C34 A reminder of who I am

Freya's Pov

The necklace dangled as I crouched low on the ground. My brain was waiting for the go-off whistle. My hand found it and caressed it gently, the necklace that came with me from my father's pack, the only thing left of them for me. A reminder that I was from somewhere, somewhere I would have mattered for the past thirteen years.

It served as a piece of comfort to me, when I held it, it was as though I felt my father, I felt my family. This necklace was what held me together all those years in Eastwood pack, when I thought I was going to crack, it held me in one place together.

I didn't think I was one to place sentiment on objects, to give them more meaning than they bore but for Artemis, I would. I wore it more now than ever, I had hoped my father's bravery would disseminate to me and somehow, magically, help me in this battle. But I liked to think my father wasn't one of those people who believed in magic. He'd be the type that loved to get things done themselves, nonetheless, I wished for magic to happen.

So I had worn it every day during and after training. I heard the whistle go off and I immediately kicked up the soil and started running. I had gotten faster. It was just a test to increase my endurance limit. As I ran the wind brushed through me, giving me more will power to run better.

After running and rounding the field area, I and Oslo began the main training. Fighting. Usually, I would have worn a helmet that would protect my skull from his punch but I was all out to take the risk.

We took a boxing stance, circled each other, eyes locked on the other.

Oslo told me that it was paramount to lock eyes with your opponent, it told you how their attack was coming and while I was calculating their attack I was preparing a counterattack in my head or cooking up mine.

To achieve these, all body and soul was to be completely focused, no ounce of distraction, not even from me.

Our hands were up in the air, and we rounded one another, we both crouched slightly moving back and forth, trying to look for an opening where one of us would jab at the other.

“Are you sure you won't get that helmet of yours?” he teased, trying to distract me. But this thing was both ways, while trying to distract your opponent you have openly given room for a little distraction from your end. So I kept mute and didn't reply to him.

“It's not too La—” my hand caught him unaware, ploughing right into his mouth, shutting him up. I didn't let my guard down, my shoulders still squared ready to plough another punch.

He wiped his mouth with his hand smearing blood on his boxing glove. My punch had drawn blood from his mouth.

He smiled and I smirked, knowing that I had him but this wasn't time to celebrate, I had just hit him once. He sent his fist flying into my face but I was quick to dodge and sent mine under his ribs.

“Fuck,” he groaned. He regained his posture and was back on his feet. I saw an opening, below his raised arms, I threw my arm but I was caught off guard when he thrusted his fist beneath my ribcage.

“Damn it,” the pain was never old. It was piercing and for a minute would cut off the air in my lungs. I was slow to stand back because before I knew it he had his arm wrapped around my torso, my hands caged in his. I was locked in his arms and there was nothing to do, I had been caged everywhere except from one place, and that was my only option.

He attempted to lift me up so I immediately used my head on his. I nodded his head with the back of my head. With that small action his focus would have faltered slightly, so I immediately planted my leg on the ground, to get a defined station.

His hold on me didn't falter the slightest bit, but I had gained my ground. Just in the spur of a moment, a thought occurred to me. It was foolish but I had to try it, less he would or we may never get out of this position.

I crouched in a sitting position, garnered momentum and strength. If this was going to work I had to give it my all, bending my back, his weight began to topple mine.

“Shit!” he said and before he realized what I was about to do he was already flying down in mid air, his weight and mine thudding on the ground. He immediately let me go and came up on him.

“I won!” I cheered, but I was too quick to declare my victory, he nodded me right on the face and I went staggering back. We traded punches until we were both covered in the mess of our blood. But that didn't stop either of us. He thrusted his fist into my eye, at that moment I lost focus and he headlocked me. I wiggled trying to break free but he would not budge.

My windpipe was squashed by his big arm and I tapped his tattoo arm in surrender but he didn't quit.

“Break!! Break!” I said amidst being squashed under his arm.

“No! No!! Break out Freya, break out!” he told me. I tapped his hand again.

“I'm not breaking out.” he told me again.

“Break out Freya! Merona would not have mercy on you. She would break you to stupor. So don't tap out because I'm not realising you,” he told me and he did not.

“You have two options; you pass out or you break out,” he told me once again.

As my vision got blurry, I heard Oslo say, “Break out Freya, break out!”

‘How do I break out, I'm headlocked under his arms, so how do I?’ I thought.

Just like flood, ideas swam in. I wrapped my free hand around his torso and tried to lift him up but he was too strong and posited on the ground. He had a sterminar. Okay.

I decided to try out a new method. I pinched real hard by his back, as much as he squeezed me, I exerted the same pressure on his back. He was built, so getting a reaction from him would have meant that I had to go extreme miles. My life of course was in the line here. So I applied more pressure, I pinched him till blood started oozing from his back and he let go abruptly, not completely. That was my cue. I wrapped my hand once again around his torso and lifted him up, without trepidation I kneed and let go completely, hitting his ass raggedly on the ground. He let out a shout in horror and I smirked as I punched him.

He raised his hand and surrendered.

“You win Luna,” he said, rubbing and massaging his buttocks. I tittered, dropping down and panting.

“No matter how strong the hold on her gets, don't ever tap out,” he told me referring to Merona. I nodded.

“Be determined,” he said, but in my head, it rang like what my father would have said and so I lunged forward, slamming him and me into a bear hug.

An ear-piercing growl ripped me from Oslo's arms immediately. I spun to see an angry alpha Wolf. Artemis.