Fighting, Anaya Phoenix [best affordable ebook reader .TXT] 📗

needed their warriors to be healthy? So be it, steak and eggs for breakfast. I looked around and saw Filly laughing with some mountain lions, her hair pulled up in a ponytail and her stature relaxed. I smiled and ran my fingers through my hair, maybe here I would finally be able to relax like the rest. I fixed myself a plate and sat down next to Libby who looked like she might cry at any second. Because she was an omega she was grabbing too much attention, with me here the others could rest at ease.

“What’s the matter Libby?” I asked, picking up my steak and biting in to it. She pushed around the eggs and sighed, immediately I knew what it would be about.

“I don’t know where he is, I don’t even know if he’s gonna come back any time soon.” She said softly, still looking at her plate.

“Mason will be back when the training starts, and that’s today. So, get rid of those puppy dog eyes and don’t let mom see them because she will baby you to no end.” I said with a small smile on my lips. She looked to me, her eyes always that strange mix of green and blue that made me jealous.

“Really?” She whispered, trying to keep her excitement down. I laughed and stole a spoonful of eggs from her plate. She giggled and nudged my arm. Jesse flopped down in front of us with three steaks on his plate.

“I’ve never loved the Gods more than I ever have before.” He growled as he dug into one of those thick steaks, Libby laughed and I smiled. It had been so long since I heard her laugh, since I had a genuine moment of peace and happiness from Libby. I finished up my plate and made eye contact with FIlly, I nodded my head towards the exit and she nodded. I hated to be the one to break her apart from her kin, but I had to be broken apart from mine. Sometimes life just wasn’t fair.

“We have to gather them in the main corridor.” She pursed her lips and crossed her arms.

“And when do you propose we do that?” Her tone was a little too tart for my liking.

“What’s with the tone Filly?” I asked, cocking my head.

“They’ve just gotten here-”

“Wrong.”

“I think they deserve a little rest before we throw them into the storm. Let them stay at the eye for a while.” I looked at her for a long while before I stepped back.

“Maybe you’ve forgotten the gravity of the situation.”

“I haven’t-”

“Because it sure sounds like you did. We don’t know when the hyen is going to get here. After that, we have a month to train them. That’s not even enough time to teach them how to properly fight, nevermind use weapons and harness their elemental powers. I can only give them a certain amount of time before I don’t have any time to do anything. I wish I could give them more time, I wish I could give you more time but I can’t Filly. Please see and remember that.” With that I waited, she clenched her jaw and I cursed myself for my stupidity. I hadn’t noticed her eyes had turned red and that she was practically dripping with water.

“Don’t you-” I didn’t get o finish my sentence before she hit me with a burst of water. I was sent flying down the hall and into the main corridor. Whoever was there moved out of the way and I growled.

“That’s really fucking mature Felicia!” I snarled, calling Lilia to me. Flames dried me as she approached.

“Maybe that’ll teach you to stop being such a prick, Lilia!” She hissed until she stood in front of me.

“You’re letting your emotions lead you, that’s the first thing we were taught. Maybe you need to pull away from them.”

“Maybe you need to pull away from your family, let’s see how that goes for you. Maybe your little sister is too much of deadweight for you.” And just like that, my friend had become my enemy. With a growl I punched her in the face and grabbed her hair, slamming her nose down onto my knee with a pleasuring crunch. She hissed and grabbed my wrist, crunching the bone and making me pull away. She punched me in the gut before punching my jaw. We stood staring at each other, dominance fighting dominance. With a roar I ran at her and kicking her in the head, she caught my leg on the way down and threw me into the ground. She held onto my ankle and dragged me across the ground. With a snarl I bought out my claws and scratched at the ground.

“Oh, you’re finally gonna get yours Lily Bean.”

“Fuck you!” I growled, focusing on where she was grabbing, I sent heat there and she hissed and let go.

“You got dirt on my clothes.” I said simply, entwining my hand in her hair and bringing her close.i

“Not fucking cool!!” I said before headbutting her, with that she was knocked out. I stood over her panting, waiting for her to wake up. It might not take a lot to knock her out, but it took less than that for her to wake up out of it. She'd tricked a fey into blessing her with clearing the fog out of her head, a story she always tells when she's being particularly snobby. Leo appeared next to me, his hands on his hips and a deep sigh in his throat. I rolled my eyes and scoffed.

"Oh, of course you'll take her side! She tried to fucking drown me dude!!"

"And what'd you do to her?"

"Wha- seriously dude?!" I growled, balling my fists and preparing for another fight. Fully groaned as she sat up, her eyes hazy and less angry than they were before. She blinked and looked up at me before frowning.

