Mine to Protect Chapter 60: UNFAIR FIGHT

*Hazel*

Emma is fighting a giant of a man, who surprisingly is losing badly. It’s incredible seeing Emma in combat, she’s like a panther, sleek, fast and lethal, a force to be reckoned with. No wonder she is an Alpha, usually only men are allowed to take that position, although there have been a few cases of female Alphas, it is still pretty rare. She must have fought teeth and nails to get where she is now; although I don’t like her, I have to admit that she is impressive.

“Isn’t she incredible?” Alice asks from beside me, startling me. I was so focused on the fight; I didn’t feel her approaching.

“I’ve been a fan of hers since she challenged her dad for the Alpha title, and won in just ten minutes, making him lose not only his title, but also his shit-face. Her dad is one of those troglodytes who thinks women are good just for cooking, cleaning and popping out pups, so you can imagine his surprise when his daughter challenged him for the Alpha position. He never thought he would get his ass beaten, poor idiot.”

All the more impressive, but still, it does not make me like her.

As if she could hear us gossiping about her, Emma turns in our direction and grins, taking wide strides towards us.

“Luna Hazel, are you feeling better? Derek said you had an upset stomach, that’s why you left the dining hall in a hurry.”

That idiot, why couldn’t he just tell them that I was not hungry, like I told him?

“I am fine now, thank you,” I reply a little uptight, trying to sound as natural as possible.

“Good. Are you here to train? Would you like to join us? We are short of one fighter.”

My eyes bulge out of my sockets at her invitation; me, fighting against one of them? It’s like walking voluntarily to my death bed, and a painful death at that.

“I don’t think I would be up to the task, I am not a fighter, I only had one lesson of combat in my whole life,” I reply sincerely, hoping she loses interest in me, and goes back to her street fighting.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t know. I assumed Derek’s mate would be a skilled warrior, seeing how much he cares about training, and believes that every pack member should be able to defend him/herself, no matter the gender or age.”

Is she having another dig at me, or is it just my imagination?

“Unfortunately, I was raised among humans, so I didn’t get the chance to attend combat training. I am trying to learn now, though. That’s why Alice is giving me lessons,” I explain, pointing at Alice beside me.

“I see,” she replies with what I believe is a sly smile, but maybe it is just my dislike of her affecting my vision of things. “I can teach you a few tricks, I am sure the training I got at the Alpha’s training school is better than what a Gamma can offer. It would be a good use of my time here, and having a stronger Luna will benefit Derek and the pack too.”

I can’t believe she just diminished Alice like this! And she is making it sound like she is doing everyone such a favor by coaching me for a couple of hours. What a bitch!

“Thank you, but I like the way Alice teaches me, she knows where I am at, so it would be more productive if I continue my training with her.”

“You are wasting a good opportunity, Luna Hazel, many would kill to be trained by me.”

Arrogant much? And why “Luna Hazel” coming from her mouth sounds like an insult?

“She is right, Hazzy, this is a great opportunity. I can train you next time, you should accept Alpha Davis’s offer,” Alice says, smiling half-heartedly, before she leaves to coach a group of warriors.

“Great. Let’s get started then. I am a fan of learning as I go, so I think you could try the same approach, which basically means, you’ll learn during the fight. Pay close attention to my movements and my positions, both in defense and attack, ok?”

She doesn’t even give me the time to reply yes or no, that she is already aiming a punch straight to my face; I duck quickly, but get kneed immediately after in my stomach, the air leaving my lungs, and I am just grateful I haven’t eaten anything at breakfast.

While I am clutching my stomach with my hands, she mercilessly lands a punch on the side of my face, making me see black for a fraction of a second, the right side of my face burns like it has been scalded, and I feel it swelling up already.

Is she really going to use me as a punch bag? What kind of training is this?

I don’t have the time to be outraged, because she’s on me again, I see a flying kick coming straight to my face, and I dodge left, minimizing the impact, her kick landing on my right shoulder, damn it hurts.

I need to do something; I can’t let her beat me to a pulp. I am not as good at combat as she is, but I am a white wolf, I have powers, which sadly I don’t know how to use. Damn it!

I dodged another punch to my face, getting my neck badly bruised in the process.

Come on wolf powers, do something, anything!

Emma’s elbow lands on my ribs and I hear a sickening crack, followed by agonizing pain.

Why isn’t anyone intervening? It’s true that we can heal, but at this rate she is going to kill me.

I need to concentrate on my emotions, channel them, use my powers. My wolf said we can blind, burn, create illusions.

I imagine a blinding light radiating from me, directed only at Emma, I channel all my anger into this thought, and as by magic, I see light engulf my whole body, and Emma screeches, shielding her eyes with her hands.

But I am not done, you won’t get away with it so easily, now it’s time to try my burning power, let’s see if she can get any hotter than that.

I imagine the light becoming warmer, hotter, until its temperature is so high it burns.

Emma starts crying out in agony, her skin becoming angry red, blisters appearing on her exposed skin. I know I should stop, but I am so angry, I want to make her suffer some more.

“Hazel, what are you doing? Stop it!” I hear Derek’s voice command me, and all my drive to make Emma suffer leaves me in an instant, replaced by guilt and regret at what I have done.