S T R A N G E D R E A M D

Ariel:

I sit down next to the serene lake, shaded by the canopy of trees above me, and pull my boots off, chucking them to the side.

I dip my feet into tge water and brearh a sigh of relief.

My feet are killing me. Running drills is always excruciating, but it has defnitlely toughened me up, and today, it's all finally paid off.

I'm no longer just a trainee...

Today, I'm officially on the path of becomming a full-fledged pack warrior.

I gaze proudly at the crescent moon tattoo on the inside of my arm-the mak of a warrior.

My pack, the Crescent Moon Pack, has one of the best warrior training programs around and, my squadron has bekome like my second family.

We calk ourselves the "X-Squad" in honor of our fearless team leader Xavier.

Well, in fairness, he came up whit the name, but I actually think it's quite catchy.

The sound if gruntd and guttaral growling suddenly draws my attentions to the nearby docks.

Speack of the devil...

Xavier is sparring whit our squad mate, James.

He send lightning-fast punches in James's direction, keeping him off balance, the jumps in the air and lands a sailing kick right into his stomach, knocking him on his ass.

Xavier slowly pulls off shirt to reveal his toned torso and rippling muscles as he wipes the sweat from glistening body.

Goddess, I always forget how fit he is...

Xavier flashes James a cocky smile. ,,You may have gotten ypur moon mark, but you're still no match for me, jamesy-boy."

Xavier starts flexing, and as I lean forward to get a better look, I almost fall face-first in the lake.

I manage to catch my balance just in time, finding myself staring at my reflactoin in the water.

My chestnut-colored hair is an absolute mess, but my dark yellow eyes stand out from the dirt all over my face.

When I was young, dad always said my eyes loocked like sunflowers, so he started calling me his little sunflower until I protested such a girlie nickname.

I'm not a fliwer, I'm a warrior! I would shout, indignantly.

So he started calling me his little warrior instead, and that one stuck.

Out of everyone, I can't wait to tell him the news about my acceptance into tge warrior program first.

I knoe he'll be so proud of me.

My mother, on the other hand...

She thinks that it'd distasteful for girls ti be warriors. She always tells me I should be more like my sister, Natalia.

Natalia would never be caught deaf whit tangled hair and a dirty face-always do preened and proper.

When I look up, I notice that Xavier is starting at me from tge docks. I insrantly become self-conscious, trying to smooth the knotd in my hair.

I woulder if he likes the prissy types like my sister? I highly doubt I'm hid type.

But Goddness, he sure is hot. He shoots me a smirk, and i quickly turn away, embarrassed.

Ugh, why do I look like such a damn mess right now?

I should've hit the showers after my training session, but I was just so excited to get my warriors' mark.

,,What the hell are you fussing about," an arrogant, but assuring voice says from behind me.

,,You always look like you've just fought off a pack of wolves-combing yout fingers trought your hair isn't going to change that."

Oh Amy, never change.

My best friend, Amy, sits down next to me and nudges ne in the shoulder.

I'm surprised we're such giif friends, given that she's more Natalia's speed than mine, but we've been inseparable since childhood.

,,I heard the news! We need to go out and celebrate, bitch!" She says, kicking her feet into the water, next to mine.

,,Honestly, I'm exhausted." I say. ,,We might have to save the Celebration for another night."

,,You do look redder than a blood moon." She says as she suddenly notices Xavier parading around the dock, shirtless. ,,Is it because of the trainingor because of him."

,,I don't know what you're talking about," I say, my face growing warm.

,,Pleeeease tell me you don't have a crush on that muscle-bound moron," Amy says, shaking her head. ,,You know he only got that team leader role because he's next in line to be the Alpha."

,,He's also a really good fighter," I retory, defensively.

,,Oh my Goddness, you want him to be your mate!" Amy says, teasing. ,,You want to have his pups, don't you?"

,,I do not!" I shout, splashing water on her. ,,I don't think about him like that at all! The only kind of mates we are is squad mater.''

,,I guess you'll know for sure when you turn eighteen in a few months," she replies, raising her eyerbrows.

Werewolves can only recognize their mates when they both turn eighteen, so potentially she's right; my mate could've been right under my nose all this time.

But some wolves never find their destined mates...and end up mating whit other wolves in the same position.

It makes me sad to think about not waiting for your true mate.

,,Just think-your destined mates could be anyone in his pack," Amy says, sighing.

,,Or another pack," I reply ö, correcting her. ,,Our destined mates aren't always so close to home. Though Goddess willing, we won't have to search too far."

,,If my mate is in some remote pack, halfway across the world, I think I might convert to a new religion," Amy says whit a smirk.

We both burdt into laughter and fall back, lying on the grass. As the sky darkens, the crescent-shaped moon becomes clear.

,,I guess I'll just have to wait and see what destiny had in store for me," I say, smiling.

TWO YEARS LATER

I feel the chains pulling tighter, and I fight back the urge to cry in pain. The silver shackles bite into my raw wrists.

You would think that I would be used to the pain after two years of being treated like a worthless animal, a science experiment, but sometimes it become unbearable.

The first year was the worst...

The experiments-injecting microdoses of liquid wolfsbane into my veins and analyzing the effects on my body. And my wolf.