Chapter 1- Training Field

Anne POV

My life was great once. I was part of the pack and loved by all, but then my sixteenth birthday came and I did not get my wolf. For many, this would be upsetting, but I was not that bothered because I figured that there would be a reason for this. We are brought up to believe heavily in the will of the Moon Goddess, so being wolf-less would have been her will for me.

Today I am off to the training field to practice learning to fight with my bow and arrows and my gun simultaneously to make the transitions between the weapons better, as I don’t want to give my enemy even a second of an upper hand while I am changing weapons. The change between the daggers and the gun I have perfected, but I need to work on the arrows and the gun and I will not be stopping until I have mastered it today.

“Anne, where are you going?” Asks Debbie, my best friend and the daughter to the pack trainer.

“To the training ground, I am going to go and practice.” I say, shifting my bag of arrows and the bow to the other shoulder as Debbie falls into step next to me.

“Just the arrows today?”

“Nope, this is my warmup. Going to practice with my gun too.” I say, patting my back pocket where my special gun lies. It is small but packs one hell of a punch, it is navy blue with gold and silver trim, a while leather handle and is set up to have three lots of ammunition automatically set up to reload, meaning I can shoot a total of twelve bullets three times at a time before I have to reload. It was a gift from the Bird Pack when I left, and I have loved it ever since.

“Oh no, please don’t tell me you brought the silver bullets.” Debbie moans.

“No.” I chuckle. “Only rubber bullets today, I am only practising after all.”

“Anne! Over here.” Shouts Gary, the head warrior.

“I think dad likes you more than me.” Debbie jokingly moans.

“Only because I don’t complain about training.” I joke.

“Most definitely. Are you sure I can’t adopt you?” Gary asks, walking toward us and wrapping both of us in a big hug.

“I wish you could.” I say sadly. Even when I returned, mother and father refused to acknowledge me as their child or as a living being. It didn’t matter that I was a weapon expert or others in the pack wanted me, Alpha Brad and my family despise me.

But I never once felt out of place, I just moved out of their home and into my own place on the outskirts of town. It is a little wood cabin that was sold cheaply, and I had saved up enough from the jobs I undertook in other packs to afford to buy it outright. I did it up and now I live there comfortably, happy that I am nearer nature than the pack.

“Shame they don’t see what we do. But their loss is our gain. Your mate is going to fall at your feet.” Gary says, stepping away.

“I doubt that as I don’t have a wolf so likely don’t have a mate.” I say, brushing off the idea of a mate.

“Anyway, what are you here for missy? Training starts in an hour.” Gary says, squinting his eyes at me.

“Ah, I am not here to train you guys today. I am here to practice.” I say, pointing proudly to my bow.

“I see, does that mean you will want some of this green?” he asks me.

“Yes please.” I smile at him

Gary points to the other end where some targets have already been set up.

“I can spare that part of the green, will that do?”

“Perfect.” I say, skipping off to my little green before anyone can change their mind or interrupt my plans.

I then spend the rest of the afternoon on the training field at the other end, I focus on my archery and shooting. I practice switching between the two until it is fluid and almost seemingless in the attacks.

I don’t pay attention to those surrounding me and when I am finally brought out of my little bubble, I realise that it is already nightfall and everyone else had gone in hours ago.

I sigh and head off to gather up the arrows at the other end of the practice ground before I also retire for the night.

I am just picking up the last arrow when I hear voices whispering to each other, I quickly pull out my silver bullets from my back pocket and load them into the gun. The then put my bow on my back and head deeper into the woods towards the voices.