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“I’m sorry, sir. It won’t happen again.” He removed his hand and gave me a questioning look as he strolled back up to the front of the small room. Sawyer silently laughed at me. Balling up a piece of paper, I sent it flying toward Sawyer, hitting him square in the head. He turned on me, giving me a glare and a mischievous grin. I shook my head and made myself concentrate on what the Delta was doing in front of me. I had a few more hours before we were released out of this office for the rest of the afternoon to ourselves.
“Nolen, what would you do if an enemy pack released smaller portions of their warriors to come from the east and west but a more significant amount of them came from the south?”
Looking him in the eyes, I sat up straighter. Confident in what I would do in this scenario. “I would send my best warriors to the south and two smaller groups to the east and the west with another group protecting the older wolves, pregnant wolves, and pups.”
“That’s good reasoning, but what if there happened to be a surprise group coming from the north?” Delta Eric crossed his arms as he stood at the front of the room.
I pondered the question before answering him; Sawyer stared at me, waiting for my answer. I couldn’t think of anything else but a last-ditch effort to protect my pack. “I would challenge the Alpha to a dual to protect my pack from harm.”
“The thing about this scenario, Nolen, is that there isn’t a pretty picture to keep everyone safe. Challenging the Alpha is a bold choice, but it might also be the death of more of your pack if you are defeated. You have to understand not all Alphas give mercy to defeated packs. You have to make sure you can protect your pack. As an Alpha, you are going to make choices that will mean death to some of the pack. Unfortunately, it’s what happens, and the warriors understand that could be their fate.” The Delta stood at the front staring at me. His green eyes locked on me as he waited for me to answer him.
“But that is not acceptable. I should be just as willing to lay down my life for my pack as they are for me,” I countered, my brows furrowed in confusion. Why would I expect my pack to die for me if I wasn’t willing to do the same?
Spoken like a true Alpha! Sarge commented, a surge of pride filling me.
I couldn’t tell if the Delta’s facial expression held admiration or sadness; the slight smile on his face and his body language confused me. He turned away from me and started to write on the board. I looked over at Sawyer, he was grinning up a storm and gave me a thumbs up.
Once we were finished with the battle tactics, we went out and made our way over to the game room in the packhouse to let off some steam. We started with some pool, then played some video games. More of the guys came in, and we took turns in playing against each other.
“Hey, Nolen, how bout we arrange a sparring match. See who is actually the strongest out of us.” Bringing my attention to Vorn as he leaned up against the wall, surveying the other players. He had recently turned eighteen and shifted, so he had his wolf to help him, which truthfully didn’t worry me. He was still strong, though, and I would have to keep in mind what he could do.
I’m with you too, Sarge told me as he eyed the other male through mine.
I know, buddy, but he doesn’t realize I have you. I laughed internally at my crazy wolf. Sarge snorted, and I turned to Sawyer, who shrugged. Glancing back to Vorn, I met his gaze with determination. “Okay, when?”
“How about tonight? Round up all the pack to come to see you get your ass handed to you.” He roared with laughter; his dark brown eyes gleamed mercilessly. The wolves around him glanced between him and me.
“Okay, Vorn, but I doubt I’ll be getting my ass handed to me.” Everyone in the room watched in wonder. Vorn had started to make a name for himself since he got his wolf. He was ruthless and possibly one of the strongest warriors in training. But he still had a lot to learn about a fight. I had observed him and the older wolves he fought with and realized how to defeat him. I stood up and walked over to him. Towering slightly over him, as I’d grown into my own. I couldn’t believe the confidence that seeped through me. It felt good. “I’ll meet you on the sparring field. You better hope you can keep up.”
Vorn snorted in my face, and Sarge tried to surge forward, but I would not let another wolf realize his presence right now. I walked away to go to the Beta, letting him know that I had a challenge from another wolf. When I got to his office, I caught the scent of the Alpha and the Delta in the small room and knocked on the door, waiting for him to invite me in.
“Come in.”
I opened the door, walked in, and closed the door behind me. They all three glanced up at me as I stood in the office waiting to be granted permission to speak.
“What can I do for you, Nolen?” The Beta stared at me, giving me a questioning glance. He seemed to know why I had come.
“I came to tell you that Vorn challenged me. He wants to spar tonight, sir,” I responded, holding my head high as I gazed over them behind the desk.
He glanced at me and then strolled around his desk that he stood behind with the Alpha. The other two wolves in the room stared at me. “And you accepted?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You realize he has his wolf, and this is not a two on one match.” His eyes brightened, and he threw a grin my way. His hand took hold of his jaw as he waited for my answer.
“I can handle him, sir,” I told him, puffing myself up. Determination pushed through my aura, and Sarge came forward a bit.
The Beta walked back over to the Alpha behind his desk, “Okay, well, we will arrange everything. Be sure you eat enough to give you energy but not enough to make you sick.”
I nodded and walked back out of the office to my room to relax before the match. I sat on my bed staring at the room I had been using for the last three years; I had one more year here, and then my dad would be drilling the rest of my alpha training into me. Making me an alpha that he could be proud of.
No need to be nervous, Nolen, Sarge told me. I grinned; he was getting better at knowing my emotions. Hell, I was getting better at reading his. This is why we would be victorious. Once we shifted, we would be even more connected.
I know; I’m just nervous that they will find out that I’ve possessed your strength since the rogue attack. I hadn’t even told Sawyer, and if he found out, I didn’t know if he would be mad at me for keeping it from him. There was no way I could afford to lose the only real friend I had here.
So what? We are one and the same. Just like Vorn and his wolf.
Sarge was right, we were one, but would they see that since I shouldn’t have any part of him till I was eighteen?
