DAY SEVEN

A week later, Caesar and Lewis had completed their one week training with swapped captains. It was the last day they'd spend in swapped bases, day seven. A day to both celebrate and say goodnight.

Squad II decided to throw a party in honour of Caesar whom they had gotten very friendly with. Before the sun was up, they had already started preparing a feast. They'd eat and drink from dawn to dusk if they could.

It was different for Lewis in Squad I. Captain Alexander had breakfast prepared for him and Juliet. They both sat together, enjoying their meal.

"Isn't this amazing?" Juliet asked.

"It really is, I still can't believe the captain set this up for us."

"Me too. He's always so stern and all about discipline."

"I know right? When he caught us kissing, I could have sworn he was going to take my head," Lewis chuckled. "Only to hear him say he was not going to stop us if we were in love. Even more surprising, when I told him I wanted him to discharge you from military service because I want to get married to you, he promised he would if I secure victory for our pack at The Hunt. Who knew things would turn out this way?"

"He was never this way. I think, somehow, you've changed him."

"Well, you changed me so you're the hero."

"You're welcome," Juliet said with a smug smile.

Lewis laughed in response and she soon joined him.

"I sure will miss you," Juliet said now with a poker face, but was betrayed by her teary eye.

Lewis was uncertain if the tear was the aftermath of the hard laughter they had just shared or out of sadness but he reached out from across the table and held her hands. "It'll only be three weeks more before the Hunt and after my victory at the Hunt, I'll be right back for you."

"You don't know that."

"Know what?"

"You don't know if you'll win or not. What if you get to Hunt and lose miserably? Then Captain Alexander forbids me from seeing you, what then?"

Lewis sighed. "I'm definitely going to win and I'm not talking out of my ass this time like when I said I'd defeat Captain Alexander."

"How can you be so certain?"

"For one reason. I'm certain none of the other players have a better reason than I do to win. I believe life bestows opportunities and benefits to those who are in need of it the most as long as they work for it. Of course they're also people with opportunities and favours they didn't work for, but that's not the point."

"C'mon, you know that's not true. They're a lot of unfortunate people wallowing in poverty and misery despite their efforts. Where's life for them?"

"They're sacrifices."

"What?"

"They're sacrifices. Examples made out of lives to show us the goodness and importance of ours and teach us to be thankful. Besides, true or not, it's been working for me. For example, I have the honourable opportunity to represent my pack in the Hunt. Every player in the Hunt is a soldier recognised and acknowledged by their Alpha. Victory or not, they represent the strength and growth of the next generation. And of course, I didn't get here without work."

"Seems like a flimsy reason to be assured of victory but I'll believe you."

"Let's have a bet then."

"A bet?"

"A bet," Lewis repeated.

"What about?"

"Since I've been here, seven days in all, you've worn nothing but pants every single day and not just any pants, cargo pants. Even when you're not in your uniforms. It's like you've got a whole closet of a hundred different cargo pants.

"What's wrong with that?"

"There's nothing interesting about it. Do you know how frustrating it is that I cannot even get a peek of your legs? Don't you even have skirts or dresses?"

"Of course not, I'm a soldier. It's only natural that I'd put on pants at all times except bedtime. Besides, it'd be too embarrassing to walk around in a silly skirt or dress. What's that got to do with the bet?"

"When I come back victorious from the Hunt and take you away from here, you'll have to stay away from pants for a whole month. Just silly skirts and dresses, preferably short ones. Of course, lingerie are accepted too."

"I had no idea you were such a pervert."

"We'll be getting married anyway. I might as well start enjoying the privileges ."

"In that case, I also have something to wager on."

"You do?"

"Absolutely. After all, a bet is not complete without a wager on both sides. If you lose at the Hunt, your next option will be to transfer to my base so we can be together. Is that right?"

"Yes, why?"

"If your transfer is approved, and that's a big if, and we turn out to be in the same base, I wont let you get intimate with me for a whole month, assuming we get the chance to, here in the base. If we don't, I'll just take it out off when we're on leave."

To Emiliana's surprise, Lewis burst into a loud and mocking laughter. "First of all, bold of you to think we may get the chance to do such a thing here at Captain Alexander's base. You'll have to transfer to my base for that to happen. But even if we do, I don't care. You really think I have some kinda high sex drive or what? I have no doubt you'll be the one who wants to get intimate with me in the nearest future."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"I hope you can still say this when your urges start to kick in."

"You don't have to worry about that. I can keep my urges in check. It's just too bad I won't get to watch you break because I'll be winning the bet anyway."

"Oh we'll see, we'll see."

"What do we today?" Lewis asked, changing the subject.

"You mean the rest of today?"

"Yes. We can't sit around eating all day."

"You have a point," she said and paused to think.

After seeing her that way for a little while, he said, "You know what? Forget I asked. We're just going to enjoy the company of each other the whole day."

"Agreed."

With the help of Caesar, Squad II put together a variety of dishes and held a huge feast but it was until noon that everything was ready. Unlike the last time they had a party after Caesar's match with Captain Albrecht, they didn't sit outside this time. It was noon and the sun was blazing hot. They occupied the lobby instead, where they joined two tables together and filled it with various meals. It was a buffet. Of course, liquor was present and as they ate, they conversed.

"Mate, you really are a good cook," Jock said with his mouth full.

"I do my best," Caesar replied.

"C'mon, you're just being modest. Your cooking is really good and it's nostalgic. Where did you learn? You cook in your base or something?"

"No, not at all. Before I joined the military, I was often in the kitchen with my mother who runs a restaurant. I helped her for five years until I joined the military. Her restaurant is somewhere in town with the name Furry Bites."

