T H I R T Y

NOVA

The wind was knocked out of me for the fifth time today, forcing a wheeze from both of my  lungs.

A familiar silhouette filled my vision, temporarily blocking the sun's rays from my vision, as Charlie's worried came into view.

"I'm so sorry" he winced, holding out his hand to me "I shouldn't have hit you that hard."

I took his hand, shaking my head in frustration as I stood up "I should have been able to block it."

"You can't block something you can't see" he shot me a sympathetic look "It takes a while to get adjusted to our reflexes."

"I've been here for two and a half months" I muttered "How much longer do I need?"

"Rome wasn't built in a day so it'll take time" Charlie shot me a sympathetic look "You have to remember that we grew up learning the basics since elementary school."

"I don't have time to spare" I groaned "The longer I can't defend myself, the bigger of a target I'll be. I can practically feel Saoirse plotting my death as we speak."

"You can't rush these things no matter how hard you want it too" he said softly "Because if you do, it'll leave more room for injury."

"What's the difference then?" I snorted, getting into position the Coach taught us at the beginning of last class "Because, either way, I'm getting my ass handed to me. I swear I have bruises over my entire body and sore muscles I didn't even think could get sore."

Charlie winced and I felt bad, not wanting him to think that he was the cause of all my physical and emotional anguish.

"Don't even blame yourself Charls" I warned him "You're just doing what the Coach wants us to do."

"How can I not blame myself?" He positioned himself in a way where I knew he was waiting for me to strike "I'm the one who gave you those bruises."

Technically, he was right considering that Coach always paired us up together.

Something I was secretly grateful for considering some of the looks I got from a few others, particularly from those in the Fowl Pack, in the class.

He suddenly looked sick as his arms dropped to the side "Oh god, the Penta's gonna kill me."

"What?!" My own eyes widened "Why?"

"Because I bruised the Lupine Heir" he whispered, eyes wide in fright "I hurt the last Lupine Heir. Oh God, the Heirs will come after me too when they find out what I did."

I couldn't help it...I started laughing.

He scowled at me "I'm glad the thought of my death is hysterical to you."

"It's not" I snickered "But you're worrying for nothing."

"How would you know?" He pouted, resuming his previous position.

"Firstly because, as you said, I'm the last Lupine Heir and they can't touch you. I won't allow it."

I lunged for him but he easily dodged my sneak attack.

I growled in frustration turning just in time to block his jab to my rib cage.

"Really?" He asked skeptically "You have that much pull already with the Penta? And the other Heirs?"

I shrugged, twirling out of his reach as lunged for me.

"I have no idea how much pull I, or even my predecessors, had before me" I admitted "But what I do know is that they won't hurt you."

His eyes soften "We've all heard stories of what a wonderful Alpha Heir and Penta member your Father was."

His words, although kind and appreciative, caused a pit to form in the base of my stomach.

I've heard bits and pieces of the stories he's referring to about Wolff Lupine, hell I've seen the accolades and awards he received when he went here, but my mind couldn't wrap around the fact that my dad...the man who raised me...wasn't actually my dad.

Matthew St. James was simply a kind hearted Doctor who fell in love with a sickly newborn orphan.

A man who did everything he could to keep said newborn apart of his family and away from a broken system.

That's just the kind of man my Dad was...always mindful of others needs.

What kind of man was Wolff Lupine?

I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't see Charlie strike until it was too late.

I wheezed out a groan, my lungs burning as I once again stared up at the blue sky.

"SHIT!" Charlie yelped, coming into view once more "I'm so sorry Nova!"

~~~~

Phoenix

I schooled my emotions, particularly the wince that overcame me when the kid from Lobo's pack threw my Mate down on the mat for the sixth time.

While my Wolf clawed at my insides, fighting and begging to be released, and I had to remind him that if he intervened, my prick of an uncle wouldn't hesitate to throw us out and ban me from entering the Coliseum ever again.

Which is something he has the power to do, considering the sway he has with Headmaster Cortez.

The man he freaking trained as part of the first graduating class of Guardsman's.

And while my last name might have been branded on the front of the building, I didn't have the power to overrule them yet.

Not until my father handed over the Fenrir title to me, its rightful owner.

I couldn't help the slight finch that overcame me when the kid took Nova down to the floor once again, gritting my teeth to keep the rage that overcame me from spilling out.

No wonder Atlas nearly killed that guy who touched her.

I wanted to fly across the stadium and murder this kid even though the rational part of my brain knew that he was only doing what his Professor assigned.

The kid was even pulling his punches and jabs, avoiding the areas I knew would cause the most damage to her body..

"Again!" Calhoun barked over at Nova and the kid "Lupine, stop flinching and anticipating the pain before he even makes a punch."

"Sorry Coach" she croaked out before taking the kid's outstretched hand and letting him haul her to his feet "Let's try this again."

