Preparing to Be Ruthless
"Excellent, now keep your gaze on mine and don't move them away for anything," Metas instructed as he and Myranda circled one another slowly. Both had low stances that were ready to pounce.
It had been a brutal day so far, and while she was glad he hadn't gone easy on her, Myranda couldn't help but feel the burning bite wounds down her body. She had been so focused on the pain, that the cracking branch in the distance didn't distract her as it usually would.
"Once you have gotten your jaws on me - this time, I want you to hold on tighter. Don't let up - even if I yelp - until I give you our code-word," he directed and continued to circle around in hopes to throw her off a bit. He wanted her to be prepared.
"What? Why?" she asked with alarm.
"I want you to get used to clenching past a yelp. If you always let go when an enemy whines, you're going to unintentionally give them an opening. We must condition you to become heartless when it comes to battle. Weakness can mean death," he lectured on - and enjoyed that she was listening so intently.
"Can we stop after this, please? I'm so tired - and I'm in a lot of pain," Myranda begged softly.
"No. I want you so tired that I have to carry you. Silas will not just let us have a fair fight. I know he's going to try something slimy on you. He's going to be ruthless - so we need to be, too."
He'd be a liar if he denied how badly her sad eyes hurt his heart from her reaction. Metas didn't want to be so hard on her, but it was necessary for survival. They could always rest later when the day was won.
"....but...." she began to protest, but he wouldn't hear it. If she pushed a little further, maybe she could distract him and then perhaps she could earn a break if she showed him enough progress.
"Mandy, enough - we can rest when we've won," he insisted with more heat this time. He could (and would) be just as stubborn as her if he needed to be. The last thing the alpha ever wanted to see was his mate killed right at the finish line.
"Pwease?" she asked and gave him the biggest, most pathetic look her eyes could muster.
His sharp eyes seemed to flatten with disbelief and annoyance at her persistence. The audacity struck him so hard that he rolled his eyes without thinking, and that was when he felt her dart into his chest.
'Ohohoh, you little-' he thought to himself with delight as he rolled on the ground with Myranda's jaw clenched tightly on the skin near his neck. She must have gone for his throat and missed. They could work on that later.
The large black beast tried to shake his flesh from her mouth quickly and efficiently - but her sharp fangs had him by the fur tightly. It hurt - but he was proud to have a mate with such a strong grip.
Now that she had him in her grasp, truth be told - she had no idea what to do next. 'Ah, damn... he is right - I do need to work with him more. What do I do now?' she wondered.
As she was pondering on her next move, he was prepared as he scooped his neck under her chin and took her throat into his gaping, large jaw. He could have crushed her right there if he wanted to - and the feral part of him whispered dangerously in his mind to tighten down on her windpipe so he could hear a satisfactory crunch.
Metas had great control, though - and easily shook off that 'voice' that had suggested such a dangerous thing. He did, however use his weight and position to turn the tides towards pinning her down.
Myranda was embarrassed to go down so easily from a move that hadn't even hurt - but the natural instinct to breathe felt more compelling than to fight back. His hot breath felt oddly good against her fur, and as his saliva started to soak the black and white fibers of her coat, she let out a soft whimper.
However, Metas did not let up - in fact, his jaw tightened just a bit further as he kept her pinned against the ground. Even as her heart slammed against her chest, he kept his grip without being phased.
"M-Metas?" she tried to inch out, but again his jaw just tightened further.
"Peanuts, peanuts" she huffed as fast as she could in hopes he would repel his teeth.
To her relief, he did and then looked down at her with a softened expression as he stepped back. However, instead of looking at him for comfort, she stared at him with a bit of disbelief. On one hand, she could understand he was trying to teach her combat, but on the other she hadn't expected him to be so rough, either - moreover, cold.
"I'm sorry, you truly caught me by surprise - my instincts kicked in a little too forcefully," he replied sheepishly and brought his paw up and behind his ear to scratch it awkwardly.
"...you honestly, scared me..." she replied with genuine fear in her eyes.
"Mandy, I am truly sorry - it's just important to me you are prepared for anything," Metas tried to justify his actions, but he could tell she was more hurt than angry - and definitely much more sad than surprised.
"It's..it's okay.... I just wish it hadn't scared me so much. For a moment it reminded me of when my dad would fling me around as a pup when I tried to cuddle with my mom..." Myranda trailed off and avoided his gaze.
"Get up, my Luna. You don't belong there. Let us take a break, and then get in a little more practice before the sun goes down" he said with affection and lowered himself to his stomach to show her he was backing down.
"Alright...I could use a drink of water," she replied with one of those 'trying to get over the moment' demeanors.
"You did great with your distraction, though. You got me - I won't lie. I reacted the way I did out of instinct since you threw me off so well," he replied with a widened 'grin' as he watched her get up out of the dirt, and shake off all the debris from her spotted coat.
'Goddess, she's so beautiful..' he thought to himself lovingly - even as the flakes of dead leaves and stems flew from her black and white fur. Everything she did was lovely.
"I'm starving. Can we hunt when it's evening? Maybe we could get some for everyone and bring it back to the cave. I bet they're starting to worry" Myranda suggested as she sat and waited for him to raise his belly from the ground.
"Yes - that sounds great. I don't want to sleep outside again tonight, to be honest. I woke up with every little snap and rustle," Metas confessed and then took in a long yawn as he began to realize how tired he actually was.
"Let's make sure you get a good rest and meal tonight, then" Myranda comforted and leaned under his chin so that she could rub her face against him lovingly.
The alpha smiled and returned her gesture with his own as he nudged his nose against the side of her face, followed by his tongue licking her in the same spot his nose had touched, as being a wolf often gave them their ancient instincts from the once wolves that lived a long, long time ago.