Chapter 11

~~~~~~~~~~~2 Years Later~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Harder! Harder! Hazel! Harder!"

I ran harder than I ever had before. The words Jett yelled through the wolf mind link had me running so fast the trees were flying behind me in a blur. I liked seeing my surroundings look like they were being smashed together as I ran. I had discovered my need for speed when I started training to become a Protector. I let the memories flood my mind as I ran.

About 1 month after I had joined the Farkas Pack when I was 16, I had asked Alpha Royce if I could train to become a protector. I was so nervous that he would think I was incapable of doing it.

~~Flashback~~

I knocked on the thick door, all the while trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach

"Come in." The Alphas deep voice rang through the door

I grabbed hold of the engraved knob and opened the door. Alpha Royce was at his desk wearing his reading glasses. He was focused really hard on the papers in front of him.

"Whatcha doin Royce?" Over the month I had grown really close to Royce. Eventually he told me to just call him Royce because it started being weird for me to call him something so formal.

He quickly glanced up and gave me a smile,"I'm doing bills. Definitely one of the worst things of being an Alpha." He groaned

I laughed as I spoke,"Well I need to distract you from those really fast ok?"

"Really? And what may I ask, do you need."

I walked over to the two leather chairs that sat in front of his desk and took a seat.

"Just hear me out ok?"

"Ok...." His expression a mix between curiosity and worry

I took a couple deep breathes before continuing,"Iwannabeaprotector." the words came out fast and jumbled

"Excuse me, what?" Royce looked amused

"I. Want. To. Train. To. Be. A. Protector." I said in a slow voice making sure I could be heard.

Royce sat there surprised, with every second he didn't respond my stomach tightened a little more.

Finally he spoke, "You do?" I nodded my head yes.

"You know what being a protector entails right? You have to train everyday, reach the needed physical level, and once you become a protector you still have to train everyday and when there is a fight you have to be the first to step up. Could you do that?"

"Do you doubt me Alpha?" I said with sarcasm

"Of course not Hazel! I'm just wondering if this is something you really want to do."

I knew with every fiber in my being that I wanted to do this. Not only for me, but to show my gratitude to the pack that took me in only a month ago.

"Yes, I know I want to do this." Confidence ringing through my words.

"Alright then. You are officially in Protector training."

"WHOOHOO! Thank you so much Royce! I won't let you down." I just couldn't contain the amount of excitement that flooded through my body. I got up from the chair and stood behind the chair.

"I know you won't Hazel. You are very strong, I have no doubt you'll make me proud."

I nodded my head and turned and walked toward the door.

"Oh Hazel," I turned to look at him once more to see him grinning,"It is a lot of training."

~~End of Flashback~~

At that moment I truly had no idea just how much training it was. At first I was a weak little wolf that had seriously no muscle, but as I kept training and training I turned into a little bad ass. I trained everyday for a year for four hours each and every day.

It has been 2 years since I started training and I am now 18 and have been a protector since I turned 17. Training is still a part of my everyday routine, although not as long and tough. I only train for about 2 hours, sometimes more.

"Hazel, come back now." I heard Jett say, cutting me out of my thoughts.

I turned back around and ran full force to the training center. Wanting to test myself one last time for the day.

Once I met the cut grass of the training centers lawn, I stopped at my tree to change. I call it my tree because it is where I always ditch my clothes before changing into a wolf. No one dares use it, it's mine.

I made sure no one was around and when I knew for sure that the coast was clear, I changed back into a human. Although I have done this a million times I was never comfortable in people seeing me naked.

I picked up my black bra and panties and slid them on quickly. One of the benefits of being a protector was achieving a great body, not only as a wolf but as a human too. I had definition in my arms, legs, and stomach. I had never been the "best bodied" girl, so I was proud of my body.

I picked up my biker shorts and threw them on then pulled my no sleeved t-shirt over my head, and headed toward the building.

I spotted the shaggier brown haired guy sitting in a lawn chair instantly.

"Jett!" I yelled, causing to turn his head toward me

"Hazel!" He yelled back

"So I am running my butt off and you are commanding me to run harder. And what are you doing? Sitting on a lawn chair." I said with mock anger, after I had made my way to him and sat on the lawn chair next to his.

"Hey! I'm the trainer, remember? You're suppose to do what I say." He looked at me like it was the most obvious thing.

"Why did you even become a trainer, not that you're a bad one, but you're only 23." I asked him curiously since we had been protectors together, but he recently became a trainer.

"Because I wanted too." Jett replied with a high pitched voice, "Aside from that horrible voice I just did, it's true. I really did want too." He stated.

"Ahh I see. So I guess that old saying is true. Those who can't do, teach." I said with innocence.

"Har har, did you know that you're hilarious Hazel?" Jett sarcastically joked.

"I have never been sure if I was truly hilarious or not. But you saying that really shows just how funny I am. So thank you." I said matching his sarcasm

He just gave me a fake grin in reply before he closed his eyes and laid his head on the back of the chair. A moment passed in silence before I stood up and headed toward the pack house.

