20. Money is Nothing

Eric

Noel and I watched in shock. Lilith was holding her own. I mean really holding her own. Apparently, the guy I had running training wanted me to come and see what she was capable of. Saying she was faster and the most in shape he had ever seen a shifter, that she should be the one running practice. Then Mia shifted because she couldn’t stand the fact, she was losing by a half shifter, or perhaps she was jealous.

The problem was Lilith shifted into Kali and I was worried Axel’s mate would be lethal, but I didn’t interfere just yet. I wanted to see if Kali was as good as her human counterpart. When she shifted, I saw just how small Kali was against a full-blooded wolf shifter. “There is no way she will win this, Eric you have to step in.” Noel said. “Give her a minute if it gets too bad, I will step in.” I responded.

But the opposite happened. I could see what was going to happen. But one of the other pack members shouted “Tranquilizer” My eyes shot to him. Kali heard it too. When she ran towards Mia’s wolf, I was hopeful she wouldn’t attack the kid who called for her to be put out. But Kali turned, and I shifted to Axel. He knew what to do. So, I left it to him. I listened to Axel “Kali, you are the Luna Wolf you have to set an example. We need the pack to like you, and killing anyone is bad, especially someone not shifted.” I don’t know what Kali said. But Axel said “Make a point, but don’t kill. It will make more of an impact. I know you want respect and everyone to know you are the best, showing mercy but making a point will show them you are better than them in every way. Not only will they fear you from now and know you are better, but they will also know you have some composure.”

I saw through Axel eyes; Kali was pissed but she was going to take his advice. “Good job Axel seems you know the best way to talk to your mate, maybe this will all work out.” I said to my wolf. I was surprised that Kali actually took his advice. I watched through his eyes as Kali was aggressive but didn’t kill Mia. She ran to Axel and the two of them started rubbing against each other and as they ran from everyone, I knew I would need to push back into my own mind.

They spent time together no doubt coupling with one another. I was excited to talk to Lilith, wanting to see how much she trained. Maybe she would take over the training. If the pack trainers thought she was better than everyone else in the pack as far as being able to fight, we should regulate what she did. If we had her skill maybe we wouldn’t have taken such bad losses when the Draco wolves had attacked us. Kali and Axel shifted outside of the packhouse.

Lilith looked pissed. She was naked as was I. “Let’s hurry and get clothes on and you can tell me what that face is about.” She didn’t speak as she ran up to our room. I followed. She threw on some shorts and a tank top. “What's wrong Lilith?” She crossed her arms. “Kali shredded my clothes. I mean I was happy she didn’t kill that girl. And I am thankful she pushed me out of her mind when she and Axel did whatever they did, but waiting in my thoughts it occurred to me I shifted and shredded my training stuff for cheer. Not that I don’t have a few extras but now I have to get another set. They were not cheap. Nothing for sports is cheap and I have to pay for some new clothes which I do not need right now.”

“I have stuff I have to pay for, I mean I don’t even want to know how much it is going to cost to chip in for living here, and the amount of food you have. It is going to be a bitch, then there is the fact I have to pay for my waxing soon. I am just stressed.” She paused. “You know what it is fine, I can find a car to steal. I think I can find a good one. Then I will have a nice chunk of cash, oh by the way how much do I need to give you for bills, and what day is it due?”

Did she really think she would have to chip in financially to live here. I stared at her; Lilith looked so serious. She had been supporting herself for a while now. I forgot that she probably thought this was normal. “Lilith you don’t pay anything to live here, and I will replace the cheer stuff Kali shredded. Really you don’t have to worry about money anymore.” She looked at me like I was not serious and said, “Eric I am not going to mooch off you, I have been paying for myself for a long time, I will not be a financial burden.” I came up to her and grabbed her arms softly.

“Lilith, I have more money than you know. I will never run out of it. I can buy whatever I want whenever I want. We are mated, that means what I have is yours. Seriously you don’t need to pay for anything. You are anything but a burden to me. Besides you have a job here so think of it as payment for that.” She looked at me like I was not really saying that. “Eric I won’t be doing any of that until I graduate. I have to pull my wait I don’t want to be a mooch.”

I laughed, “What is so funny?” She asked. “You, you're not a mooch. I don’t know why your mother made you think that. But you are anything but that. You do know you wouldn’t be the only one who has access to my money. Noel does too. It really is family money, and even with Noel he could buy whatever he wants and trust me sometimes he buys stupid crap.” She smiled. “Serious Lilith money is nothing to me.” She snorted. “Must be nice.” I slid my arms up hers.

“It is nice to have that, but seriously don’t worry about it anymore.” She looked so unsure. “And about not doing anything for the pack, I think you can do something. It is not the same as normal Luna duties, but it would be great if you could do something. Maybe then you won’t feel so bad about the money if you are contributing.” She looked at me waiting for me to explain. “I would like you to train the pack. They seem to not even be on par with you, and honestly that is depressing, they should be able to keep up with you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Because I am half a shifter. They should be better than me, is that what you are saying?” Did she really think I meant that. “No, not because you are half shifter. They just should be as good as you. You didn’t grow up in a pack, they have spent their whole life living amongst one another, they know their strength. They should have been using it and not being lazy. I meant you have not had the same experience, that the pack has been given and you smoked them. That should not happen with how much they are able to train.” She snorted. “Well, I did think they needed to be better.”

I smiled “Maybe with your help they will get better.” She hmphed. “I will see what I can do, but we need some things and no one and I mean no one is going to interfere with how I shape them up. That is the only way I will train them.” I nodded. “I agree to those terms.” She responded. “Do you have a large space that is empty?” I stood there thinking. “We do have a big space, but it outside but it is covered will that work?” She stood there thinking. “Yes, I think that may work.” She nodded.

“So can you order your cheer stuff online?” She nodded and I went to my wallet, handing her my card. “Buy your cheer stuff and the other stuff for training them.” She went to her duffle and pulled out a laptop and sat on the bed. “Do you want to go grab dinner? Also is Kali going to want to run after, since she already ran today?” She was quiet, probably asking her wolf. “Yes, to dinner, and yes to the run. Kali liked the idea of running some more.” I nodded and watched as she worked on her laptop. I wondered what she was ordering for the pack.

Dinner and the run went well. We had several from the pack show up for the run. It had already gotten around that Lilith was superior to most of the wolves with her endurance and strength and some of those that no longer attended training wanted to see her wolf and what she could do. Mia was in the pack clinic. Her bones had been broken and had to be reset. It was fortunate for her it was only that. I decided I needed to talk and explain the Mia situation with Lilith but not tonight.