Chapter 20 - Watching the training ground

***Hopes pov***

I stand in front of the mirror looking at the red hickeys on my neck. Shit, that was so intense. I would have given in to him right there on the floor if he had continued, so not like me. I chuckle to myself. I’m changing. Rapidly, I may add. These last days have opened a whole new world to me and it affects me in ways I never thought possible. And Callum is the main reason. The way he looks at me, he makes me feel like I’m the only woman in the world. I smile at the mirror. My cheeks blush when I think about his lips, his muscular arms around me… I splash some cold water on my face after brushing my teeth and I leave the bathroom. The room feels empty without Callum. He never came back to the room last night, at least I don’t think so.

A knock on the door makes me jump and I hurry to open it.
Greta comes in with a breakfast tray in her hands.
“Good morning! Ive got your breakfast Miss” she says with a polite voice and a warm smile on her face.
“Thank you, Greta is it? You can just call me Hope” I answer, smiling back at her.
“Is Callum joining me?” I bet she can hear the hopeful tone in my voice.
“Oh, no, the Alpha already ate a couple of hours ago. He is leading the training this morning. Thought you might need the sleep after…yesterday’s revelations. You can see the training grounds from the window.” She explained before leaving the room.
While I ate, I texted Maya and my mother. Telling Maya I was ok and I promise to fill her in as soon as I got the time, a lot of things are going on. She answered with a bunch of emojis, basically telling me she is pissed, but she loves me. I send my mom a text saying I’m sorry says I’m sorry but I can’t come this Sunday either, that I’m out of town, but I call her soon. I feel so bad lying to them both..but its just for now, I will explain..or at least try to explain everything to them as soon as I fully understand it myself.

I fill up my coffee mug a second time and walk to the window, pulling aside the curtains. They divided the training ground into four smaller areas. As I could figure out they trained attack and defense in both human and wolf’s form. I see Reeces big red wolf, Chase, walk between the two areas with wolves, inspecting and correcting.
I look over to those who train in their human form, my eyes searching the areas before finding him. Callum was shirtless. A pair of gray shorts hung low on his hips, his tanned muscles coated in a layer of sweat and his hair all messy. He was the sexiest man Ive ever seen. As if he could feel my gaze, he turned his head up and looked straight at me and we didn’t move for a few seconds, but then he flashes me that beautiful white smile of his, making the lower part of my stomach tighten up.

The training looks demanding and I feel my muscles twitching, I haven’t worked out in a week…I really miss it..Maybe I should join in, I’ve already challenged Callum so it might be fun. I giggle to the images playing in my head, it starts with training but ends up as something else…jeezz..my hormones are all over the place…
As I keep watching, impressed by the speed and strength I witness before me, I hear someone call Callums name. I see a beautiful girl, at least she looks beautiful from where I stand, short dark hair, white shorts, a long-sleeved pink blouse and ballet slippers on her feet. Tanned skin and a body that could compete with Mayas. She runs to Callum and jumps up in his arms, wrapping herself around his neck.
I freeze when I see Callum lifting her up, bury his face in her neck and spins her around before hugging her tight for what seems like a long, long time. As he lets her go he takes her face in his hands and kisses her allover, her hair, her forehead, her cheeks..is she crying?..Im frozen to the spot, jealousy is pumping through my body. I know he probably has had a lot of girls, and he only met me a few days ago..but still, it freaking hurts..a lot..I feel something stir inside me, fueling my anger. Is it Luna? Or is it just a bunch of bullshit? Seriously, I know nothing about this place, only what I've been told. Maybe it is some sick sect, taking girls and fills their heads with “destiny bullshit” Luna, as they call her may just be my hormones, emotions and imagination running wild..what do I know about werewolves anyway?..I look down again and my eyes locks with Callums. He looks startled and..afraid?..
“Yeah, you got caught asshole” I say out loud before turning around and leaving the room.
I run down the stairs while I try to remember everything Callum told me when he was showing me around. The training grounds is at the back and side of the house so I won’t go there. I went past the school, towards the small mall he talked about. Maybe I can find a bus station. The stirring feeling inside of me keeps growing and a lump is forming in my throat and I suddenly feel so alone.
What was I thinking? Nobody knows were I am, I've lied to everybody and told them not to worry.
“You are so fucking dumb Hope”..I say out loud and I dont give a shit about the weird look I got from an older woman who I passed at the same time.

The small mall was not as small as Callum had me belive. It was a big bright place, one-storeyed, glass walls and light gray tiles on the floor and a lot of green plants. There were at least four different shops for clothes, a toy store, a hairdresser a nailsalon..how does that work? I wonder. An ice cream bar, a cafe, shoe store and a few more. In the middle of the mall was a fountain. A beautiful statue of a woman, her dress melted in to a wolf lying behind her.
“Artemis I presume..or do you prefer Selene?” I ask the statue in a venomous whisper. I feel the tears prickle in the back of my eyes, but I won’t let them out. I let my guard down, trusting Callum, abandoned everything I am. I become this smitten girly girl who blushed and giggled when she was told she smelled like roses. That is so not me.

