Chapter 34 – First Shift
••• Aleena’s POV •••
“Concentrate, Aleena!” Witch Lily’s stern voice came to my ear.
It had been nearly two weeks of training, yet I still couldn’t control nature as how she wanted. And who would’ve thought the soft-spoken and gentle Witch Lily would be stern during training? I could even say that she was ruthless.
She didn’t allow me to attack her with my physical strength, nor did she allow me to dodge her attacks. I had to stand in one spot and use my protective spell to block her attacks.
It was simply impossible. I could only split my moon-like object into five, while Witch Lily had more than fifty tiny rocks attacking me.NôvelDrama.Org owns this.
I was tired. My body was full of wounds from the rocks; my energy was depleted from trying to control those rocks to be on my side.
Looking at her and the tiny rocks floating in front of her, I braced myself for her upcoming attack.
Those tiny rocks vibrated and came to me with full force. I stood still, my protective spell trying to block all her rocks to no avail. The jagged surface of the stones grazed my arms, legs, and face, leaving more bloody gashes while I concentrated on turning those rocks toward Witch Lily.
The rocks dropped after some time, and I panted as nearly all my energy drained.
“It seems you need to go to that place after all,” Witch Lily said softly.
“I think it’s enough for today, Witch Lily.” Suddenly, I heard Kyson’s voice from behind me at the same time Witch Lily said those words.
“Kyson.” I fell into his embrace, taking in all his scent as if it could help replenish my energy, which it did in a way. Nothing could make me happier than being held by him when I was dead tired from Witch Lily’s training. Well, other than taking a warm bath. I’d kill to have a warm bath after each training, and even then, Kyson would always hold me as we soaked in the bathtub.
“Don’t force yourself too much, Aleena,” Kyson’s concerned voice reached my ears.
“I want to become stronger,” I mumbled against the crook of his neck.
“I know, but you need to know when to stop yourself. Fortunately, you’ve finished with the protective spells of the pack members,” he sighed helplessly.
I finished transferring my energy to all the pack members the day before. Kyson’s suggestion of doing it group by group was indeed efficient. My energy was drained each time. I might have died if I had done it to all the pack members all at once.
As for forcing myself during training, I was always stubborn about becoming stronger. I wanted to be the best Luna for him and the pack. But he was right. Any longer, and I would’ve fainted.
“Witch Lily, are you sure she couldn’t use any chants?” Kyson had been asking Witch Lily the same question each time he came to us while I was training.
I knew he was concerned for me. The training was gruesome, always leaving me with little energy left and many wounds on my body, although Witch Lily would always heal me.
“Chants won’t work for her. She doesn’t have witch’s blood in her,” Witch Lily replied while having a far-away look.
Her answer this time shocked me. I don’t have a witch’s blood in me? I’m not part witch? Then how am I able to control the protective spells? Or that I will be able to manipulate the elements of nature?
“She’s not part witch?” Even Kyson sounded shocked.
“She’s not. That’s why she needs to go to that place,” Witch Lily whispered.
That place? She’d said it twice.
“What place? Why would she need to go there?” Kyson asked the same question that was on my mind.
“To activate her witch’s power,” Witch Lily sighed. “But let’s talk about it after your first shift.”
She chanted her healing spell on me, turned around, and left, leaving Kyson and me confused for long minutes.
“Let’s have dinner and take a bath first, Aleena.” Kyson stirred me toward the pack’s main house. We knew we wouldn’t get any answer from Witch Lily at this moment. When she said we’d talk about it after my first shift, then that was what would happen-no use in asking her now.
We took our dinner and went to have a bath. I always loved how indulgent Kyson was after each training session. He drew up the bath, gave me a shower, and then we would cuddle in the bathtub. He never made a move since he wouldn’t want to tire me further.
I leaned back against him and sighed, feeling the warmth of the water and Kyson’s body. This is all I need to relax…
“Tired?” he asked as his hand moved up and down along my arm.
“Mmmm…” I hummed in response and closed my eyes.
“Sleep, Aleena. We still have a few hours until the full moon. I’ll wake you up later.” Kyson’s gentle voice sounded as I let myself drift to sleep.
