More than I Bargained for

Emily slid to the side to avoid the rushing sword coming down towards her, she huffed her breath coming out in harsh puffs.
When she had said she wanted the best it seemed Logan had taken it very literally in all sense of the words.
The whole pack took training very seriously, those who couldn't shift to their wolves - the submissive had to practice as well, there could be no weak link in the pack so all around her, she could hear the clanging of weapons as people trained themselves. This was where he had decided to train me
" We can't be sure if you're not a werewolf but we can assume that you are a submissive so we'll start from there" he had muttered when they met that morning.
Emily had given up on flirting with Logan, she couldn't afford the distraction and he had shown he was not interested multiple times, there was only so much rejection one could face before giving up.
But now in place of not wanting her, he seemed determined to try and kill her first.
There was a chill to the air and as she breathed in deep enough she could smell flowers, something like lilies that were blossoming not far off maybe to the east. Emily tried not to get distracted by the smells and to focus on what was happening around her, she slid to the side again almost escaping the blade by half an inch.
"You're good Emily but the sword is not for you is it? Or are you just this lazy "Logan spat as he rushed her, and he had resorted to using harsh words as tough love of some sort.
So far she had not learned anything about the current political climate of the wolf city pack. So far I knew the hierarchy of the pack. Logan was the alpha and then there was Bruce his beta. The wolves were then divided into dominant wolves and submissive, and pups.
The dominant wolves were alpha's that were below Logan's strength and betas as well and then there were those like Sam and I, we were either delayed or would never shift at all.
" Focus" Logan grunted as his blade clanged against her pressing against her so she had to use all her energy to hold him back. This was becoming ridiculous. She had been on the floor numerous times, she was sweaty and dusty, her body was itching and she wanted to pull out his hair as well as everyone else's
" I am focused " she gritted
" You're not focused, you are being a whiny princess with less talent and lesser sense "
She roared and pushed him off her
" Use your power princess, manipulate it, it belongs to your so call it" he shouted at her, the grounds had turned silent other trainees pausing to watch them she glimpsed Sam and Aspen standing off to one side and whispering among themselves, Sam stood to the side a worried look on his face but he had a slight grin on his face the traitorous bastard.
So far she had taken to arm-to-arm combat like a duck to water so she knew took his taunts for what they were 'tough love'. In reverse, learning how to handle weapons had not turned out as well, she couldn't seem to beat anyone with a blade and she was most likely to hurt herself with it.
But Logan said she needed to learn this too. It was best to fight ghouls at a distance. And these ghouls were something she wanted to avoid.
" I can beat you with or without those powers you say a lot about you dumbass" she muttered, he laughed crooking two fingers in a come-on motion.
She needed to get this right, taking a deep breath she squeezed her hand over the hilt of the sword, Logan rushed towards her, she thrust she swung, and and they began a dance parrying swiftly, twisting she sliced at him grinning when she drew blood. He laughed, rushing at her, he struck on his hand, hard, harsh, and fast forcing her on the defensive, he struck hard sending her sword flying and her to her knees
" I think I've won princess" he smirked using that mocking tone that made her skin crawl like she had insects running over her.
A haze of rage blinded her pulling on all the rage within her, she drew in a deep breath, bounced to her feet, and lunged at him, slashing his chest with her blade, red blooming across his shirt. He stumbled and fell, a harsh shout leaving him, the arena was silent she could see someone trying to help Logan and worry gnawed at her that she'd hurt him, all around her people were glaring at her, and they had the right to. She had hurt their alpha
" Hey, you ok," Sam asked kneeling by her, she shoved him away,
" I'm fine check on Logan I think I hurt him " she murmured
"He's fine, Aspen is checking on him" Sam replied pulling her up to her feet.
" I failed again" she huffed Sam grabbed her face in his palm turning her to face him
" You didn't for someone who hasn't handled a sword before three days ago you did good" he muttered and she hissed
" You're flattering me and it's not working as well as you would hope " she countered she could feel the frustration riding her.
She was not expecting to be good at once she just wished she was pulling her weight.
She pulled away from him and strode away.
" Emily " he called out hurrying after her
" Just, leave me alone " she called out as she lunged into a sprint.