Packs have residential areas where it's civilians and regular inhabitants reside. However, there are also packs that only breed warriors. Every single person down to the children are fighters one way or the other. The entire werewolf society uses gold coins to trade and the system of slave trade was in place.

"Really?! Your mom owns that place? It's very famous in the residential district. I used to eat there a lot too. Has the best food I've ever tasted," Jock said.

"Wow!"

"Yeah, good old times. What about your dad?"

"He's a traveller. Last time I saw him was when I was twenty, been six years ever since."

"Must be hard on your mother."

"Hmm, she manages. Plus business keeps her busy, helps take her mind off it."

"Do you think he's still alive?"

"I don't really care honestly. My mom thinks he is though."

Well then, for the sake of that lovely woman, I hope he's really safe.

"You seem to really know my mother well."

"I wouldn't say I really know her but like I said, I used to eat there a lot. I even worked there."

"You did?"

"Yes, before I joined the military. Back then I was a naughty boy with bad habits. I'd often walk around the shopping district looking for unsuspecting and careless traders to steal from. My repeated success made me a little daring. One day, I attempted to steal something more than snacks and foodstuffs, and from someplace other than stalls.

"What did you try to steal?"

"I had my eyes on a jewellery, a necklace. I thought it'd look good on me. I walked into a shop and asked for a job, a cover for my true intentions. Distracting and disgusting the shop owner with dumb remarks and silly gestures, I slipped the necklace into my pocket. Of course, I was denied the job and asked out. As I made to leave, the shop owner made known his policy of searching every person that walked into his store before they left."

"What happened next?" Caesar asked, shifting in his seat as though he was watching a thriller.

"I tried to run but a guard suddenly showed up at the door and stopped me. He wasn't there when I walked in. They searched me and the necklace was found. The shop owner grabbed me by my shirt and threw me out then instructed his guard to beat me up. Luckily, I had only received a few blows when your mom found the awful scene and stopped them. She seemed to be very respected in the area because they stopped immediately she asked them to. She then inquired what I had done and was told. What your mom did next left the shop owner, his guard and even me shocked."

"What did she do?"

"She bought me the necklace. Right there, she paid sixty pieces of gold and gave me the necklace. Then she took me to her restaurant and took care of my wounds. She knew very well that a child who steals food is probably very hungry and less privileged, but to steal a jewellery was just plain greed. Still, she didn't care. I gave her the necklace but she refused, telling me to keep it. The next day, I came right back and asked for a job. I didn't care what I'd have to do, I just wanted to help her. She already had quite a number of workers and all the help she needed but she accepted me regardless. I was only fourteen then and I worked there for two years until my father stopped me, declaring that my destiny was to be a soldier not end up in some silly restaurant. I started getting in shape and four years later, I applied to join the military. I was accepted and here I am. I really enjoyed every bit of the time I spent there."

"I have so many questions."

"Shoot."

"Let me just get this out of the way first, you're twenty-seven right now and you joined the military at twenty, right?"

"That is correct," Jack affirmed.

"I see. You're a year older than I am. That must be why I never saw you at my mom's restaurant."

"Why?"

"I started helping my out in the kitchen at her restaurant when I was fifteen, you were sixteen then. Since you started working there when you were fourteen and left when you were sixteen, that's two years. It adds with your story."

"Oh yeah, totally. What's your next question?"

"Now that that's cleared, I actually realize I don't have that many questions. Actually, I don't even have any other question."

Jock laughed and Caesar followed after. "But man, I'm glad you came to this base and even taught the ladies to prepare a few dishes. Brings back memories of your mom's cooking and I'm glad to be as close to it as I possibly can."

"I miss it myself. Been a while since I tasted her cooking."

"But you can cook for yourself whenever you please and then you'll be reminded of what her food tastes like."

Caesar shook his head. "My squad doesn't work that way. There are already appointed people for cooking and cleaning in my base."

"And because of that, you can't cook for yourself?"

"Yes."

"So you haven't tasted neither yours nor your mom's cooking in how long?"

"About six months. I only get to eat it when I pay her visits at home."

"Bollocks!" Jock exclaimed.

Caesar burst into laughter. He always found Jock's way of speaking hilarious.

"What?" Jock asked, looking puzzled.

"Nothing," Caesar replied, trying to suppress his laughter.

Jock resumed. "If you want to eat or cook something, do it. We lay down our lives for our pack. If life is short, ours is even shorter. There's no time to hold back, we have to live every moment of it to the fullest."

"Perhaps I will when I get back "

"You should."

After ingesting food and drinks to their satisfaction and beyond, the entirety of Squad II including Caesar fell into a deep slumber.

On the other side, Juliet and Lewis had moved indoors because it was really hot outside. Now inside, they occupied Lewis' room laying on his bed as they exchanged a few words. In actuality, he laid on the bed and she laid more on him. They too fell asleep and were not awake till it was evening.

When they awoke, they were again served with a private meal that they both enjoyed outside. Then they laid on a mat with Juliet on Lewis' chest. From evening to night, they laid together enjoying each other's company as they said they would. When it was late into night, they fell asleep again, out in the open this time.

When it was evening at Squad II, Caesar and the guys had started waking up. They ate the leftovers of their feast outside and drank some more. Usually Caesar would not drink, but not today. A toast was made in his name and it was repeated many times. For the first time in a long time, he let loose and drank ceaselessly. It was his last night here after all. Eventually, they all fell asleep.

Lewis ended his day with the love of his life and Caesar, with the unusual but somehow special people he had formed bonds with. Tomorrow both men would return to their place, leaving behind their new found relationships.