Alpha Hayley’s Destined Mate

Chapter 442: Werewolf Combat Training for Freshmen

Hayley’s POV: 86% +8 Pearls

I paused before opening the envelope, unsure of what I would find. Inside were two neatly stacked bundles of fresh bills.

“Winifred, what’s this for?” I asked, my voice filled with confusion.

Winifred gave me a respectful nod but spoke with clear resolve. “Ms. Sander asked me to give this to you. She mentioned you’ve worked hard today, and there will be times in the future when we’ll need your assistance. Please accept it.”

She paused briefly, then added with a hint of urgency, “If you don’t accept it, it would mean I’ve failed in my duties, and I won’t be welcome at the Sanders’; that’s something I can’t bear. So please, Ms. Carson, show mercy and give us servants a chance.”

Before I could protest, Winifred quickly pressed the envelope into my hands and turned, walking briskly back toward the car.

“Goodbye, Ms. Carson!” she called as she left.

I watched the car disappear down the road, staring down at the crisp bills in my hands. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions.

The following day marked the start of freshman combat training for werewolves. It was a tradition at our university, something all incoming students were required to participate in. The Beta warrior instructor arrived early in the morning and instructed us to change into our combat uniforms before gathering at the training field.

Since I was tall, I found myself standing at the edge of the group, isolated from most of the others. The instructor, a young man who couldn’t have been older than his early twenties, stood before us. His dark skin and sharply defined features gave him a commanding presence.

“Today is the first day of combat training,” he began, his eyes scanning the group. “We’ll begin with the basics.”

After a quick scan of the students, he pointed toward a female student at the far side. “You, step up and show everyone.”

The student he pointed to was Kirsty Sullivan, a Beta with an undeniable air of strength. She walked forward with deliberate, steady steps, her posture perfect as she stood at attention.

“See that?” the instructor commented. “That’s the standard form. Now, everyone, take your positions!”

At his command, we rushed to line up, trying to mimic Kirsty’s flawless stance. By the time the morning session ended, many of us were completely exhausted, our bodies aching from the constant effort.

During lunch, Loretta rubbed her sore calves and collapsed onto her bed, her frustration obvious.

“I don’t think I can go back for the afternoon session,” she muttered, clearly defeated.

Willa, ever the practical one, handed her a bottle of juice. “Save your strength. This is just the beginning.”

She turned to me next. “Look at Hayley – she’s barely breaking a sweat. You need to work on your endurance. You’re not in high school anymore.”

I held back a chuckle. As an Alpha, my physical conditioning was unmatched, so the training was no challenge for me. It was easy to breeze through, while my friends struggled a little more.

Loretta frowned, eyeing me curiously. “This basic stuff is fine, but the actual combat training is tough. How are you doing it without even breaking a sweat?”

I shrugged nonchalantly. “I’ve trained alongside other Alphas before, so I’m used to it.”

Loretta looked confused. “But I did werewolf combat training back in high school, and it wasn’t nearly this hard. Why does it feel so much tougher now?”

I didn’t know how to answer, so I kept silent.

Willa, as if remembering something, spoke up. “Kirsty’s pretty impressive, though. I heard she trained alongside her Alpha brother growing up.”

Loretta sighed heavily. “Don’t remind me of her. Every time I see her, it’s like I’m staring at the instructor himself. It’s too much.”

With that, Loretta rolled over and made herself comfortable, closing her eyes as she prepared to rest.

“Alright, you get some rest. We’re meeting back at 2:00 PM for the afternoon session, and I’ll come get you guys,” Willa said as she left the room.

For me, the intensity of the morning session hadn’t fazed me in the slightest. As an Alpha, I was adapting easily, so I decided to take advantage of the free time to handle some matters with the Shadow Pack.

By the time 2:00 PM came around, I reluctantly dragged Loretta back to the training field. The session hadn’t started yet, and the others were gathered around Kirsty, praising her abilities.

“Kirsty, you’re amazing! No wonder you’re the sister of the Alpha from the Pinewood Pack!”

“Yeah, I’m struggling to keep up, but you look so effortless. Honestly, I’m jealous.”

“I wish I could be as good as Kirsty and avoid getting scolded by the instructor.”

Kirsty, basking in the compliments, wore a smug smile, clearly enjoying the attention.

“I’m just lucky to have trained with my Alpha brother,” she said modestly. “But you’re all doing great, too.” Her warm words helped break the ice, and soon the group was warming up to her. It was obvious she was not only physically strong but also had a sharp mind and emotional intelligence that made her easy to get along with.

“Alright, everyone, let’s keep up the good work this afternoon!” she encouraged with a bright smile.

As she finished speaking, the instructor arrived, and everyone quickly scrambled into their positions.

“We practiced stances this morning. This afternoon, we’ll move on to basic combat techniques. I’ll demonstrate first, and those who do well can take a break early,” the instructor announced, prompting cheers from the group.

However, once he demonstrated the techniques, the excitement quickly turned to frustration. What had seemed like simple moves were proving anything but simple for most of us. For me, as an Alpha, the movements felt instinctive and natural, but for the others, it was a struggle. Mistakes were made constantly, and frustration mounted.

After several failed attempts, Loretta couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“I can’t do this! It’s too hard!” she cried, her voice full of distress.

The others began to voice similar complaints. “Why can’t I get this right?”

“I can’t do this. Moon Goddess, please help me!”

I heard their frustrations, but I remained focused, executing the movements with precision and calm.

The instructor came over, his gaze fixed on me. Without warning, he gave my calf a swift kick.