Chapter 2 Frail - Part l

• "Come on, don't give up now!" My father shouts as my juvenile brother on the ground grunt in agony and glare at father.
• "I'm not going down without a fight, Father!" He groans and rises to his feet, and father's face lit up with a proud grin.
• "That's the spirit!" Father shouts, and before he could prepare for the attack, the juvenile charges at him and grabs his neck. His leg comes up in an attempt to kick father in the belly, but father intercepts his knee, grabs him by the torso, and flings him to the ground with a swift flip. Father turns around and stares down at him on the ground.
• "You have to be quicker than that if you want to leave a scratch on your enemy." As he took a few steps closer to him, Father remarks.
• "Beta Hanniel!" Father turns around when a warrior yells his name and bows his head. "Alpha Lain has asked for your presence." Father nods his head and without a word, leaves with the warrior.
• I smile as Demir rises to his feet and walks up to me, with a forlorn expression on his face.
• "You did great!" I say with a kind smile and offer the pitcher of water I am holding. He takes it and sits down beside me on the grass under the shade of the tree.
• "I did horrible. I could not even get a single blow on him while he beat my ass. At this rate, I don’t think I can be his successor.” He speaks his mind while looking down. I could tell he was hurting and the pile of expectations on his shoulders was only making it so much more harder for him.
• "You still have plenty of time to get better. You just have to train and never give up. I'm always here for you." I say as I loop my arm around his shoulder and he smiles up at me.
• "I loved that move you did back there, Demir! The way you went around and grabbed his neck. I could see the surprise on father's face." I cheer trying to cheer him up and it seems to work as his face lit up.
• "Really? I learned it from a warrior a few days ago. Though the move was a bit sloppy."
• "Father is an experienced warrior, while you are still learning. All you need to do is practice. And I believe you can defeat him as well as much more stronger warriors with that move and many more." I enthusiastically cheer and a grin form on his face. I try to stand up and Demir catches me as my feet wobble slightly. He helps me stand up and scoops up the blanket and pitcher off the ground. He folds the blanket and hands it to me which I take with a grateful smile.
• "Thank you. Now let's go; mother and I have prepared your favourite fish stew." Demir's face brightens up as soon as I inform him and we start walking toward our house.
• "You are the best sister!" He cheers as he hugs me from the side, and a peal of hearty laughter rings out in my chest.
• "There you guys! How did you find training, dear?" As we walk up the foyer, our mother runs over to us.
• "Father thrashed me yet again. But other than that, I'm all good!" Our mother Bertha smiles as Demir speaks up.
• "He did an excellent job, mother! Believe me! He was fantastic!" Mother turns her attention to me as I cheer from the sidelines.
• "Goddess! Nesta, you look so pale! I told you not to get out! Your fever will recur!" She anxiously hollers and places her palm on my forehead, checking to see if I was still feverish. I giggle and walk inside.
• "I'm fine, mother. I sat in the shade of a tree, watching him practice with father. Now serve him some food." I remark as I sit down on the little couch in the living room's corner.
• "Yes, mother! I'm famished!" Demir exclaims as he sits down on one of the dining table's chairs. Mother smiles as she pours him a bowl of fish stew and brings him some toasted bread. She walks to me and sits next to me while Demir delves into his meal. While we chat, Demir finishes his meal and went upstairs to his room. After quite a while I see Demir coming down the stairs, freshly bathed and dressed in a clean pair of clothes.
• "I'm going out with my friends, mother, and I'll be back before dusk," Demir remarks as he heads towards the main door with a slightly excited bounce in his step.
• "Your father would not want that, Demir. Wait for him to return home." Mother stated sharply, and Demir's face sags slightly.
• "But mother! They are awaiting me!" He argues
• “You are the next Beta, and you must be fully prepared to take your position!"
• “But, mother-
• “There are no buts, Demir. You are not going out. Inform your friends.” Mother once again states sternly, and Demir had no room to argue.
• I had nothing to do but give him a sad smile as he stare at me with begging eyes. I had no voice whatsoever in the situation, and I could not aid my younger brother no matter how much I want to. As the first child of the Beta, I was most likely to inherit my father's title, but as a female and so frail, I could never do so, hence the position was given to my younger brother.
• But my father never saw me as incapable of being his heir, he wished despite I being a female, I would take over his title. But the Goddess may have had different plans, as since a child, I was frequently sick and I was frail. I could never attend school, or go out as I would always fall ill constantly. Hence my parents had chosen to home school me. Even so, they had hoped that my health would get better when my wolf would awaken, but at the age of twenty, I was still wolfless. Whereas most juveniles wolves awakened on their eighteenth birthday, I had never even sensed my wolf. As a result, the pack and the elders constantly looked down on me. I know they would not admit this up front but they thought me to be cursed. My family, on the other hand, was constantly at my side, no matter what. And because of that, I never really had any remorse. I might not have a wolf, but I have my wonderful family, a sweet younger brother and loving parents.
• Demir walks toward me, with a dejected look on his face. Mother gets up and disappears behind the walls of the kitchen, while Demir sits down beside me, with his face sagged and his head lowered. I am overcome with sadness instantly as I pat Demir's back encouragingly. He was just fourteen years old and is undergoing such rigorous training. His training had begun earlier in his childhood, but it had not been as severe.
• "It's all right, Demir. You have a very significant role ahead of you, and you should give it your all to be the best match for it. Nobody should ever have any doubts about your abilities. You'll be on the Alpha's left, so make sure you're worthy of that position." I smile, and Demir raises his head.