Chapter 26

Claudia’s POV
“Why does Dad want to see us?” I ask Danny; “I don’t know, he just asked if we could go to his office” he answers me. I still have 1 month, 3 weeks and 5 days before Sophia is born and it’s getting harder and harder to get around. I swear; I am literally the size of the packhouse.
“Could he not have the meeting, going down the stairs; instead of us having to go up the stairs” I complain to Danny; stopping to catch my breath in front of the office door. “Have you been doing the exercises Doctor Elliot told you to do?” he asks me. “No; I thought I would see how I go without them. Of course, I have; it doesn’t help, Sophia thinks my diaphragm is a leaning post and I have to breath shallow all the time” I irritably tell him.
*“Are you on your way?”* Dad asks through mind link. *“I’m outside the door; hold your fucking horses”* I scream back at him as Dad opens up the door laughing. “Rick, Tim you better give Claudia the couch; before she rips your throats out to sit there” Dad chuckles. “How long do you have to go?” Simon asks me. “1 month, 3 weeks and 5 days” I answer him.
“She’s on the countdown. Danny; I’m here for you, bro” Rick says putting his hand on Danny’s shoulder and I snarl at him in my despair; trying to manoeuvre myself down on the couch.
“I have officially welcomed Simon, Rick, Tim and their mates into our pack with a ceremony this morning. The men here, have asked to join our ranks” Dad informs us. “I have a Betta and Gamma” Danny sternly informs them. “We are aware of that Danny. We were hoping you could find a place for us” Simon answers him.
Danny looks at me for a moment; I know I’m not going to like what he is about to say. He faces himself toward the three men. “I will need to see what you can do. Dad, do you mind coming down to the training compound with us?” “Do we have to go to the training compound?” I complain, glaring at Danny. “We could do it here, but I don’t think Dad would appreciate 3 wolves tearing up his office” Danny answers me sarcastically.
“I’m getting out of the firing line” Rick chuckles, moving behind Danny. “Coward” Danny retorts back at him.
“I can carry you down there, if you want?” Danny asks me. “Man! You have a death wish” Tim snickers. “I’ll be fine; at least we are going down, instead of up” I spit at everyone.
“I asked Jason and Cyndy to join us. Shall we go?” Dad says, coming around from behind his desk and offering me a hand to help me out of the couch. “We’ll meet you at the front of the packhouse” Tim and Rick say together; cackling to themselves as Simon rolls his eyes at the pair. “Cowards” Danny yells again at them, as they run out the door.
I take Dad’s hand, to get myself on my feet and we all head down to the training compound. “Is it a girl or boy?” Simon asks. “A girl, we will be calling her Sophia Janelle” I answer him. “Janelle? After Luna Janelle?” he asks smiling. I was slightly shocked about him knowing Grandma Nelly. I never really thought about her being called Luna Janelle before. “Yes” I finally say to him. “Is there something wrong with me asking? I was trying to make conversation” he says to me.
“I’m sorry, I’ve only heard Danny talk about Grandma Nelly. I didn’t stop to think; you would also know her. I was taken by surprise when you asked if we are using the name Janelle, after her” I answer him.
He gives off a small chuckle; “she would be honoured; you are using her name.” “I’m sure, she is” I say, giving Danny a knowing look.
“Who do you want to go first?” Dad asks Danny. Danny looks in my direction and I nod; smiling. He wants to see Dad and Simon spar. We talked about it a few days ago, if Simon can keep up with Dad, we were going to ask Dad if he can be our new Master Trainer. “I want you and Simon to spar; Dad” Danny answers him.
“Ok” the two men say in unison; a shocked expression coming across Dad’s face. They both take off their shirts and head to the centre of the compound. “This is going to be epic” Jason says, coming to sit by us.
Danny hands me the whistle; “Are you ready?” I call out to the pair. Both men put their hand up and I place the whistle in my mouth and blow it, to start the fight.
“Go Dad; show them what you can do” Tim calls out to Simon; sitting a few rows up from us. “Simon’s doing well” I say to Danny, as he lands a kick in Dad’s abdomen. “Alpha Henry is still superior. You can see it with his blocks and punches” Jason mentions.
“Holy Shit; that’s a move we haven’t seen before” Danny says excitedly as Simon grabs Dad and does a backwards roll; throwing him with his feet. Dad jumps back on his feet and growls at Simon; sweeping Simon’s legs. “I’ve seen enough; I’m happy with what we discussed” Danny says, smiling. I blow the whistle again and Dad and Simon stop fighting and come back to where we are.
