Page 29 of It All Started with a Bite

“Pick up that branch.”

He was indicating a fallen bough as thick as my arm.

I walked over and picked it up. It felt surprisingly light.

“Now break it,” Samuel ordered.

“I can’t just—” I started. The branch snapped like a toothpick in my hands. My mouth went dry. “Oh.”

“That’s why young werewolves undergo training as soon as they can walk,” Samuel explained. “Better than them accidentally breaking something expensive. Or someone.”

“Like Mark,” Bo suggested helpfully.

“No mauling humans,” Samuel said sharply. “It’s our most important rule.”

“Even if they deserve it?” I hazarded.

“Even then.” Samuel wrinkled his brow. “Who’s Mark?”

“My ex.” I grimaced. “He and his new girlfriend got me fired from my job today. To be fair, my boss was also gunning for my blood.”

Samuel blinked. “You got fired from Pennington & Graves?”

“The auditors weren’t happy with the firm’s performance. I was the sacrificial scapegoat.” I waved the broken branch. “So how do I do this?”

Samuel hesitated, like he wanted to ask more questions.

“Control comes from focus and intent,” he finally said. He picked up another branch. “Watch me.”

He applied exactly enough pressure to crack the wood without shattering it.

“Your turn,” he said.

I tried to copy him with my next branch. It disintegrated.

“Again,” Samuel ordered. “And while you practice, let’s discuss pack hierarchy.”

“Oh boy,” Bo muttered.

Samuel ignored my dog’s sass. “The alpha’s word is law. Always.”

“What about the luna?” Bo asked innocently.

“The luna has significant influence too,” Samuel admitted grudgingly.

An impish impulse had the next words out of my mouth before I could help myself. “Over the alpha?”

Bo looked impressed at my boldness.

“Over the pack.” Samuel’s eyes gleamed. “And over the alpha, when she chooses to exercise it.”

The intensity in his gaze sent heat crawling up my neck. I broke eye contact first and went hunting for more boughs, knowing I was being chicken and not caring.

Three more branches met explosive ends before I started to get a feel for it. It was like learning to use a muscle I didn’t know I had.

“Better,” Samuel said when I finally managed to crack a branch cleanly. “Now do it ten more times.”

By the eighth attempt, I was consistently breaking the branches with controlled pressure. It felt like something had clicked inside me. Like my human mind and new wolf instincts were beginning to sync.

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