The Heart of the Shadow

4. The Situation

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Ryka's POV
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   "Louis, go find Ray and spar with him, while I deal with a pest." 

   "Yes, Ryka." He runs off, and I calmly walk over to the teen sitting on the ground.

   "What do you think you're doing?" He scoffs.

   "What does it look like? Are you really that stupid?" I growl loudly.

   "You will not disrespect me."

   "I will do what I want. You're younger than me anyways, so it doesn't matter. It's not like you can do anything. All you're gonna do is call you daddy to come fix your problem. You're just a whiny bitch that can't even fight. I bet I could take you right now."

   "Get up, lets go, right now. Fight me, pup." He bolts up as I call him pup.

   "If anything you're the pup, I'm four years older than you."

   "Then show me you're not just a whiny baby that picks on younger ones. Cmon, lets go, fight me." He charges at me and I sidestep him.

   "I'll get you back for that." He tries to punch my face but I grab his fist and flip him over.

   "Get up." He pushes off the ground, only for me to kick him back down again. "I thought I told you to get up. You think you're better than me and you can't even stand up." I chuckle as he growls. He sends a roundhouse to my stomach. I catch his ankle and throw him to the ground.

   "This isn't fair."

   "Yes it is, you willingly challenged me. Either get back up, or submit."

   "I'll never submit to the likes of you." I growl and he whimpers. His wolf is fighting his human to submit.

   "Submit. Now." He doesn't move so I grab him by his neck and take him to the circle in the center of the grounds.

"Alpha, I need you to deal with a pest. He will be at the Pack House in about ten minutes." I link.

   "Let go of me!" I throw the pup on the ground.

   "Submit." Scarlett completely takes over. The pup finally bares his neck. I take control back before Scarlett does something crazy. "Alpha is waiting for you at the Pack House." He scrambles up and runs away. I look around to see all the Warriors watching me. "That is what happens when you disrespect me! Next time it will be much worse! Get back to work!"

   "Ryka?" I turn around to see Ray and Louis.

   "Yes?"

   "Can we spar now?" Louis asks.

   "Yes we can. What have you learned so far?" I take his hand a lead him over to a mat instead of a dirt circle.

   "Not very much."

   "Get in your fighting stance." He barely spreads his feet and crouches really low.

   "Is this right?" I chuckle.

   "No,  spread your feet more, hands up higher, crouch less, and lift your head. Better, now hit me." He throws a right hook and I catch it. I position his fingers in the right place and release his hand. "Thumb goes on the outside, always, hit me again." He throws a better punch this time, and I actually let it hit me. I barely feel the small fist pushing into my stomach.

   "Ow, that hurts. Is your stomach made of rocks?" I lift my shirt to show off my abs, a whistle sounds to my left.

"Y'know, most males don't like girls to have abs. Personally, I think it's quite hot." I turn to see Ray walking towards me. He's an 18 year old that normally helps me with the pups. His shirt is off, which showcases all of his tattoos. Honestly, he's extremely hot, but I would never tell him that.

"I'm trying to teach here Ray." I sigh as he surveys Louis.

"You've set his stance wrong. Louis, lower your hands a little bit and crouch less. There you go, now you're ready." Ray pats my back as he walks away.

"Thanks Ray."

"You're welcome Ryka."

"Okay, back to training. Punch me again, give it all you've got." His hit is a little stronger this attempt. "Kick me this time." He falls onto his butt as his leg lifts to attack my side.

"I can't do it." He pouts. I hold my hand out and help pull him off the ground.

"Concentrate your weight on your left foot, keep your body in line, focus on hitting your target, not on using all your power." He pauses a moment to focus before kicking. The force of his hit slightly knocks the breath out of me.

"I did it!"

"Yes! That was so good!" We fist bump and he starts jumping around.

"I can't believe it!"

"I think we're done with your training today. Go home and practice what you learned. Show your parents how strong you're getting."

"I-I don't have parents." He hangs his head in shame.

   "Cmon buddy, lets go have a talk with someone." I grab his hand and lead him to the Pack House.

   "I've got a situation with Louis, can you handle the Warriors?" I link Ray.

  "Yeah, I'm fine, you go help Louis." He responds.

   "Where are we going?" Louis asks.

   "To my house." As soon as we get to Alpha Manor, I lead him to my mother, who is in the kitchen cooking lunch.

   "Well, who is the little munchkin?" She asks. Crouching down to hug him as he tries to shy away.

   "Mother, this is Louis. I met him at Warrior training this morning. He's eight years old and just shifted last week. I have something very important to talk to you about, pertaining to him."

   "Okay, What is it you want to talk about?" She rises and dusts her flour covered hands on her apron.

   "I want us to adopt Louis, he doesn't have parents and lives in the Pack Orphanage."

   "I'll have to talk about it with your father."

   "What do we have to talk about with me?" Father walks in and tries to snatch a cookie off the rack. Mother smacks his hand with a spoon, and glares at him.

   "Luke, no cookies. Ryka wants us to adopt Louis."

"I'll say yes, but only if I can have a cookie now."

"Fine, eat the cookie Luke. We will go to the Orphanage after lunch. Ryka, set up the room next to yours, for Louis." I hoist Lucas onto my back and run up the stairs to my room. I deposit him on my bed and rummage through my closet for my old toys and things. When I find the box I carry it to the room next door. Louis picks up some toy cars that fall out of the box. The room used to be Kaidens, so it already mostly suits Louis, we just have to add a few toys and a get him new clothes.

"Is this my room?" His wide eyes search the room.

"Yes, my room is on your left and Kaidens is in front of it."

"I'm so happy! Thank you so much Ryka!"

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Sup Shadows! Almost to 50 reads! I know that's not a lot to some people but the fact that I even have ten is amazing. I've been writing this book for two years and it's finally able to be read. Even if I don't have a lot, that's for all the support! It means so much!
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