Chapter 111 - Careful

I woke up gasping, sweat coating my entire body. The dream decided to visit me last night. I take in a deep breath and wait for my racing heart to slow. Ethan lays beside me sleeping peacefully and I resist the urge to reach out and touch him. Carefully I slide out from under the sheets and move towards the dresser.

Quickly, I grab joggers and a workout bra for training. The sun hadn’t risen yet and the moonlight filtered in through the window. The outcome replaying over and over in my mind. A constant reminder of what could happen to everyone I care about.

My heart restricted, pushing the thoughts aside I headed into the shower to prepare myself for the busy day I had ahead of me. I didn’t have time to sit and wallow in sadness and depression over something that hasn’t happened yet.

Soon I was walking down to the eating area with a zip-up windbreaker over my training clothes. My body tingled and warmed in a weird way. I was hungry and knew I would need something in my system for training.

The scent hit me as I walked in through the doors and the working staff greeted me with a slight bow. Today, they had prepared biscuits and gravy with a variety of fruits to choose from. Grabbing a plate I rush to the table.

This is going to be amazing. A few of the Deltas walk through the door and give me a slight bow before snatching an apple from the selection of the fruit. My eyebrows raise as they bypass the biscuits and gravy only to walk out of the kitchen.

Insanity. Pure insanity but I guess they won’t be training today so they aren’t worried about having enough energy to survive the day. I’m shoving my face when Odis glides through the door and stares at me with shock splashed across his features. I raise an eyebrow at him daring him to say something when he realizes he’s staring at me and fixes his expression that screams judgmental.

“Good morning Beta Odis,” I greet him not bothering to fake pleasantries.

“Good morning Luna,” he greets, and dare I say I see him stifle a smile. I noticed the dark circles under his eyes and frowned as I realized I’d let another person slip through my fingers. I needed to get a grip and stop being a shitty friend.

“Sleep well?” I ask as he grabs himself a plate.

“No.” He glanced over at me as he picked up a handful of grapes. “I haven’t but I’ll be fine.”

He headed my way and placed his plate down and sat two seats down from me. He looked a little out of sorts as he started on his food.

“What do you have planned for today?” I ask before I take a big bite of a gravy-soaked biscuit. I bite back the moan of appreciation. This was hitting all the right spots.

“I was going to have to drive out today for a meeting with one of the nearby packs. I was standing in for Alpha but it was canceled. Something came up on their end and they let us know last night. So, I’ll be assisting Alpha today with the new recruits,” he shrugged.

It took everything for me not to cough when I choked on a biscuit. I doubt Odis would appreciate gravy splattered all over his clothes. Gross.

“Oh?” I say.

“You should tell Odis about training,” Korra said thoughtfully.

I snorted a laugh, taking another bite.

“That way you don’t catch him off guard,” she says.

“Alpha told me there’s someone he’s vying for Gamma and it’s piqued my interest.” Beta Odis released a sigh. The topic of Gamma wasn’t something any of us were comfortable with but it’s something we need to face. The position needed to be filled and the longer we put it off the weaker it made us.

Fuck it.

“We can go to training together,” I said to Odis with a shrug. “Maybe you can pretend to be my lover,” I joked.

Odis tensed. His hand freezing midair with his fork inches from his mouth.

“What did you say?” He asked lowering his fork.

I gulped.

“Maybe we can go to training together?” I tried to keep my voice light.

“Why would we go together? No, that’s not what I’m trying to ask. Why? Why would you go to training?” He asked.

“I… may be training alongside the new recruits?” I say and flash him a smile.

“That sounds like a reckless thing to do,” he says in a low voice and his eyes darken.

“I wouldn’t say reckless,” I start but he cuts me off.

“If you want to train, you should train with our warriors. You shouldn’t be going to training with people we don’t know are loyal yet. There could be assassins or some of them may still be loyal to their deceased Alpha,” he says, anger seeping into his voice. “And they’re training in close proximity to their Luna!”

“Well… not exactly,” I say.

His eyes dart to mine. He doesn’t say anything and I know he’s waiting for me to explain.

“They may or may not know that I’m their future Luna,” I say and laugh nervously.

“And Alpha Ethan is okay with this?” He asks incredulously.

“Yes,” I say. “But I’m going to tell them before the ceremony.”

He lifts his hand and rubs circles into his temple.

“I’m Tier 1,” I tell him.

His eyes open in surprise followed by a sigh.

“I didn’t think you were inadequate, Luna,” he says. “I think we should be more careful.”

“I wanted to train and get to know the new recruits and I think we have great potential,” I say. Not that I would know what would be considered great but I think so nonetheless.

“Has anyone given you a hard time?” He asks.

“Mm… I wouldn’t say that…,” I say.

“But?” He asks.