"All I'm saying is, I've bagged two Betas. That's a pretty impressive feat, if you ask me," Gwen smugly stated, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively at Onyx, who was hunched over in laugher as we entered the training center.

Even I couldn't help the small smile that crossed my face as I rolled my eyes at the eccentric she-wolf.

"I mean, it's no Alpha," Gwen continued, winking at me. "But I'm pretty sure if my algebra is correct, two Betas equals one Alpha."

I snorted as we walked over to the dummies. Gwen took the knife out of her waistband and used it to decapitate one of them.

How much do you think one of these costs, anyways? Gwen asked me through mindlink, a smirk etched on to her face.

Rolling my eyes, I tossed her another knife that she caught with ease. Probably not enough to put Thane into financial ruin, if that's what you're trying to accomplish.

Gwen just laughed, and Onyx sat down near us on the floor. Meanwhile, Lucas was holding a punching bag while Axel pummeled the crap out of it. Leo watched in interest, and they took turns hitting it. None of them destroyed the reinforced bags. Ha, weaklings.

Gwen and I threw knives into the dummies, taking one step back with each throw to improve our distance throwing. Gwen had gotten much better at throwing knives since I had seen her train last, and I wondered how often she practiced.

I could feel the men staring at us, and my eye twitched in annoyance at being watched.

Are you going to participate, or just keep creeping? I asked Axel.

You know I'm no good at using weapons, Axel admitted, and I could feel a little bit of his embarrassment through the bond. He was one of the many Blood Lake wolves that rejected the use of weapons and preferred hand-to-hand combat or fighting in wolf form.

I heard Gwen try to rope Onyx into throwing some knives, which unsurprisingly, she declined. I told her if she did this with us, I would cancel her training tomorrow. Truth is, I already planned on giving her a break. She needed one day off every now and then in order for her muscles to develop properly anyways.

She immediately jumped off from the floor and said, "Count me in," with a laugh, making the corner of my mouth turn up into a smile.

"Knife?" Gwen held a knife out to Onyx, which she grabbed with much more confidence than the first time I offered her a knife. "Whiskey?" She offered, and produced a flask from her back pocket that I hadn't noticed sooner.

Unsurprisingly, Onyx declined, her eyes wide. I wouldn't have been surprised if she had never drank before, although I was sure that Gwen would remedy that by the time she left.

You've been holding out on me, I accused Gwen as I took a drink from the flask after she did.

You should know me well enough to know I always have alcohol on hand, Gwen laughed.

Even Axel drank some, which surprised me because he rarely drank with us. I don't think I had ever seen him drunk before either. He always called us alcoholics, a title Gwen wore with pride.

Gwen threw the empty container over her shoulder, which, no doubt intentionally, would have hit Leo in the face if he hadn't caught it. He scowled, but the winkle in his eye showed that he was in no way angry.

"Okay so stand here," Gwen instructed Onyx, and grabbed her by her scrawny arm. "Left foot in front. Grip the blade like so. Okay good! Now put the blade slightly over your shoulder, and when you throw it, make sure to flick your wrist slightly or the blade won't embed in the dummy. For clarification, I mean the target dummy, not the Beta dummy on your left," She clarified, a slight smirk gracing her face.

I couldn't help stifling a short laugh, and even Onyx giggled. Leo just rolled his eyes, and said, "Anytime you want to put down your little knives and spar, I'll be ready, pup. We'll see if you're so sharp tongued then."

Gwen's eyes darkened and I sighed. Who thought bringing her here would be a good idea?

"Stop hitting on me, dog. I'm trying to train your future Luna, I need to focus," She ordered, but her smirk revealed that she didn't mind the flirting.

"And you drank 10 oz of alcohol to what, help your focus?" Leo scoffed, and Axel and Lucas chuckled, which made Gwen give the two of them a nasty look. She opened her mouth to retort back, but was interrupted by the sound of a knife sinking into the target.

My head tilted to the side and examined the hit, as did Gwendolyn. Gwen gave a huge grin. "Not bad, little wolf. I'm a pretty good teacher, if I do say so myself," Gwen boasted.

You learned from the best, little wolf, I teased her, and she winked in response. Don't release the knife so soon. Wait until it's a little bit lower so you can hit the torso, I instructed Onyx, my voice serious in teacher-mode.

I offered her another knife, which she threw. I corrected her form, and gave her another knife, and the cycle repeated over and over until beads of sweat dripped down her forehead.

