Chapter 17
“Do either of you have a variation on short you would like to throw in for good measure?” I look at
Oliver and my brother. They both chuckle and I attempt to use the moment to get out of the twin
sandwich I am in.
But they just move as I move, so I stopped trying to get away and looked around to Oliver as he
said, “Let me get back to you, Bite Size, I’ll come up with something clever.” I rolled my eyes at him
and Sierra just laughed.
“And you?” I look at Mateo.
“Right now, Shorty, the only thing I get to call you is the take down champ. Dad is never gonna let
any of us live that down.” Everyone chuckles at the memory. He reaches for me between the twins
and wraps an arm around my neck and pulls me close in a gentle headlock type hug, a gesture he
has never done before. I don’t know if it is the beer slowing down his uptight faculties, although I
didn’t think beer really did much to werewolves, and he hasn’t had a ton, but who knows, I’ve never
had any and he stopped the guys from giving me any tonight. They all offered multiple times as we
mingled. Or was he uncomfortable with how close the twins were to me. He’s never been protective
before, but I guess I haven’t given him a reason to be, we don’t hang out. Hell, I don’t hang out, with
anyone, this is all new for me and he probably knows it.
The moment seemed to go unnoticed by the others and they all started discussing this morning’s
training, while we all moved over closer to the fire and found seats on logs or the ground. Mateo
didn’t take his arm off my shoulder until I sat down and leaned against one of the logs. Sierra sat by
me, but Sam sat on the log behind her, placing her in between his legs. My brother sat on my other
side, leaving Oliver, Cameron and Dakota on the next log that was angled towards us.
“Don’t remind me. I was on the receiving end of that particular beatdown.” Sierra mumbles. I was
worried for a minute that maybe she was irritated with me for the way I beat her during training, but
when I look at her, she doesn’t look upset. She actually looks amused. They all laugh again and I
take a deep breath and join them.
Man, was that training only this morning? I feel like so much has happened since then. I did notice
as we changed our location many more people had shown up too. I was so caught up in our own
group, I didn’t even notice. I guess Sam was right, everyone came whenever and just hung out as
long as they wanted. The fire was really nice, It was more chilly than I had anticipated. I wasn’t cold,
but I would take warmth over cold weather any time.
“The Alpha told us that all the warriors tried to match or better her time using the takedown today
and no one could do it.” Sierra supplies to our group. “Including all your dads.” she added like an
afterthought taking a pull from her beer, but I think she was rubbing salt in the wound.
“Really? Damn! Well I don’t feel so bad then, if none of our dad’s could beat it either.” Sam says.
“How many training sessions do you go to?” Oliver asks in his low growl, I can see his brain doing
some kind of calculation. “I know you’re at all the mandatory pack training and you train with Luna
Ava at advanced training, but what else?” He seemed genuinely curious as he took a slow drink of
his beer.
“All of them.” I shrug, keeping my focus on the fire. I don’t know why, but I feel uneasy saying that
outloud. Until today I didn’t hang out with anyone, so outside of getting my homework done I
trained. It was the only time I left the house and Kaley left me alone. I was not going to explain that
to them though. I was just starting to feel a little normal.
Oliver choked on his beer. “All of them, what do you mean ‘all of them’?”
I wasn’t sure how that was unclear, but whatever, maybe the beer was getting to him too. ”I attend
all of the morning mandatory trainings for the high schoolers, the advance training for the warriors
and ranked members three times a week and I help and work with Delta Kyle and the warriors who
do the basic trainings, patrol training and work with the pups during beginner training.” I shrug again
like it’s no big deal, because to me it isn’t, never has been. I look forward to working with the pups
and with all of the crap Kaley pulls, I like knowing they are learning to deal with people like her so
no one else has to go through this. It keeps my head clear too, the effort makes me happy. I also
think that basics are undervalued and people don’t focus on them enough. It’s the best way to
warm-up and stay sharp. In the middle of a fight, your muscle memory is what takes over and it’s
not the fancy sh*t these guys like to mess around with that saves you.