Theo’s knees were already caked in mud by the time the pups gathered in the open field just beyond the packhouse. The rain from the morning had softened the ground, making it squish and stick with every step. He glanced at Liam, who stood with his arms crossed and his usual serious expression.
“This is going to be a mess,” Theo muttered, kicking at a clump of mud.
Liam’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “It’s supposed to be. That’s the point.”
Theo rolled his eyes. He didn’t understand how Liam could get excited about these exercises, especially when they involved spending hours outside in the muck. But if Liam was in charge—and he usually was—then Theo figured he might as well play along.
“All right, pups!” barked Corin, the warrior in charge of today’s exercise. “Listen up!”
The group of seven- and eight-year-olds fell quiet, their chatter replaced by nervous anticipation. Corin stood in the middle of the field, his boots sinking slightly into the mud as he paced.
“Today, we’re working on basic tracking,” Corin explained. “There’s a flag hidden somewhere in the woods. Your job is to find it. The first team to bring it back wins.”
The pups exchanged glances, some grinning while others looked more apprehensive. Theo glanced at Liam, who was already narrowing his eyes like he was planning a war strategy.
“Liam,” Corin said, pointing at him. “You’ll lead one team. Aaron, you’ll lead the other.”
Theo groaned under his breath. Of course Aaron had to be here. The older boy was taller than most of the pups and acted like he already owned the pack. Theo didn’t like him, and the feeling was mutual.
“You’ve got five minutes to split into teams and get moving,” Corin continued. “Work together. No fighting. And for the love of the moon, don’t get lost.”
The pups scattered, clumping together into two groups. Theo stuck close to Liam, who was already organizing his team with the calm authority that came so naturally to him.
“Stay low and stay quiet,” Liam said, his voice steady but firm. “Aaron’s team is bigger, but that just means they’ll make more noise. We’ll use that to our advantage.”
Theo grinned. “You’ve been thinking about this, haven’t you?”
“Always,” Liam replied, smirking.
The woods were cool and damp, the smell of wet leaves heavy in the air. Theo stayed close to Liam as their team moved through the trees, their footsteps muffled by the soft ground. The older pups had been given wooden sticks to use as markers, but Theo’s stick felt awkward and heavy in his hand. He was more focused on not tripping over roots than on using it for anything useful.
“Do you see anything?” Liam whispered, glancing over his shoulder.
Theo shook his head. “Not yet.”
The group pressed on, their movements careful and deliberate. Theo couldn’t help but feel a thrill of excitement as they crept through the forest. Even though it was just a game, it felt important—like they were real hunters on the trail of something big.
“Wait,” Liam said suddenly, holding up a hand.
The group froze. Theo squinted, following Liam’s gaze. In the distance, he could just make out a faint splash of color—a piece of red fabric tied to the branch of a tree.
“That’s it!” one of the pups whispered.
Liam nodded, motioning for everyone to stay low. “Theo, go around to the left. I’ll take the right. Everyone else, stay back and wait for my signal.”
Theo didn’t need to be told twice. He darted off, keeping close to the ground as he circled the clearing. His heart was pounding in his chest, his breath coming in quick bursts. When he reached his position, he glanced at Liam, who raised his hand in a signal.
Theo grinned and crept closer to the tree. The flag was just a few feet away now, its bright color standing out against the green and brown of the forest. He reached out, his fingers brushing the fabric—
“Hey!” a voice shouted.
Theo spun around to see Aaron and two of his teammates charging toward him. His heart sank. He had been so focused on the flag that he hadn’t even noticed them.
“Run!” Liam shouted from the other side of the clearing.
Theo didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the flag and bolted, his legs pumping as fast as they could. The muddy ground slowed him down, but he didn’t dare stop. He could hear Aaron shouting behind him, his voice angry and mocking.
“You’re not getting away, stray!” Aaron yelled.
Theo’s chest tightened, but he kept running. He could hear Liam’s footsteps behind him, steady and strong. Within seconds, Liam was at his side, his expression fierce.
“Keep going!” Liam said, glancing over his shoulder.
Theo didn’t argue. He pushed himself harder, the flag clutched tightly in his hand. When they finally broke through the tree line and into the field, Corin was waiting, his arms crossed.
“Well done,” Corin said as Theo skidded to a stop, panting. “You got the flag.”
Theo grinned, holding it up triumphantly. His teammates cheered as they caught up, their earlier nervousness replaced by excitement. But Aaron and his group weren’t far behind, and the scowl on Aaron’s face was enough to sour the victory.
“You cheated,” Aaron snapped, pointing at Theo. “There’s no way he could’ve gotten that flag on his own.”
“I didn’t cheat,” Theo said, his grin fading. “I just outsmarted you.”
Aaron’s face turned red, but before he could respond, Corin stepped between them. “That’s enough,” he said sharply. “This was a team exercise, and Liam’s team won. If you’ve got a problem with that, take it up with me.”
Aaron muttered something under his breath but didn’t argue further. He stalked off, his teammates following reluctantly.
Liam clapped Theo on the shoulder, his grin returning. “You were amazing out there.”
Theo laughed, the tension melting away. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Of course not,” Liam said, smirking. “That’s why we’re a team.”
YOU ARE READING
The Alpha's Bond
Hombres Lobo(This book is already complete. I will publish 5 episodes a day until it's finished, this is a long book.) Liam has always known his destiny: to become the King of Werewolves, unite the packs, and secure peace for the kingdoms. But when a strange pr...
