Chapter 16

Dylan

W ith the cold mat fabric beneath her feet, Dylan was ready to face Lupe in their one-on-one. She relished the thought that Lupe wouldn't force her to talk through issues or meditate to uncover why she couldn't control her shadow wolf. Talking things out wasn't her style, and she doubted its effectiveness. Over the past few months, Dylan had conversed with her wolf to address the root of the problem before arriving at the academy. They reached an understanding each time about her wolf needing to obey while in wolf form, especially during battles. Yet, whenever she transformed, her wolf would act on its own, disregarding their agreement.

Lupe had established the sparring rules, which Dylan found similar to those set by Teowulf. They were only permitted to disarm and pin each other, avoiding any attempts to injure or maim. Mostly, Lupe would observe Dylan's movements and eventually see her in wolf form to determine if the human and wolf moved as one. Dylan was confident this wouldn't be an issue. Apart from the shadow ability, she and her wolf could synchronize and defeat any opponent they faced. This would be a breeze, and perhaps Lupe could explain why her wolf struggled to listen while in shadow form. Dylan often wondered if her wolf couldn't handle the magic required to maintain the shadow form for extended periods. In that form, their magic differed from the usual transitions between forms.

As they stood facing each other, neither moved to go first. Lupe used this tactic to demonstrate her confidence when facing Dylan. Dylan's wolf stirred inside her, displeased by Lupe's relaxed demeanor in the face of an impending fight. It was an insult to her wolf that someone could so easily dismiss the possibility that they weren't formidable fighters and that caution wasn't necessary.

Remember, this is just sparring.

She still should be wary of us. We are opponents she has not fought before.

Lupe is strong and old, far more experienced than us. I wouldn't let her look relaxed fool you. Just by looking at us, she could figure out a way to pin us within seconds.

That's when Lupe charged. Dylan was shocked that Lupe would start the match. Most more experienced wolves were patient enough to wait until the opponent moved first. It was something she noticed all the warriors in her pack would do. As Dylan watched Lupe charge at her, she thought the best course of action would be to step aside and allow the momentum to throw Lupe off before she charged for her attack. As soon as Lupe got close enough to her body, her arms flew out to her side so Dylan wouldn't have a chance to move right or left to attack from the side. Dylan ducked down and then rolled to the side so she would be out of Lupe's way. When Dylan reached her feet, Lupe was already on her and started swinging. The Old Wolf's movements were quick and fluid, as if the woman had been practicing daily since she was a pup. Dylan blocked the blows before they could land on her body, but with how rapidly they were coming, she didn't see an opening for her to throw one herself. She growled in frustration before she lowered her body and then lunged to hit Lupe square in her stomach. When Lupe went down onto the mat with Dylan on top of her, Dylan kept her legs close to Lupe's body so she couldn't move.

"Very good, Miss Pierce. Let's do this again."

Dylan let her teacher up, and then they walked to the other sides of the mats again. This time, Dylan felt more comfortable and ran at Lupe first. She shifted her body weight and avoided the first swing. Dylan remembered the combos she had learned over the years and tried to switch them up so she could throw Lupe off her game. Lupe's senses seemed to anticipate every move Dylan made and evaded each blow. She still couldn't land a punch despite changing things up on Lupe.

Lupe had Dylan down on the mat more times than she could count after she managed to win once. She used most of the moves Dylan had used against her; Dylan was often flat on her back. There were lots of growls and times when Dylan wanted to shift, but she knew it wasn't the time to do so.

She kept her head in the game and didn't allow herself to get angry about it again as she realized it was her weakness. Dylan knew she had to think on her feet and do something Lupe wouldn't suspect she would do. If she could shift faster, that would be the first thing she'd do. That wasn't an option since it took her at least a minute. So, she went with a combo that she had only used once before but did exactly what she needed right now.

It was all in her actions right now. She needed a sleight of hand if she wanted to best Lupe. Dylan swung with her left hand, making Lupe step back. As Dylan turned her body, she allowed herself to fall to the floor, roll her body, and then swing her leg to take out Lupe's footing. It all happened in a flash, with Dylan pushing more speed into herself to get the job done. When Lupe's back hits the mat, Dylan quickly pins her again. Dylan was shocked that Lupe didn't roll or try to evade before she got on top of her. The professor smiled when Dylan looked into her eyes.

"Great, Miss Pierce! I do believe we can move on to the next portion of today's lesson."

