"We can't sit back and wait for them to make the first move," I start, darkly looking around at my pack. We've all gathered in Sarah and the twins' appartment, nearest to the hospital. "But, as of right now, we are in no position to launch an attack, we need to start training."
"Training?" Andew asks skeptivly.
"Yes, it is vital that we are at the top of our game of this battle and that means learing new movies and fine-tuning our skills," I reply, talking to the whole group. "Damien and Tanner, you are our best fighters so you'll work together to put together a crash corse with some major moves you can help teach the rest of the pack." The two nod in understanding. "Danny and Jaona, you're the best at stelth so I want you two to think of some tips and tricks to share with the resf of us." The girls exchange a look and then Danny gives me a nod. "Eric, you're the best tracker so if you have any advice that's be great but if not you be put to work elswhere, don't worry about it." Eric gives me a smile.
"What abou me?" Andrew asks eagerly, sitting up in his seat. I can't think of any skill Andrew stands out in so I hesitate a moment, thinking.
Just in time there's a knock at the door. Sarah immedatly jumps up to answer it she leaves through the living room door and slips out of view. Eric lets out a low growl and I turn to him, only a few seats away from me.
"There's an enemy pack member," he explains in a low voice and everyone is suddednly on edge. I get to my feet to stop Sarah from answering the door but by the time I reach the living room doorway she's opend the door already. I take a quick step forward, intent on saving her from whatever's on the other side when a girl jumps on her, hugging her. I stop dead in my tracks watching, the two girls slowly realize I'm there and quickly pull away.
"Choose your words very carfully," I warn Sarah, looking from her to the girl. Something about her short hair and stature seem familiar.
"This is Brooke... she's my mate," Sarah says in a weak voice. Brooke. The name is farmiliar too. "I noticed her scent that day we found the note and we met one time when I was on patrol."
I stand in shocked silence a long moment, thinking. "You're from different packs," I state the obvious, "you cannot remain together if our packs are going to go to war."
"I don't want to stay in my pack," Brooke speaks up and I recognize her voice too, but I can't place the memory. "Our alpha is a joke and is a total doormat to this other guys who's just showed up, Drake, or whatever. I'll be loyal to your pack, I promise, I just want to be with Sarah." She pleads with me, gripping anxiously to Sarah's arm. "I can be a spy for you too!"
"We need every andvantage we can get," I turn when I hear Danny's voice behind me and find the whole pack is standing in the doorway behind me.
"I belive her," Joana agrees, leaning on her sisters shoulder. There's a general grumble of consensus throughout the group.
I make eye contact with Tanner and I can feel that he would have done the same for me and this isn't unsual for people to change their allegiances for their mates. I can only hope I'm not being played.
"Cade—Alpha Cade," I turn back around to face Brooke, "do you remeber me from when you came to rescue your mate?" The memory floods back suddenly, she was the guard who let me in without the slightest resistance.
"That human wasn't his mate," Tanner growles and I throw a look over my shoulder, not appreciating the distain in his voice. Brooke says 'oh' in a quiet voice, eye dropping to the floor.
"Anyway, I do remember you," I tell her and she brightens, "thank you for that, and I suppose that is reason enough to trust you, for now." I pause a moment, thinking. "Everyone get your things, we're going to the forest."
We spend the next few long hours in the southern part of the forest, close enough to the rivaling border to keep an eye on it but not close enough for them to notice our training. I practice hand-to-hand with Eric, and, as I won't be able to shift in the battle, I practice fighting Tanner while he's in wolf form. We go through stealth drills, and lean techniques on fighting more than one opponent at a time. I find that Brooke has some great insight on our opponent's strategy. We make significant progress but I'm still wishing we had more time as we head back into town together for dinner.
"The hospital hasn't called at all," I mumble to Tanner, looking at my phone, as we walk down the sidewalk behind the rest of the pack, "do you think I should go visit to make sure his condition hasn't changed?"
"No," Tanner shakes his head and I look away from the lack of missed calls on my phone to his face, "you need to relax a little. The hospital will call you if anything changes. That nurse you harassed before we left will make sure of that. Just enjoy dinner and then we can go check on him."
I sigh, putting my phone back into my pocket. I know he's right but I can't stop worrying. I watch my pack walking ahead of us. Danny and Eric are in the front, with Joana and Andrew right behind them. Eric is boasting loudly to the other three about something that Danny finds very entertaining. Damion is following them with only a mild interest in the conversation. Sarah and Brooke are behind him, with their arms wrapped around each other's waists, they're talking softly with their heads pressed together. I look over at my mate, walking beside me. His eyes are far away, remembering something and his lips are turned up slightly--it must be a good something. He notices I'm staring after a moment and winks at me.
"Enjoying the view?" he grins, wiggling his eyebrows. Even though he's making a joke of it, I really am. The grown out stubble on his cheeks, the curve of his bottom lip, the bridge of his nose, every feature of his face seems so perfect. I take a long moment as we walk to appreciate his blue--almost gray--eyes.
He slows to a stop as we walk, his expression changing into concern, he opens his mouth probably to ask if everything's alright so I speak first. "You're so beautiful." His mouth closes abruptly and he stands still a moment, trying to find a response. I raise my hand to his face, running my thumb along his cheek bone and curling the rest of my fingers along the contours of his jaw. I lean in and his lips welcome mine to his. I hold him there for a few long seconds but brake away before the pack can noticed we've fallen behind.
Tanner doesn't like that I pulled away and takes a step forward to find my lips again. I keep taking steps back until my pack reaches the wall of a building and he's got me cornered. I put my hands on his chest to push him away but he's wearing a shirt for a change and it's so soft I end up curling my fingers in the fabric instead.
"Jesus you two!" I hear Eric laugh loudly and I know everyone has noticed our absence by now but Tanner still hesitates a few seconds longer before he pulls away and we look at the seven sets of eyes watching us.
"Sorry, were we bothering you?" Tanner asks sarcastically, laughing as he turns to face the group.
"Yeah, Eric, since when did you become such a prude?" I casually fix my jacket hoping my embarrassment doesn't show on my cheeks.
"What-ever, you two. I just thought you'd like to know we're here," he gestures to the glass front of the building next to him. The sign reads Shelly's Diner and hangs over the door, swaying in a breeze I hadn't noticed.
"Oh," I all a manage to get out before the rest of them turn to walk into the diner. I glance over at Tanner who is smirking at me.
"You're beautiful too," he grins. I'm pretty sure he's mocking me but I take the compliment anyway. I take his hand and lead him inside after the rest of the pack.
YOU ARE READING
The Alpha's Choice
Werewolf(Previously titled Well I Don't Give a Shit) Alpha's have a lot of responsibility. They have to make big decisions for their packs, but sometimes those choices are made for them. A decision was made for me, and I couldn't go against it, even if I wa...