"Hazel!" I jumped at the sudden sound and turned to see Bella jogging toward me waving frantically.

"Hey Bella! Jeez you almost gave me a heart attack!" I choked out, clutching at my heart.

"What a baby! I can't believe you got so scared," she burst out laughing," of something so small as to me calling your name!" By this time she shed a tear due to her laughing so hard.

"Bella! I was happily walking in a silence with the sun beating down on me, and then you call out my name! Of course i'm gonna be scared!" I couldn't help the smile that cracked on my lips that I had been trying to hold back.

Moments later she regained composure and we started to walk again.

"Oh wow that was so funny, my cheeks hurt now!" Bella started to clutch her cheeks,"anyway...what are you and Archer doing for your anniversary?"

Archer and I had started dating exactly 1 year ago today. When we first kissed that first night of me being here, I decided that I didn't want to be in a relationship until I knew him for a while longer. It was also because I knew that I didn't want to date anyone until I knew that I was over Knox. I had lingering feelings for him, that made butterflies come to my stomach every time I thought about him, for about 7 months after I left, and I didn't want that to affect any relationship I would have.

As soon as I was able to think his name without feeling something, I told Archer. But we decided that it was best to wait a little longer, although we both knew that we liked each other and were going to be together at some point. So we waited five more months, which flew by, to start dating. I remember how Archer asked me out the moment he could.

~~Flashback~~

Archer and I were currently in the commons room playing a game of Stratego. He was winning and I, being a bad sport, losing.

"You're cheating! You moved your flag!!" I all but yelled at him

"I did not! I swear!" He chuckled,"You're just mad that you're losing!"

"I am not. I just don't see how it is possible for me to go to your end of the board ten times and not find it!" I mumbled

"Do you want to stop playing for now?" He asked with amusement in his voice.

"Fine," I stubbornly said

"Remind me to never play a board game with you ever again." He said with humor and stood up

"No remind ME never to play with you again!" I said while standing up and poking his sides.

"Oh is that how its gonna be!" He poked my sides which made me burst out laughing

"You are seriously the most ticklish person I know!" He then started tickling my sides and it had me falling on the ground trying to get away.

"I don't think so!" He straddled me and started tickling my armpits.

"Stop! Stop! Please! I beg of you! I'll do anything!" I tried to reason with him

"I don't think so." He then began to tickle my belly which is my most ticklish spot.

I tried to speak over my laughing, which proved to be difficult. "Archer! Please, what can I do! Anything! Just stop!" I eventually was able to say while laughing .

"Hmm well there is one thing that can make me stop." He said looking down at me

"Anything! Just stop!" I yelled, glad that there was a way out

"Go on a date with me?" He stopped tickling and made eye contact with me.

"Oh I really don't want to..."I said with sarcasm making him start up tickling me again,"Ok! Ok! I'll go on a date with you." I screamed

He gave me a kiss on my cheek before getting off me,"Good, be ready by 6 babe." With that he gave a wink and walked off.

~~End of Flashback~~

I decided that he had the whole thing planned, which I found extremely cute. We went on 3 dates until he asked me to be his girlfriend and obviously I agreed. Since then everything has been going great. He was a very loving and thoughtful person, and has never made me feel pushed with anything. I wasn't ready to be with him physically yet, and he understood and told me that he would never make me do something I didn't want too.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and remembered that Bella had asked me a question. I looked at her and saw her looking at me like I was insane.

"Whoops sorry Bella, I zoned out." I did a small laugh,"but we are doing something. I just don't know what. He wants it to be a surprise."

"Aww romantic! You two are perfect for each other! I am surprised that you aren't actual mates." She spoke with envy in her eyes. Bella hadn't found her mate yet, and her relationships never worked out.

"Oh speaking of mates," Bella suddenly grew serious," Are you OK? From last night, I mean?"

She was referring to the horrible pains I get in my heart some nights.

When I first got the pains, it was about 3 days after I got to the Farkas pack. At the beginning the pain was unbearable, I was laying in my bed feeling like my heart was being stabbed then set on fire. It eventually came up in a conversation I was having with Archer, Bella, Elza, John, and Porter.

They thought it was from a disease or something, so we did some researching. It ended up not being a disease but instead being Knox related.That was when I had to tell them about my rejected mate, they were shocked to say the least. except Archer because he already knew.

We found out that the pains come from when a mate has sex with someone other then their mate. It is thought to happen as a notification type thing. So that if your mate is cheating on you, you would know. It happens very rarely to mated wolves since once you find your mate, you wouldn't ever think of cheating on them. I'm obviously an exception. But it doesn't happen unless you know who your mate is, which is why I never felt the pains until I found out Knox was my mate.

As time progressed and I started losing feelings for Knox, they weren't as painful. Now they are just a little painful, with the occasional unbearable pain, which was what happened last night.

"Yea, I'm fine. Thank you again for being there for me." I said genuinely thankful that she stayed up an hour with me holding my hand.

"You're welcome. I'm just sorry that your mate is such a jerk. You shouldn't have to be going through this." Pity clear in her expression.

"Well I would rather be with this pain, then be with him." We both giggled at my joke and walked through the pack house door.