New Wolf novel Chapter 101

"So it was an act all this time? So why did you have to pick on me!"

"Because in your dormant state, you're the weakest, but the most important. I wanted to see if I could push a few button until you exploded. I wanted to know what made you active. I just figured anger was the simplest way without endangering you, but I didn't even come close. When I thought to wake up the trees, it was actually to test how you respond to situations alone, not bring out the dark. But doing this actually made me come across your trigger. You don't really respond to your own pain. It's when someone else gets hurts that the beast rips through. It was so fascinating to see how automatic it is. As soon as your human half gives up, your other half takes over."

"What did my mother respond to?"

He smiled at me before saying, "Anger. But it didn't take much to get her fire started. Kind of like you, but you don't respond to ridicule. Strangely, just nicknames."

"I don't like nicknames."

"That much was obvious."

I rolled my eyes. "So when are we gonna start training?"

"We are. The first step is to find out how to unlock your true potential but we've already have that knocked. The second step is to practice it. Once we trigger it over and over, you'll be trained in that state. Then the third step is to do it at will."

"It sounds easy enough."

"It won't be." Alaric suddenly spoke, startling us both. "The first few lessons will change you, not just physically but mentally. You won't sleep the first two nights."

"Let's go," Troy commanded. "It's time for your first lesson. but let me warn you dong trust your judgment."

"Where are we going?"

"We're taking you home."

The scent of salt water and blood filled my nostrils but, the image itself that met my eyes said otherwise. The sand beneath my feet felt like tiny needles, the slight chill in the air pricked any exposed skin on my body like transparent acupunctures. Suddenly I was launched back into a memory I tried my hardest to forget since it's recovery....

"Suffer." I heard myself say, not believing the words actually left my mouth. The man looked up at me and I could see the fear in his eyes. He was pleading to me but seeing him beg had my lips curling upward in a smile. "Wither."

My knees buckled, the monster inside of me becoming so unbelievable.

"This is the last memory you have of this place, so it's the first one to come back."

"When you said home, I thought you meant the one I actually remembered. Or the safe house even."

"Understandable." Troy shrugged. "But here your senses are more primitive and natural. It should make this easier for you. C'mon." he lead us. "We start over there." He pointed to the many trees stretching beyond my sight. The road across the from us was empty, just like this beach. The place looked abandoned; like no had been here for years. It had me wondering for a split second if I'd find the remains of the man I killed, buried deep along the shoreline. And I was tempted for a second to look, just for verification.

"That means I'm older than you...You people are so weird..."

"I don't think we're the weird ones here." He said matter-of-factly.

"That's supposed mean what ex-"

His hand shot over my mouth before he hushed me silent. "Here comes your first lesson. Watch carefully. You'd be amazed at what creatures jump from Tylon through unclosed land-bridges. No matter what happens, you can let them see you."

"I don't even see anybody."

"Wait for it..."

Thirty seconds probably went by before I saw a little girl being cornered by a lion-wolf. This one was much bigger than the one that attacked Jacob and I. Its tusks were sharper, his eyes were more venomous; it was in it's prime. The little girl held up her hands in defensive stance, her eyes actively searching the ground for a weapon I suppose. It's back arched up, and I recognized this position immediately.

It's about to attack.

As if reading my mind, Troy grip onto my wrist and pulled my down lower out of sight. "No, just watch."