Heartless Angels

Chapter 31 – Oakley

Chapter 31 – Oakley

Harry turned out to be ok. He was unconscious for a few hours, but able to continue training after lunch. Bard was heavily disciplined by Head Trainer Sophia and Trainer Ethan and ordered to stay away from Lisa for a week, which can be a lifetime when you have no idea if you’re mate will be staying or not.

Bard was very much not happy about the decision, but Head Trainer Sophia and Trainer Ethan are higher ranked and he can’t go against their order.

The longing look that he sent Lisa, along with the confused but addled look that she sent back as she followed the stretcher carrying Harry to the infirmary, was really hard to watch. It was evident that Lisa just figured out that she was mated to Bard, just the way that I suddenly figured out that I was mated to Ray. And it was just as evident that she didn’t know what to do.

Training continued, each of us moving through multiple opponents and weapons, getting pointers from the trainers and feeling out different kinds of opponents. The only matches that I don’t outright win are with those in the top 10 of the leaderboard: Cassie, Je rry, Lisa, Harry, and a few others. I don’t spar with Mary, but I can see her getting frustrated. She’s started talking less and less as the week has gone on and she’s fallen to nearly the bottom of the leaderboard, standing at 39th place.

Cassie is advised to use the staff and the club. Apparently she was really good at bashing things. The trainers tell Jer ry to go with swords and staffs since he is bigger, which makes him slower. Fighting at long range was better for him because he could use his strength without having to weave in and out of attacks from his opponent. Mary was better with short-range weapons, like num-chuks and knives. She was fast and was better at intimidating her opponent if she was closer to them. And, honestly, it was her only saving grace was for her to do well in the round robin. And me? They suggested that I do a combination of long and short-range weapons, seeing that I’m equally proficient in all weapons. So, I decided to stick with knives and swords, my favorites.

The morning of the final test is full of so much anxiety that many of us can’t even eat breakfast. I force myself to eat something, knowing that if I don’t have some protein for breakfast, I’d have a headache by lunchtime. Since my wolf has come in full force I’ve noticed that along with more power, faster reflexes, and increased healing abilities, I’m also soooo much hungrier. Whereas, when I was weaker, I could get away with a yogurt in the morning or even nothing, now I need bacon, eggs, sausage. MEAT! My wolf is always starving in the morning and she makes her displeasure known if she isn’t satisfied.

Cassie, who typically has nerves of steel, is only able to eat a bagel, which she doesn’t even finish. Mary and Jer ry elect to go out to warm-up in the courtyard: Many of the other trainees have the same thought and the mess hall is nearly empty

Cassie is staring at me wide-eyed fascination as she watches me stuff my face.

“What?” Lask before shoveling another forkful of eggs into my mouth.

“Aren’t you nervous? How can you eat like that?” She leans in really close, looking around to make sure no one is watching before whispering, “Are you pregnant?”

“What the f uck? NO! I just don’t want to get a migraine! How the f uck would I be pregnant?” I’m indignant that she would

even suggest such a thing.

“Well, you and Ray were f ucking like rabbits for a while there -” she starts, but I interrupt.

“It doesn’t work like that, du mbas s. I wouldn’t know if I was pregnant in less than a week. And my wolf would have let me know if I was pregnant. AND I would have had to drop out of the Elite 10, I say Sh it. I should probably make sure that whoever i decided to be with used protection. Once we accepted each other as mates, fertility was almost guaranteed. I’d be pregnant

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within the first moon of our mating if we didn’t do something to try to stop it.

“I don’t know, man I just wanted to make sure. Nothing ever happened with Levi ?” she asks

“No” My voice is cold and I’m actually put off my food by the mention of his name. I push the plate away, wiping my mouth with a napkin “After he beat the sh it out of me and f ucked all those other she wolves, I wasn’t inclined to let him touch me.”

She nods solemnly. “Sorry I shouldn’t have brought it up…”

I let out a sigh. Cassie knows all about what’s going on with my family and Levi being here. She knows that I’m possibly going to have to see them, even though I may not want to. She also knows how hard I’m trying to compartmentalize. First the final test of the week, then my date with Ray, then figuring out if the Council is going to blow my cover.

“It’s ok. I get it. Just can’t think of that right now, you know?” I give her a wane smile.

She nods and looks like she’s about to say something when footsteps sound coming up to our table. We both turn to see Ray nearly next to us.

“I’ll see you out there, Oakley,” she says, giving Ray and I space.

