I scarcely manage to nod, and the Alpha ultimately relinquishes his hold, moving away from me. “You have until Laura returns home to inform me that the child is absent.” “I beseech the Moon Goddess to ensure your success, Zen.”
Therefore
“This is ineffective,” Andrew exhales, gazing down at me after having incapacitated me for the sixth consecutive time. “He is not engaging offensively, merely defending.” One cannot prevail in a confrontation solely via defence. “You must confront your adversary,” he reprimands me, assisting me to stand.
Josie bites her bottom lip while contemplating a new training regimen for me, causing my self-esteem to diminish.
“You are making all the correct moves, Jadi,” Josie attempts to uplift my spirits, however I struggle to accept this considering the duration of our efforts.
I have undergone training throughout the week, honing my Moonlit wolf talents with Josie and enhancing my skills in mind control, telepathy, and projection. My mind control talent is ineffective on Josie and her twin sister, Celina, although it is effective on nearly all other wolves. I possess a limitation on the amount of wolves I may command simultaneously, with my maximum being four.
In addition to Moonlit wolf training, I have been collaborating with Gamma Andrew to enhance my musculature, endurance, and flexibility, while also practicing hand-to-hand combos; nevertheless, all my endeavours appear fruitless when I enter a sparring circle.
“We just need to find the right… motivation for you,” Josie continues with her shy smile, Andrew offering me a water bottle while we take a break.
I endeavour to refrain from sulking while she and Andrew engage in brainstorming when Josie abruptly begins to shriek with excitement.
“I have obtained it!” She weeps, leaping exuberantly. “I will retrieve Thia.”
“Thia?” Andrew enquires, scratching his head in perplexity. “Why my companion?” “
“Simply trust me,” Josie states with a smile, gesturing with her wrist to open a portal before vanishing inside it.
Andrew merely shrugs, touching my shoulder. “How is the companion?” Does she have feelings for you yet?He emits a chuckle.
Do you appreciate us? Jimmy derides. She adores this p***s.
I utter, “Cease your discourse,” while compelling a smile and pointing at Andrew.
“If you require any advice, I am at your service,” Andrew states with a wicked grin. “I have never had a brother to whom I could impart my wisdom, and I am disinterested in the activities of Josie and Mark behind closed doors.” He shudders to underscore his revulsion and protrudes his tongue.
I smile and nod uncomfortably, uncertain how to contribute to this dialogue. I remain uneasy utilising my voice in the presence of someone other than Bray or Ricky; yet, it appears that Andrew is unbothered by my reticence.
“You evoke memories of Josie,” Andrew remarks, causing my ears to perk up in response. Upon observing my heightened curiosity, he takes a seat on a mat. “She was not consistently the formidable Queen that you observe now. She remains exceedingly shy and timid, though she was previously fearful as well. Extremely fearful.
I gaze down at the Gamma with curiosity. What threats could a wolf such as Josie encounter?
“Josie endured years of abuse from her former pack, Coscaris,” Andrew elucidates. “Her family subjected her to daily torment, and frankly, I remain largely unaware of the extent of her suffering.” She arrived with numerous mental and physical scars, and it required considerable time for her to confide in us and even longer to establish confidence. She continues to experience difficult days, albeit less frequently.
I believed that Josie sprang from a troubled background based on the recollection I witnessed, however I was unaware of the severity of her trauma. She seemed to be quite content now. I would have never anticipated that she continues to grapple with her history.
“What I am conveying is that you need not feel ashamed of your history and your apprehensions.” There is no shame in requiring assistance and direction, particularly in the context of training. The path of healing is often arduous, and at times, one may falter. No one anticipates you to consistently maintain composure, whether you are a Moonlit wolf or not. Josie is the most formidable wolf on the globe, and she attends therapy weekly as it is beneficial for her. I won’t lie, therapy sucks, but it’s not meant to be easy. Confronting one’s demons requires much fortitude.
I am delivering this sermon solely since I perceive you are grappling with an issue. Do not suppress it, regardless of your feelings of shame. There is absolutely no reason for embarrassment. You did not request your history, so why should someone reproach you for it?”
Jimmy expresses his fondness for this wolf. I convey the same message, yet you consistently disregard it.
I lack the opportunity to express my gratitude to Andrew for his encouraging remarks, as I am suddenly interrupted by the emergence of Josie and Andrew’s companion, Thia, from a portal. Andrew rises to meet his companion with a kiss and requests Josie to elucidate her concept.
“Do not be concerned,” Josie smiles, directing Thia to position herself in the centre of the sparring circle. “Therefore, assume your combat stance.”
Thia positions her feet apart and elevates her fists as she confronts me.
Alright, this ought to be simpler, Jimmy asserts, assuming his combat posture. Her strikes will be less painful when she knocks you down.
I express my gratitude for the support, as Jimmy beams with delight.
Once positioned, Thia commences to circle around me as I shuffle my feet, as Andrew instructed, to maintain her inside my line of sight. A slight smirk forms on her lips as she propels herself forward on her right leg and executes a kick with her left. I deflect the strike with my forearm and counter with a feeble high kick that she effortlessly dismisses.
Come on, man, Jimmy complains. You are capable of achieving more than that! Strike her!
I comply with instructions and swing my arm towards her face, but Thia evades and strikes my jaw with her fist. She subsequently pivots to execute a roundhouse kick to my abdomen, causing me to stagger backward to regain my balance.
