The Beast's Virgin Claim

Surely she is a more petite wolf than me and if I were to rather spar with one of Vdce\'s trained females I shall unquestionably lose but it is still my first accomplishment on these lands. In a way, I have finally taken that beginning step to being worthy as their Luna.

The leader has her arms folded across her chest whilst she circles me as a predator would with narrowed orbs keenly examining my current position. She had observed my fight unobtrusively and now I wait apprehensively for her answer in line along with the audience.

She grips her walking stick tighter in her right hand and I gulp for now I know I have made several mistakes during the entirety of my fight. "First this." She states propelling the stick towards my ankle giving it a firm whack as I recoil to the abrupt feeling of being reprimanded. "Then this." I suffer another blow to my back as I hunch down a wheeze leaving my chest.

"You had several opportunities to overpower her but you did not. Why?" She questions coming to a still in front of me in order to meet my eyes as I breathlessly raise my face to do so accustoming to the sharp sting of my back.

"I-I did not wish to hurt her."

An uncomfortable silence follows as Vdce seals her eyes a disappointed frown settled amid her eyebrows she is displeased with my answer. "This is the most prominent blunder you have committed today. Kindness is seen as a weakness here and you shall make sure to retain that. Which of the tactics that I taught you did you use today in your spar?"

"I exhausted her being by steadily avoiding her advances then when I learned of her tiredness I took it as my opening to conquer our battle," I answer with confidence my chest puffing slightly with pride. I had followed her teaching with perfection. Phobos would be proud if he discerned my fight, the thought of my male has my heart clench achingly as I take in a tremulous breath striving to relieve the burn of my core. I am doing my best not to think of him often.

"You will train again tomorrow, make sure you arrive before sunrise," Vdce utters turning on her heels shuffling away from me and there is a fast downward sag of my shoulders in defeat. I still haven\'t surprised her I suppose perhaps there is still much more for me to learn.

"Krlovna." She beckons me and I promptly shift towards her as she pauses her walk her hunched back facing me.

"Y-Yes?" I ask feebly rising to stand on my feet restlessly playing with my fingers. Am I to be scolded more further?

"You fought well today." That is all she says proceeding on her march as a wide grin descends over my face. Finally, I have received at least a small boost from her it only makes me want to train harder for the day she shall ultimately say I am worthy as her Luna.

"Luna here I have gotten you some warm milk to relieve your thirst." Moira comes forward with a wooden cup in her hand handing it to me as I gratefully receive it from her. This female is always kind to me I noticed she does not act this way with the other females just with me.

"Thank you," I murmur gulping it down hastily quenching my thirst. I had been training all morning till late afternoon and I have had nothing to eat or drink.

"You fought so well you are no more a beginner, Krlovna. And the fact that Vdce has commended you is quite unbelievable."

"Truly?"

"Indeed. She does not even appreciate her females no matter how good they are. But I suppose she perceives something in you that is not present among others." She says as my cheeks crimson mildly to her truth. I am thrilled by this for now at least Phobos\'s wolves shall see me in a new light.

"I cannot wait to show Phobos," I declare aloud as Moira accompanies me to my shelter.

"He shall be astounded by how strong his female is now of course." The pitch of her voice rises as she converses she is delighted for me. She makes me feel excited too and I am thankful for her never-ending support especially that my male has not been around for the last five months.

Moira and I have gotten closer I have eaten several times in her hut along with her male Argus. They were very welcoming with wide grins and abundant amounts of freshly cooked meals in my honour, her pup even made me a card with some of the art supplies I lent for him to use prior.

"I do miss him dearly." I sigh dejectedly pulling down the sleeves of my woollen sweater to cover my exposed wrists. The weather has gotten so much chillier now that I dread leaving the cabin. It is more frigid on these lands when compared to my past pack for we live near the sea and we often spend time outside in nature rather than staying in being cuddled and warmed by pelt blankets.

A warm cup of hot chocolate would bring me pure happiness as well Cronus made sure I had plenty of marshmallows with them when he made it for me.

"I apologize for this, Luna. This year it is our obligation to provide for the other pack who reside close to us. This is why the males left earlier for the hunt otherwise it would only take four months for them to return."

"What do you mean to provide for another pack? I do not understand."

"There is another pack we are familiar with they are a day away by sea. We switch alternate years. Next year our males shall stay for the Alpha of that pack will depart for the winter hunt and shall visit our lands bearing our half of the produce." She explains as understanding sinks in. I see so this is why the weight of his responsibility is more oppressive this year for he must feed not one but two packs for the winter. I wonder how much our wolves would hunt in seven months for this cause it feels very arduous.

Phobos must truly be spent doing this often despite the need for it emerging alternate years. I am glad he shall be here with me the totality of next year but I wonder if this system can be altered somehow if I can aid him with this.

"I should have been less clingy before his departure I suppose," I utter running my fingers through my locks holding frustration towards myself. He must have felt guilty leaving me this way and my immature actions must have surely added to the burden he already carried. If I had known of this earlier I would have been much stronger for his sake.

"Not at all. You are a newcomer to our ways and your antics are not to be looked down upon Krlovna."

"I wish he had chatted to me about this but then again Phobos barely communicates with me."

She comes to an abrupt halt to my words and so do I scrutinising her with confusion as to why she stopped.