The Alpha's Claim

17

"Look who decided to show up," Daniel mused. The guards looked my way. I shook off their gaze. I wasn't late, but I wasn't as early as I should have been. My brain was still buzzing from Damien's visit. There were about twenty of them there to train. Gregg, the blonde girl, and many others. They all turned to watch me skeptically.

"Run?" I asked.

Daniel shook his head. "No. Today, we fight. Pair up!"

Everyone found someone to spar with. Gregg was one of the last ones, so he stepped up and stood beside me. "Naomi," he said solemnly.

We stood across from one another until Daniel blew the whistle. Gregg immediately lashed out and smacked me against the temple. I tried to grab his arm as he retracted but froze. I took a deep breath and punched out, hoping to make contact. Gregg easily ducked out of the way. This old man was beating me. He let me throw a few more punches before lashing out. My mind told me to move, but I was frozen in panic. His fist landed heavily against my jaw, throwing me on the ground. "Naomi!" Daniel shouted.

Gregg helped me up and I felt my jaw. It wasn't that bad, just painful for now. I jogged over to Daniel.

"Why were you on the ground?"

"I'm sorry," I mumbled.

After a few minutes, every finished. "Again!" Daniel called.

Gregg let me attack him for a few minutes until I was out of breath. Then, he kicked out with his leg and swept my feet from under me. I landed heavily and pulled myself back up. He stared at me. "Keep going?" he asked. I nodded. I punched out, taking what I saw my own pack at home do and trying to copy it. Gregg blocked a few and I was surprised that a blow to his stomach landed. I froze, scared that I had hurt the man. In retaliation, he kicked out.

Don't move.

When the kick landed against my chest, I realized that moving was exactly what I was supposed to be doing. My self-dialogue was literally getting me punched.

Daniel's face loomed over mine and I groaned. "Naomi, stay after," he commanded.

I nodded. After another hour of sparring, we finished with time in the weight room. As everyone left, I made my way to Daniel. I was hot and sweaty.

"Why do you not move?" he asked.

"I'm sorry," I said. I turned to leave.

Daniel grabbed my arm and pulled me back. "Serious question." He raised his hand high, and I flinched, expecting him to hit me. He sighed and lowered his hand. My face blushed in shame. "You flinch when you think you're about to be hit. And you freeze when you are hit. Why?"

I licked my lips nervously.

Memories of Jody flooded my brain. I knew if I stood still, the pain would be less.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled finally. "I'll get better."

Daniel rolled his eyes. "I'll see you this afternoon." I nodded and dipped off.

Over the next few weeks, I improved slowly. Gregg could still beat me, but he had to break a sweat to do so. In three weeks, Damien would be coming back, so I set my mind to beating Gregg once before Damien came.

My freezing greatly improved. My flinching actually came in handy as long as I kept my eyes open, I found. My instincts on avoiding pain were on point. Once I knew it was inevitable, I still froze every once and a while. I could beat it. I went on long flights whenever I could. It calmed my mind and built my stamina.

Berry, as always, seemed to be thriving. The pack loved her. Slowly, some of their affection overflowed as acceptance to me. Gregg was the only one who would sit next to me, but I heard less people whispering about the "vulture." I might begin earning my keep.

I would have thought that Berry was thriving if I didn't hear her crying at night. Sometimes she was awake. Other times, she had nightmares. All of them were about Eric.

One morning, she tearfully looked at me and confessed. "I think I'm pregnant," she said.

"What?"

She smiled as tears flowed down her face. "Mate relationships progress really fast. We kept it a secret because we knew Damien wouldn't approve. My dad officiated the wedding and my heat started that night. I marked Eric and he marked me back... I figured there wouldn't be a problem. But I was wrong."

I sat down next to her and took her hand. "Hey," I said softly. "This is not a problem. We have three weeks. It'll pass like lightning. I'm here for you."

Her tear-streaked eyes met mine. "But what if something happens to him?" she asked. Worry was etched over her whole face. "What if... what is he dies?" she asked. She sobbed. "What if he dies and... I'm not there?" she asked. I pulled her in to a deep hug.

I unfolded my wings and used them to encase us in a soft golden light. "Berry," I said softly. She hiccupped. "Berry, he will be okay." Berry wept in my arms, clinging on to me as if I were a lifeboat in the middle of an ocean. My heart ached for her.

Finally, she pulled back and I folded my wings. She gave a soft smile. "Werewolves don't show until the second month, so I guess I have to wait."

"What makes you think your pregnant?" I asked.

She shrugged. "I'm late. Considerably."

"There's got to be a pregnancy test in the clinic," I reasoned. "You can find out for sure."

She shook her head. "No tests there. The clinic is woefully under-resourced. Amy was telling me that they've been using what they could since the alpha turned."

"They haven't gotten new supplies?" I asked, incredulously. Berry shook her head.

"Crazy, right?"

I nodded. Suddenly, I got an idea.

"What supplies do you need? The clinic, I mean? I can see if Damien can bring some."

A glimmer of hope rustled in Berry's eyes. "Really? I mean even if we just got a bunch of OTC stuff." She saw my confusion. "Over the counter. Basic medicine. Stuff on the shelves at stores."

"Yeah, just get me a list," I said casually. "I'll make sure we get a pregnancy test as well."

Berry pulled me in for a hug. "Thank you, Naomi. Thank you."

I nodded. I didn't know what I had just signed myself up for, but if it was for Berry, I was going to do whatever I could. I owed her so much. This was the least I could do.