Chapter 2

Raven

I walk through my room towards the bathroom and released that my room reflects a lot about me, no frills, no clutter, neat and simple. My mother describes it as modern industrial chic. I have a big bed in the middle of my room with an array of grey sheets and pillows. I don't have bedside tables but two big grey lamps. A few green plants are spread out in the room, nothing that requires too much attention, or it will die. I have a few mirrors and frames (no pictures) just the frames are hanging on the four walls. My favourite place is my reading nook. I have a huge ceiling-to-floor bookshelf and one comfy grey reading chair.

As I switch on the bathroom light, to see what the damage is from the sleepless night. Instead of being greeted with my usual bright ocean-blue eyes, I’m greeted with tired dull eyes, who are accompanied by dark circles just below them. My fair skin only makes the bags under my eye my eyes look worse. I used to hate my light skin, all the shifters I know have tanned skin, but not me, I’m as white as snow. My long, usually straight, jet-black hair is a tangled mess because of all the tossing and turning. At least my lips are their usual dark blood red. When I was little most people call me Snowy because my appearance has some similarities with the Disney Princess Snow White.

My bathroom matches my bedroom’s colour scheme. It has a huge shower and tub, and some artificial plants and candles scattered around. I turn on the shower and let the hot water run all over my body. After a few minutes, I quickly wash myself and get out. I get dressed in a simple pair of high-waisted grey leggings, a grey sports bra and a white crop top, paired with grey trainers. I’m in good shape because of all the training and even though I don’t flaunt it, I am not about to hide it. I pull my long back, now detangled, hair in a ponytail and head downstairs.

As I head down the stairs and I turn toward the kitchen at the bottom. I love our house, it’s an old family home, so it’s a little big for 3 people, but my cousins visit often so the extra rooms are not unoccupied for long. The house is two storeys high. The top floor has 4 bedrooms, my room is upstairs, along with 3 spare bedrooms. They all have their own bathrooms, which makes it easy when the house gets full. My parents’ room is downstairs to the right side of the house, and they have their own ensuite too. My dad built my mom her own walk-in closet a few years ago, which is the definition of every girl’s dream. At the bottom of the stairs, you have the medium size foyer which flows into the open-plan dining and lounge area and on the left, we have the kitchen, guest bathroom and study. The house has wooden floors and antique furniture with some plants standing around. We have family photos from 3 generations back hanging all around the house.

I can smell the freshly brewed coffee before I even entered the kitchen. I need to be at the training field at 06:30, but since one of the assessors for today, aka Dad, is still wolving down the mountain of bacon on his plate, I know I at least have time for a cup of coffee.

“Morning sweety,” my mom says when she spots me coming into the kitchen. “The coffee is freshly made, please try and eat before you go” she adds with a kiss on my forehead.

“Thanks mom,” I say will head straight for the coffee. I reach for my favourite mug, it’s the size of two normal mugs, grey and a little of-centred. I love this mug, or if I’m honest like love the person that gave it to me. I sit down at the breakfast table and drink my coffee staring at my mug. I must have been close to tears because my mom took my hand and said: “he would have been so proud of you; you will live out the dream for both of you.”

I give my mom my best reassuring smile and nod. She is speaking of Alec, my boyfriend, well guess he is my ex now. We have been dating for more than 2 years. He died a couple of months ago. He made me this mug when he was teaching himself pottery. He had seen a movie where the guy teaches the girl how to make a pot and they ended up sleeping naked. So, he was determined to teach himself in order to teach me. I laugh at the memory. Alec died in a rogue attack. I could get there in time. Even though the actual warriors usually handled rogue attacks this one was different just based on the sheer number of rogues the trainees, including Alec and I, had to help. He was a skilled fighter and would have made the EAS easily, but he was outnumbered, and nobody, including myself, could get to him in time.

We weren’t mates, but Alec always said that even my mate couldn’t love me more, but if I meet my mate and want to be with him, he will let me go. Reign was sad too when he died, she felt connected to his wolf, Arrow. After he died, she started to feel the loneliness of not having our mate. When Arrow was alive, Reign didn’t feel like something was missing, and the same goes for Arrow. But now, it’s like we carry around a dark weight of sadness, loneliness and guilt for not being strong or fast enough to save him. I can feel Reign whimper in the back of my head.

My dad pulls me out of my morbid thoughts by handing me a plate with some bacon, eggs and some strawberries, which is arranged in a smiley face. I laugh at that and wipe my tears away. I will become a warrior today, for both of us. I eat my breakfast and drink my coffee. Say goodbye to both my parents and head out to the training field. Trainees have to report earlier so that we can be divided into our groups.

At the training grounds, I’m assigned to group A, so I’m first up, which I prefer since then I don’t have time to get in my head. We were all asked to wait in the gym until they call us out group by group. I found myself a seat on one of the bench press machines and take a deep breath.

“Just stay calm, we got this, we are fast, strong and on top of that, a tracker” Reign states confidently. I know she can feel my nervousness, and I also know she is right.  I try to listen to her and pull out my phone and headphones to listen to some music while I wait.

“Good luck out there Snow, not that you need it,” a deep voice says. I look up to see none other than the future Alpha of our pack, Colton. Colton is built like most Alphas, at least 6 feet tall, big built with well-defined muscle you could see through any type of clothes he wears. He has curly red hair and piercing green eyes and a jawline that could cut through steel. I have known him since I was a toddler, but due to my dad’s position, we were forced to spend a lot of time together. You know what they say, friends made in captivity will last a lifetime. Colton has all the general Alpha personality traits, commanding, dominating, and intimidating, but he is also funny, easy-going and level-headed, not to mention the biggest flirt you will ever meet.

“Thanks, Cotton-Ball” I laugh, and he shakes his head at my chosen nickname. I see some of the females stare at him longingly, they all want a shot at being with him, but since he is also 22, and we have had multiple pack-runs and it is quite clear none of them is his mate. Not that that will stop them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not interested, but his my childhood friend and the future Alpha so I don’t want him or my pack to end up with a self-absorbed, selfish Luna.

“You know, if you want to give me a nickname, why don’t you make it Big C or Colt or Cole?” he asks while taking the seat next to me. I don’t miss how he checks out some of the females that are wearing next to nothing.

“Aren’t you meant to be one of the assessors today? And if so, should you not be out there, assessing?” I questioned pointing to the training field.

“Hey, relax Snow, I’m on my way, just wanted to stop by and say good luck since I would be able to talk to you later. We don’t want anyone to think I’m playing favourites, now do we.” he winks at me while getting up and starts heading to the door.

He stops after taking only one step, he turns towards me, giving me a pointed look “Trust your gut today and don’t hesitate.” He turns and heads out the door that leads to the training field.

“Group A head to assessment point 1, we will start in 5 minutes” yells a warrior at the door.

Here we go.