“See you

there, I repeat before turning back to Ray. My mate. The one that I was really angry at, but a lot of it was my own insecurities. After thinking about it and talking it over with the girls, I could tell that he was just doing what he had to. He’s right. He had to wait until I could figure out that he was my mate. I wouldn’t have believed it otherwise.

That’s why I’ve let go of my anger with him so quickly. Like I said before, I just need to compartmentalize everything right now. Once I get through the test, I’ll be better able to address my feelings about Ray and Levi and which one I really want to keep as my mate.

I

As of right now, I know that I don’t want Levi touching me. But if I take back my rejection, if I allow the matebond to rebuild, that feeling will go away eventually. And Mom said that I would do a lot of good as a Luna. Good that would have long reaching effects for weaker wolves. Regardless of how I feel about Levi, that’s an attractive offer. He can’t hurt me anymore. Not only am I well trained, but I have an extremely strong woll now. He’ll never be able to beat the sh it out of me again. After the

marking ceremony, I actually wouldn’t ever have to let him touch me again if I really didn’t want him to

But then there’s Ray, who I had already been developing feelings for before I found out that he’s my mate. He’s kind and generous, strong as hell, and actually seems to want me. Being with him would guarantee my happiness. But it would also mean that all the good works that I could do as Luna or a member of the Elite 10 wouldn’t be possible. For as amazing as Ray is, he has no power in the wolf community. The most that I could hope to be would be a warrior, a trainer myself. Though I would be happy, would I be letting my fellow wolves down?

Or do I let that all go to fulfill the legacy of being a descendent of the Goddess? Being a part of the Elite 10 would mean adventure, making a difference in the world, and reaching my fullest potential as a wolf. But it would also mean no family and no kids until after I finished my service. No one would be allowed to know my name except for my small pack. And then, I may not be able to stay with my family once I am allowed to have one.

It’s a big decision that I refuse to make until I have all the facts. First, I need to pass today’s test. Then I need to find out if the Council is going to force me to interact with Levi and my family. Then I can think about Ray

Though I am going on a date with him tonight and I can’t say that S** is off the table because a she-wolf has needs.

“Hey Oakley” Ray says when he gets to my table, standing beside me. A tentative smile graces his face and I can see how

nervous he is to come and talk to me.

“Morning, Ray,” I say back, a genuine smile on my face. Even with all the uncertainty that surrounds our relationship, Ray has

been a good friend and an amazing mate. Unlike my first mate, he didn’t force anything on me, even when he knew that we

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were mates before I knew I trust him

The smile that comes over his face lights up his features and I can tell that he didn’t think I would want him to come talk to me I know some of what I’m feeling for him is the matebond, but I still stand and pull him into a hug, k*ssing his cheek before speaking to him

“I can’t wait for our date,” I breathe out.

His smile gets impossibly wider and his hands rest comfortably on my hips. “Me either. His eyes search my face and whatever he sees there seems to reassure him. “I just wanted to come and wish you good luck. Though I know you won’t need

11”

I giggle, smiling up at him. It feels so good to be in his arms again. I don’t know why I put it off as long as I did. Possibly because I’m an idiot. Definitely because I need therapy after what Levi and my family did. “Well, thank you so much, Trainer Ray. I greatly appreciate it” I pull back from him, placing a finger on my l*p as if I’m thinking. “Though, I do believe in medieval times, it was customary to give a token to your chosen fighter.”

Ray laughs. “You want me to give you my handkerchief to tie to your arm?”

I pretend to think again. “No. I think that might get in the way when fighting. Maybe we could do something a little more….. intimate” I stare into his eyes, drowning in their brown depths. “What about a good luck k*ss?

All amusement fades from Ray’s eyes, replaced by a heat, a need for me. “Whatever my champion wants.” Carefully, as if I’m made of glass, Ray pulls me into his chest, his nose rubbing against my cheek. I curl my arms around his n*eck, pulling him as close to me as I can with us standing up

Ray’s breath dances along my l*ps, causing goosebumps to burst along my skin and wetness to start to seep into my panties. He stays there for a few seconds, not quite touching me until I can’t take it anymore. I crash my l*ps against his, feeding the hunger that I’ve had for him for days. He groans into my mouth, k*ssing me back with just as much desire.

My mouth opens and he sweeps his tongue inside, tasting every part of me that he can. One of his hands goes to the back of my n*eck, holding me to him, while the other slides down to my as s, cupping it in his large hand. My hands dive into his thick hair, controlling his movements as much as he’s controlling mine.

When we finally break apart, both of our l*ps are swollen, our breathing heavy, and our faces flushed. Ray finds his voice before I do. “Good luck, my champion. I intend to collect back my token later tonight.”

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