The Full Moon Effect

Chapter 12: Lunabilities

be the moon

and inspire people

even when you're fall from full

k.tolnoe

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"Not bad, Alma. Next time, use the strength of your legs. In this position, all your power comes from here," I gestured to my own quads and hamstrings. "No matter the strength you've developed in your arms, if you're not engaging the rest of your muscles here, your strength will fail you. Try it again."

"Oh, so that's what Alpha Jones meant!"

I nodded encouragingly, recalling their conversation over dinner the night before.

Training with Alma was easy. Anytime she became frustrated, I'd remind her of something Jones said or how she could tell him his advice was put to good use. Her admiration for Jones not only gave me cause to tease my mate, but continued opening my eyes to the positive impact Jones had on his people. They didn't live in fear of him or saying or doing the wrong thing, yet they also knew that there were repercussions for their actions. Jones was truly the balance between his last two Alpha's leadership.

As I maneuvered around the group of young girls who were paired off with combat partners, I made note of which were progressing, struggling to keep up, or in need of correction.

All the girls were very respectful and glowed when I gave them praise, but I found myself strangely missing Drea's sarcastic comebacks.

I voiced this to Jones, who appeared towards the end of training.

He shook his head, his lips tilting up. "You're upset your pack isn't mouthing off to you? You're something else, little mate."

I shrugged. "I wouldn't call it mouthing off. But sometimes when people push the boundaries with you just a little, you know you have their confidence."

"Is that what you're teaching them instead of combat?" He tsked.

"I can show you firsthand what I'm teaching them if you want a go," I said, my direct eye contact and coy smile making him grin.

"I'm not sure that'd be appropriate in front of these girls."

I rolled my eyes, sinking into a fighting stance. Amused, Jones did the same. We circled each other for a bit, trying to keep smiles off of our faces. The girls had long since forgotten their own tasks and had stilled, watching us excitedly.

Since Jones's admittance of his own feelings of uselessness, he had proved himself more useful than ever. Instead of hiding out in his office, worrying about things he had no control over, he'd dived into training his men and reorganizing border patrols to accommodate the new wolves from the merge, all the while settling minor pack member disputes. He was incredible at it all, and the only thing that suffered was his sleep.

If I had waited for him to come to bed, I would've waited until the sun began lightening the sky. I hesitated asking him about it because he's a grown man. If he wanted to talk to me about it, he would. And the fact that he left our bed every night to sit up on the roof was enough of a sign for me that he wanted to be alone to think. As much as I want to be there for him, I reminded myself that he needed to be there for himself too.

The closest I had come to confronting him about his terrible sleep habits was when I asked, 'How is it you always seem refreshed, no matter how little sleep you get?' He had gazed at me only for a second before his lips turned up. 'Because I drink coffee, not tea.' And though it seemed he brushed me off in the moment, he stayed in bed all night, paying special attention to me.