Chapter 16: Chapter 16

KYA

I show the girl into Dec’s office in the pack house. It’s almost the same as I remember when it was Alpha Troy’s office.

The giant bookshelf of old manuscripts and books lines one wall, but there are no chairs and I can tell that there was a new paint job on one of the walls. “~Dec, why are there no seats in your office?~” I send him a mind-link.

There’s a knock on the door. I open it to find Dec with a set of comfy-looking chairs. “~Yeah, about that. I kind of smashed them into the wall after my mate rejected me in front of a roomful of werewolves.~”

I raise my brow, not at all impressed, and sit in one of the new chairs he just placed in front of the desk. Dec closes the door behind him.

I motion for the girl to sit down. “I’m Kya. I’m a natural healer too.”

The girl’s head snaps up. “Healer?”

I nod my head. “What’s your name?” She is not comfortable; I can feel it in the air. “I’m not going to hurt you. My dad is the pack doctor. He’s a natural healer also. We can help you, hone your ability.”

She bites her lip and looks at her boots. I press on. “What happened? Did you pass out? Were you not able to use it under pressure?”

She slightly nods. “I was young. My little brother fell when we were hiking. He died. My dad blamed me. It’s my fault. I should have healed him.”

I understand her fear. “It’s not your fault. You were young. You can’t control an ability that you don’t understand.

I reach out to Dec. She’s too afraid to talk to me. “~Dec, what's her name? She's not talking to me. She's scared.~” I wait for a response. I know he has to ask someone else. He has no clue.

“~It's Natalie. Do you need me to come in?~” he finally replies.

I sit back and think for a minute. “~Yeah, come in here, please.~”“Natalie. I’ve asked Alpha Redd to join us. I want to show you something.

Dec walks through the door. “Hey, beautiful. What do you need?” I raise his shirt and turn him so his mark from the knife is visible. There’s not much to look at though. His skin is pretty clear.

“Damn it. I was going to show her your wound that I healed yesterday.” Dec fixes his shirt then sits behind the desk.

Chase walks in the room. “What’s up?” Dec looks at Chase. Chase gets a ~you’re crazy~ look on his face. He walks over to Dec. He picks his arm up and snaps it backward. Dec only grunts as his arm hangs in the wrong direction.

“What the hell, Chase!” Natalie and I both jump from our seat and rush to Dec's side. “Natalie, hold his hand straight, please.” She straightens his arm.

Making sure the bones are aligned, I gently wrap my hands around Dec’s arm. I close my eyes and let out a breath. My power flows from me and into Dec in the form of a white light. I release the power and step back.

“If you ever do that again, I’ll make you heal on your own,” I tell Dec, then look at Chase.

Chase shrugs his shoulder. “He gave me an order.”

I roll my eyes. “All right, get out, both of you.” I shake my head and sit down in a huff. “Stupid alpha, I should wring his neck for that move,” I grumble to myself.

“That was amazing.”

I look up at Natalie. “Well, you definitely are a natural healer. We tend to have a desire to rush in to help anyone that’s injured. Do you want to learn how to control it?”

She nods. “Alpha Redd didn’t even flinch. He’s amazing.”

I give her a generic “mm-hmm.” Her eyes have stars in them, like she just met a famous celebrity.

“He got stabbed in the kidney yesterday and didn’t make a sound. He still had the guy pinned under him. He’s very strong. I didn’t want to tell Dec about you being a healer without your approval. I guess he knows now.”

She shrugs. “That’s fine. When do I start?”

I fill Dec, Chase, and Alana in about Natalie over dinner. We’re having a barbecue in Chase’s backyard, kind of like the old times.

“Oh my Goddess. I can’t believe you guys did that. The poor girl is probably scarred for life.” Alana looks between the morons after I explain the excitement from earlier.

“I don’t know, it seemed to do the trick. She’s definitely a fan of the amazing Alpha Redd,” I say.

Dec’s face colors slightly, but he still maintains the proud smile. “I knew you would heal me. No big deal.” I shake my head and roll my eyes.

Dec gets a serious look on his face. “Kya. It seems you have visitors.”

Huh? Who would be visiting me? Uncle Mark is supposed to be here tomorrow. “Who is it?”

He doesn’t look very happy when he answers. “A soon-to-be beta and his sister.”

Oh yeah. I forgot I invited them. I look up to Dec with an innocent face. “Yeah, about that. They’re going to stay the weekend. Damon is in need of some actual training. Bianca too.”

Dec runs his hand over his face. He lets out a frustrated breath. “I guess they’re staying the weekend. Finn is bringing them here.”

I sit on Dec’s lap and wrap my arms around his neck. “Thank you.” I kiss his cheek. He grumbles but gives me a “mm-hmm.”