Dylan groaned and rolled off Lupe to lay flat on the mat. "There's more? I don't know how much more I can take."

She chuckled. "I assure you that you can do more. It's only been an hour or two. We have two more to go."

Dylan thought about how she had four hours with a council member. It was intriguing that she had to complete that when others didn't seem to have it. Do all students have one-on-ones, or are they just special cases? Serafina had one, but Jackson didn't. Jackson had been here for a few months, so he could have already completed his mentorship. I need to ask him about that.

"Professor, does everyone have to complete a mentorship? This is a four-hour class, and it is once a week. I wonder how you'd have this much time to get to all of us."

"No, not everyone has to take a mentorship, but it's also not just me. If you needed more assistance with your combat skills in general, you would have been taught by my mate. If you needed to understand how pack magic worked better, you would have been taught by Professor Wilcox instead. It will always depend on the student's capabilities and how much work they need in certain areas that we offer here."

Dylan thought about it for a moment. "Well, the main issue I currently have is not being able to control my shadow wolf. That is still wolf magic, so shouldn't I be mentored by Professor Wilcox?"

Lupe stood over her and smiled down at her. "No, Miss Pierce. This is more my expertise than Professor Wilcox's."

"How?"

"Because I am a Shadowborn."

That was not the revelation she expected to hear from Lupe. Not once did Dylan ever suspect that Lupe would have been a Shadowborn like she was. Within her pack, Dylan could tell those who were Shadowborns and those who were not. There was something about the energy around them that would give it away. There were some within the pack that were not Shadowborn due to the fact that they were brought in from other packs for those who were mated. During all of her time around the bay, Dylan did not feel as though she was in the presence of another Shadowborn. This way, they explain how Lupe felt stronger than everyone else within the school and how she felt at ease around the council members. Dylan also thought that it was an added protection that the Council member within the school was another Shadowborn like herself.

Dylan propped herself on her elbows and stared at her professor. "How is it that I've been around you for the last two weeks, and not once did I feel as though you were a Shadowborn?"

"I'm quite old, Dylan. With age comes a wealth of experience and knowledge. Over time, I've learned to conceal certain aspects of myself that might trigger those around me. It was a defense tactic from when our kind was hunted during my youth. Things have calmed down since then, and I can walk around this school without fear of judgment or mistreatment. However, I still practice this concealment because, as you know, some people still harbor hatred for our kind."

"So, you understand my issue with my shadow wolf?"

"Since this is our first class together, I need some time to observe how you and your wolf operate both together and separately in your forms. I have a hunch about what's happening with your astral form, but I want to be certain before proceeding. Transitioning between forms and managing the magic flow during that process is tricky. You're not the first to face this challenge, and you won't be the last. Sometimes, our wolves are quite different from us, making it difficult for the two halves to function as one."

"Then what's next?" Dylan was eager to know how to fix her issue so she could go home. The excitement only increased when she learned that Lupe was also a Shadowborn and could truly understand what she was dealing with and learn how to control it better.

"Shift. I need to see how you work together in your wolf form."

Dylan quickly got to her feet and stripped down so she wouldn't ruin her clothes. She called onto her wolf and felt the magic that allowed her to shift flow through her. As her heart raced, her muscles started to twitch uncontrollably. The transformation began with a sharp pain in her bones, which started to elongate and reshape. She felt her spine arch and her limbs stretch, growing longer and more powerful.

Their skin tingles and itches as thick, coarse fur sprouts all over their body. Their fingers and toes extend into claws, sharp and deadly. The person's face contorts, their jaw elongating into a snout filled with razor-sharp teeth. She felt her eyes glow as she fought for control as her wolf got situated with her surroundings. It was their first time shifting at the school, so Dylan had to spend a few seconds smelling the air and getting a feel for everything around her. Lupe waited patiently as Dylan stretched in her wolf form and shook her fur to get the remaining magic off.

Lupe circled her, moving her eyes over her wolf, and Dylan knew she was assessing her. "Your wolf is beautiful. She is large for a female, but I can see she is certainly strong just from looking at her. A full black coat with no markings. That is quite rare to have in our world. Usually, there is some marking to distinguish your wolf, but not yours. Your teal eyes were always a giveaway to being a Shadowborn. Most Shadowborns I have met have interesting colors for their eyes. The Great Moon blessed you with an incredible wolf, Miss Pierce."

She lifted her head and closed her eyes to show her appreciation of her words. Lupe smiled at her and continued to look. Dylan wondered what she would ask next. Something told her it would not be easy to fight in her form. The wheels were turning in Lupe's head.

"I want you to call on your power, Miss Pierce. Show off entirely. Call on all the power that resides in your soul and put it on display."

Dylan wagged her tail and then pulled onto the power inside of her. She felt it bubbling, amassing slowly as she pulled further and further inside of her. Like water building up behind a dam, Dylan waited until she knew it was threatening to burst before she broke it herself. She noticed Lupe stumble as her power knocked into her, and she needed some effort to stay on her feet. Now that Dylan was mated, she was stronger, just like Jackson, and right now, it showed. Lupe's smile grew after she regained her footing.

"Your power has grown since your mating. I am happy to see this. From what I understood, you were a formidable opponent before. Your mother and father gave me footage of your training after you arrived. They wanted us to know you were to be taken seriously as a student and not written off just because of your status as a Shadowborn."

Dylan cocked her head to the side of Lupe. She wasn't sure if she liked the fact her parents had given anything to this school regarding anything about her. Dylan wanted to stand on her two feet as an Alpha-born and future Luna to a pack. Too many people relied on their families to keep their status in this world and look better than they were. Silas came to mind when she thought that. He seemed like someone who relied heavily on his parent's status instead of how he actually looked to their people. Lupe must have understood wolf body language well because of how she responded.

"I requested it, Dylan. Your parents did not just send information on you to us because they thought you needed backup."

Dylan flattened her ears and let out a small yip. She still didn't like it. They could have just watched her during combat class if they wanted to know how good her combat skills were. Dylan turned around and trotted to the opposite mark that signaled the starting point for a sparring match. Lupe took that as her sign that Dylan didn't want to talk anymore. Clearly, her parents were not at fault. If this prestigious school asks for something about the students from the parents, it is something they would have to provide. Dylan was here to complete the tasks asked of her and return home. She was sure her parents had put up a fight about information about her without much context. It wouldn't have mattered to them. Personal information was not freely given. Werewolves had to keep things close to their chests because another pack could use any information learned against them.

It's not something I need to worry about right now. Fine if the staff are the only ones who see my fighting style. I'm changing it up some while I'm sparring and doing combat training here anyway, so no one actually knows how I fight.

Lupe stood opposite her, and her face was all business. Dylan wasn't certain this would be harder than it was in human form. Lupe was a Shadowborn and had centuries of experience with Dylan. If she was here to mentor Shadowborns, she knew all sorts of maneuvers with her wolf and shadow wolf that Dylan would only dream of.

Keep your eyes and senses open.

Already on it.

Sure enough, her wolf kept their power radiating off them and lowered herself to the ground as Lupe stared at her. Dylan pondered if she should make the first move this time. She was confident in her and her wolf's abilities. They were a team and could defeat anyone if they thought the situation through. This was only a sparring match for Lupe to see how she and her wolf worked together, but Dylan wanted to treat this like a real battle. If she wanted to show Lupe what she could do, then she needed to give it her all.

Fuck it.

Dylan pushed on her back paws and launched herself forward to engage in the matches first. Lupe ran at her, too, showing that she was also taking this seriously. As Dylan leaped into the air to hit Lupe in her chest, Dylan saw Lupe's human form shimmer as a ray of light shined down on her. While mid-air, she watched her mentor go astral.

In. Her. Human. Form.

When her paws landed on the other side after her wolf's body went through Lupe's, Dylan quickly turned around and snarled at Lupe. The shit-eating grin on her face only made Dylan want to swipe her claws to rip it off. Lupe didn't waste time and charged at her. Dylan jumped to the side and regained her footing to lunge at Lupe again while her back was turned. She needed to fight a little dirty if she wanted to win this. When her paws landed on Lupe's back, Lupe went astral again. Dylan fell through Lupe's form and landed on the mat with a thud. Lupe stepped away and then became solid.

"You are quick and can think as one. Good. Now, you must go astral yourself."

Dylan stood up and turned her body to face Lupe. She lowered her head and growled. She had not seen anyone within her pack do this before, and Lupe wielded power like all Shadowborns were capable of it. A memory unlocked in her mind of her asking her father after her wolf emerged about the things she would be able to do now. Going astral in her human form was not one of them.

She called on her wolf's power, knowing it would flow through her quickly. Dylan felt the magic of her shadow wolf course through her, and she issued the command to shift her solid form into astral. She felt her body turn light as air, and she lowered her head to show Lupe she was ready. Dylan didn't wait and ran toward Lupe. That's when the mentor decided to make it known that she had something else up her sleeve. Lupe then went astral and teleported out of the way. Dylan stopped herself and let out a snarl.

How the fuck did she teleport?

I don't know.

We should be able to do that!

I'm having trouble understanding how she can, let alone how we could.

Lupe's smirk turned into a deadly smile. The way Dylan responded must have told her that she wasn't aware Shadowborns could do something like this. It would have to be completely dirty if they even stood a chance right now. The good news was this wasn't an actual fight. This was just a sparring match to test how well she and her wolf worked together as one. If they survived and landed even a single hit on Lupe, Dylan would consider that a win.

"Tick tock, Miss Pierce. You still haven't shown me all that you are capable of."

Oh, now she's toying with me.

Dylan had no time and lunged at Lupe. If she wanted to disarm Lupe or make her tap out, she needed to be quick and catch her off guard. Lupe wasn't able to go astral until it was too late. She felt the woman's body collide with her own, and then they landed on the mat. Lupe then went astral and teleported out from under her. Dylan circled her, trying to see an opening that would give her another chance at making Lupe lose this match. Lupe teleported in front of Dylan and swiped with her left hand, claws elongated enough to draw blood. Dylan commanded her wolf to go astral, and Dylan was surprised to see her wolf listen. Dylan went through Lupe and kicked out her back legs while going solid and connected with the back of Lupe's knees. She heard her hit the mat, and Dylan flipped around and jumped over her. Lupe remained solid and tapped on the mat. Dylan threw her head back and howled in victory. She heard Lupe chuckle and then rock her back so Dylan would step off. Once she was on her feet, she gave Dylan a nod.

"Wonderful work, Miss Pierce. Again."

They did this for the rest of the session. There were many moments when Dylan could fully command her wolf and astral form without any issues. Throughout the session, Lupe used everything in her arsenal to confuse, taunt, and dominate Dylan. If she had been in her human form, Dylan would be a sweaty mess, lying on her back and moaning from how much her muscles hurt. Since she was in her wolf form, she was panting heavily and not showing how tired she was by standing on all four paws with her ears and tail up to be alert. Lupe shook her head when she noticed but said nothing. Instead, they engaged Dylan again in another match.

Dylan was so tired that she lost track of Lupe on their makeshift battlefield and had to pause to figure out where she teleported to on the mat. Of course, Lupe used that to her advantage and would teleport next to Dylan to tap her on her nose or behind to anger her. This resulted in Dylan snarling and snapping her jaws to empty air since Lupe teleported away from her again. It reached a point where Dylan noticed Lupe had grown annoyed with Dylan for not keeping up. She teleported, swung her arm back when she appeared before Dylan, and swiped down with her claws out. Dylan commanded her wolf to go astray, but there was no response. Dylan felt the full slap from her mentor across her muzzle. Luckily, Lupe noticed in time that Dylan could not go astral and didn't connect with her claws. Instead, it was an open-palmed slap.

She was tired. As much as she wanted to continue, Dylan plopped herself down on the mat, feeling the coolness against her more exposed belly, and put her head between her paws as she panted heavily. Lupe nodded and didn't appear to be fatigued in any way. It made Dylan wonder if, with age, it took more energy to be depleted before they grew tired. Her parents were over a century old; she knew they could spar for hours and not grow tired. But this was different. Lupe pushed Dylan more than her parents ever did with any of the pack outside of the warriors. Most of them were also decades old and had fighting experience outside of sparring. Dylan hasn't had to fight with anyone yet, but she at least knew she could handle her own.

"Good work, Miss Pierce. That will be all for today. We will discuss the findings during our session next week. There are bottles of specially brewed potion to put in your bathwater tonight to soothe your aching muscles. I pushed you hard today, and you'll need it so you don't have to nurse yourself the entire weekend. Reach out to me if you need to talk or if you need anything."

Lupe walked toward the school while Dylan continued to pant on the mat. She reached out to her mate, wishing she knew how to teleport herself to her room so she didn't have to move. Jackson responded to her quickly and rushed over to help her back into her clothes. She told him how everything went while he helped her hobble back to their suite.

If I don't learn how to do that shit while here, I will personally light these mats on fire on my way out.