Chapter 51: Chapter 51
Chapter 25
~Johnathon’s POV~
I haven’t seen Timber since sometime after we left our meeting with Andreas at the training center. She mentioned something about needing to speak with Elder Selene and something about the new stealth uniforms. I wasn’t really listening as I was too busy ravishing her. Pulling her from a conversation which I was no longer in the mood for.
‘When’s mate coming home? Bane whined, missing Karin just as much as I was missing Timber.
‘I don’t know buddy. She’s getting answers from Elder Selene remember? She’ll be back soon.’ I tried alleviating his constant ranting as it was starting to get on my nerves. He’s been pacing and whining ever since Timber left. Which really wasn’t that long ago. Maybe? Three days tops. He huffed back and laid down abruptly at the forefront of my mind.
‘How ‘bout we go train? It’ll get all that pent up energy out.’ I suggested, knowing he loves to train.
‘Fine. But I still want mate!’ he bellowed, as I chuckled to myself at his teenage lovesick temper tantrum.
Walking over to the training field I could see the men sparring with each other. My Beta, Andrew walked around the arena where three men were sparring in, arms crossed over his chest looking intently at their techniques. I could tell he was in deep thought as his face showed no emotion. Only seriousness.
Looking over to me, he nodded his head as if to say ‘hey Alpha, I see you’ with me nodding back in response. I walked over to him, stopping to watch the two men train.
“Training’s are looking good. Bane wants to be let out, got anyone who could use a good sparring?” I asked, not actually looking at him as I did. I was internally smirking knowing he’ll always have my back.
“Cedrick! You’re up!” I heard him yell out to a warrior who just transferred in from the Southern border. He was young and dressed in one of our uniforms. Interesting I thought to myself as my eyebrow lifted.
‘Why’s he wearing that?’ Bane asked, pushing himself forward, getting ready to take over at a moment's notice.
‘Don’t know. It’s gotta be one of the new suits Timber was working on?’ replying back. If it was one of those new suits, then that means they have already started mass dispersing them. Not complaining. The more warriors who are wearing them the better. The boys can start training with them more too, to give them a feel of what it will be like to have one of those energies touch them. Very interesting, I thought, smirking to myself.
‘What are you smirking about Alpha? You look as if you know something we do not?’ Andrew’s voice echoed in my mind through our link.
‘His uniform. How many have come over from the Southern border since I came back a couple days ago, and are all of them wearing their suits constantly?’ I inquired back.
‘Probably about thirty men, Alpha, and yes. Why? Is something wrong?’ concern evident in his link.
‘Nope. Everything’s… perfect.’ smirking more. Excellent thinking to myself.
“If you have come from the Southern Border in the last two days, come forward!” I projected my voice so everyone heard me. Just as expected. About thirty men gathered in front of me. Folding my arms over my chest, I nodded at each of them.
“Which of you men has gotten a new stealth uniform and was told NOT to take it off for any reason!?” I questioned as I saw worried faces turn to look at each other before hands slowly started to move up in the air. All eyes back on me for my next move. “Excellent!” I yelled, before addressing the entire pack standing in front of me. “These are the new stealth weapons your Luna has helped create for your protection against our impending enemy, the Queen.” I turned to face the others while raising my arm pointing in the direction of the men wearing them. I could hear murmurs and whispers starting to filter at my words.
“Listen!” shouting, allowing my Alpha aura to spill over. “Men, you will NOT take these off for any reason unless showering or mating. DO you understand?”
“YES ALPHA!” was heard in unison. Starting a small pace, I continued. My hands fitted in the other behind my back as I did so.
“These uniforms are meant to protect you AND your wolf. They will shift with you back and forth. I do not know exactly how this happens, however it does. When your Luna returns from seeing the Elder, we will get our answer to that question.” I stopped briefly, looking over at the other men sparring half naked.
“You men will be receiving your uniforms soon. Each of these suits have been enhanced with Luna Timber’s elemental essence and will adapt for you during fighting with an elementally enhanced creature.” I could see questions wanting to form behind their eyes but no one made a sound as I continued to speak.
“Those of you with the new suits will train more with me and will have the privilege to train with my boys using their gifts as well. Now that you will be fully protected, I want you to practice and train with any and every possible strategy that could come your way. I will NOT allow you to hurt my children… your training with them will be solely for the purpose of them to practice enhancing their own abilities as our weapons in the shadows. This special training will also give each and everyone of you a chance to know what it will feel like to not only be attacked by the power force of the energies, but to learn how to defend and attack while under their protection.” pausing briefly to gauge any questions or doubts. “Are there any questions?”
“NO ALPHA!” they responded in unison before I dismissed them to go back to their training areas.
“Excellent! Now… let’s get to work gentlemen!” stating before dismissing them. “You thirty there will stay with me for training here. Remember I can teleport, so be mindful during our time together. You do not know who you may fight with this same ability. Always keep your senses alert and sharp. Let’s start with you three men here, including you, Cedric.”
“Yes Alpha.” was heard in unison again. Three men chosen stepped into a fighting stance ready to attack and train with Bane, who was itching to train back. I hate it when he gets all grumpy and needy when Timber’s away. I miss her too, but goodness… It's only been a couple days.
The three of them surrounded me from all sides. A basic attack maneuver when fighting as a team. Surround the enemy. Confuse them from knowing when or from where the attacker will come from. I stood there watching the three of them from my peripheral sight as well as wolf senses smirking, to myself after watching them circle me like prey on a prowl. Bane was just on the surface waiting to be sprung free.
“Y’all gonna do something or just dance around me?” I asked mockingly. They glanced at their partners before giving a curt nod. “Well then, bring it on.” taunting them by waving them towards me with my fingers.
Two lunged towards me, still in human form, while Cedric circled looking for a weak spot. As soon as they moved, I vanished, reappearing behind Cedric, throwing him to the ground. The other two lunged into each other, shock evident on their faces when they collided.
“Do not underestimate your opponent. Like I said before, you do not know who has what gift when getting into a confrontation.” I said, addressing all the men standing before me. Turning back around, offering a hand to Cedric, whom I had just thrown to the ground to assist his standing.
“Now. What did you learn?” waiting for their responses as they thought about what just happened.
“Expect the unexpected, even if it doesn’t seem possible.” Cedric was the first to speak up. The other two nodded their approval of the statement.
“Good!” replying back, before turning to address everyone once more. “Never go into a situation thinking you know everything. No matter how much you train or who you think you can tap out, there’s always someone somewhere who can tap you out. Especially when you’re not expecting it. Arrogance is not, and will never be your friend in any life- threatening situation. Be confident, know your strengths and your weaknesses; guard them, and most importantly find your opponents’ weaknesses and exploit them! Expect the unexpected at all times, then it will never be unexpected.”
“Let’s see what you learned.” placing a smirk on my face as I approached them for round two.
This time, when they readied themselves, their approach was a little different. They still surrounded me but this time in more fluid steps. Not so rigid. I watched them lunging at the first one I saw hitting him in the face while the other two came around both of my sides. I was hit in the left side rib while also feeling a blow to my back. Grabbing hold of the man to my left, throwing over my shoulder, his back hitting the ground with a loud thud. At the very same time he was in the air, my back leg went out and kicked Cedric, who punched me in the back causing him to stumble backwards. This gave the man in front of me time to reposition himself while Cedric found his footing throwing punch after punch.
Just as the third one got off the ground to help, I teleported out. They immediately stood back to back in ready to fight stances, observing the whole area. Within seconds, I reappeared in front of one who I threw a punch to and disappeared again. Without warning, I made myself visible to Cedric, who was coming in contact with my face and got me with a leg sweep.
Bane was getting more agitated than before and shifted before hitting the ground. The shocked look on their faces was priceless. Everyone knows Bane was not a wolf to be reckoned with. I could hear his amusement when their faces suddenly showed a hint of fear. I could tell they were trying to hold their fear from their eyes but it wasn’t working too well. I just laughed. He stalked around them like a predator, waiting and watching for his next movement, they slowly turned as he did.
Snarling and growling at them. He was not in the mood acting like a spoiled baby wanting his favorite toy to be given back. That’s how frustrating he can be without Timber around. He would snap his teeth at them periodically while circling to show his dominance over them, although he wouldn’t hurt them severely. Well… not on purpose.
Watching through his eyes, I wanted to see what strategy they were going to use now that they hadn’t shifted yet. Spreading out they made the defensive stand more widespread to be ready for anything Bane would do. I don’t think they realize that he can teleport too. This is going to be interesting.
Cedric moved towards him and Bane lunged at him, biting into his arm. Either very brave or very stupid. However, that one movement gave the other two a chance to shift and attack his feet and back. When Bane let go of Cedric, who was still in human form, he shifted immediately. Good defensive maneuver, I thought. “Oh, be quiet.” I heard Bane say through our link. All I could do was laugh at his response.
Bane shook his body to get the tan wolf off his back while whipping his head around to bite down on the brown wolf who attached himself to his feet. Cedric’s wolf was a lighter brown but darker than the tan one. He tried biting into Bane’s neck. Bane was pissed. I could feel his anger rising and with that growing in strength . ‘Bane? Remember you cannot tear them to pieces. We are only training them.’ I tried to remind him as power started to ooze off him in waves, causing the men watching to back up some.
Bane growled loudly, making the ground shake and rumble. He shook his body hard before I felt him start to vibrate and flicker from the inside. Before I could ask, he disappeared, still growling. The men didn’t know what had happened.
Bane rematerialized on the outside of the three wolves still huddled in the center. Hearing him growl lowly, they turned around snarling back at him over their shoulders before facing him directly. Bane didn’t wait for them to attack first. He charged them, ramming his head into the chest of the tan wolf, knocking him out.
The brown and light brown wolf started to circle him, teeth barred and growling. They charged Bane trying to pin him down. One on each side of him biting his legs and pushing his gigantic body. Bane rolled his body over, then over again to release them from their grips. Once they were released and uneasy, he pinned the brown wolf down with his front paws. Bane swiftly snapped his neck the other direction, grabbing Cedric's wolf by the neck, pinning him down as well.
A slight growl was heard verberating throughout his body as he towered over top of them. The tan wolf had already shifted back watching the events unfold before his eyes. Bane let go, slowly stepping backwards to allow them to shift back. Allowing me to take back full control, we shifted as well.
“Nice team work men. What did you learn?” asking them, grabbing a bottle of water to rehydrate myself, throwing one to each of them as well.
“Bane can teleport.” one man spoke.
“He could have killed us swiftly. The depth of his strength was not anticipated.” they all nodded at that comment. “I mean, if I may Alpha. We heard about your wolf’s strength and ferocity but that was something else.” he continued.
“You are correct, he can indeed teleport because he and I are one. His strength is also more enhanced than any other wolf, including Alpha’s. What else was learned?” now addressing the men who watched on the side lines.
“To anticipate the unexpected all the time.” one man spoke up.
“Never assume anything about your opponent,” said another. ‘They are going to be fine warriors if they keep that thought.’ Bane said in my mind. ‘You are correct Bane. Thank you for not hurting them. I know it was hard not to.’ he just huffed and I chuckled at him.
“Excellent! Now I want you all to continue training with each other.” watching them make partners and beginning, I stood on the side lines, arms crossed over my chest.