Chapter 38

JACK~~~~


"Ah, ah," I huffed as I laid on my back breathless. There were five guys sprawled on the floor around me, groaning with a broken limb, bone or a fatal wound.

"You aren't half as bad as I thought you would be," Ethan said from the edge of the ring where he stood observing the fight. "But you still aren't half as good as you should be. It's looking like you still need a few more lessons from me."

"No!" I said quickly. "No more. I don't want any more lessons from you."

He smirked. "Would you prefer Jimmy's lessons then?"

"Hell no!" I sprang up abruptly, a decision I regretted because it made my broken ribs hurt ten times more. But after being pommeled severally, I was used to the pain by now. "I don't want any training lessons from the both of you. Just let me fight like this."

"Of what use is it to fight people who are weaker than you?" he asked, cocking his head to the side as if he was genuinely confused. Knowing Ethan's straightforward personality, I'm pretty sure he is. He has never been the type to indulge in sarcasm.

"W-Well.....," I stuttered as I thought of something to say.

"There's no gain in it," he said, replying to his question. "You can only grow when you are against an obstacle. Unless you realize that you aren't the strongest, you can't aspire to be the strongest."

"I don't want to be the strongest," I blurted out without thinking. I placed my hand over my mouth quickly as I realized the severity of the words I just said.

Ethan's usual serious expression was even colder now as he glared at me. "In the Imperial Pack, you can't aspire for anything but the strongest. Every pack member must be the strongest they can be, and beyond their capabilities. It's a taboo not to be the strongest, especially for an Alpha candidate."

"Candidate?" I asked. "You're no longer calling me an heir?"

"Your words just now just proved that you are unfit to be the sole heir of the Imperial Pack," he said. His voice evidently portrayed his disappointment and he made no effort to conceal the truth in his expression. "I'll tell Jimmy to start searching for other heir candidates."

"Really?" I asked elatedly.

"You are happy about this?" he asked in anger but paused and let out a deep breath as if calming himself. "I've decided I won't be telling the Alpha anything again."

"What?!" I yelled in annoyance but ended up clutching my side as I groaned from the pain. "Why?!"

"I decided I am gonna mould you into a formidable Alpha," he said calmly, so calmly that it sent shivers down my spine. "Jimmy's blood and venom is a precious and special existence. We can't waste it in the name of searching for other candidates. If you aren't a worthy Alpha heir, I'll just have to make you into one."

"That's just messed up on so many levels," I groaned. "I don't want it so why can't you let me live in peace?"

"You should have realized from the moment you got involved with Jimmy that peace is the last thing you are gonna have," he replied. "We're done with this discussion and I would advise you to keep your thoughts to yourself next time if your life holds any value to you."

A werewolf guard who I recognized as one of Ethan's aides came in just then and whispered a few things into Ethan's ear. Ethan's face remained expressionless but I saw his eyes widen for a little bit before returning back to normal.

"This is the end of your training for today," he said to me as he followed the guy out. "Make sure to get some fresh air and take some time to think carefully about your decisions and choice of words going forward. Jimmy would be coming soon and I wouldn't want to lose a young prospect before he even has time to grow."

I gave no reply as I glared daggers at his back, hoping he would just drop dead and die. That fucker is talking as if he cares for me but in my opinion, he is even more ruthless than Jimmy.

"What do we do now?" Jay asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm asking what you want to do now that you've got some free time."

I shrugged. "I really don't know either. I can't remember the last time I had free time."

"We've never had free time since I was born," Jay said firmly. "I don't even understand the concept of free time apart from the contextual meaning."

"They are basically saying I can do anything I want within the pack except leaving," I sighed.

"Hmmm," Jay said, "Is there anything to do other than train?"

"I wonder also," I replied. "All we've done is train repeatedly since we got here. I don't know if there is anything we can do except that. I don't even have a single friend to ask questions."

"Then why don't we just train some more?" Jay asked. "We can train the way we want since there's nobody to train us this time."

