The Empath’s Pack

Midnight Gym

Alarick laced his shoes and grabbed his gym bag. He had a firm belief that as an Alpha, you always have to be ready to make a good impression. When it came to fitness, he prided himself in getting the best brands. He looked in the mirror at the orange long sleeved shirt, black jogger sweatpants and his boots. In his gym bag, was a pair of black basketball shorts, his black and orange gym shoes and all his workout gear.

He heard a knock on the door to his room. “Come in Loveta.”

“Almost ready to head out, Alarick?”

Loveta or Veta, was the Beta of his pack. Her dark skin contrasted against his lighter Asian skin tone. Veta had hair she constantly bleached, which added a chemical smell to her scent. They had been friends since childhood. The pack always made jokes about them being complete opposites. While she always made her hair bright as the snow that surrounded them, his was as dark as the night sky. His father moved his pack here when the council had asked them to train the wolves in the military.

He donned a black thick coat, “just need a bottle with water from the kitchen.”

She patted her bag, “already grabbed it on my way up.”

Veta and Alarick were currently the only ones living in the pack house. During the day, some pack members filled the rec room or the cafeteria, but the living quarters always housed the beta and alpha’s family. They were both currently unmated and had both lost there parents a few years back. Veta was in no hurry to find her mate, but Alarick knew if he didn’t find her soon, he may have a rival pack fight for the right to his pack. They would definitely lose, but it didn’t mean they wouldn’t try. Often his younger twin brother and sister would stay in one of the many empty rooms, but outside that an the occasional pack that would visit the house was eerily empty.

“We will take the jeep. I don’t want to wreck it like last time.”

Veta chuckled innocently, “how was I supposed to know we’d get stuck? s**t Alpha, we’ve lived here practically our whole life. I never thought it would happen to us heehee.”

His jaw clenched at the memory, “three hours V. All cause you said your car could handle it. I knew I should of trusted my judgement. You know how hard it is to freeze a wolf? Pretty f*****g hard.”

Veta preferred to call Alarick by his title. She said it was for when they met there future mates. Wolves being extremely possessive, they didn’t need anyone thinking they would be more than friends. It actually made both of their stomachs flip in disgust, when people said how good of a couple they would make. Alarick stayed on alert making sure to keep the pack mind-link open. The new gym they were heading to was only twenty minutes from the pack house and still in their territory, but he was always cautious. Ever since his parents and Veta’s parents had been killed at a neighboring pack, he wasn’t sure he could trust someone to not attack.

“It says you need to turn right up here.”

You may think it odd that he didn’t know where a gym was located on his territory, but werewolves weren’t isolated any more. There were humans and other creatures located within his territory and often would share lands with kisses, covens and what have you. He knew both the vampire in charge of the local kiss and the witch in charge of the local coven. