Chapter 9 #3
“Are you a strong pack?” I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of pack I’d been thrown into, where they ranked in the grand scheme of werewolves. Were they bottom of the ladder or the top shelf sort?
“One of the strongest, wealthiest and most powerful, though our history has fluctuated over the last fifty years. Despite that, our Alphas have always been fierce and well respected across all continents.” She sounded proud and I couldn’t blame her.
“The pack weakened during my mate's father’s rule. When Jonah took over, we grew strong again, especially as Kole grew. It was clear from a young age what a good leader he would be, and he gave us all so much hope for the future. But over the last decade we have grown weaker – still feared, but the enemy circles like jackals. There are few places we can settle and live freely in this human inhabited world, you see. This land we own is prized and there are many who would take it from us if they got the chance.”
“Hence the training.”
“Hence the training.” She watched me out of the corner of her eye. “You could learn to fight too, if the Alpha will allow it. Proper precautions would be taken of course but you should know how to defend yourself.”
“Breaking your fingers didn’t teach you I could fight already?” I arched an eyebrow at her and the older woman's lips curved into a smile.
“Does that mean you don’t want to train?”
I was itching to join in and the look on her face told me she knew it. A heated pool churned inside me, an urge I’d had all my life, to feel the wildness of a fight, the heat of close violence. I didn’t fear it like other people did, it felt like a natural thing to me.
A roar broke through the air and I followed it, finding Kole immediately.
He was at the other end of the clearing, hundreds of people between us, but still I found him.
He flattened his opponent with ease, slamming a palm into his chest and knocking him off his feet.
Then backed off, giving the young man time to get up.
I watched Kole speak, giving the boy some kind of instruction before he advanced again.
This time, the boy lasted longer before getting flattened. Kole was a good teacher. Patient.
“Fearsome, isn’t he?” Dinah said quietly. He was, I couldn’t deny it. Something drew me to him, his display of pure animalism. That part of me wanted to ride him in the dirt, the moonlight shining down on us. I felt my skin heat as I watched him stalk across the arena in nothing but track shorts.
I found myself fascinated by the way he moved, the bunching of his muscles, the way he stretched out his neck.
My mouth watered and I swear I could smell him, the scent of his sweat, his masculine musk permeating my senses from across the clearing.
His body called to me…and mine was starting to respond.
Annoyed, I pulled my eyes away to study the other fighters.
“She shouldn’t be able to do that,” Konnor whispered behind me.
“I know,” Dinah said and I gave her a questioning look. “Ignoring your mate to focus on other males instead. It’s not natural.”
“This was your ulterior motive, right? Bring me here, let me see him all hot and sweaty, see if it would get me all hot and sweaty?”
“I—”
“I don’t like being manipulated,” I cut her off. Once again, she didn’t flinch. This woman was an unyielding wall. I respected her for that.
“Would you like to speak to Kole? He wouldn’t mind being interrupted. I’m sure he’d be happy to show you around, introduce you to some people.”
“Actually,” I said, getting an idea, “I’d prefer to see what my guard dog can do.” I looked up at Konnor and his mouth twitched with amusement. He looked at his mother with a ‘may I?’ expression on his face.
“Go on then.” She waved him off, taking my chain from him.
With a childish glee he strode into the training grounds.
I followed, wanting to make sure I got a closer look.
When I escaped, no doubt I might have to get through Konnor first. It would help for me to know how he fought.
The crowd quieted some as we walked, No doubt I was drawing attention.
Kole’s green eyes found me, his eyes blazing.
I suddenly wondered if putting myself amongst a crowd of half-naked men was a good idea where his wolf was concerned.
“Alpha!” Konnor called as we approached. “Mind if I take the floor for a minute? Apparently, your Luna doubts my skills.”
Kole’s stare bored into me. I felt like he was stripping me naked.
“No, she doesn’t. She wants to study how you fight to better plan her escape.
” A hush fell over the wolves. A smirk lit across his lips.
“Give her a show if that’s what she wants.
” With that he headed over to a water cooler, picked up a bottle of water and drank.
He appeared disinterested, but after a moment, seemingly against his will, his gaze drew back to me.
A pull he couldn’t fight, a pull that seemed to pain him.
I felt pity, wondering what it must be like to be so controlled by an instinct.
I couldn’t imagine the torment of that permanent bondage.
“Alright, do I have any volunteers?” Konnor turned towards the crowd, arms spread wide. To my surprise, no one stepped forward.
Really? No one wanted to take on Konnor the clown?
With a sigh, one warrior with a buzz cut stepped into the ring. “Try not to kill me, alright?” Buzz Cut said, a resigned look on his face. A chuckle came from the crowd.
“I make no promises.” Konnor bounced on his toes, warming up.
“Take three warriors. Make it fair at least,” Kole ordered and Konnor nodded. A moment later, two more glum-looking men stepped into the ring.
Konnor seemed to hum with excitement. He pulled his shirt over his head, revealing a gold cuff on his forearm that I hadn’t noticed before. The cuff wasn’t fastened on like a piece of jewellery, it was embedded into his skin as if it was a part of him. I looked around, none of the others had one.
Konnor threw the shirt in his mother’s direction, presumably for her to pick up and hold onto. She stared at the offending garment, then up at her youngest son. He quickly picked it up, and put it into her hands with an apologetic smile.
“What's up with the arm ring?” I asked Dinah as the four warriors moved into position.
“It signifies him as a member of the Luna Guard.”
“The Luna Guard?” Was that what Konnor had meant at the hospital? He’d said I had five guards, so far I’d only met him and Kallum.
“Warriors selected by the Alpha to protect his Luna. It’s the highest honour he can give to any pack member. My guards are here somewhere, though they’ll retire now that you’re taking over my reign.”
I struggled to digest that information. My entire life I’d had to fend for myself and now I had a guard?
The four men assumed a fighting stance, Konnor remarkably relaxed, the other three…not so much.
They stayed in their skin. The fight was brutal and over in a matter of minutes.
My mouth hung open, my eyes wide. Konnor was an animal.
A fierce, bloodthirsty animal. His opponents limped away, nursing broken bones and shattered faces, though if they healed like Dinah, I knew they would be fine in a few days.
Konnor, covered in blood, grinned at me.