Damon and Bianca walk around the side of the house just behind Finn. Alana greets them. “Hey guys. Dig in, there’s plenty.”

Damon sits down while Finn gets a seat for Bianca. They grab some food and slowly get comfortable. Finn and Bianca are having their own private conversation. Dec runs his hand up and down my back as he questions Damon.

“What’s the deal with you and…whatever his name is—Roberts’s puppy.”

Damon laughs out loud. “Owen is the next alpha of our pack, unfortunately.”

Dec’s hand stops. “Unfortunately?”

Damon doesn’t bat an eye. “He’s a selfish punk. I’m going to be the one that takes care of all the work, while he pretends to be in charge. I came here to learn from you. I need to know how to run a pack; he’s not going to do it.”

Dec begins to rub my back again. “Why should I help the beta of an enemy?”

Bianca leans forward in her seat. I guess she has been listening. “Alpha Redd. Owen is going to ruin the lives of the people in our pack.

“Just look at what happened to Kya’s family. The whole pack thinks that they're traitors and they're calling for their banishment.”

My head snaps to Bianca. “What?” I say. She nods.

Dec shrugs the situation off. “That doesn’t matter. They’re already welcome to come here.”

Damon crosses his ankle over his knee. “But what about the rest of the pack? They don’t know the truth, so they’re blindly following that arrogant little”—he takes a breath—“I want to lead them the right way. I want to run a smooth pack.”

Dec doesn’t respond. I’m guessing he’s having a mind-link conversation with either Chase or Alpha Troy. He taps my leg to get me to stand up, then gives me a quick kiss. “Get the sister set up at our place. I’ll be home late.”

Is that a yes? I give him a nod. “Her name is Bianca.”

He smiles. “You know I’ll forget the second I’m gone.” I giggle. He’s so bad with names. He gives me the key to his truck. “Bye, baby.”

He raises his chin toward Chase, then turns to Damon. “Let’s go, Beta.”

DEC

I take the Rogers pack beta to my office in the pack house. My father is waiting when we walk in. He looks the beta over from head to toe. “You’re on a path that there is no turning back from. Are you sure you wish to continue?”

The beta crosses his arms over his chest. “Yes.”

Father steps forward to stare the beta down. “If you cross us, we’ll kill you.” The beta nods without breaking eye contact.

“What’s your name?” I ask, making a point to remember it.

“Damon.”

I stretch out my hand. “Declan. This is my father, Troy, and my beta, Chase.” They each take turns shaking hands. I take the seat behind my desk. Father and Damon take the two opposite me. Chase stands as a sentinel in the corner.

“First thing. You’re not going to lead your pack as a beta. You have to become the alpha. Roberts’s pup may have been born the alpha, but that’s not enough.

“Every wolf has power. You have to find your strengths, then make them stronger, but more importantly, you have to learn your weaknesses and overcome them. Understood?”

Damon sits stoic, but attentive. I can feel the slightest doubt coming over him. “I understand,” he says.

“But?”

He lets out a breath. “I grew up with the guy. He’s not some evil bastard, he’s just a spoiled punk. I don’t know if it’s right for me to kill him.”

I shake my head. “You don’t have to kill him; you just have to make him submit.” I look over to Chase, and he steps forward.

“Damon, I want you to stand up to Chase. Remember, he is a beta, you’re not one yet. There is no dishonor in backing down. An alpha knows when they’re outmatched; you need to know your limits.”

Damon stands up to face Chase. Chase locks his jaw and stares the kid down hard. He’s not using all of his strength, but even this power would weaken almost any wolf in my pack.

Damon lifts his head higher. After a short while, his jaw begins to quiver. He bites down, but soon lets out a breath and turns his head away. Chase relaxes and returns to his position.

“Not bad. Can you fight?” I ask.

Damon tilts his head from one side to the other. “I can hold my own, but watching you the other day…not even close.

“My dad is the best guard in our pack; he taught me everything when I was younger, but I don’t train very much. When Luna Roberts died, my dad had to work more. I’m better than Owen, no question.”

I let out a humorless chuckle. “He’s not much. What wolf would pull a knife?” I say, shaking my head.

Damon smirks. “Yeah, that was a dick move.”

I stand up in front of Damon. I want to see just how strong he is. I stare him down for a minute. He doesn’t look away. I can feel him starting to get cocky. I release my strength. The power is so strong, he sinks to his knees. I relax and step back.

“I was in complete control of myself both times we’ve met. I could easily put that pup on his knees just as I did you. In the club, I was only staring him down. He was trying to use his power against me. Do you remember?”

I reach a hand out to stand him back up.

“I remember.”

I sit back in my chair. “Training starts at 6:00 a.m. on Saturdays. You and your sister can join my guards. My father and his beta will be running tomorrow’s session. You’re welcome to come train as long as you work hard.