"Good job, Nyx. We may make a professional killer out of you yet," Gwen joked, and the look on Onyx's face made me nervous for what the challenge may bring.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Hey, I said, tapping into the mindlink as I crawled into the bed in the new guest room I moved in to, the last one still having the door shattered into a million pieces. As Axel requested, it was right next to his room, and Gwen stayed in the room across from mine. No doubt, passed out from all of the alcohol she had drank during dinner, despite complaining to Thane that it was "frat boy alcohol, unsuitable for a lady of her caliber". To which Thane responded: "I don't see any ladies around," which of course sent Gwen into howls of laughter.

How's it going, mate? Cain immediately responded through our mindlink, and I could feel some of my stress melt away at the sound of his voice, a comfort I hadn't realized I depended on.

Thane really should be paying me double for this job, I joked, closing my eyes to immerse myself in the conversation.

Double of zero is still zero, Cain pointed out, chuckling lowly. Is anyone giving you a hard time? He asked, keeping his tone light, but I could still feel traces of anxiety through the bond.

I wish. It's almost too boring here, I said. No one puts up as good of a fight as you, my training is seriously suffering here.

Cain laughed, You flatter me, pup. Is that your way of asking me to come collect you from Blue Moon?

I sighed. You know I can't do that. Thane's mate is seriously battle-handicapped.

Cain paused. Well, it sounds like you have your work cut out for you. I hate to make this worse on you, but I may need Axel to come back to Blood Lake when Gwendolyn returns. I'll have Lucas stay with you for the remainder of your stay.

Why do you need Axel? I asked curiously.

Sighing, Cain answered, I have to make another visit to Red Crescent. It seems like some of the pack is still rebelling and getting anxious without an Alpha. Axel is good with Red Crescent wolves, and gets along well with Sebastian, too. I think it will be good to have him with me for communication purposes.

That's fine, I think Axel misses you. Something about your sweet, sweet love that helps him sleep at night? I joke, and Cain bellows in thunderous laughter.

Since when do you make so many jokes, pup? If I didn't know any better, I'd say the little she-wolf has softened you, Cain jokes, making me scoff.

Me? Yeah, right. I'm stone cold, baby, I say, and can't help the sleepiness that threatens to overcome me.

Go to sleep, my soft little Luna. We'll talk again tomorrow, he commands, although his tone is gentle.

Yes, Alpha, I say antagonistically, and fall into a blissful rest.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I woke up screaming, sweat coating my neck and hairline. The nightmares get more and more brutal each night, and I clutch my throat to make sure that my head is still attached to my body.

Axel bursts in, his eyes completely black as he scans the room for threats. When he finds the room empty, he looks at me in sympathy. "Nightmare?" He asks softly, and I don't confirm it.

Go to sleep, Axel. I'm not a toddler in need of coddling, I rebuke him. Memories of the nightmare overtake my mind, and I sprint to the bathroom, barely putting my head over the bowl before vomit spews out. I continue throwing up until I'm dry-heaving, nothing left to expel from my body.

I go to the sink and start brushing my teeth, ignoring Axel's figure in the mirror, where he stands behind me, a combination of worry and anger on his face.

"That's it. I'm telling Cain you need to go back to Blood Lake immediately," Axel growled, his shirtless frame shaking.

I rolled my eyes. You are blowing this out of proportion. They're nightmares, everyone gets them.

"For fuck's sake, Ares! This is not okay!" He yells, and angrily runs a hand through his hair in distress. "Your nightmares are so disturbing they make you sick. I've seen you behead and kill more people than I can count, but these dreams have you so unhinged you wake up vomiting."

I don't need a play-by-play, Axe, I was there, I sigh as I spit into the sink and walk back into the bedroom, with Axel hot on my tail.

"Stop fucking joking around!" Axel shouts, his eyes blazing in fury. "I'm telling Cain. You are going back to Blood Lake with me when I leave with Gwendolyn in two days, and that is final."

Oh yeah? I hiss venomously at my Beta, walking up to him so that we're face to face. Well, face to chest, since he's a foot taller than me. What's Cain gonna do, huh? Fight the boogeyman? Make a deal with the sandman? Beg them to stop giving me nightmares?

Axel just glares at me as I shove him backwards. Face it, toots. This is my problem and mine alone. You think Cain doesn't know I have nightmares? Believe me, he's there every. single. night. when I wake up screaming.

"Exactly, Ares, that's what I'm trying to say," Axel murmurs gently. "He's there for you. You should be with your mate to get through this. Not territories away, waking up alone without anyone to hold you."

I don't need to be held, I hiss. I am not a fucking broken doll. Cain understands that, why can't you? Drop it, Beta, I will not tell you again.

Axel's anger fades into an emotion I don't recognize as his face twists. "When you suffer, Luna," He says the last word bitterly, "The pack suffers."

With that last comment, he leaves the room, slamming the door on the way out, leaving me standing in the middle of the guest room completely, and utterly alone. I tried to convince myself that's what I wanted.