5 It is okay to feel

"Breath in. Count to 5 and let it out." said a well-built older man. He stood 5 foot 10 and was well muscled. He kind of looked like Stephen Lang. He was standing 20 feet away from Cian. Cian had his eyes closed and was focused on the precise tai chi movements. The entire time he was moving his mind was focused on his powers. The air around him was 20 degrees colder than it was near his trainer and guard Jason.

"It is okay to feel," said Jason. Cian's movements became unsteady. "Don't lose focus."

Cian steady his movements.

"For so long someone was controlling your action and your thoughts. To protect yourself suppressed your own feelings. It is okay to express yourself. It's okay to be angry. It is okay to love. It is okay to forgive." Said Jason.

Cian's movements became more and more difficult the more that Jason spoke. Storm clouds formed above.

"You're losing yourself. The pain is gone. She is gone."

The clouds expanded out and darkened the sky. Cian's mind focused on the hurt. Flashes of how his parents punished him for things he didn't do. He remembered his words and not being trusted. The anger rolled around in his heart and his powers reacted. A thin layer of ice formed for 15 feet around him and lightning flashed in the sky.

"It is okay son. Let it go," said Jason.

When Cian heard the words son his form shifted and a roar amplified by his thunder element reacting to his pain. A thunderous roar heard for miles. Rain fell and it was hard to see. But after the brief outburst, Cian regained control of himself.

"That is enough for today. Let head home." Said Jason as he tossed Cian a change of clothes. Cian shifted back into human form and dressed. The ride home was quiet. The only sound was that of the rain falling.

"If you keep letting your feeling out like this you are going to get the weatherman fired." Said Jason.

"Jason. Please don't call me son." Said Cian.

"Sorry. Bad habit. Issac was the same age as you and you two were like brothers and we have been living together for almost a year now."

"I don't have a father anymore." Cian's voice was cold and distant.

"I am not your father but if I remember she fooled a lot of people. Your father included. She has robbed you of so much. Don't let her take away the people that love you." Said Jason.

"If they loved me they should have listened," Cian said matter of fact.

"People make mistakes. Your parents are people too. Don't write them off forever." Jason left it at that.

The next day was combat practice at the college. The school had the latest protective seals for the combat room. Cian knew that it took two casters to maintain the complex seal but once in place it would prevent permanent damage and death. The school had 30 spell casters on duty at all times in the practice building but if needed extra could be called in to allow all 50 combat rings to be active at the same time. The Full class of 26 walked into the arena building.

"Alright class my name is Simon Bates. I will be your, combat instructor. It is my job to turn you all into combat-ready personnel so that you can go on to work with the government or law enforcement. Today I will be seeing what you all know already and the best way to do that is to put you into a tournament and see who comes out on top. Now each of you has a different level of experience but none of you are beginners so I don't want any complaints." said Bates.

The class was a little surprised but Cian knew the real reason for all this. Bates wanted to see who would get the most of his attention. Cian raised his hand.

"I have an exemption from this Sir." Cian walked forward and handed Bates a signed note from the office. Bates looked disappointed.

"I know who you are son. I was hoping to see you in action." Said Bates.

"Me being in the running would not be fair." Said Cian.

Some of the class heard Cian's words. The pack heard his words.

"I guess some people think they can slip through the crack without proving themselves." Said Jace the alpha of the pack. The pack members laughed. All except the pack's Luna Abagail. Cian noticed the gaze of the Luna. She was a short girl of Asian descent. He didn't know enough to be able to place her heritage but it didn't matter.

"Don't be in such a rush to fight him, Jace" Abagail said.

"I can take him," Jace said as he rolled his eyes.

"Let me know if you change your mind, Mr. Gray," said Bates

In the first round of combat was the pack's beta Rick Carter and Mei Zhang. Cian knew Mei. She hung out with different fighters in the gym and Cian had a few matches with her. He knew from experience she was the real deal fighter. She knew several styles and her secret weapon was her spirit staff. It held real ancient power and she earned her place in the school.

"Take it easy on her Rick." yelled a random pack member.

Cian was a little pissed at the pack. "Hey Mei!" She turned and looked at Cian.

"Fuck him up!" Mei laughed and so did the class. Koray was watching Cian for a bit and trying to figure out a way to approach him.

Mei and Rick entered the ring. Cian knew from the cantations and the hand movement that the two casters activating the seal were shamans.

Mei saluted Rick but he smiled and shifted into his hybrid form. It took 30 seconds for the seal to be complete. Mei readied herself and Rick waved. Mei struck first. Her movements were quick and her staff flashed out and struck Rick in his ribs. Cian could hear the crack as 4 ribs were broken. Rick only grunted but Mei was not done she pivoted on her feet and the staff swept out and knocked the 7-foot tall werewolf and before he hit the ground she was airborne and slammed her staff down. A normal man would be dead. A normal werewolf would be out of the fight but Rick was not normal. Mei back off and Rick stood up and his wounds snapped back into place even for a were-creature.

