The Alpha #2
With that, I continue my walk to the training area behind Griffin’s house.
The elite warriors are scheduled for late afternoon, so it gives me some time to calm the fuck down, because my run-in with Lissa just pissed me off even more.
I am only having private training with Martin and Griffin.
Both of them are guys who are up for a challenge, and Griffin is definitely going to be my gamma, which is obvious to me now.
“Hey, man,” Griffin greets me.
I nod at him and Martin. “Are you warmed up?” I ask.
“Yeah,” Griffin says, exchanging a look with Martin.
I drop my bag. Rosea was screaming for help in her dream. “Then, let’s get right into it.”
“You are not warmed up, though.”
“Is that any of your concern?” I ask.
I don’t know what she dreamed of, but it must have been terrible. I only noticed when she suddenly jumped out of our bed and scrambled away from it.
Again, Martin and Griffin exchange a glance. They don’t say anymore, though, but straighten their backs. Good, they are into it, this is exactly what I need. “I want you both to come at me,” I say.
“Both of us at once?” Martin splutters his question.
“Yes.”
“But—“
“Are you scared you won’t be on your feet for more than ten seconds?” I snarl. I sound like an asshole, but fuck it. “I want to see how you would go about taking down an alpha.”
Jordan, however, I will take out. Or I will hold him in place and let Rose do it. That fucker, his little pathetic ego would probably cry when he gets owned by his ex-mate, a woman.
Griffin and Martin charge at me at the same time. I can see their eyes flashing, as they are linking each other and probably trying to strategize their attack.
I see their attacks coming a mile ahead, and I don’t even need my wolf for it.
I kick Martin before he can even launch at me, and dodge Griffin’s attack at the same time.
There is something tingling in my fingertips.
Something that spreads from there to my whole body.
It’s not an uncomfortable feeling, more like a blanket of calmness that spreads over me.
I see everything more clearly. Through my eyes, the movement of my two friends seems to be slowed down, helping me dodge and attack at ease.
Rosea is one of the strongest people I know. I have never met anyone with so much inner strength as her. To imagine Jordan did everything to break her makes me rage.
The first attempt of our mock battle is done in half a minute. Griffin scrambles back up to his feet, while Martin stretches his neck. “That was bad,” I tell them. “You need to do better!”
The next time they attack, I can see how they put more thought into how they approach me. They don’t run headfirst into the battle, but try to think, considering their next steps.
I swear to the goddess no one is going to hurt that amazing woman again. She is a rose, a beautiful, rare rose, and I would rather die than let anyone try to ruin her again. I will protect her, and I won’t allow anyone to hurt her.
Griffin and Martin are knocked out again, but this time they recover immediately and jump to their feet. “Slightly better,” I tell them.
By now, it seems I truly piqued their determined sides. The next attacks are much better placed.
Rose is the light that shone when I thought I had lost everything. She embodies hope for me. I feel lighter when she is around and so much more confident.
I will become the alpha she needs me to be.
The alpha she needs.
My own thoughts surprise and shake me to my core. What am I thinking? What’s wrong with me?
Nothing is wrong. I know she stirred something in me. I have known ever since we sat in that Italian restaurant. I might only have known her for a few days, but it’s obvious to me that I will do everything in my power to protect her and to make her feel safe again.
In whatever way she wants me to.
Griffin, Martin and I repeat the exercise a couple more times until both of them are truly done with their strength.
“Fuck!” Griffin groans. “I think I broke a rib.”
Martin rolls his shoulder, grimacing slightly. “Yeah, I might have broken something, too.”
“Your wolf will heal you,” I say, coming closer to them.
“Thank you for that huge amount of empathy,” Griffin snorts.
“You weren’t bad,” I tell them.
“But not good, either?” Martin wants to know.
“There is room for improvement,” I say honestly.
Martin looks at me. “Your wolf wasn’t even on the surface,” he mutters.
“I didn’t need him,” I say. It’s true, I didn’t need Darien for that battle.
In fact, I could feel my power surge through me without having to rely on him.
“And you need to learn to rely less on your wolves, too. You will be my second and third in command, and I need you to be at your best.” I kneel down next to Griffin and hand him a towel, before angling the water bottle out of my bag and tossing it towards Martin. “I am waiting for an answer.”
Again, there is that feeling pulsating from my fingertips. To my surprise, both Martin and Griffin lower their heads. “Yes, Alpha,” Martin says.
“We won’t disappoint you, Alpha,” Griffin adds.
It takes a while for me to register… they are submitting to me. They are truly submitting to me as their alpha.
Was about time, Darien says, sounding content. You finally felt your power and strength.
I had Rose in my arms last night; she let me hold her. I know she trusts no one, and I know Jordan robbed her of any trust she could feel, yet she was able to open up to me. She trusted me enough to let me hug her. And that feeling of her warm body against mine made my mind dizzy and my chest warm.
You are an alpha! Darien says with emphasis.
I stretch slightly before finally helping the two guys up again.
“Let’s have something to eat,” I offer. “Or do you need me to take you to the infirmary?” I ask.
I hope I didn’t rough them up too much. Though, as the future gamma and beta, they need to at least be able to take it up with me for long enough and not get severely hurt.
“Nah, I am fine,” Griffin says. “Like you said, my wolf is already healing me.”
“I agree,” Martin says. “The only thing bruised is my ego.”
“No kidding,” Griffin snorts. He casts me a curious stare. “For the first time since I've known you, I actually felt scared of you.”
“Yeah,” Martin says. “I could feel your aura. Had to battle the urge to run.”
“Same.” Griffin looks at me curiously. “Man, what changed?”
“I just realized a few things,” I say.
“And what’s that?”
I smile, but don’t answer them. It might sound simple and stupid to them, and I am not sure if they would even get it. I just know my wolf and I understand it now.
I am an alpha.