Little Red

Chapter 16

The next day, Samuel collects me bright and early.  I insist on doing my warm up (much to his dislike) because now I'm even more behind than before.  He's silent as he trudges alongside me.  

After 10 miles, he informs me that today we're doing something different.  Instead of taking me out to the training field, he leads me down a new path, and brings me inside a two story stone building.  Despite my questions, he doesn't reveal his secret until we're inside and I realize that it's an indoor training facility.  Or should I say mansion?  Every piece of equipment you could possibly think of sits here - in pristine condition.  There's machines I'm familiar with, some I vaguely recognize, and others are completely new to me.  But what immediately catches my eye is the far back wall.  Noticing my heightened interest, he leads me over.  

"What's this?" I ask, looking around.  There are targets along the wall and the black panels beside us hold various weapons.

"This is where you'll be training today."  He states.  After a moment, he continues, "Truthfully, you're not even supposed to be training, but I disagreed with that, so here we are."  He finishes, scratching the back of his neck. 

I immediately know what he means.  

So, Mr. Big, Bad Alpha thinks he can punish me now?

The thought alone makes my temperature rise, but I beat it back.  I can't let him get to me like that, not anymore.

"Wait, you're not following orders?"  I ask incredulously.

He turns to me with a smirk.  

"It wasn't an Alpha Command, so I'm not obligated to obey." 

Who is this and what has he done with the real Samuel?

Taking in my bewildered expression, he laughs. 

"You know, most people would say thank you and move on, not stare at me like I've grown a second head."  He muses, running a hand over a very sharp looking blade on the wall.

I shake my head, snapping out of it.

"Right.  Thanks.  Where should we start?" I ask, turning to survey the room with a new sense of excitement.

"I took the liberty of stocking this area with your usual weapons, but I also added a few more I think you would be interested in trying out."  He informs me, following my gaze to the weapons wall.

"Samuel, this is...I don't even have words."  I admit, looking at all the weapons along the wall.

When did he even do all of this?  And why?

"Oh, and for my own sake, they're not pure silver, just an alloy."  He finishes, coming to stand beside me.

I nod, more than aware how painful that would be.  If I were to actually nick him, that is.

"However, if you take a liking to any of these, I can get the real deal for you."

Okay, now this is getting weird.  He's being nicer to me today than I imagined he ever would be.  But his words from yesterday play through my mind.  It's nice having an ally.

"Besides, if you plan on fighting every wolf in Dark Night, you're going to need a lot more than two daggers."  His tone is casual, but he wears a mischievous smirk as he says it.

"Now you're talking."  I say with a grin, unclasping my cloak and draping it over a piece of sleek black equipment nearby.

First, he turns my attention to the various weapons.  He takes a few minutes to sum up what the unfamiliar ones do.  I'm pleased to realize that I've already seen and handled the majority of them.  The one that sparks my interest the most is a metal staff.  It's a long, thick bar of silver alloy all the way down. There is no where a wolf can touch it that will not harm them, making it the perfect weapon for me.