“The second you slack off is the second we’re finished. My father has agreed to help teach you the ins and outs of running a pack. You’ll be learning from the best; consider yourself lucky.”

I wave my hand to show Damon our wall of old books. “These will be at your disposal so long as myself or my father are in here with you.”

His eyes roam over the vast amount of information before him. I can tell Damon is taking everything seriously. He’s attentive and listening to everything I’ve told him.

I want to make sure he succeeds. Having him as an alpha would make him a good ally.

“I also want you to study your pack,” I continue. “Every member is important, regardless of rank. Learn their personalities, their strengths, their weaknesses. Know who is about to get their wolf, know who is ready to retire.”

“Know their names,” Chase pipes up with a snicker.

I look over my shoulder with a chuckle. “Fuck off asshole.” I turn back to Damon.

“I’m terrible with names, it’s a weakness I’ve always had. But Chase has no problem with them. I rely on him. He’s my beta for a reason, not just because of when he was born. He and I are a team. You know who will take the role of your beta. Learn his strengths and weaknesses as well.”

With that, I stand up. Father exits the room. Damon walks slightly ahead of me. I take Damon to the training center with Chase.

“I want to see what you’ve got. Spar with Chase, no shifting. Again, there is no dishonor in backing down when you know you’re outmatched.”

Chase stands in a relaxed position in the ring. Damon assumes a fighting stance. He looks like he’s waiting for Chase to make the first move. Chase circles, then jabs at Damon. Damon didn’t see it coming and takes the shot in the mouth.

Chase resumes his relaxed position. Damon takes the offensive. He begins to strike at Chase, but none of his blows connect. “~Chase, get him in a chokehold. I want to see if he can get out of it.~”

Chase ducks a blow and lands a punch to Damon’s side. Chase easily and smoothly gets in position behind Damon. He gets his arm around his throat and clamps down. Damon tries to squirm out but ends up passing out.

Chase lets Damon drop to the floor. “I thought he said he can hold his own.”

I shake my head. “If that’s better than the alpha pup, I really feel bad for that pack. Do they even train?” Damon begins to stir. “Get up. Try again. This time don’t wait for Chase to make the first move.”

He stands up, assuming a fighting stance. He begins throwing controlled punches and kicks. They’re powerful blows, but easily blocked. I understand where to begin teaching him.

“That’s enough. Let’s see what your wolf can do.”

Chase quickly strips and shifts into an auburn wolf, almost the same color as Kya’s. His shift is quick, smooth, and controlled. He’s in his wolf before his shirt even hits the floor.

Chase is one of the few werewolves I’ve seen that can shift from wolf to human and back in quick succession. It’s like one fluid movement.

I’ve actually seen him go between the two so fast that he’s landed a punch then snapped down on his opponent with his powerful wolf jaws. Before the guy even knew what happened. He’s taught me how to do it, but I’m not nearly as fast.

Damon’s eyes bug. “Holy shit!”

I don’t even flinch. I remain still with my arms crossed over my chest. “Are you going to shift?” Damon looks to me and nods. He has a dark brown, almost chocolate-colored wolf. He’s quite large for a young beta.

Damon is a better fighter in his wolf. He’s quick and agile. However, no one compares to Chase, except for me, of course. I can clearly tell that Chase is withholding his true fighting ability, as he should.

I let the scrimmage continue for a little while longer; I can’t tell if Damon is holding back as well. Chase pushes him more, adding a little more speed and strength to his fighting. Damon reciprocates with his own power.

“~The little fucker is holding back,~” Chase mind-links me.

I thought so. “~Get as much out of him as you can. I want to see what he's really got.~” Damon steps up his skills, but Chase hasn’t quite reached his true strength. After continuing to push, Damon reaches his limit and Chase pins him down.

“All right, that’s good for now,” I say. Damon is sweating and breathing hard when he shifts back.

Two days of training isn’t going to be enough. “Is there any way that you can be here more than just this weekend without drawing suspicion?”

Damon rubs his chin. “As long as I bring Bianca, it would be no problem. Otherwise, maybe in the middle of the night. I would have to be back before school.” I look to Chase. He shrugs his shoulders.

“I’m willing if you are,” I reply. Damon nods. “Thanks, Alpha Redd.”

Kya and Damon’s sister are asleep when we walk through the door. I can hear Kya’s little snores. I smile to myself; she’s so damned cute. I show Damon to a spare room and hand him a towel.

I shower, then lie down next to my beautiful mate, my luna.

I smell her hair and let her heavenly scent envelop me. I pull her in close and cage her delicate little body. She turns over to face me. As I place a gentle kiss to her temple, she softly hums. I close my eyes and sleep peacefully.