"Regeneration." Said Cian. "Mei! Don't be afraid to cripple him! He going to keep getting back up!"

Mei gathered her Ki and launched an assault on Rick. Rick took blow after blow only to trade-off minor scratches that wouldn't do any real damage. The class saw that Mei outclassed Rick but the pack knew Rick was okay and Cian could see the damage the scratches were doing. After a full 2 minutes of breaking Rick's bones in several places, Mei was getting slower. The class thought it was due to fatigue but the pack and Cian knew that was not the case. Mei leaped away from Rick but halfway through the movement, she dropped her staff. The class were confused as well as Bates.

"It's poison." Said Cian. Near the scratches, the veins in her arms and legs looked black.

"Bout time." Said Rick. "I was starting to get impatient." He moved towards Mei and grabbed her around her throat. He began to squeeze. Mei couldn't even make a sound.

"What the Hell Bates! Stop the fight she is done." Yelled Cian.

The rest of the class began to protest as well but Bates let it continue. Cian stepped down from the stand and stood beside Bates.

"End it or I will." Said Cian.

"THAT IS ENOUGH RICK!" yelled Bates.

Rick took a moment to listen then dropped Mei. The shamans dropped the Seal and Cian and a few others ran forward. Due to the effects of the Seal, she was fine but Cian could see the fear in her eyes. The beast within him awoke.

"Bates...you still want to see me fight?" said Cian. Bates smiled and nodded.

"Jace! I challenge your pack. Pick a fighter and send him in to get his ass kicked."

Jace's snarl could be heard by the entire class. His pack jumped up and each of them wanted the take the challenge. An open challenge to the pack was an insult and Cian knew it.

"It matters not who accepts or how many. I will show you and your pack your place."

Jace stood up but Abagail whispers into his ear. Jace looked at a tall dark-haired pack member and he all but ran into the ring. Cian was angry inside but on the outside he was calm. He learned the one who entered the ring was name Shawn but it mattered not to Cian. He needed an outlet for his fury. Shawn entered into his hybrid form. The shamans raised the Seal.

"I am going to take my time with you and have fun," said Shawn.

When the Seal was complete Shawn's fur began to shift and change colors. Cian could still see him but it was difficult to make out. It was like an effect from the Predators movie but that didn't matter. The air inside the Seal dropped to freezing. It began to coat the ground around Cian and extend outward. Shawn was caught off guard and when the ice hit him it coated him up to his chest. It was so cold it hurt him to breathe. Cian walked over to the half-frozen werewolf.

"You are not even a speedbump on my road to your alpha." Said Cian. The ice around Shawn thickened and completely entombed him. And like that, the fight was over. The Seal dropped and the cold air rushed out. Bates and the class got a chill from it. Shawn was angry but knew he lost. Jace looked at another pack member "Cj!"

A young man with a bad dye job jumped into the ring and shifted with haste.

"That trick with the ice won't work on me," Cj growled.

"I won't use the same trick twice." Said Cian.

The Seal goes up and Cj jumps to the wall and shifts his personal gravity and laughs.

"I can adjust my own gravity. Even if you were to knock me back I can alter which was is my down." Cj began to stalk Cian from the wall.

Cian gathered the lightning from his core then instead of shooting it out at Cj he focused it within himself. In a flash, no one could see Cian. Cj was stunned and scanned the ring for him.

"Behind you Cj!" yelled Jace but Cj could not move fast enough to dodge what was coming next.

Cian was a were-creature so his speed and strength were already enhanced but with the lightning flowing through him he could move faster than most could see. Cian fist struck with massive force. Cj flew towards the wall parallel with his personal gravity orientation of down but before he hit it Cian was there and landed a downward kick and knocked Cj to the actual floor. When he impacted it the class outside the ring could feel the vibrations from him hitting it several feet away. Cj then fell towards his down which was a wall to Cian's right. He was still conscious but stunned. Cian walked over to him. Due to his personal gravity, he was at the right height for Cian to use him as a punching bag. Cian practiced Muay Thai kickboxing along with a few other styles. Cian began landing combinations. Left fist, Right Fist, Left Elbow, Right knee then he stepped back after half a second throws a kick, and the sound of bones breaking could be heard. The fight was finish.

The Seal was taken down. The Class was on their feet cheering. The Pack was livid. Jace began to walk down to the ring. Abagail was shaking her head worried if one of the two would not make it out of that ring even with the seals.

"Alright now Jace. Let's give Cian a moment to catch his breath." Said Bates.

"It is okay coach. I got this." Said Cian.

Jace looked at the shamans and said "You might want to get extra help for this fight."

"He is right." Said Cian.

Four fresh Shamans manned the Seal. Jace took his hybrid form. When the Seal was up he unleashed his Rage.