Chapter 24: 23

Chapter 23

"I can't believe it. You're actually preparing—my eyes must be deceiving me…?" Pepper might be overdramatic, but to her, it still felt surreal.

She took a shower downstairs, and as the Gamma Chief's daughter, she couldn't possibly be absent for the mandatory trainings. Her father would be there to watch over the pack warriors, and trainees like herself.

That's why, she and Salt carry a gym bag with them every day that contains an extra pair of shorts, and tops.

And unlike Amber, they have never missed a single day of the official pack training.

Amber's long hair in a ponytail, plus her athletic attire might give Pepper a heart attack.

It was too much… fan service.

Even if she were her friend, she had never gone, and overstepped her bounds as to creep upon Amber, and watch her train. She respects her privacy, and she's not conniving as to use their friendship to get a free pass to do something Amber won't appreciate.

"You've got some… fancy training outfit," Pepper added in between her amazement. "Where did you buy those?"

"I sewed them myself, Pepper."

"Okay, sewed them." Then, her eyes widened. "Wait, what?" she asked incredulously. "When do you even have the time? That's… quite amazing needlework right there!"

Amber let out a hearty laugh. "Sewing is part of my training menu."

Pepper threw her a calculating look. "You're kidding."

"No, I'm not," Amber replied in defense, followed by a playful wink. She then proceeded to grabbing her own gym bag, and walking straight to the door. "Salt is waiting. We don't want him pissed."

It's because Pepper is still sitting by the edge of her bed, unmoving.

"How is sewing part of your training menu? Because if you're telling me that it's your main secret to becoming as strong as you are now, you know I'm going to believe you," Pepper said without blinking.

It was comical.

'She's still on that?'

Amber put on an adoring smile. "No, that's of no use for strength improvement. Sewing is merely a basic survival skill."

"Survival…?" Pepper fell deeper into a state of confusion. "You're not leaving our pack, are you?"

"Silly, what made you think that?"

"Well… I was wondering why Dad had never taught us that. Was it because he was aware of my disinterest in my Home Economics class? You know… my grades were fairly consistent in that one—the borderline of pass or fail." Pepper's face was filled with admiration as she surveyed her training outfit meticulously. "You must have started young to be able to produce something of that quality." Then, she looked at her, eyes twinkling with excitement. "I'd love to avail your services!"

"I can make you something for free. These are just light clothes."

"But, what are they made from?"

Amber stilled for a moment.

She battled herself as to whether or not tell Pepper the truth.

Her friend might change her mind if she found out.

However…

It's not her decision to make, so she's going to leave it up to her. "Beast fur."

There was that look on Pepper's face again. "You're kidding me."

"Because of its scent, it's perfect for hunting."

Pepper was on her feet within a split second. "Son of a bitch, I'm in."

Amber sighed inwardly.

That took longer than expected.

Salt and Lukas were having a conversation by the gates, they didn't notice them approaching. They both looked serious, but Amber pushed back down her curiosity.

'It's probably boy talk,' was what she said to herself.

It was Pepper's greeting that made them halt their discussion.

Lukas turned to her. "I heard from Salt you were joining today. Now, that's… big news."

Amber tilted her head to one side. "Is that really big of a deal? It's still training. As for me, the only difference is the venue, I guess?"

"It's a big deal. You're finally coming down from your throne to mingle with us, commoners," he said jokingly.

"Cringey," Pepper commented before she turned to Amber. "Have you informed my father of your plan yet?"

"I did earlier." Amber mindlinked the Gamma Chief. He even asked her the same question over and over just to know if that was really her final decision.

And he went as far as suspecting that she might be being pressured into this—that perhaps, somebody from school issued a challenge she couldn't refuse to again.

'Sir Brandon thought I was being bullied for my non-participation…'

"Was Dad shocked? Oh, ignore that question. He's probably deceased."

The three gaped at her poor attempt at a joke.

Pepper reddened, and raised her hands in surrender. "Yes, yes! That was lame, and a bit too much. If Dad hears, I'm so getting hanged. Anyway, save the disgusted look on your faces. You're embarrassing me!"

"You mean you've embarrassed yourself?" Salt lifted a brow. "Don't put this on us."