***
“Aleena, wake up. It’s nearly time,” I heard Kyson’s gentle voice and a fleeting kiss on my forehead as my eyes fluttered open.
“Mmmm…” I snuggled closer to him. “It’s time?”
“Just enough for you to get ready for your first shift.” He caressed my head.
His words and the thought of shifting woke me up instantly.
“Celia, we’re going to shift! You’ll be able to meet Night and run!” I knew how excited she must be after being in my mind for longer than other wolves.
“Yes! I can finally meet my mate, Night, in my true form!” She jumped around in my head, unable to contain her excitement.
I chuckled. She was more excited to meet Night than to be able to run.
“Let’s go!” I jumped from the bed and pulled Kyson with me. He chuckled, looking at my excitement.
“Where are we going to do it?” I couldn’t wait anymore and nearly ran toward the forest.
“Calm down, little mate,” Kyson laughed, and I blushed. He never called me ‘little mate’ before. I looked at him, and his eyes were gold. They had switched personalities.
“Night! Celia can’t wait to see you in her form!” I squealed.
“Yeah, she told me,” he chuckled.
I blushed even harder from embarrassment. I had forgotten that they could communicate.
“Let’s go to Kyson’s personal training ground. We can run from there.” He led me in the direction of Kyson’s personal ground. It was connected to a forest for them to run freely without anyone knowing his true form.
“Are you still going to run alone? Everyone knows you are a Lycan now.” Wouldn’t he want to show them that he’s the Alpha?
“Kyson’s going to introduce you as his Luna officially, and we’ll run with them after your first shift,” Kyson said calmly.
My heart skipped a bit. He’s going to introduce me to the pack members as their Luna officially? My heart was in chaos. I felt a mixture of happiness and joy, but at the same time, I was afraid they wouldn’t accept them.
“Don’t worry, Luv. They are going to accept you and be pleased that you are their Luna,” Night comforted me as though he could read my mind.
We reached the training ground when Night said, “Look at the beautiful moon, Aleena.” Ohh… They had changed personalities again. Kyson always called me by my name, so it was easy to distinguish between the two of them.
“It’s beautiful,” I gushed. From the training ground, without anything hindering my sight from the moon, I could see the black sky full of twinkling stars and the silver moon. It looked even more significant than the usual moon.
I kept my gaze fixed on the moon, watching it slowly transform into one perfect sphere.
“Ready, Aleena?” Kyson asked.
“Rea-” My words were interrupted by the intense pain I felt when I heard the crack of my bones. My legs were broken, and I cried out in pain.
“Oh, my Goddess,” I groaned.
My other leg started to break, followed by my arms and my back. My body shook from the intense pain.
“Oh Goddess,” I cried. The feeling of every bone in my body being broken was excruciating.
“Arrggghhhh!” I shouted in pain. It was too much… I couldn’t take it.
“Hang in there, Aleena. You are doing great,” I heard Kyson’s voice through our mindlink.
“I can’t… Kyson, it hurts. Please help me,” I sobbed as more joints in my body were broken.
The cracking sound made it even worse.
“Just a little bit more, Aleena. Stay with me. You can do it. You are strong,” I heard Celia’s voice trying to soothe me.
“I can’t… Please stop this…” I sobbed and fell to my knees.
“Please…” I felt like I was dying.
“You are doing great, Aleena. Just a little bit more. Focus on my voice. You will be able to get through this,” Kyson’s calm voice sounded through the mindlink again.
“Kyson… This is too much. It hurts… It hurts… I’m dying. I can’t take this anymore.” After my bones were broken, the next step was even more agonizing.
My limbs and body lengthened, and it was nothing like I had imagined. I felt like a force was pulling every part of my body, wanting to tear them away.
“Kyson… Help me…” It was too much, especially when My face protruded, and I felt like I was going to be disfigured. I’m going to die!
“Argghhhhhhhh!” I closed my eyes and screamed out in agony again when every part of my body lengthened even more.
Suddenly, all the pain vanished, and I panted on my hands and knees with tears flowing down my cheek.
I opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw was not my hands but paws.