A Worthy Wolf?

Chapter 9 - Niko

I had always considered myself a good man. I had been brought up to be a decent and honorable man. That was what mattered most, wasn't it? Yet I had agreed to something that I knew was wrong. The guilt was eating at me all afternoon into the early evening as we completed our training sessions. What sort of man had I allowed myself to become?

I waved off the training warriors I had been assigned to bring through recruitment. Truthfully, they had had it easy this afternoon, my mind far from on task. “Be prepared for tomorrow. Today was just a warm-up.” I called out to them as they walked away, knowing that I needed to be harder on them, or they would not pass the expected tests. I earned a few grins from the younger and eager guys as they rushed away, all more interested in their plans for the evening ahead. It had not been that long ago since I had been in their shoes... Hard work and serious dedication brought me an early promotion. One of the youngest senior warriors our pack had seen. But with all this mess on my mind, I knew I needed to regain my focus...

As warriors, we are capable of handling a lot of things. Processing them and still being able to function normally, or as close to normal as possible. The things we saw were not always easy to cope with. But this was not a wounded wolf... not a breaking of the rules... No. This was completely different. Yet it still felt wrong. On so many levels. Only this time, I did not know how to handle it. I did not know what to do.

I strode through the doorway of the gym, allowing it to slam loudly behind me. I locked the door and walked toward the packhouse. Having used the shower block within the gym and thrown on my clean clothes, I was free to head straight to dinner. I would grab dinner in the dining hall there before returning to my home. I lived alone, so I preferred the hustle and bustle of the dining hall for my meals. Besides, it also meant I did not have to go to the effort of cooking. Yeah, I had grown a little lazy... what can I say, I was a single guy? And, tonight, more than ever, the extra noise of the dining hall may be an appreciated distraction to my overactive mind...

But as I stepped into the dining hall that night, I regretted my decision instantly. The dining hall was not the place I should have been. I should have eaten my dinner at home, even if it was instant ramen. I would beat being here. But as I stepped further into the chaotic hall, my eyes only found one person. And, my guilt increased tenfold as my sight lingered on Raven Thorncroft. What was she doing here of all places?!

Raven, a couple of years younger than me, continued to live in her parents' family home within the packlands, so, naturally, I assumed, like most other nights, she would be at home with them for dinner. But, instead, she was there, sitting at one of the tables with a small group of her friends. Her long dark hair loose in the same long dark waves that I remembered from high school... flowing down her back as she tossed her head back in blissful laughter.

‘Blissfully unaware you mean?’ Vorn chuckled. And my heart twisted with more guilt, as I walked with my head down past their table. She looked so happy. So at ease and content. I could not help but think as I moved past, trying my hardest to not glance in her direction.

“Yeah, me a wife! Imagine that. But, really, he is the sweetest guy...” I heard Raven’s voice as I rushed past, and my brows furrowed with what could only be described as confusion coursing through me. Was she talking about the same crazy fool I had spoken to? He was far from sweet...

'He might be sweet to her.' Vorn defended. 'But, yeah, I wonder if she would call him sweet if she knew what he had planned for her?' Vorn asked. This time there was a hint of venom to his tone, which took me by surprise a little. But I tried to convince myself it was to be expected. I mean, after all, this girl was from our pack. Our Beta’s daughter. We were meant to protect her. Of course, he would be angry.

‘What do I do, V?’ I asked him, my heart and mind completely torn. Brayden Sterling was a man of serious authority. He technically had the power to destroy me if he wanted to. He may well be the Gamma of Fallen Forest, but he and his family were involved in multiple businesses too; but then there were his rumored links to the Warrior Training Brotherhood.

An ancient elite group of men, Gammas, a select few warriors from across the country who controlled so much more than the Werewolf Council when it came to warriors. So many liked to deny its existence. But it was feared. Causing and handling hidden wars between warrior squads... deciding who becomes warriors and who does not. And they had ways to demote warriors. Even senior ones such as me. Denying the usual protection to the family of such a warrior if they were to fall out of favor. There was a lot for me to risk if I refused his request. Or order, as it had felt more like...

I had no proof of his involvement with the Warrior Brotherhood, but there had been murmurings of it on multiple occasions when I had attended inter-pack events. Those rumors on their own were concerning enough. Dread had settled in my belly, and I began to wonder if I wanted to eat at all as I stood at the serving counter looking at the food before me. My mind was working overtime, totally unsure what I should do, when I felt someone come and stand beside me.

“Hey Niko.” I heard a gentle voice, and I made the fatal mistake of turning toward the voice and saw the smoky, beautiful blue eyes of Raven looking back at me, with a warm smile upon her face. “Long time no see...”

Goddammit...