“Tim, Rick; I want you to pair up and spar against Cyndy and Jason” Danny calls out. “Do you need some water?” I ask, handing Dad and Simon a bottle. “You ready?” I call out; all four raise their hands and I blow the whistle.
“Are you going to tell us why, you wanted us to fight first?” Dad asks Danny. “Simon; we don’t have a Master Trainer; Dad has been taking on the roll. We wanted to see if you could handle fighting Dad and you held yourself well. Would you like to be our Master Trainer and teach the pups and warriors a thing or two?” Danny asks him smiling. “Great choice” Dad says grinning at Danny and I.
“I would be honoured; to be your Master Trainer” Simon smiles as he watches the two Betta’s fighting one another.
“I should start by training my own son how to fight. Jason has flipped him 3 times already” Simon laughs; “What the hell has Jeremy been teaching these boys? How to paint their nails?” he adds. “He will be a great Master Trainer” I giggle.
“Tim; Rick; seriously? Cynthia is half your size and she is kicking both your arses. Did you and Todd train at all?” Simon yells out to them, shaking his head. “Stop the fight; I can’t watch anymore” Simon screams and I blow the whistle; trying not to laugh. The quartet come over to where we are.
“You aren’t as skilled as I thought you may have been; you still have a lot to learn” Danny says to Tim and Rick. “I haven’t seen you spar anyone yet?” Tim snarls at him. “Want to have a go?” he smirks at him. Tim backs away slowly at the challenge; “I’ll tell you what; I will spar against, both you and Rick. If you can both show me, you can do better than what you just did. I will consider placing you in our ranks” Danny smiles.
“Are you sure?” I asked him, looking worried. Not for Danny; but if throws either of them with an energy surge. “I’m fine; Dad and Jason were helping me in the cell” he winks.
“We want to fight in wolf form. That’s our skill level; but it’s not fair, two on one. Jason, is your wolf up for the challenge? Danny’s and your wolves against Carter and Seth” Rick announced. “What do you say; Parker up for it. Jesse is?” Danny asks Jason. “Bring it on” he responds.
All four men undress and place their clothes beside me; walking to the middle and shifting in their wolves. The Brown and Black wolves of Jesse and Parker on one side; and Brown wolves of Carter and Seth on the other. “Ready” I call out and all four wolves nod their heads.
I blow the whistle; Jesse runs towards Carter and leaps on his back, biting down on it. Carter flings himself forward and Jesse rolls off to the side; getting up and runs toward Carter again. Seth leaps towards Parker as Parker rolls and pushes Seth with his back paws; throwing him over the top of him.
Carter leaps and misses Jesse; Jesse charges towards Carter and grabs him by the throat, throwing him to the side and heads for Seth, leaping onto his back.
“Blow the whistle” Dad and Simon yell together. I do as I was asked and Danny shifts; “What’s the matter, we only just started” he calls out. “Come here, all of you” Simon yells. The other three shift and come over to collect their clothes and start putting them back on.
“Danny; may I?” Dad asks Danny, permission to speak. “There’s a turn of events” I giggle as Dad scowls in my direction. “What’s the matter, Dad?” Danny asks again.
“Jesse and Parker were going to seriously hurt Seth and Carter if we didn’t stop it. How often did you two train at the River Moon Pack?” Dad questions. “Once a week” Tim answers; “maybe twice” Rick adds as an afterthought for the both of them. “Danny; how often do you and Jason train?” he asks. “5 hours; Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in human form and 3 hours Tuesdays and Thursdays in wolf form. We have Saturdays and Sundays off to spend with Claudia and Tracey” he tells everyone.
“How often do you train then, Dad? I have never seen you at the River Moon’s training compound” Tim smirks, pleased with himself. “You never see me, because you are never there to train by the sounds of it. And to answer your question; not as often as these two, but I fit in at least 2 hours a day. Someone had to defend the territory; James couldn’t crack the sugar off a Crème Brule.”
Tim and Rick try to slink in their chairs to hide from Dad and Simon. “If you want to join our ranks; you will need to train. You need to protect the pack if we are under attack. I will leave it up to our Master Trainer to decided how often he would like you to train” Danny tells them. “Who’s the Master Trainer?” Tim asks and Danny grins at him; “Simon” he says.
“Fuck” both men chant together.