NovelsFreeChapter 123 Ava: New Shifters
Lisa and | share a look before following Amara further into the gym. I can feel the eyes of the other shifters
tracking our every move. Unease has my heart beating in rapid rhythm, like a frantic chicken flapping its wings.
All the excitement I'd felt at meeting new people is now buried beneath the worries dashing through my mind.
Do they hate me?
Is their disapproval because I'm a Blackwood wolf?
Do they know | can't shift?
Have there been complaints about me?
What have they been saying?
But, of course, | don't have the answers, so | follow behind with my mouth shut.
It will be fine, Selene assures me, but she's very unconcerned about the thoughts of humans or shifters. In fact,
I'm not sure she cares about anyone other than me. She isn't even fond of our fated mate.
Selene snorts. Fated doesn't mean inevitable.
Once we reach the mats, Amara turns to face us, her stance relaxed but ready. It's hard not to focus on the lean
muscles defined in her arms. I'd thought | was making improvement with my training, but compared to her? |
look like a newborn baby, soft and squishy.
"Let's start with sbasic defensive moves and see where you're at."
Amara launches into an explanation of a simple block and counter, demonstrating the moves with fluid grace. |
focus on her words, trying to commit the steps to memory.
Then it's our turn to try. Lisa goes first, her face set in concentration as she attempts to mirror Amara's
movements. It's a little clumsy, but she executes the block successfully.
"Good," Amara praises. "Remember to keep your weight centered and your arm firm."
Lisa nods, blossoming beneath her praise. Jericho snorts, but by smiracle manages to keep himself from
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtsaying anything terrible.
| step up next, taking a deep breath to center myself. Amara nods atto begin.
| move through the motions, muscle memory from Jericho's training kicking in. The block is solid, my stance
steady. Amara's eyebrows raise slightly, a hint of surprise flickering across her face.
"Well done," she says. "You've clearly been practicing. Next time, commit to the movement. You're hesitant, and
hesitation will get you killed."
"I understand." Pride surges throughas | glance toward Jericho, who watchesin continued silence. Maybe
I'm not as far behind as | feared? Maybe | can hold my own here after all.
We continue like that for a while, Amara showing us new moves and critiquing our form. It's challenging, sweat
dripping down my back as | push myself harder, striving to perfect each technique. | have to repeat them
multiple times, and despite her initial reticence, Amara proves herself to be a dedicated teacher.
Lisa and | take turns facing off against each other, putting our new skills to the test. Lisa is a quick learner, her
determination making up for any shortcomings. She getsdown more often than not, but I can tell a
difference in our strength. Jericho has said nothing about it—but I can feel it now.
I'm stronger. This is beyond training, but something else. Like my enhanced healing, and how | woke up from a
three-week long coma no longer needing glasses to see.
By the tAmara calls for a break, my muscles are burning and my lungs heaving. But beneath the exhaustion
is a sense of accomplishment.
There's definite progress, and it's exciting. Even Lisa, who's usually dead after a long day of training, bounces
with more energy than usual.
As | gulp down water, a prickle of awareness runs along my spine. Glancing up, | find several of the male shifters
watchingwith interest. It makeswant to squirm, their gazes a little too intense for comfort.
I look away, focusing on Lisa instead as she chatters excitedly about everything we've learned. Her enthusiasm
is contagious, and | find myself smiling, the unease from earlier fading.
* kK
The first day was a fucking bait and switch.
Jericho leaves us to Amara's tutelage, and over the next five days, we're brutalized and beaten to the mat. Lisa
isn't smiling anymore, and | no longer feel pride over my improvement.
If Amara ever looked atwith more than mild curiosity and distance, | would be certain she's trying to bully
There's nothing, technically, to complain about.
But there's just something, a subtle energy among the shifters, in their eyes and the way they speak.
They are jealous, Selene opines, sounding distracted.
Are you watching your trashy TV show again?
Of course. | can sense her tail swishing despite our distance. It is very entertaining. Humans know how to tell a
story, even if their accuracy is subpar.
"Focus!" Amara shouts, and | drag my head back to the situation at hand.
One of the other shifters, a younger male with a cocky swagger, is my opponent this morning. He's one of the
many who watchfrom the sidelines, judging every move | make.
I'm lacking.
It makes sense, knowing they think ofas their alpha's mate. Their future Luna.
Don't worry about what they think. They are all beneath you. Selene's natural arrogance is probably because of
her Lycan soul; | don't know how she cares so little about how other people think of me.
They are not our pack, she says, withoutasking. How they think of you is inconsequential. If they have
something to say, they can do it through a challenge. None of those pups is arrogant enough to challenge one
who might bectheir future Luna.
Still.
It's hard to let go of a lifetof conditioning, where knowing how your pack feels on any given day could save
you from a beating—if you run fast enough.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmWhen you are strong enough, there is no need to run.
Simple words from a simple view. It must be nice to be a wolf.
It is, she agrees, sounding only half-interested again.
A fist flying toward my face remindsit isn't the tor place to be focused on discussions with my wolf.
Giving up on any semblance of grace, | drop to the ground with a broad sweep of my leg, halting his advance. |
can tell out of the corner of my eye that Amara's unimpressed with the move.
| already know what she's going to say. Too flashy.
The male shifter lunges atagain, undeterred. | block the first punch, but the second clips my jaw, snapping
my head back. Pain explodes through my face. Shit, that hurts.
My knees buckle and my stomach twists, nausea sliding in as a vicious response to the pain. | stumble back,
shaking my head to clear it, setting my jaw against the urge to vomit.
Breathe. You'll be fine.
Selene's unconcerned but kind advice helpspower through as | stumble, shaking my head to clear it.
He presses his advantage, crowding into my space with a flurry of hits. | backpedal, struggling to remember my
training, to find my footing.
He getsin the ribs twice and again in the face, but at least this t| don't feel like I'm going to vomit from
the pain.
Focus, Ava, Selene chides in my mind. You're overthinking it. Let your instincts guide you.
word
word
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWL1i10f1ifl0&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
