Silenced

Chapter 55

My agreement with Matthew last night had been that if I went up to my room and slept for a couple hours then I could start training today. So that's what I did. I was nervous and excited when I headed back down stairs. I couldn't wait to start training. I didn't bother eating breakfast but I did stop in to check on Amelia. Her wounds had finally started to heal but Matthew said she was still a ways off from waking up.

Aaron, Adam, and Quinn were all on the training field. Aaron and Quinn looked to be in a deep conversation while Adam was directing a warm up. My steps faltered slightly as I took in the other fighters. Matthew had specifically directed me to attend this training session but looking around I could immediately tell this was an advanced combat course. As a wolf I had been an advanced fighter but now? There was no way this was the right training group for me.

"Hey Beautiful, are you finally going to show us what you've got?" Quinn asked. I smiled a little despite my nerves. I still wanted to train but I was ready for them to tell me this was the wrong group. I held out my papers to Aaron and gave Quinn a nod.

"Oh shit really?" Quinn's soft smile turned into a huge one.

Aaron looked at the papers carefully. He was taking longer than I'd anticipated and I was starting to wonder if Matthew had made more than one mistake.

"Ok." Aaron sighed finally. "We'll need to do an assessment to see which group to place you in."

I nodded. That was understandable. 

"Are you ok with sparing with Quinn? He already knows to be careful of your ribs so there should be no problem there." Aaron said.

I nodded again. Sparing was just fake fighting. I reminded myself. I could easily do that.

"Ok." Aaron said and waited.

My breath caught. He meant now, as in this moment. Maybe I wasn't ready.

"Let's do this cupcake." Quinn said tugging a strand of my hair. I followed him out to where the field was clear.

Without warning Quinn rushed me. Instinctively I dodged and turned to keep him in my line of sight. Quinn's brow furrowed as he looked back at me. He shook his head and made another attempt to grab me. Immediately I avoided him and attempted to place some distance between us. This time Quinn didn't hesitate before rushing me again. His movements were quick and unexpected. In my attempt to dodge I tripped. I rolled to recover my stance but when I faced Quinn again all I could see was someone's back.

"What the hell is going on here?" Silas asked.

"Rylan's been cleared and she needs an assessment." Aaron answered. I peaked around Silas back to see that Quinn was seated in the dirt and pouting up at us.

"When did this happen?" Silas demanded turning to me.

'Yesterday.' I signed nervously.

"Who cleared her?" Silas directed his question at Aaron.

"Matthew." Aaron answered handing over my clearance papers.

Silas shook his head as he looked over them. It was obvious he didn't like that I'd been cleared. Maybe it wasn't ok for me to be training with the pack after all. 

"Why are you running from Quinn if this is an assessment?" Silas asked handing the papers back to Aaron.

'I don't want to hurt him.' I admitted nervously.

Silas raised an eyebrow at me and Aaron snickered.

"If you keep avoiding confrontations like that you are going to be the one that gets hurt." Silas said. Aaron nodded in agreement.