Dieter's Prize

Eleven

Dieter's POV

I pride myself on having one of the strongest packs there is. But today, while I'm watching these sparing matches, it is not showing.

It seems as though some of my members are not taking training as seriously as they should. Or at least that was what was reported to me. I don't usually observe training, trusting that the men I have put in charge have it under control. But seeing as enrollment for Sparing training dropped another two percent I needed to see for myself what could be going wrong.

I walked around the sparing courts outside and I watched. I could feel the nerves of the wolves through the pack link, but I didn't care. I needed to see why there was such low morale.

Viktor and Tristan walked beside me as I watched. One fight in particular caught my attention. It was a younger guy. Looked to be about 21 years old. Fighting against a younger boy, who looked like he was 15. Which I found strange seeing that there are rules in place.

One of them is, that kids fight kids, and adults fight adults.

"Stop." I used my alpha voice and it carried to their ears. They immediately pulled away from each other and turned my way. The kid looked unphased, but the older one, his face went pale. Which only meant one thing.

"Names."

"Johnny." The younger kid spoke with a smile on his face.

"Turner." His eyes tried to look everywhere, but my dominance was rolling off of me, to where he couldn't.

"Who's idea was it to spar?" I kept my voice steady, even though I was searing with anger. I was very strict with how I ran my pack and with the rules we held. It sets a standard, breaks those rules, and the standard breaks as well. And I can't have that.

"Oh, it was Turner's. He said I was doing good with my age group and wanted to see if I could beat him." The poor kid had no idea just how wrong it was. And he wouldn't. Most rules you find out once they turn 18. They are mature enough to understand and follow them fully.

"How old are you?"

"Oh, I'm fourteen, Alpha." His smile never faltered, he stood with confidence. He was younger than I suspected, but he was strong. I would have to keep an eye on him as he got older.

"Thank you, Johnny. Please go back to your age group."

"Of course, Alpha." He gave me one last look and he was headed down the sparing courts to where the children congregate.

Turner's nerves were hitting me left and right. His skin was void of any color, and his breathing was heavy with anticipation.

"You broke my rule." My voice was stern and authoritative. Silence fell around us as other pack members watched the exchange.

"Alpha--"

"I did not say you may speak." I boomed toward him. Turner quieted himself immediately and barred his neck to me in submission. I took a deep breath and I rolled my neck to crack it. Viktor and Tristan knew what that meant. "You know your punishment for rule-breaking. Two nights in the cells." I sighed and looked longer at the kid.

"Put your shirt on. There is no explanation you could give to me that would excuse your behavior. Two nights, plus extra patrol shifts once you are out. Understood?"

"Yes, Alpha." He turned and put his shirt on swiftly as Viktor walked forward and grabbed his arm.

"Do you have a mate I should inform?"

"No, no mate." He stuttered out, sadness in his words. I nodded and motioned for Viktor to take him away.

I turned my gaze to those who stopped training and had decided to watch. "I suggest minding your business before I pick which one of you is next."