Page 135 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

Chapter 4

Macey’s ass hit the ground again, and she barely got out of the way of the training knife—shaped like a knife but made of wood so it only bruised instead of cutting—as it stabbed into the ground where she’d been lying.

“Get up.” Someone shouted from the sidelines.

Like she wasn’t trying. They’d been training for hours. She was sore everywhere and had discovered new muscles. The man she was fighting kicked toward her ribs. She rolled and got to her feet, only to collect another stab to the gut that left her winded. She doubled over, and as he came in for the kill, she slammed both fists into his nuts like she was spiking a volleyball. High school sports lessons had finally become useful.

He staggered back, but still held the knife. She had to get that to win.

Tomorrow they’d be using actual knives. She’d be cut to ribbons in seconds going by today’s performance. And even though she healed fast, she didn’t enjoy getting hurt.

She snarled, fangs down, then unleashed an attack of her own before he recovered. She slammed her shin into his thigh and swung her elbow at his head. Confidence swelled and her snarl became a smile. She had him!

Her leg went from under her, and his hand closed around her throat as he took her to the ground. The tip of the wooden knife pressed against her breast. She was dead.

Several of the other new vampires groaned. Because she’d lost or because one of them was up next?

The guy pulled the knife away. “You did good.”

He offered his hand as he stood. It’d be churlish to refuse but she was tempted. He helped her up then spoke to the class. “The moment you get too confident, you’re dead.”

He tossed the knife to another vampire. Had they volunteered to teach so they could beat up new vamps? Or was community service something they had to do when not patrolling?

She sat in the dirt, wincing. For a few seconds she imagined how different her evening would be if she was a wolf. The wolves were out there having fun. The gathering was for their pleasure and pack business. Deals would be made. Matches approved. Lineages checked. Would Owen’s father have approved of her? Would her family have been happy for her to leave?

Would she have been happy in a more traditional pack, staying home and making wolf babies?

She had a degree, and she wanted a career. She wanted to live her own life…and this wasn’t it.

While she’d spoken to a few vampires, she didn’t want to be obvious and ask if they needed more vamps in their pack. She could ask her parents to make some enquiries on her behalf, but that would mean telling them and while they treated her differently now, leaving was something else.

The new vampire in the ring skidded across the circle on their back and landed at her feet. She scrambled back to make room. But it wasn’t required. He was ‘dead’ in the next five seconds. At least she’d lasted longer.

Did they even need to learn how to fight like this?

People didn’t run around with pitchforks and hunt monsters anymore. They had forgotten that werewolves and vampires existed. And the wolves could take care of themselves, they were wolves after all. But vampires that left to go alone were called rogue and any pack they lived nearby could hunt them down. Talia’s warning that the wolves feared them echoed in her mind.

Two more fights and an end to the training session was called. It must be close to midnight. She stood, aching and in need of a shower, food, and rest.

“You want to grab something to drink with the rest of us, or do you want to hang out with your family?” Talia asked as they walked toward the cabin. Her cheek was dark and bruised, but she was acting like this was the best fun she’d had in a while.

“My family will be doing wolf stuff.” And she got to see them every day at home. Living in a houseful of wolves only served as a constant reminder that she wasn’t, and she was tired of being left out and viewed as second best. The words bubbled up before she could stop them. “I want to move away and use my degree.”

Talia lifted her eyebrow. “Why?”

“Because I need to have a life…find a life…and figure out how to be me. Not Macey the failed wolf.” She should’ve gone away for college and made the break then. It would’ve been easier for everyone.

“I’m sure they don’t see you that way.”

“Did things change when you didn’t shift?” Macey glanced at the post. It was empty tonight. Who would slip up first? Wolf or vampire? While she’d never seen the punishment, she’d heard about it.

Talia was quiet for a moment. “I’m the youngest, a surprise baby. I’m the only child still in the pack. My older sister moved to her husband’s and my brother moved across the country for work. Someone had to stay with them, and that’s me. I accept that. You need to accept that you aren’t a wolf and never will be and your life won’t be what you expected.”

Macey had already realized that, but she didn’t need to settle. She didn’t want to be forty, or sixty, and have regrets. Was she selfish for thinking about leaving her family and her pack?

There was more to life than Green River. But she didn’t think Talia would understand her need to get out and stand, or fall, on her own.

Even here she was trying to fit in and be something she wasn’t.

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