“Are you lost child?” I recognized Zandra’s voice without turning around.
“I dont know, you tell me Zandra” I answered her, my voice cold and my eyes still at the statue.
“Well, I don’t live here so if you are on your way to me, then you are indeed lost”
“I wasn’t. I actually looking for a bus station, or a place to rent a car..something to get me the hell out of here”
“Now then, child. What happened?” She ask but I don’t hear surprise or concern in her voice, and it pisses me off. Did Callum call her to come find me? Did she look in to her crystal ball? She knew I was here, and she knows I’m upset, of that I am sure.
“No need to play pretend, Zandra,” I sigh and turn around.
My insides stir again as I see a smug smile on her face.
“ You were never one to be easy fooled Luna,” she says and chuckles a little.
“ My name is Hope… H.O.P.E! and I’m pretty good to figure out a con for myself when I see one. Thank you very much” Irritation clear in my voice.
Zandra just stands there, watching me without saying a word for a few minutes.
“No, Callum did not call me, I dont have a crystal ball and no, I dont read minds. Now, will you please come with me? You promised to visit me today, remember?” She winks and turn around to leave.
I’m baffled, to say the least, but after a few seconds I follow her back out of the mall, I can always go back and try to find a bus later…
To my relief, we don’t go in the direction of the pack house. Instead, we take a left turn outside the mall, against what I think is the back side of the housing area.
We walk in silence and follow a small street past a few houses and a small playground with a swing set and climbing frame with a bright yellow slide. There were a couple of kids playing and a little boy came running up to Zandra.
“Morning Zandra!” He said, a little shy and a small blush on his face.
“Good morning Anton! How are you to day?” She bent down a bit, leaning on her cane.
“I’m ok I guess. Mom is ill again and daddy is angry. Do you have a bit more of that medicine you gave her the last time?
“Of course sweet pup, Why don’t you come over in a few hours and Ill have it ready for you.” She ruffled the boy’s hair and pinched his cheek a little before standing up.
She looked sad when her eyes followed the boy back to the swings.
“Poor child…” she mumbled
Just like when I saw Callum with Thomas and Anna, my nerves calmed down and my anger faded and I took a deep breath to let go of the tension in my chest.
I love children, always have. Just like the wolves at the zoo, they are uncomplicated. They wear their emotions on the outside and they always tell you upfront without sugarcoating. I watch Anton with the other kids, thinking he would be a great friend for Thomas and Anna. Maybe he can come to the pack house and visit, or maybe I can bring them here to play…Wait, why am I planning for a future here?..Obviously Callums girlfriend is back after being…wherever… and I am not hanging around like some clingy heartbroken chick who can’t take a hint. I turn back to Zandra, who is looking at me with a mischievous smile…I swear that hag can read minds even if she wont admit it..
“Shall we?” I ask
“Of course dear”
A few minutes later, we reach the last house on the street. It was a white cottage with a big garden. There is a plot for herbs, and I can recognize a few, like rosemary, thyme, fennel and clary sage. There are also rosebushes with big red roses, white gardenias, pansys in all colors and so many flowers I can’t name.
“Its beautiful Zandra” I say, really taken by whats in front of me.
“Oh..” She looks around, “It’s my slice of heaven I guess” she answers and a longing flashes in her eyes before it’s gone.
“Come now,” she says and opens the big front door.

The house is very bright and clean. White walls with silver-framed colorful paintings. I make a note in my head to study the motives later. A stair leads up and I suspect the bedrooms are upstairs. We walk down a short hallway that leads to an open space with the big kitchen in the left corner, windows with small white pots of herbs and spices above the counter, stove and sink. A kitchen island, and a big dinnertable with 12 chairs. To my right, there is a club couch in tanned leather with three matching armchairs and a small round glass table. A few big green plants in pots of different colors, tall windows housing orchids in full bloom. Another hallway leads further in to the house, but Zandra is motioning me to the kitchen island while she puts a pot for tea on the stove. After making the tea, she pours it into two cups and place them on the island.

“I am not going to talk about what happened this morning. That will sort itself out in time.. I will only say this as a reminder of what I told you yesterday. Trust in your mate, there is nothing he won’t do for you.” She start, sitting down across from me.
“Yeah, like sucking face with another woman…” I say low into my teacup
She looks at me with a soft smile on her lips before sipping her tea.

“Whats your role in this Zandra? Whatever this is” I ask
“ My role is to prepare you and Luna for what’s to come…Its time for another story”she answers, with mixed emotions floating in her eyes.