Heartless Angels

hapter 36 Oakley

Chapter 36 – Oakley

I

wake up surrounded by medics in the infirmary. Ray’s off to one side, along with Jer ry Mary, and Cassie. I can tell that a medic just jabbed me with an adrenaline shot, based on the fact that one of the medics is backing away from me and reaching a

syringe for the sharps box.

“Aaah, good! You’re awake,” an older she-wolf says from beside me.

Turning to face her, I see a very pretty wolf with snowy white hair, midnight black skin and dark pools of chocolate for eyes. Her petite frame and upturned eyes made her look cute as a button despite her age.

“I’m Doc Wilder. You’ve got a nasty concussion there. Glad the fight didn’t last much longer. As it is, you’re going to be off your feet for the rest of the day. Luckily, tomorrow is a day off for everyone,” the pretty doctor says.

I try to sit up, but I’m pushed back down by one of the medics even as the room starts a slow revolution and nausea wraps around my stomach.

“Please stay down, Trainee Moon. The adrenaline hasn’t had enough time to work on your healing abilities and, like I said,

you’re really lucky that there isn’t worse damage. You’ll be here for another hour before the ceremony and then you’re in bed until tomorrow night,” Doc Wilder says in a perfunctory way.

“Ceremony?” I ask, still a bit addled and not really following the conversation very easily.

“I’ll let your friends explain. I’ll need to check you out before you leave for the ceremony and then you’ll come here tomorrow before I can clear you for training again.” At this point she turns to Ray. “I know that she’s your mate and that it’s gonna be hard,

but no strenuous activities until she’s cleared tomorrow. Do you understand?

Ray looks indignant, but then he nods his head. “Yeah, Doc. I get it.”

Doc Wilder gives him a smile and then nods to the rest of us before leaving my bedside to attend to other patients.

My friends all start speaking at once the second the doctor leaves, crowding in around my bed.

“Holy sh it! Look at the bruise on her face!” Cassie says.

pleads for me to be ok. He sits on the edge of my bed and takes my hand in his.

“My love, are you ok? Ray nearly pleads for

“Sh it, Oakley, I’m so sorry!” Jer ry whines..

“That’s the biggest goose-egg I’ve ever seen!” Mary squeals.

I have to cover my ears, unable to deal with all the noise with the sudden and crippling headache that seems to have taken over all of my pain receptors. “Shhh!” I whisper.

All four of them instantly quiet and I slowly take my hands from my ears. “I’m fine, Ray. Don’t worry about it, Jer ry. You were following the rules of the fight and you told me to yield multiple times. And Ca ss and Mary? You two really know how to make a girl feel beautiful.”

There’s a beat of silence and then all of them start laughing at me.

Once they quiet down, I ask, “What’s this ceremony Doc was talking about?”

My friends look to Ray, who shifts into trainer mode as he answers, his voice full of authority, which is undeniably hot. Keep it in your pants, Oakley. Doc said no strenuous activities. And among everything else that S** with Ray is, it is definitely streno3

Chapter 36 – Oakley

“Right now, Sophia and Ethan are tallying all of the scores of the week and giving final rankings. They’re the only ones that can do that, no other trainers are allowed because so many of us have already found our mates within your ranks. We would have…conflicted interests in the rankings. After that, the top four trainees will participate in a ceremony where they will be presented with Goddess blessed weapons. They are…somewhat sentient. Not always awake and able to communicate, but when they are awake and aware, they make their owners formidable opponents.”

“Why would we be gifted with such weapons if we aren’t even guaranteed positions in the Elite 10?” I ask.

“In the entire history of the Elite 10 Training Camp, there has never been a member of the top four in the first week that hasn’t been invited into the Elite 10. These weapons will help you. And even if you don’t want to be a member of the Elite 10, they will be a gift to you from the Moon Goddess in recognition of your abilities, Ray explains.

