Standing outside with the sun hiding behind the clouds, I breathe in the fresh air. Looking around the yard, I smile at the open area. Following Aiden, he walks us to an open field with a box in the grass. 

"Pick that up," Aiden commands, pointing to a cardboard box. I look down at it and frown.

"Can I? I mean, I am pregnant after all," I say with a duh, pointing to my stomach. 

"You can," Aiden says. "You're just what, two, three months pregnant? Your baby is the size of a bean. Picking that box up will not hurt you or that baby. Do you even know anything about pregnancy?"

"Now thinking about it," I say with an um. "I downloaded an app and search Google."

"Dr. Google isn't reliable. You should do better to ask questions about what you're going through. Now, bring that box here."

Thinking about what Aiden says, I realize he's right. "Bring that box here," I say in a mincing voice, annoyed with Aiden always being right. Walking to the medium sized cardboard box, I bend over to pick it up. "Jesus!" I shout feeling the weight of it. "What's in here?"

"Gear that you will need," Aiden says.

Walking to him, I drop the box by his feet, wishing it would've smashed at least one toe. "I honestly don't know if this training is even needed. I've trained many times back in my day. I even did gymnastics. I mean, not Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, or Jet Lee fighting, but I can do at least five percent of something."

"You say back in your day as if your an old person," Rick laughs.

"I feel like one," I say laughing myself.

"This is no joking matter," Aiden shouts. "The people that want you dead aren't human. They're vampires, and werewolves. Soon, even witches will want you dead. They are fast, they are strong, and they don't give a shit about you, or your baby.

"I know, I just," I say stumbling over my words, feeling nervous at his words. "What do you need me to do?"

"First," Aiden says looking down at the box. He bends over and opens it, removing boxing mitts and a helmet. "Put these on." Handing them to me, I take them and gear myself. Placing the last mitt on my left hand, I look to Aiden who is putting nothing on. 

"Aren't you going to put on the gear?" I ask.

"I truly doubt you will hurt me even one bit," he grins. 

I roll my eyes. "Let's just start." Blocking my eyes from the sun rays, I huff. 

"Fine." Aiden starts to walk back and forth, and then he starts to circle me. 

"What are you doing?" I ask constantly turning my head to look at him. "Can't you just stand still?"

"Focus," Rick says watching us. "Focus on his movements, his rhythm, kill shot points. You have to focus. This is not a joke right now Irina."

"Well," I pause. "It kind of feels like a joke. I mean, if this was serious, shouldn't I feel threatened?" 

"Well, I'm sure we can arrange that," Rick smiles. "Aiden, do you mind?"

Feeling my body lean forward, I stumble and catch myself. Turning around, I look at Aiden and swing at him like a mad woman. "What the hell!" I shout. "Why did you push me? I could've fell!"

"You said you wanted to feel threatened right? Well, I'm threatening you. Fight back."

Aiden disappears and pushes me again. Swinging, Aiden easily dodges my attack and pushes me again. I find myself swinging in circle's before my body temperature starts to rise. "Come on Irina! Fight me back!"

Taking off the gloves, I throw them down and get in my fighting stance. Aiden starts disappearing once again, pushing me back and forth. "Stop!" I shout, throwing a punch. Aiden holds my fist in his hands, with pure excitement in his eyes. Continuing to throw punches, I start catching Aiden off guard, and made me feel powerful. 

"Good," Aiden smiles. 

"So bad ass, " Rick claps. "Well, for a beginner that is."

Huffing, I smile and throw my arms in the air as a victory. "That felt good. Why?"

"That would be the wolf inside you, " Rick says. "You need to become more active. Training you is right up your ally." 

"Yeah, until she gets murdered," says an annoying voice. 

"Oh, so nice of you to join us Vivian," I say while rolling my eyes. 

"It's true. You cannot protect you and that baby. You are too weak. You will just leave everyone to protect you as you helplessly sit there like a royal sack of shit. If you were on your own, you would be dead."

Gasping at the audacity, I open my mouth to say something, but change my mind. Storming off, I bump into Victoria with Rick calling behind me. 

Aiden's POV

Walking over to Vivian, I cross my arms. "Why?" I ask annoyed.

"Why what?" Vivian asks with a satisfied smile on her face. She flips her hair and looks at me as if she was completely innocent. 

"I am so sick of this jealous charade from you is making me furious! Why do you pick on her and act like a child? What do you get out of it? Tell me, what!"

"Because she needs it," she says shrugging her shoulders. 

"Who are you to say what she needs?" Moving around to look her in her eyes, she looks at me as if I am annoying her.

"I said she needs it, and that's all there is to it," she says trying to walk off. 

Growing angry, I grab her by her shoulders and shove her into the nearest tree with my vampire speed. "Why do you act as if her life is a game? If she dies, my niece dies! Do you not get that? She's family! So why do you keep doing this?"

"Because she needs it okay!" she shouts pushing me off of her. "She needs to understand that this isn't a joke! Once word gets out, everyone will want her. She needs to know that everyone can't just sit around protecting her. She needs to protect herself! I'm trying to do what's best for her. Someone needs to tell her the truth. I wish someone would've done the same for me."

Vivian pushes pass me, vanishing like thin air, leaving me with knowing exactly what she is talking about. 

Irina's POV 

"Irina wait!" Rick calls after me. Grunting, I continue to walk, finding myself in the gardens. Looking at the luminous flowers, I smell various aromas. Trailing my fingers over the flowers, I stop at roses and sigh. 

Rick finally catches up to me. Looking him in his eyes, I look away. "Don't mind Vivian, she's just," he starts, but I cut him off.

"She's right," I say. Sitting down on the cement bench, I sigh. "She is absolutely correct. I can't just sit back and let everyone lay down their lives for me. And once this baby gets here, what kind of mother will I be if I can't even protect my own?"

"Irina, you don't have to think about that right now," Rick says sitting next to me. "You are apart of this family now, and we will protect you."

I laugh at how naive Rick is being. "You still do not understand Rick. If I would've never knew you, any of you, if I would've never told Ezra about this baby and someone knew what was going on, who would be there to protect us them? Hmm?" 

Rick opens his mouth, stops, and then looks away. "Yeah."

Nodding my head, I stand up and pat Rick's shoulder. "I can't just rely on you all to protect me. I need to protect myself."

Walking off, I rub my stomach and try to find Aiden. If I am going to learn how to do this, I might as well learn how to do this right.