The Alpha’s Substitute Mate

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Luna, what are you doing? Violet squeezed her hands nervously as I laced up my sneakers. I was dressed in black leggings, a sports bra, and a loose tee.

“What does it look, like I’m doing,” I raised an eyebrow

“You can’t Bella, you will get hurt,” She mumbled and pulled her hair in frustration

I finished lacing up my sneakers and stood up

“Then let me get hurt. I am the Luna, I have to train and be able to protect my people if the need arises. I can’t be weak.” I stared at my reflection in the mirror and tied my hair up in a ponytail. I have promised myself to be strong and find a way to be free from this mess. I know it won’t be easy but taking it one step at a time would be the best.

I sighed and went closer to Violet and held her and said “Don’t worry Vi, I can handle it.” I hugged her and left my chamber.

I walked down to the training ground and approached the group that was stretching and warming up on the grass. I saw Malcolm standing beside them and holding a clipboard. He was wearing a blue colored t-shirt and black sweatpants. He looked so at peace and calm as he flexed his muscles and loosened his shoulders. I was really glad that Malcolm was in charge of the training programs for the pack, I couldn’t imagine being trained by my husband.

He looked pleased when he saw me and bowed his head in a polite greeting, ” You welcome Luna,”

“Everyone limber up, 20 laps,” he ordered and started jotting down stuff

“What?” I gave him a skeptical look. I had imagined that the training would be hand-hand combat, like throwing punches. I sat down on the grass and tried to stretch but my hip was stuck in the joint and won’t budge. I watched others with envy as they leaned and stretched gracefully while I struggled.

All the time I felt Malcolm’s eyes on me but I tried not to look at him, I didn’t want to see that look of disappointment on his face, maybe he would wonder what kind of unfit and graceless Luna I am.

I also didn’t want to look at his eyes and see that pitiful look.

Others started having their lap and I was much much slower.

“Luna,” Malcolm called and ordered that I should stop for today. I felt humiliated, it was quite obvious that I’m unfit and sluggish, but I had signed myself up for this embarrassment. But I was not going to give up easily.

I sighed and wiped the sweat off my forehead and sat down on the bench, Malcolm approached me and said quietly ” You’re a novice. Haven’t you ever trained before? You need to start from the beginning like a pup. You have to master the basic styles like punching, and blocking, and different techniques of punching like the jab punch, cross punch, uppercut, and hook punch. You have to create muscle memory to loosen your stiff muscles.”

He helped me out and we did a little training on that which he kept insisting that I repeat again after working me out, he left me and went to train others. I was physically and mentally exhausted, my arms and legs were hurting terribly as if I had been crushed by a truck.

I left the training ground and went into my chamber, and went straight into the sauna bath for the only thing I knew would relieve my aching body, a soak in the hot bath. I turned on hot water and added a few drops of peppermint oil and lavender oil to help relieve my achy muscles and calm and relax my nerves. I stripped out of my sweaty, dirty clothes and dropped them inside the laundry basket before I eased my aching body down in the tub.

I groaned as I sank into the water and closed my eyes and let the wet heat perform its magic on my body.

I was still relishing the bath moment when Violet entered the room and I grabbed the towel and wrapped it around my body and moved to the bedroom.

“Luna” she bowed her head in respect

” How was your training?” She asked

I groaned remembering the kind of work, I had to force my body to adapt to, I smiled and answered her

” The best part is, I get to do it all over again till my body adjusts to it.”

” You don’t have to, you know.” Violet’s voice edged with concern

“And why can’t I do it,” I asked

“You are the Luna, you can easily exempt yourself from the training, and nobody would question you,”

“That’s not a valid reason, Vi, I don’t want to exempt myself,” I shrugged my shoulders and folded my hands across my chest.

I couldn’t explain it but I needed to prove that I could do this, even if it was only for myself. Today’s lesson with Malcolm was tough on me but he was also considerate not to weaken me. And he never looked at me like I was a novice and couldn’t do it. That alone had given me courage and assurance. So I would do what I have to do, and become the best version of myself.

She smiled and asked if I wanted to go down to the pack dining hall for dinner. I shook my head, I was too tired and the last thing I want to do now is to dress up and put up a fake appearance. I told her to bring the food to my chamber, so that after eating I can easily retire to bed. Violet left and returned almost immediately with a tray filled with food. I didn’t know I was famished till I started eating and cleared all the dishes on the tray, then she cleared the dishes, and we hugged and said goodnight.

I wore my pajamas and was sitting on the dresser brushing out my hair and preparing for bedtime, as the pain started to cramp up my stomach.

He did it again!!!