Chapter 18: Try Outs

Chapter 18: Try Outs
Sydney
It's only 10 AM, and I'm already exhausted. I don't know how much more of this weird tension between us I can take, add in all the training and pack work, and I'm fried; at least I can work out some of this frustration on the practice field.
I quickly change into my standard training attire, sports shorts, and a sports bra. It's easy to move around in, and there's not a bunch of extra fabric for someone to grab and use as leverage. I step out of the female locker room, and Silas is waiting for me, leaning against the wall. I stop in my tracks, and I don't know if I'm excited or upset at the sight I see in front of me. Silas is shirtless only in shorts.
Silas looks me up and down as I do him. He grunts out, "That's all you're wearing?"
My arms fold across my chest, and my eyebrow raises, "I could say the same to you!"
"Fine, but I don't like it." He huffs.
I roll my eyes as I walk past him. "Same." I continue to the practice field.
"I'll put a shirt on if you do." Trying to negotiate? I don't think so.
"Nope." I keep walking. I don't care if he is my mate. I do what I want.
Silas is walking slightly behind me. "You should wear longer shorts." He's getting possessive and jealous; we haven't even finished the mating process yet. Would it get worse? He's just asking and pouting now, but Alpha males can be a giant pain, from what I've heard.
I decide to jab at him a bit. "Silas, you know all of these warriors have seen me naked after shifting before. Don't forget I walked Tarlo back to the packed village naked, so most of the pack has seen me."
"That was before you were Alpha." His logic made no sense to me at all.
I sigh, "You mean before I was your mate?"
I would have missed the "Maybe," Silas muffled out if it wasn't for my enhanced hearing.
Honestly, there's something sweet about him wanting my body only for his eyes. Like I was special, but at the same time, it was very unrealistic. We are shifters; we see each other's parts all the time. "You are being silly. None of the males see me in that light. When have you known shifters to be modest?"
"That's not the point. I just don't like… just don't… You said you got five mate proposals before meeting me. It makes me feel… odd."
Odd? Is odd a feeling? "They were just hunting for power. Besides, there are much prettier she-wolves in our pack. They like to come to watch practice, so you should put a shirt on." Yeah, I sound like a hypocrite, but the difference is I'm saying it out of fear. I know it's not right, but what if he gets taken away by one of the prettier she-wolves? He was jealous. I was scared.
He grabs my waist mid-stride and pulls my back to his chest. He whispers in my ear, "So should you." He licks my neck, sending shivers down my spine. "I don't like that you don't have my mark. This will have to do."
I turn my head to look him in the eye, "now, who's the one throwing a fit?"
He sighs, dropping his head to rest on my shoulder. "Fine, but if anyone looks at you in a way I don't like… I will end them." He growled out the last half.
"They look at me with fear. You'll see." I unclasp his arms from around my waist and continue walking to the field.
I step onto our training field. I've been here thousands of times, but it will never feel the same again. As I look around the open space, my mind flashes images of all the blood and death these spaces hosted that night. I'm barefoot as it's easier to shift quickly without shoes, and I step on a small rock. I look down, and it's not a rock but a tooth. A small physical reminder of someone sent to be with the goddess again. My thoughts escaped my mouth, and I muttered. "So much blood was spilled for no reason."
"What did you say?" Silas didn't see the tooth, and I'm not ready to completely relive that night, plus we had tryouts to finish.
"Nothing." I huff. I just want to get this 'Tryout' finished. I highly doubt we will find a Beta or Gamma. These wolves are just sheep. I step to the front of the assembled group, and Silas is next to me. "OK, White Ridge Pack! We are going to start Beta and Gamma tryouts! Before we get started, I would like to formally introduce you all to your Lumiere and my mate, Silas Youngblood. Give him the same respect you give me."
The murmurs start, and Silas steps forward and stars every one of them down. It's easy to see he is larger than everyone here. He doesn't say a word his size, and dominance does all the talking for him, and he knows it. I hear giggles coming from the sidelines, and I give them a side glare, and they quickly fall silent. Damn it; I should have got him to put on a shirt.
"OK, Pair up. We are going to observe your sparing skills, and we will be coming around to give pointers and ask questions." I just want to get this over with; I know none of them have what it takes. They quickly pair up, and Si and I split up to observe. It's like we have been doing this together all our lives. We don't say a word to each other, and we can't bond-link yet, but somehow through our simple gestures, we communicate. I'm watching him, and he is watching me. It's strangely comforting. Is this what it's like to have a mate or to just trust? Was I starting to trust him already?