“Then why aren’t there some of these weapons floating around in the world? Cassie asks. “I know that all of those that are Invited to the Elite 10 don’t always take the position.”

Ray nods. “You’re right. But the weapons lose their sentience once their owner passes on to the Goddess’s realm. Legend says that their sentience is linked to their owner’s life force, so they go to the Goddess’s realm with them.”

“They said that today’s fights will count for half of our positioning,” Mary whispers.

“So, that means Je rry Cassie, me, and Lisa. I say the last with a bit of a snarl. Of course that bit ch gets the special weapons.

Seventy-five minutes later, I’m in a wheelchair propelled by Ray on the stage in front of the field where we do roll call. All of the trainers and trainees are there, with Trainer Ethan and Head Trainer Sophia are at the center of the stage, four cases next to them. Some of them are large, some smaller.

Sophia raises her voice and speaks to the crowd. “Welcome trainees. Today you all fought bravely and, even if

you don’t stay on, you have made all of wolfkind proud. But there are four of you that have stood out among all of the trainees, showing the prowess, grit, strategic thinking, and ability needed to be the excellent weapons handlers of the Elite 10. Jer ry Black, Oakley Moon, Cas sandra Sky, and Lisa Ivy. Because of that, they will receive Goddess blessed weapons. As I call your name, step forward. Je rry Black”

Je rry steps forward.

“I present you with a pair of num-chuks collectively named Righteousness and two throwing stars known as Seeker. They will aid you in your journey towards your true potential as the judge of the wolves under your protection.”

Jer ry bows to Sophia, extending his arms in front of him. She places a short, but wide case in his hands. On a table in front of him and the contents seem to faintly glow. Out of the box, Trainer Ethan pulls out a weapons belt and wraps it around Je rry’s b*dy. Sophia hands Ethan each weapon and he secures it in Je rry’s belt. Once he is completely outfitted, he bows to both Sophia and Ethan and walks back to his place.

“Oakley Moon.”

Ray wheels me to Sophia and Ethan,

“I present you with the short sword, Stryker, and a pair of knives named Justice. They will aid you in dispensing justice to those who have harmed those under your protection,” Sophia intones..

Ray helps me to stand and Sophia puts a long, skinny box in front of me, which she opens. Inside is the most beautiful

sword and pair of knives I’ve ever seen. They have black leather handles, a wolf imprinted into the leather in gold. Gold filigree travels up and down the blades, flickering in the candlelight,

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Chapter 36 – Oakley

Again, Ethan takes the weapons belt out of the box and whispers to Ray, “I have to touch her. Don’t freak out on me.”

Ray gives a short nod, but a small growl still rumbles his chest.

I can’t help the amused grin that spreads over my face, though I hurriedly cover

with a more stoic expression so that I don’t embarrass my mate. Ethan makes quick work of putting my weapons belt on me, this one having a scabbard that goes at an angle across my back. He then sheaths Stryker and Justice. Instantly a hum of power emanates from the two weapons that seems to call to my own power as well. I feel…powerful, strong. And I stand up straighter, feeling the effects of the concussion seem to melt away.

I bow to Ethan and Sophia before sitting back in my wheelchair, though I don’t really think I need it right now. Ray, however, insists and I don’t want to take away from the rest of the ceremony. I just let him do what he thinks is best, especially since Doc said I would need to. I sit more forward in the wheelchair as first Cassie, and then Lisa, are called up.

Cassie receives a staff and two throwing axes. Lisa gets a bow and arrow set and poisoned darts. At least they match her personality.

Once the ceremony is over, I turn back to Ray “Sorry our date night isn’t going to happen.” And I genuinely am. I had been looking forward to spending time with Ray tonight.

He quirks a smile at me. “Who says? We’ll have pizza, popcorn, beer, and movies in my room. You can stay the night in my bed and I’ll take the couch so that you can rest. Ray bends down and gives me a peck on my nose. “I just want to spend time with you.”

I melt a little inside and nod. I’m looking forward to this.

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