Chapter 199
(Cole’s POV)
After my spar with alpha, I took Patrick up on getting closer to his group to watch. I don’t have much desire to actually spar as it’s too much like fighting. I’m tired of fighting. I fight for everything I have, want and need. I need a break. Plus, I don’t think I’m medically cleared to participate with anyone outside of alpha but I’m still willing to watch. That’s how I have learned everything the last eight years and, according to beta, I’m really good.
I show up at my usual time, around ten, after I’ve fixed what’s leftover from breakfast in the halls for my meal. Something is different about this week as there was barely any left to raid.
I know beta’s been watching me. He seems to have taken some lessons on giving me some space. He didn’t approach me to talk with me until Monday, although it’s mostly him that’s talking.
Off in the distance I can see a young male mimicking the prospects. Shame is, these prospects are not the ones you want to mimic. They haven’t had the proper attitude for the week that I’ve been observing and considering beta’s taken them back to basics it’s not a new problem. My gaze is trained on the little across the field as the beta steps up next to me.
“You’re looking a bit rough today, are you doing okay?”
For the first time I actually feel safe being honest. I’m not okay today. I’m in a lot of pain and really didn’t want to get out of bed today. I’m not certain what I did but my back has been in spasms most of the night adding to the nightmares I’m consistently having. I shake my head, but just barely.
“Who’s the little?”
I ask as the prospects finally start moving their asses.
“That is beta Jackson. I’m close with his parents. His father is a warrior and his mother works outside the pack as a seamstress.”
“He’s mimicking the prospects instead of you. He’s going to jam his wrist if he puts any force behind that form.”
I give beta Patrick a moment to respond but it seems he doesn’t disagree.
“How young do you start training? My pack starts alphas at fifteen, all other ranks have to have their first shift.”
“Here we start allowing delta birth rank and up to start trying out for the program at thirteen. Alphas can try out for the beginners level as early as eleven and betas at twelve but deltas unfortunately we are strict with staying at thirteen. Occasionally we get a gamma that’s interested in training.They have to prove their strength and emotional maturity to the alpha as well as their ability to adequately shift without any type of medication before they can start training.”
“I don’t like his form. May I talk with him? Work with him?”
I’m not expecting anything to happen despite alpha openly telling me that he has no issues with me interacting with his girls. I’m quite surprised when he calls Jackson over to us.
“Am I in trouble Beta Patrick?”
I shift uncomfortably in my spot. Last thing I wanted was to get this little in trouble. Before I can interrupt, beta starts talking to him.
“Is there a reason for you to be in trouble?”
“Um, I’m not sure. I’m not supposed to be training yet.”
“That is true as you’re only ten but you’re not in any trouble. Alpha Cole just wants to talk with you about your form. You’re copying the prospects who have gotten sloppy and if you actually try to hit something you’re going to jam your wrist up.”
“Oh.” He states quietly.
I’m relieved to hear beta’s explanation.
I kneel down to Jackson’s height as beta steps back and turns his attention back to the prospects that have obviously gotten tired of working.
“You’ve got a big drive if you’re out here mimicking beta Patrick’s group. You’d be much better off watching Alpha Damian’s group. I think he’s got the beginners, although to my knowledge, all of these prospects should have been in their packs’s program for several years before coming here. From what I could see from across the field it looks like you’re bending your wrist downward as you drive forward. Can you show me what you’ve learned so far?”
He shows me easily what he’s doing, confirming the bad form that he’s accidentally adopted by watching the others. The drive that this little beta has makes me wonder how many alpha and beta pups are trying to start training early.
“Let me see your hand.”
I start moving his wrist around checking for any possible restrictions that may compromise his movements.
“I was almost sixteen when I started watching the beginners group of my pack. I had to watch them from a distance which made it more difficult to see what they were doing.”
“Why couldn’t you join the group? You’re an alpha.”