I correct a pair of males and turn to walk away when I feel his presence right behind me. I turn around, and the two I just corrected are standing at attention, and Si is looming over them. What is going on?
"You two seem to have slowed down a bit. Why don't you both go against me." I just corrected their form. What is he talking about? I'm going to just stand and watch.
The two guys, Brian and Alex, seem stunned for an instant. Brain snaps out of it and gives a devious smirk to Silas. Bad move. "OK, Lumiere, you think you can take us both on."
"I don't think, I know." I haven't seen Silas fight, but a guy who fought four wolves with silver blades is not your average fighter. I guess Brain was going to get his nose broken again.
Silas gets in a defensive stance readying himself for a dual attack. They charge him at the same time. He sides steps Brian and tosses Alex like he weighs nothing. The embarrassment and anger mixed on their faces would be their real opponent. If you can't stay levelheaded in a fight, you will lose. They charge in again, Alex punching, Brian kicking. He steps into the kick blocking it with his forearm and ducking to miss Alex's punch. He jabs Alex in the nose and kicks Brian's foot out from under him. I guess I was wrong on who would get a broken nose.
"Alright, that's enough. You two have zero chance of tacking him down. Let me show you. Si, would you mind." Watching them made me want to spare with my mate. If he truly is my equal, I might have a worthy sparring partner.
Si steps over to me with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Now, so if someone steps into your kick to block it be ready with a straight jab or if you can switch to a knee. Silas, I'm going to kick you."
"I don't want to hurt you." He whispers, but it's deep and husky, dripping with lust. This guy is trying to knock me off my game. Well, no, sir.
I roll my eyes, "You won't. You should worry about me hurting you." I give him a flirty wink. Two can play that game.
Si steps back, waiting for my attack. I square up and take a few steps to deliver my kick. He steps into it and catches my leg and won't let go. I have already caught on to how much Silas likes my legs. He wasn't hiding it but to grab my leg like this in training in front of everyone. I guess I would have to teach my mate a lesson.
I give him a smirk before doing the unexpected. I know he has a firm hold on my leg, so I jump and send my other knee to his side. This throws him off balance, and I'm able to roll out before he tumbles over. It's not a pretty move, but it would free me and allow me to keep going in a fight.
Silas is on the ground on his knees, laughing. "Well, you are the only one who's ever done a move like that on me before. Just like an Alpha to think on their feet."
His laugh is contagious, and I give him another wink. "Told you to worry about yourself."
I quickly realize our private moment is on display, and we both quickly jump up to our feet. "Day one is over. Everyone hit the showers."
As the crowd disperses, I see Silas' eyes follow Brian and Alex. He starts to take a step away. I know what he's going to do. He's going to confront them in the showers, but why?
I grab his arm. "What was that about?" I whisper through gritted teeth.
"What?" Those puppy dog eyes are not going to work on me.
"You and your testosterone display?" I furrow my brow and press my lips into a thin line.
Silas looks at me, reminding me of a child getting scolded. He mumbles under his breath, "I didn't like how they looked at you."
I tilt my head to the side, "Looked at me how?"
The little kid image quickly fades, and it's like Silas is standing seven feet tall with murder in his eyes. "Like you were not their Alpha but something they could have." I see ice blue flash in his eyes.
"Our mate is not joking. He might harm them." Thora can feel how upset Bram is. Their bond is getting stronger.
"We need to calm them down." The last thing we need is the pack being scared of its Lumiere.
I decided to do something I would never think I would ever do on the training field. I step to Silas and hug him leaning my head on his shoulder. "I highly doubt they were 'looking at me in that way. I think you just misinterpreted it."
"I know what I saw, and I didn't like it." I think it's working because his tone is softer, more annoyed than murdery.
I lean my head up and kiss him on the cheek. "Go shower. We have to work to do this afternoon."
His beaming smile is worth the PDA. I can tell he's calmer and doesn't feel as threatened. "I'll see you in a sec." He kisses my cheek and trots off to the men's locker room.
Most of the other pack members have already left for the day, so Silas should have the locker room to himself, which might be for the best. He's on edge because we haven't marked each other yet.
I go around the corner to the women's locker room when I see a small figure slip into the men's locker room out of the corner of my eye. No male is that small, and Silas is the only one in there. Which female has a death wish?