Chasing Forever: Jacob's Story

Training.

  I box with Saemus, trying to stay focused on him and not on Chyenne practicing her new moves with Nichola across the clearing.

 Julius walks over, smiling. "Step it up, boys. Dont just slap at each other."

  Saemus nods, putting more force into his blows, and I quickly block him, keeping focused only on him and every move he makes. When he jumps at me I step to the side, pushing him past me and sending him sprawling on the ground. Unlike the first time we fought six months ago, he moves quickly, jumping to his feet and throwing himself at me again.

 He slams into me but I throw him off, slamming him into the ground and holding him there.

  "Nice, Jacob." Julius calls from beside Chyenne, where he'd stood to watch the fight. He watches as I pull Sae up. "That was very good."

  I bow my head slightly, awkwardly accepting his praise. "Thank you, Julius."

 Nobody in the clearing is staring at me openly, but I can tell the new beta's who'd never watched an actual training session are surprised by how much force we use during training fights.

 Julius steps forward, patting my shoulder, obviously very impressed with my improvement. "Youre following my advice." He says, his eyes bright. "You aren't hesitating before your attacks."

  I nod. "I learned from the best."

 "That you did." Julius chuckles. "I don't think there's a beta your age who could beat you in a fight."

He turns to walk away, and I look back at Sae, grinning.

 
 "Why don't you fight him then, Julius?" Nichola calls innocently from next to Chyenne, who smacks her arm. "Maybe you'll be able to beat him."

 Julius grins. "I don't want to embarrass him." He jokes, winking at me over his shoulder.

 I laugh. "He means embarrass himself."

 Saemus laughs loudly as Julius turns back to me, raising his eyebrows at me. "Getting a little cocky there, aren't we Jacob?" He pretends to be stern, but his eyes are smiling.

  "I dont know, am I?" I shrug.

 
 Little bickering between Julius and I is nothing new to the betas my age, but the new ones, including Chyenne and Kelsey, gasp and grumble under their breath as though our argument is real.

  "Well lets put your words to the test Jacob." He says, pulling his shirt off and handing it to Mikaela who takes it, immediately backing away from us.

 
 Everyone circles around us as we get ready to fight, cheering on who they think is going to win. Unsurprisingly, almost nobody cheers my name except my friends who've been training with me for months.

 
Be careful, I hear Chyenne whisper through our link and I glance up, meeting her gaze. Immediately, I feel stronger and I know she's lending her strength to me.

 Julius throws himself at me, using his strength to propel himself forward, but I'm faster than he is and I step to the side, grabbing his arm and pulling him backwards, kicking his legs out from under him, making him lose his balance.

 But Julius isnt Saemus, Jake. I think to myself. He recovers from blows like this faster than Sae.
And he does, before I have a chance to move away, Julius slams his elbow into my knee and it breaks, snapping backward, as he rolls forward.

  I fall to my other knee, gasping in pain, but I keep my eyes on him, somersaulting forward, using my good knee to propel myself away from him, and spinning quickly, attacking him from behind.

 My knee is already healing, and I jump backwards as he turns, trying to get a grip on me. He growls playfully, smiling slightly, and rushes at me. Waiting until he's close enough I jump, using his shoulders to flip over him, wrapping my arm around his throat and kicking his legs out from under him as I land. "You lose." I whisper, letting go and stepping back.

 He stands, slightly winded, and the clearing is silent for a few moments as everyone, including me, watches in shock as he bows respectfully, a sign that he acknowledges I won.

  Suddenly cheers erupt from my friends, and Saemus high fives me.

  "Nice one Jake!" "Good one Jacob!" The praise is shouted from all around me and I blush, nodding in thanks, searching the clearing for the one face I really want to see.

Chyenne stands off to the side, talking to an increasingly agitated-looking Kaela. I walk over slowly, trying to catch Kae's gaze, but Chyenne turns away from her and, when she notices me walking over, runs up to me to me, throwing herself at me. I catch her noticing her rapid heartbeat and wondering whats the matter.

 "Are you okay, love?" I say, looking over her shoulder at Mikaela who stomps over to her mate, looking annoyed.

 She nods. "Jacob, are you still coming to the lake with us?"

 I smile at her enthusiasm. "Lets go, love."