“Not something I’m going to talk about little one. What’s important is that I had to learn painfully what not to do. You see your arm is made of two bones and your wrist has many small bones that allow it to be flexible. As a child, your bones are still developing which makes it even easier to jam yourself up or even break the bones if you hit wrong. You want to keep your wrist in line with the rest of your arm.”
I show him some simple hand jabs, keeping it slow and concentrating solely on form before switching to something closer to a spar.
“What I want is for you to hit the palm of my hands without force, just touch your knuckles to my palm. Do you understand my instructions?”
He nods easily with a smile as he starts. I’m impressed with how easily he has responded to my instructions and as long as he concentrates, he has the form he needs to prevent injury.
I grab his fists as I turn towards the commotion going on behind us. It doesn’t take me long to realize that there’s a fight happening between some of the prospects. Although most would feel that they are a comfortable distance away I’m working with a little and I never take any chances.
Without a word I snatch Jackson off his feet and dart across the field, not stopping until I reach the track on the other side of the playground. I kneel down on the graveled dirt placing him gently upon his feet. I wait until he has his balance before slowly releasing my grip on him.
“I’m sorry Jackson. Are you okay? Have I hurt you?”
We’re both breathing hard as he steps away from me, the look of shock in his eyes.
“No sir. I’m not hurt. Just a little surprised. Are you okay? You’re wheezing.”
I stand slowly before reaching in my pocket for my inhaler. I place it in my mouth and take two deep breaths of the medication before putting it back.
“You have asthma.”
Jackson states his observation, surprised that I’m a warrior.
“Unfortunately, yes. I’m still waiting for it to get me kicked out of the program.” I state honestly to the lad.
“Well, maybe alpha Demetri will bring you back before you are. You seem nice, unlike the other prospects I’ve run into.”
“What happened with the other prospects?”
“I’ve seen a lot of prospects come through.”
He talks as we start walking together away from the playground.
“Most of them ignore me and the other pups but sometimes when they see us watching them they get mad. Most will only yell until you run away but this group is the first one to actually hit me.”
I stop in my tracks when he confesses this.
“Have you told alpha Demetri? I haven’t been here very long but the one thing he has been consistent on is assaulting other wolves. He’s physically punished Lucas twice to my knowledge for attacking me and he’s been on house arrest for over a month for the same thing.”
“Alpha Lucas attacked you? Why?”
“Well it’s actually a relief to find that you don’t know so I’m not going to open that up. I’m sorry Jackson. I don’t want to hide information from you but I don’t want you to be afraid of me over rumors that are not true.”
“I understand that you wouldn’t want to repeat rumors about yourself.”
“Thank you.”
I look down at him as his stomach growls loudly.
“Sounds like you could use a meal.” I laugh gently.
“I slept late so I skipped breakfast to come out here and watch beta Patrick’s group.”
I check my watch and sigh as it’s only eleven.
“The dining hall and banquet hall both don’t open for another hour. Leftovers stored in the pack house are usually gone within two hours of them being brought in.”
“That’s okay, Alpha Cole.” I cringe at my title making him stop talking.
“What’s wrong, Alpha Cole?” I take a deep breath.
“Although I’m an alpha by birth, I’m not an alpha. I’m Cole. Just Cole.” I try to explain gently.
“Okay, Cole.” He speaks slowly as if he’s trying out my receptivity to my requested change. “This week is spring break so all of us pups are off of school this week. The youngest ones go to the play center where alpha Demetri has extra nannies to take care and supervise them but most pups eight and older are allowed to stay home while our parents work. We have a link with alpha so we can call for help if we get hurt or lost so most of us are able to just wander around but because there’s a lot more kids this week they open the banquet hall for the pack members' lunch at eleven.”
“Well that was the long way to get there but I appreciate the information. It keeps me from asking the question that’s been bothering me. I didn’t eat quite as much as I normally do in the morning so how about we go for an early lunch.”
“I’d like that.” I smile as we walk.
Jackson, calmly, tells me about himself without a care as to who I am or what my past is like. I can’t help thinking about how much I could get used to this as this is the way life should be.
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