"I can understand where you're coming from, but those cats. They've been through hell and back, all trying to protect the little misfit pack they have. It's hard not to get attached."

"I understand that, I do, but there are certain things we have to refrain from. The pain will be tremendous on the field. I told you to protect you, not to hurt you.” I helped her up and placed my hand on her arm. She sighed and looked me in the eyes.

“You’ve gotta meet them, they’re not even all cats. They’re just...family.” I sighed and gave her arm a slight squeeze.

"Fine, I'll meet them." With an expression that made my eyes narrow she grabbed my hand and ran past everybody who'd seen our fight and towards the dining hall.

    She was disgustingly giddy as we skidded towards their table. I made eye contact with Lina and sent warning signs. With a coy smirk she looked  down at her food and continued to eat.

"Treacherous cow." I mumbled before looking in front of me at the motley crew. A girl with pitch black hair and vibrant green eyes was the closest to me and she sized me up. With a mental eye roll I looked to the next person and was shocked to see she had green hair. She smirked, her blue eyes twinkling with the action.

"I dyed it." She said before forking a mouthful in her mouth. My body detected magick coming from her and I bit down on my tongue. I'd find out later. Across from them was a couple, judging by how the gripped each other's hand. She was Latina, her brown hair and equally brown eyes was proof of that. She watched me with shy curiosity and I nodded at her. The boy was the complete polar opposite of her, his pale skin and blond hair showed it. His brown eyes held strength and power in them. Alpha, my wolf told me.

"Luna, this is Lila," she pointed to black hair girl first and went around "Susie, Carmen and Brian." They gave a little wave each and nodded.

"Lila is a jaguar, Carmen is a wolf and Brian's a tiger."

"You took a handful from the pot, didn't you." She was too giddy to say words so she just nodded. With a sigh I sat on the edge of the table next to Lila. She had skipped Susie, I didn't know why but I would find out. I pulled my wife to the surface slowly, managing a smile to them.

"I reckon you know who I am." I said, soaking in their scents. Filly crinkled her brow slightly and leaned on Brian's shoulder. Magick tickled my nose and my ears pricked. Waves were flowing from Susie and they called to my wolf. With a chuff she pushed me out of her aura and disoriented me. The group chortled and looked down and Susie smirked.

"Think you were overreaching a little bit there."  She said confidently and I looked to her, crinkling my brow.

"Fae?"

"Half bear, half leopard. All fae." My interest, thoroughly piqued, damn near made me want to tackle her and study. Filly budged my arm.

"Knock it off, find out on your own." She whispered through the mental link. With a renounced sigh I looked to the couple.

"We've been together since we can remember." Carmen said, wiggling slightly due to the attention. Brian put his hand on her thigh and she took a breath.

"When we were all moved to the ghettos she lived in the same house with me." Brian spoke up, his cat pride not letting him stay quiet for long.

"Me and Susie lived in different houses across from them." Lila interjected, pushing her food around.

"It was a hard time, before we found each other, there were fights and nobody could really fit."

"We were placed in one of the under developments, they shoved too many of us with too much of a variety." Carmen said, her brown eyes downcast.

"A third of us died because they couldn't control it." She whispered and I felt her presence on my mind. I felt the ring of her and was tempted to probe. I didn't need Filly to tell me to back off, I did it without needing to be told.

"Well, we're here now. Were protected and we're safe." She nodded and gripped Brian's hand. A death grip if how his face softened was any indication.

"What exactly are we doing here anyway?" Susie asked, obviously bothered that her friend was bothered. I looked to Filly and raised a brow.

"Oooh, family huh? You didn't even tell them why they're here?"

"Most of them don't know why they're here if you remember Luna!" She practically yelled in my head.

"Are you guys done having your lovers quarrel?" Susie asked, her eyes flipping between us two.

"She can hear us." I said mentally and Susie's lips pursed.

"We'll tell you why you're here later, we'll tell all of you later. For now we need every body to just settle down."

"Haven't you heard?" Lila chortled "everybody is already settled in." The group smocked and Susie stood, carrying her tray with her.

"I'm done eating, anybody wanna come exploring with me?" Carmen stood quickly, gripping her tray and her mate.

"We'll come!" She all but yelled and scuttled away. With a sort of disgusted sigh Lila got up too.

"Was nice talking to ya, see ya around." She said as she walked away, shaking her head in humor.

“Welllll, what’d you think.”

“How is… Susie?” With a shake of her own, Filly walked off leaving me confused and alone.

Chapter 21