Page 32 of Rejecting the Future Moon Goddess

“Thanks. I had some help training as a pup, to be honest.” I see her questioning gaze but choose to ignore it, deciding to stretch and wait for the wolves to trickle in from the run. Lace is the first wolf I see, her body flushed and dripping in sweat as she runs over to Lena and me, accepting a waterbottle.

“Goddess, I need to run more!” She groans, flopping to the ground, and I laugh at her dramatic action.

“If it makes you feel better, you’re just behind Lena here.” I state, Lace looking to Lena with hopeful eyes.

“Care to jog with me every night so I can get better?” The Alpha Female asks to which Lena smiles back.

“Of course. I could use a running friend since my mother retired.”

“Speaking of which, the position of Head Tracker is yours if you want it.” Lace proposes, and Lena happily accepts without hesitation. The three of us stretch, waiting for more wolves to join.

Every so often, groups of three to five will come, barely walking in, their bodies slumped over and covered in sweat as both males and females collapse to the ground, some catching their breath and some passing out. I sigh, realizing just how much work needs to be done for these wolves to be able to keep up with my own pack. Finally, Mika comes trailing in with Ariven behind him giving me a hopeless look.

He’ll need extra training to be a top Alpha again.

“New rule.” I call out after twenty minutes of resting.

“We will have two training shifts, at ten in the morning and six in the afternoon.” The crowd groans at my words, their bodies slumping at the thought of more running. I chuckle, looking to Lace in amusement as she growls at her wolves, happy to see her keep them in check.

“You will all be split into two groups. Group A will run in the morning while group B patrols and protects the pack, then Group A will patrol in the night while Group B runs. Each run will be ten miles, and as your stamina and strength improve, we will increase the intensity by two miles. The firstgroup to run twenty miles will receive one thousand dollars per group member.” I continue, seeing excitement run through the exhausted wolves at the prospect of a challenge and a real prize at the end. I have a feeling this will encourage them all.

“Mika will be the leader of Group A, and Lace will be the leader of Group B. You are allowed to run and train on your own time if you so choose, but no one will be allowed to do that in wolf form. Leaders, choose your teams.” I motion for Lace and Mika to take control as they pick their team members one by one, with Lace on the left and Mika on the right. I had to train both the Alpha pups and make sure Lace and Mika can get along with the change in leadership and Lace being the new Alpha. I know she wants to make her brother her Beta, as Mika had made her his, but with his strength, he barely even qualified as a Hunter or Warrior. His running wouldn’t even allow him to be a Tracker. With the teams chosen, I am not surprised to see Lena beside Lace, the she-wolf a good fit for the team. Mika chose many strong wolves and Lace chose the weaker ones, which interested me. I know Lace see potential in these wolves while I have a feeling Mika just wants to win. Unfortunately for him, the strong wolves will need the most help in stamina while Lace’s wolves will need help in strength training.

“Okay, so to keep things even, we will be working in teams. This challenge will be to see just how strong each team can become within a short amount of time." I begin to explain, noticing at how evenly split the teams are and surprised Mika did not choose all the wolves he was once friendly with. I can see he is thinking with his brain for once.

"So, within your teams, partner up and we will go through a few exercises for you all to try. One will be an attacker and one a defender.” I continue, motioning for Maddie and Matt to demonstrate the hand-to-hand combat we will beworking on. Once the demonstrations were done, with Matt sporting a new black eye, I allow the wolves of Hidden Claws to break into their groups of two as they work hard.

Lace and Lena each separate and pair with two weaker wolves, allowing the wolves to practice on them first while Mika pairs with a strong Warrior on his team. I can’t help but smile. The Hidden Claws wolves showing me respect as a fellow wolf while accepting my help in growing strong once again is something I never thought possible.

“What’s with the smile, darling?” Ariven’s voice comes from behind, his hands massaging my stiff shoulders. Tingles crawl along my skin, and I chalk it up to goosebumps from the contact after a long run.

"I'm happy. Our wolves are getting along with Hidden Claws, we have a new ally, and I can put the past behind me.” I answer, leaning into his chest as Ariven chuckles and wraps his arms around me. I watch Leery, one of my Trackers, walk up to a wolf in Mika’s team. She helps correct his defensive stance and waits to see the results as the wolf’s partner attacks. In the end, the wolf she helps throws his partner to the ground and gives a triumphant cheer.

“Thank you for making me accept this job, Riv.” My smile widens as a kiss is placed on top of my head, the two of us silently watching the wolves before us train.

Slowly, my body begins to heat up, so I suggest we go stand under the tree where we can observe the group and see where we can improve training but nothing helps. After downing my tenth ice-cold water bottle, realization strikes me like a bolt of lightning as to why my body is heating up. Mother had reassured me that until I met my second-chance mate, I would not go into heat. I could be free of the pain that not being around your mate can cause while in heatand looked forward to not having it for a while. Right now, though, the signs were as clear as day. I can feel the one spot between my legs throb, my body heating up as I start to pant.

“Ariven.” I call out meekly, clinging to the tree, waiting for my Theta to return with more water.

“Gem, are you okay?” A moment later, I hear the sweetest voice that chills my body slightly, and I sigh. I feel my body slide along the tree as my knees grow weak. Loud thumps on the ground are followed by strong arms scooping me up and close to a solid chest, the contact forcing my hot body to cool once more, and I sigh in relief.

“Gem— Fuck!” A deep breath takes in my scent followed by a possessive growl. I turn to see male wolves slowly walking near me, their eyes glazed over from the pheromones secreting off of me. The scent of lust is in the air and I groan, my heat flaring up one again.

“Training is over, now!” Ariven growls out, forcing the unmated wolves to cower and back away from his possessive growl as his hold on me tightens.

“We’ll hold them back, get our Alpha to safety.” Matt calls out somewhere in the crowd. Ariven takes off, him mumbling where to go and I open the link.

[Go straight.] I state, my mind turning hazy. I share the pathway to the Hidden Valley, having Ariven run through the streams and river to hide our scent and dunk me in the cold fall water every so often to ease the pain of the heat. Soon, I hear the rushing of the waterfall, Ariven taking the tunnel until the scent of the familiar Hidden Valley hits me. My body is placed on a soft bed of grass, Ariven laying on top of me with a very noticeable erection pressed to my thigh as his lips crash onto mine in a passionate and possessive kiss.

“Mine.” He growls before his tongue delves into my mouth and battles mine in a dominant danceof passion.

?Chapter 29 – Claiming a Second Chance?

I think back to the time Ariven and I got drunk as his lips continue to move against mine and small moans escape us. We were having a heart-to-heart talk as I explained my rejection, how I couldn’t wait for the bond with Mika and I to break to find my second chance.

For Ariven, his mate was taken from him just after the two found out they were expecting their first pup. A jealous packmate shot her with a silver bullet, wanting Ariven for herself. He went mad, destroying that she-wolf in seconds before the devastating grief took hold of him. He ended up a Rogue and leaving to the Temple of The Goddess without any consequences for killing the she-wolf that murdered his mate and unborn pup in cold blood.

“Your mind is straying, my darling.” He whispers in my ear, bringing me from my thoughts with his husky lust-filled voice. I blush, his hand grasping my curly hair and tugging on the strands gently to expose my neck, where he takes a deep breath inhaling my scent and lightly licks from my collarbone to my ear.

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