself. Reach beyond perception. Sense the movement of life around you, predict it, control it."
I opened my senses fully. I could feel the heartbeat of every living thing within the clearing. Birds, wolves, even insects crawling in the grass. The weight was dizzying, but exhilarating.
Tyler observed quietly, nodding subtly. "You're doing well… keep going."
The Elder stepped closer. "Extend it. Move the energy outward. Shape it. Bend it. Command it."
I raised my hands instinctively. The silver shimmer extended, rippling outward like waves in water. Small pebbles lifted slightly from the ground, and leaves swirled gently around me. I could feel the strain in my arms and chest, but I pushed further.
A sudden flicker of imbalance hit. My aura fractured, and I stumbled backward. The Elder's voice cut through sharply: "Focus! Don't let it consume you!"
Tyler was immediately at my side, steadying me. "It's okay. Regroup. Remember control, not force."
I inhaled, exhaling slowly. I felt the rhythm again—the pulse of life, my own heartbeat—and the shimmer reformed, stronger, steadier.
Rowan finally nodded. "Enough for today. You've grasped the foundation. But remember, First Blood, this is only the beginning. Your power will grow… and so will the challenges."
I sank to my knees, exhausted but elated. Tyler gave me a small, proud smile. "Not bad for a first day," he said.
And for the first time, I truly felt… capable.
---
After the morning training with Elder Rowan,we headed back home and I joined Ria and the three female wolves—Isobel, Annabelle, and Lisa. The sun was high, glinting off the village roofs, and the warmth made everything feel alive.
As soon as we entered the common room, the girls dropped onto the large couch cushions, stretching and laughing.
"You have no idea what it's like being away from your pack for days," Isobel said, tossing a pillow at Annabelle. "You think you're ready for battle, but your pack keeps your balance."
I laughed. "Sounds like Havenwood keeps your balance, too."
Ria smiled softly. "It's the people who matter. And you've got all of us now."
We spent hours talking, not about training, but about life—before the hunters, before the accidents, before powers. Lisa told stories about pranks in her old pack, isobel shared hunting lessons she learned as a pup, and Annabel spoke about the rituals their families performed.
I shared what little I could about my city life, keeping some secrets of course. Ria asked questions about my First-Blood powers, and I explained in small doses—how I felt the energy, how it flickered, how the Elder's training helped stabilize it.
"What's amazing," Ria said, "is that you're already controlling it better than most First Bloods do on their first day."
We laughed together, and in that laughter, I felt something I hadn't felt in months: a sense of belonging.
We even experimented with small games—testing my heightened senses, seeing who could spot small details in the mansion first. Isobel was competitive. Annabelle cheated. Lisa laughed at both of them. And Ria… she just smiled, calm and encouraging, making me feel like I wasn't being judged.
By the time the afternoon sun started lowering, we had created our own rhythm: jokes, challenges, small competitions, and quiet moments of sharing. I realized I wasn't just training to control power; I was learning to trust this group—and they were learning to trust me.
---
Meanwhile, Tyler, Mason, and Liam took a different approach.
They moved to the mansion's training yard, practicing combat drills and strategy. Mason was energetic and chaotic as always, flipping and dodging, testing both Liam and Tyler.
"Tyler, I swear you're too predictable!" Mason shouted, swinging a practice sword. "You move like a statue!"
Tyler didn't answer immediately. Instead, he watched, studied, and then countered with smooth precision, making Mason stumble. Liam laughed, amused by Mason's exaggerated frustration.
"You're both predictable in your own ways," Liam said, smirking. "But your teamwork… that's why you survive."
Hours passed as they trained, laughed, and even competed. They discussed hunting tactics, shared stories from previous packs, and debated which techniques worked best.
Mason finally leaned against the fence, wiping sweat from his forehead. "I can't believe it's peaceful here," he said. "Feels like we're waiting for the storm, but I can almost forget it exists."
Tyler didn't respond immediately. He didn't need to. Liam, reading his expression, chuckled. "Alpha brooding again?"
Tyler's lips twitched. "Just thinking… Havenwood is safe, for now. But training, preparation, and teamwork are what will keep it that way."
They spent the rest of the afternoon refining their coordination, teasing each other, and creating a bond that was less about rules and more about trust. By the end, the three of them had built not just skill, but a silent understanding—something unspoken but unbreakable.
By sunset, the groups reunited. Laughter, chatter, and small competitions filled the mansion. For a brief, beautiful moment, everything seemed calm and peaceful.
But as the shadows stretched longer across the grounds, a subtle tension lingered in the back of their mind. They knew the hunters hadn't given up. They would come.
And when they did… they had to be ready.