Salt and Pepper continued to bicker until they reached the training grounds. Lukas couldn't help but throw a side glance at Amber from time to time. It was hard to believe that she was coming with them today as she used to not budge no matter how they tried to persuade her before.

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Besides, he heard from Pepper that Amber's injuries were not completely healed, yet.

The Commander doesn't accept excuses when it comes to training. There's a possibility that he will go hard on Amber, especially it's the first time she's attending today.

Because finally, the pack will be able to put her talents to a test.

There's no way they would actually pass up this opportunity.

Lukas averted his gaze when he was about to get caught staring by Salt. That friend of his rarely misses a thing, and he can't be found out. His feelings for Amber are too chaotic as of the moment, it's high-time for him to discard his hopeless dream of them… to be together.

It's just that, the attraction he feels for her isn't normal.

Werewolves who have other love interest before they get to meet their real mates are being looked down upon by the society. It brings dishonor to the sanctity of mates because not all gets to have one.

Some die early. Some are just unlucky.

"Look! Isn't that Amber?"

"She's training with us today!?"

"That's unheard of…"

"Does the management know?"

"Silly! Of course, they should be informed beforehand. It's not like they can make her perform drills she isn't familiar with anyway!"

"Still! I think they should still have said something."

"Like an announcement?"

"Yes… don't you think we deserve to know? Amber has received immunity against our culture for as long as I can remember."

The chatters stopped almost immediately when Lukas gave them a look.

It was full of warning.

The trainees looked away, and got on with their own business—though they still seemed awfully wary of their surroundings.

Amber's presence had certainly piqued their interest, not to mention she was walking alongside some famous people.

'She's not reacting to anything…' Lukas thought.

Amber surely had heard the whispers of perplexity of the crowd, yet she didn't look affected at all. The four of them approached the Gamma Chief who was waiting beside a lamp post.

Lukas stared at the man, standing next to him, with narrowed eyes. The Beta is here, too?

That's even more surprising than the Alpha being here.

Everyone knows just how supportive his father is to Amber's endeavors.

On the contrary, it's the Beta who doesn't seem to be very fond of her.

Yet, he came here?

Amber greeted the two strong pack warriors courageously. The atmosphere between them was rather tense, and it was because the Beta wasn't even trying to hide his displeasure upon seeing her. He was literally frowning at the girl, and didn't even greet her back like Sir Brandon did.

"Which exercises do you perform?" inquired the Beta.

"Should I cite them one by one, Sir?"

"Only those you've mastered, so we would know where to focus."

"Body smashing, drown proofing, low-crawling."

"Low-crawling?" The Beta raised an eyebrow. "Anyone can do that."

"I know, Sir." Amber smiled sheepishly. "But, mine was modified. I do it without the use of my arms, and over sharp corals." Her fingers grazed over the mesh dressing of her arm. "Not anyone can do that."

What…?

That's actually… grand.

But…

"Corals, huh? Did you leave the territory without permission again?"

A very familiar, and imposing voice suddenly came to interrupt the ongoing semi-antagonistic questioning done by the Beta.

"Amber wouldn't need my permission since I personally came to oversee some of her intense workouts back then."

The Beta knew he had to yield as soon as he realized that Severus really visited the grounds before departing for a special meeting that would be held outside the pack.

He's still against the special treatment the Alpha is giving the Santiago because it ruins public trust, and creates negative sentiments. He doesn't intend to attack her personally, but is merely showing how others are treated under normal circumstances.

The Beta sighed in defeat. "We'll do none of what you've mentioned. We only provide training to improve a trainee's potential. You're not going on a war. Intensive trainings are for official pack warriors. Moreover…" He let his words hang in the air as he glimpsed at her arm, "you're wounded. We don't want to aggravate it any further, do we?"

"Fine by me, Sir," replied Amber, then she turned to bow toward Alpha Severus, grateful. "I think I'll hold up just fine, Alpha. I wish to be treated fairly in the training today."

Ha.

Severus stood stiffly. "Trent is here," said he, knowingly. "He will make sure that's going to happen."

Amber stands unaware of the tension between the Alpha and Beta because her senses are on the work.

'That guy, Jay… he's here, and right now, he has gone into hiding.'

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