~~~~~~~

It was eleven by the time I made it back to the Heir House, not even surprised in the least when I saw Atlas and Kass waiting for me in the living room.

"Where's Nova?" I asked, bending down and gently nudging Brutus the other way before he smacked into the wall.

"Sleeping" Kass answered, leisurely flipping through his textbook pages "She came home dead tired and was about to skip dinner when Atlas all but had a fit and shoved some pasta down her throat. She went to bed shortly after, and that was like four hours ago."

"Did you see the fucking bruises on her?" Atlas spit out, anger flashing in his yellow eyes "Why does she have so many fucking bruises? What happened today?"

I sighed, plopping my body into the single arm chair "She got her ass handed to her, that's what happened."

They both sat up straight, Kassian's textbook falling closed to the floor with a light smack.

"What the fuck does that mean?" Atlas hissed "Wasn't she partnered with Charlie? I'll kill him. Why'd you let anyone get that close to her?"

"Did you want me to get kicked out of her class?" I raised a brow "Because that's exactly what would have happened if I killed your Pack Member."

"Is she okay?" Kassian, always the mother hen, asked "She didn't mention anything to us over dinner."

"Why would she?" Atlas countered, crossing his arms over his chest "That woman's more prideful than ol' grumpy pants over here. It would have hurt her ego to admit that she was in pain."

"You think she needs some pain killers?" He asked, gnawing on his lip "Or a visit to the school witch?"

"No" Atlas growled "I don't want one of those hex happy witches touching a single hair on her perfect head."

Atlas' extreme hate for Witches never made sense to me, considering that not only was his brother married to a Wolf whose sister practiced the Craft, but also because he knew how well we vetted and kept an eye on the Witches who worked for us Wolves.

Witches who were outcasted from their Covens simply for not going along with the traditions and rituals of Human sacrifice.

Kass frowned "You know Amethyst would never hurt her."

Amethyst, before becoming apart of the permanent staff at Crescent Academy, was the Lykos personal practitioner.

She was with them throughout the years, practically raising Kassian him alone in that castle they called home while they gallivanted throughout the world for their research.

Atlas waved a dismissive hand towards our friend "Amethyst is an exception."

"But she's still a witch" Kass frowned "And she's proud of who she is and where she came from, just dissapointed that no one wants to strive for change."

"You say she's an exception but you still wouldn't let Nova see her" I pointed out "How does that make sense?"

"I don't trust anyone nowadays" Atlas sighed, gripping his hair "My Wolf has become a suspicious motherfucker nowadays."

"Nowadays?" I smirked.

He shot me a glare, throwing a couch pillow at me "Don't act like you don't know what I mean jackass."

"I don't" Kassian frowned "What are you two talking about?"

Atlas rolled his head to look at our best friend "You'll know it when you see someone put their hands on her or throw her to the floor about six hundred thousand times."

Kassian's frown deepen even more "I don't think I like the sound of that."

"You won't" Atlas said before turning back to me "Why did she have so many bruises?"

"That's why I was out so late" I said, pulling some notes from my messenger bag "I pulled her records from the-"

"You pulled her records?" Kass asked, his tone incredulous "I thought they were sealed the moment she entered Crescent Academy?"

"They were."

"Then how did you...?"

"For some insane reason," Atlas said "He has these connections in high places."

"That's because people actually like me." I smirked at him.

"They fear you" Atlas corrected "Your Tÿr Fenrir's son, the leading Council Member of the Penta, the Wolf destined to rule over the Council the moment our parents retire. Of course your contacts are gathering their favors now, they'll need you in the future."

I shrugged "Either way works."

"What you find Nix?" Kass asked, his leg bouncing anxiously "Is Nova okay?"

"She's healthy" I passed them the tests "For a human."