"Hell no!" I yelled out loud. I facepalmed myself. "Sometimes you really act like a child, Jay. That would have been embarrassing if other people heard it."

"What's so embarrassing about training?" he asked with an ignorant innocence that I found both annoying and cute. "Also, why don't you want to become the strongest?"

"Training isn't embarrassing. It's just not something we should do with her first free time," I replied. "As for your second question, it's simply because I have no motivation to do so. I don't want to live a life where I would have to risk my life just to survive. This survival of the fittest bullshit isn't for me."

"What kind of life did you live before this?" he asked.

I smiled. "I ran a with my friends and we all shared one apartment and we had each other's backs in times of need and trouble. They were basically my family."

"Where are those friends now?" he asked and I stiffened. "Shouldn't they come save you now that you are in a place you don't like?"

"W-Well, t-they can't possibly fight Jimmy, and they're just two guys. They can't go against a pack."

"Wow, isn't that enough motivation to get stronger?" he said with a sincerity that was beginning to piss me off. "I mean you can't leave here because you can't fight Jimmy and they can't save you because of the same reason. Shouldn't you get strong enough to break away from Jimmy? That's the most logical decision, right?"

"Shut up," I hissed. "Who gives a fuck about logic? Does any of this make sense? Does breaking my bones every day and making me drink demon blood make any sense?"

"It does if it made you stronger," he replied. "You're stronger than you used to be, right?"

"I said shut up!" I yelled. "We're done with this conversation. Why does my damn rib still hurt?! It should be healed by now!"

"Well, the guy who wounded you didn't just break them," he sighed. "He crushed them so...."

"Just shut up and heal it," I hissed. I was already in a foul mood. Especially since everything he said was right, but I still wouldn't accept it even though he's right. I still don't want this life.

"Done," he said after about ten minutes of sitting on the ring floor in silence. "Are those guys dead?" he asked, referring to the guys I beat up who still laid sprawled on the floor. "They haven't moved a muscle since."

"Who knows," I shrugged. "In Jimmy's words, a member of the Imperial Pack can't die from only this much. It's basically a taboo."

"Okay, so what now?" he asked. "Decided on what to do?"

"It's none of your business," I replied. "But I think I'll just stroll around the pack and see what it's like."

Jay chuckled. "You just said it was none of my business."

"Shut up!"

I stood up from the ground and dusted myself off as I sniffed my bloodied t-shirt. "I reek," I said to myself out loud as I strolled to a corner of the ring where a clean shirt waited for me.

I took off my dirty shirt and tossed it in the ring while I proceeded to wear the other one immediately. Once I was done dressing up, I headed out of the gym intending to explore the pack on foot for the first time without Jimmy or Ethan in tow.

The pack was more modern than anyone could imagine. It was a totally wrong expression saying that werewolves were nothing but power-hungry muscle heads. They sure do know how to enjoy luxury. I already noticed this by Jimmy's house and his exotic collection of cars, but seeing the rest of the pack up close, it was even more luxurious than the city I lived in, and it was quite expansive. I wonder how many people lived in this pack but one thing is for sure and that is their exquisite sense of luxury.

"Sightseeing?" a female voice asked from behind me. Her voice was quite bold and exuded a lot of confidence, and her scent was equally intoxicating.

"Um, yes?" I said as I turned around to see the most beautiful brown-skinned lady I've ever seen.

Her curly brown hair which complimented her skin perfectly was cut short to shoulder length, she had a well-sculpted face with big beautiful brown eyes, a perfectly symmetrical nose and plump tasty lips. She had a beautiful neck and her body was just as prominent as her facial features. She was well built, with muscly yet feminine arms, a well-built upper body and a moderately thick lower body. She was nothing short of gorgeous. She was perfect.

"Done ogling me?" she laughed as I got a grip on myself. "I believe I asked you a question."

"Oh, yeah," I replied with a goofy smile. My heart was beating erratically and I was sweating.

Jay huffed after being silent since he saw her and all he said was, "Mine!"