" Leave her, I'll go after her "
Logan said placing a hand on Sam's shoulder to pause him he could see how much the other man wanted to run after his sister but he knew what she was going through and she didn't need coddling right now. Nodding at Sam he strode after she took the short route, she was doing well if he wanted to tell the truth, so far she was standing on her own. Her strength and speed tempted him to believe that she was a dominant wolf but then she couldn't shift.
He found her at the small fountain next to the back of the main house he smiled his mother had liked this place it was uncanny that, after a few days here she'd found a place where she felt comfortable, he was happy about that at least she didn't feel out of sorts in a new environment all on her own.
" I told you to leave me alone Sam" she grumbled
" I'm not Sam" he retorted
"You sulking and doing a terrible job at that" he added coming to sit by her side
" If you came to mock me you can leave" she growled striking her hand against the water and it splashed on her clothes and to the ground making her curse again.
" I don't need to mock you, the sulking does that for me" he crossed his arms
" I hate that I'm failing" he sighed
" Who said you are? You are not failing, you've become a good swordsman in a couple of days " She shot him a glare and he backtracked
"Ok fine, you are almost a good swordsman" she sighed
They were silent for a while as she wondered what he was thinking about while he wondered how to break the stiff silence. He blurted
" I loved sword fighting when I was younger, I was going to run away and become an expert " he muttered and she huffed
" What happened" she asked softly. He sighed he'd never told anyone this before
" I was horrible when I started, wanted to quit" he answered
"Then my dad sat me down and he said something to me, 'Son you have to be willing to hone ygiftsgiftsf you want to use them, we may be born with our gifts but until we hone them, we'll never get anywhere.' "
" I never forgot that. I ended up being very good at it but I never left home. I accomplished my dream and that joy allowed me to dream of more to do more"
She looked at him with open interest
" So you never went to become an expert," she asked
" No. I had obligations here. I shifted, I was alpha."
" No matter how much I wanted different for myself, I had people to protect" he smiled.
" Yep"
" So what you're saying is I should take it easy," she asked softly, her fingers skimming over the ice, water this time as she was calmer and not prone to fussing. Emily relaxed a little bit calmer now
" I'm saying-" he took her hand in his
" - you have a tough job, what we're fighting against it's not just your enemy you are allowed to flop, but you also get to pick yourself back up and you get to let others help you as you do it "
She stared at him her green eyes becoming glassy as a sheen of tears spread over them, she blinked trying to stop the flow but it was a bit useless
" Thanks" she whispered, he smiled
"You're welcome, now let's go back I'm sure Sam has torn his hair out waiting for you" he joked
" He worries too much" she groused standing reluctantly
"That's cos he cares he is your brother after all" he countered and she sighed
" All right let go " They walked together in companionable silence it was something that he achieved easily with Logan, he always left her feeling comfortable, maybe it was why he had followed her even if it could have been a wild goose chase. Maybe it was why he tried even though he didn't seem to like her, whatever the reason she was grateful.
" You must miss your family," she said as they walked, he sighed
" I do, I wish my father was alive, he would know what to do right now and I wouldn't feel so inept." He said softly and she smiled
" If it's any consolation, I think you're doing very well. I think they would be proud of you "They strolled into the training arena, it was quiet, people had dispersed probably to have dinner the sun had dipped completely, stars twinkling softly, ahead of them she could see Sam leaning against a wall waiting for them
" Thank you Logan " she whispered and he grinned
" That alright. I'll leave you to it " he said softly and she nodded and walked away from him to meet Sam who opened his arms to her, she huffed
" Alright that's enough bring the asshole out" she muttered and he laughed
" I'm being comforting " he muttered and she winced
" Well I'm not comfortable at all" she hissed as they walked to the house.
As Logan watched them go his heart filled with envy he had siblings the love between these two
" Well done Logan I think you helped her " he glanced around to find Bruce walking towards him
"I'd like to think so" he grumbled"
" You really should just kiss her already, you're way too obvious" he whispered and Logan straightened
" I'm not obvious at anything" he glares and Bruce laughed
" Let's go in" he nodded.
" Have they found _?" he asked
" Aspen hasn't seen anything new, we're considering going to out-of-town places," he said and Logan shrugged
" Well then. All we can do is be prepared"
That was all they really could do