Chapter 2

"You're late!" I bark, jumping down his throat.

Landon's shivering continues despite his momentary flinch from my anger. The jacket wrapped around him instantly makes my anger pause, I scan the boy over in absolute disgust. Hiking boots, thick socks and a wool scarf, arms folded and nose buried in the jacket for warmth.

Don't get angry, just breathe. I remind myself, knowing I've done this a thousand times with the pack.

Patience.

Inhaling, I shake off the tension and grab the stick from the icy grass. Given it's so early in a morning the sun isn't providing any warmth, which I'm glad for.

"Human form or wolf, our DNA doesn't change, we are warm blooded." I tell him, clicking my tongue slightly as I draw a small circle around the boys feet.

Sensing what I'm getting at, Landon removes his jacket and shoes, tossing them aside with the scarf. He immediately wraps his arms around himself, goosebumps covering him from head to toe as he dances slightly to keel warm.

"What now?" He breathes, teeth almost banging together.

"Endurance, all you need to do is stay within the circle." I retort.

My simple response takes the boy by surprise, his shoulders visibly relaxing. The fact that he's naive enough to assume it'll be easy, is rather amusing.

"I thought training meant fighting?" Landon says, his arms still folded, holding in the heat.

"Your body can stand almost anything, it's your mind that you have to convince." I admit.

"Standing doesn't require my mind." Landon scoffs, shifting slightly on his feet.

I arch my eyebrow at the small action. Only minutes in and he's growing tired, agitated.

"Good, then you won't have a problem." I retort firmly, my eyes solely on the boy.

No words are spoken for a while. After an hour or so the sun begins to climb over the distant mountains, casting a morning glow across the woods and field, gently melting the thin sheet of ice that settled in the night.

Landon's eyes close as the sun warms his skin slightly, little does he know the pain of the cold will only get worse now. The sharp needles he's feeling in his feet will grow worse, the throbbing up his ankles and calf's will become so intense that he'll struggle to walk.

More time passes, I stand patiently, waiting for the moment he cracks. I'll admit, for a teenager he's strong willed. Perhaps it's due to the way he's been living, perhaps it's his temper that fuels him. Either way, when he's trained, I pity the man that stands against him. His anger will make him stronger.

"Isn't it bothering you?" The tremble of irritation echoes in his question.

I flash a small smile.

"Ask me something you don't already know the answer to." I say.

"How are you a Alpha? Did your mate die or something?" The boys question is dangerous, one that would surely get him killed if his words were to be true.

"I am born of Alpha blood, no one gave me this position." I sigh, rolling my eyes slightly at the unsurprising question. Why must all wolves assume a woman has to be given such titles?

"What happens when you do find your mate? He'll most likely be another Alpha, so won't that cause problems? Who will be in command?" Landon's questions are merely to distract himself from the pain of standing in the cold.

Smart, but not what I want.

"I like to believe that if a man loves me, he will love me enough to respect my position instead of being frightened by it." I admit.

While I tend to keep myself closed off, it's different when it comes to my pack. Our connection only grows stronger the more I allow them into my life, I figured that out the hard way. My wolves aren't the only ones still learning.

"What if-"

"The whole point of training the mind is so you learn to push through the barriers that confine you as a human." I cut him off, my tone sharp.

Landon's cheeks puff in anger.

"Whatever." He grumbles, allowing himself that brief moment of anger.

Ignoring the boys attitude, I join my wolves as they come strolling onto the field some time later. While Landon stands in the circle, my wolves begin their usual daily routines, ignoring the boy that sulks silently.

"He's doing better than I did." Maison comments in a low tone, ensuring the boy doesn't hear him.

A few chuckles echo, recalling how many times Maison cried in the beginning of his training. Looking back, it's a little amusing, recalling how he begged me to show mercy.

"Have you heard anything from Brandy?" Zed asks, waiting until I'm on my own before approaching me.

The name immediately sours my mood.

"Should I have?" I question sharply, glaring at the lean man.

Zed quickly averts his eyes. "No, I was just hoping that he'd been in touch."

The sadness in his voice softens my icy heart. As Alpha it's my duty to be comforting and nurturing when my pack need it, and given what Zed has been through, I definitely feel for him.

Cupping Zeds unshaven face, I brush my thumbs under the dark circles around his eyes, seeing his agony within. How could I have missed his agony?

"I know that it hurts, but Brandy made his choice. I want him to come back as much as you do, but not if it means destroying you in the process." I say softly.

Zeds eyes water slightly, fresh pain clouding his light blue eyes. He's been strong since Brandy rejected him, stronger than most would be, I admire that. As much as I don't like to admit it, seeing him in pain hurts me. Part of me wishes Brandy will betray us just so I can hunt him down and rip him apart for the agony he's caused Zed, but I also know that I can't. Brandy is one of us, he'll never betray the pack no matter what happens between him and Zed.

"I miss him, not even as my mate but as my friend, you know?" Zed breathes off the shakiness in his voice, trying to hold himself together.

Giving him a small smile, I nod.

"Loosing someone you love is hard, especially when they had a choice. You don't need to pretend to be ok, Zed, it's times like this when we need our pack. Understand?" I murmur, giving his shoulder a slight squeeze before dropping my hands.

Zed nods, giving me a genuine little smile that only makes me feel more hurt for him.

"Thanks Alpha." He murmurs.

"Feel up for training with me?" I offer, hoping to lift his spirits.

"Like I would turn down an offer like that." Zed responds, grinning slightly as he immediately removes his shirt.

"Don't go easy on me." I warn him, tying my hair up quickly.

"Not in my nature." Zed states, eyes growing dark as he bonds himself with the beast inside.

"If the boy falls, ensure he goes inside." I tell Kaine, who nods in understanding.

Turning my focus to the black eyed man eyeing me like he would his prey, I take a stance, beckoning the male towards me.

"Protect yourself." I order sharply, seeing how open he is to injury. Does he not remember the first thing I taught him?

Fixing his mistake, Zed lunges first.

Second mistake.