Chapter 26

The morning announcements start as I unpack my back, but I barely hear them. Instead, I am trying my best to tune out the continued whispers of my classmates. I pull my notebook from my bag and start to doodle, drawing small curls with my pencil.

I do my best to get lost in it, to forget what everyone thinks of me. I am eventually startled out of my reverie when someone a few rows above lets out a dramatic “shh!” The class goes silent as the morning announcements drone on.

I set my pencil down and listen as Mr. Apala continues to drone on over the intercom. “…training class. The success of this has shown us that it is a worthy endeavor to start training the next generation of warriors as early as possible. We all know that rogue activity has only increased over the last several years and we need all the help we can get.”

I go still in my seat, giving the announcement my full attention. I thought that my chances of becoming a warrior and escaping this pack were crushed when Alice had me disqualified from the competition, but is it possible that I will have another chance?

Mr. Apala continues. “We have decided to extend the combat training class into a full warrior training program. All interested parties may pick up an informational flyer from the front office after class.”

Whispers erupt around me as the announcement comes to an end. It seems as though I’m not the only one intrigued by the new warrior training program.

For the first time since the night of the competition I allow myself to hope. My dreams of becoming a warrior, of leaving this pack and never returning, aren’t over.

If I can make successfully make it through the program I will be granted an opportunity to leave New Moon pack and never return. I can forget about Vedant’s promise to make my life hell. I can escape Alice’s abuse.

I will be able to put Owen’s death behind me and live my life free of my current reputation as a rogue sympathizer and a murderer. I can move on and be my own person. This will be my new start.

I sit anxiously in my seat as I wait for the bell to ring. Every so often I will make an attempt to pay attention to the lesson, but it’s hopeless. My eyes keep drifting back to the clock.

Mr. Connata drones on at a snail’s pace and the seconds tick by at an agonizing rate. Eventually the bell rings and I jump out of my seat, and rush to the office. When I arrive, I make my way toward the stack of flyers, ignoring the comments from a few others who arrived before me.

I read quickly and see that the class is to take place three times a week after school. The training will focus on hand-to-hand combat, weapons training, shifting, and pack tactics. I can sign up with the office secretary.

My heart sinks a little when I see hand-to-hand combat and shifting. I know that is an important part of becoming a warrior, but Molly still won’t let me reveal my full strength. If I can’t allow myself to shift, how will I convince the instructors that I have what it takes to be a warrior?

Worse, what if I slip and do reveal my full strength? Molly has warned me time and time again that revealing my wolf to the pack will only end in disaster. Although she can’t say more, I trust her.

I do my best to push my worry aside. There is nothing I can do about that now so I will have to cross that bridge when I come to it. For now, I will do what I can to prepare.

I push through the group, gossiping about the program and recent rogue attacks and make my way to the secretary.

“I would like to sign up for the Warrior Readiness Program.”

The older woman eyes me skeptically, but not unkindly. “Do you think that’s a good idea Chiara? I know you never presented with a wolf.”

I understand her apprehension to let me join, but I’m strong. Even if I can’t reveal my wolf I will find a way to prove myself. I nod. “I want to sign up.”

She looks back and forth between me and the other students gathered in the office for a moment before sighing. “Okay, I’ll put your name down, but I urge you to reconsider. This class is to prepare you for fighting rogues, no one will go easy on you because you don’t have a wolf.”

I push down my irritation at her words. I’ve spent my whole life hiding my strength from others I shouldn’t expect anyone to believe in me now. I look at her meaningfully. “I don’t expect them to.”

I wait until I’m sure she’s entered me and her system and turn to make my way to my next class. As I do, someone scoffs.

“Are we sure we should be allowing her to join up? The class is to prepare us for fighting rogues. After what happened with Owen can she really be trusted to learn those tactics? She’s probably working with them.”

I ignore the comment and push my way back into the hallway. It doesn’t matter what they think I will not waste this opportunity.

I look back over the flyer, turning it to the back to read what I’ve missed. The first class will be an assessment to judge everyone’s initial skills. When that is done all of the student’s within the program will be placed into different classes based on their skill level.

Those who do the best on the initial assessment with be placed into Class A, the most advanced group, and those who will complete training first.

I reread the flyer a few times, making sure that I haven’t missed anything. When I’m done I make a promise to myself. I will get into Class A.

The program won’t start for another month to allow everyone who might want to sign up the chance to do so and to prepare for the assessment. I vow that I will do everything I can in that time to prepare. The flyer doesn’t say exactly what the assessment will be, so I have to prepare for anything.

Later as I sit in my next class I let my mind wander to what this class could mean for me. I thought that my one chance to leave the New Moon pack and all of my tormentors behind was ruined when Alice claimed I poisoned her, but now I have another opportunity.

I can’t waste this chance. I will work as hard as it takes to become the best warrior I can, and when I do Vedant will have no choice but to release me from our bond so I can leave to fight rogues.

If he doesn’t, he will be selfish, a bad leader. He’s cruel, but even he can’t justify refusing to let a skilled warrior fight on the front lines. I smile to myself.

I am going to escape.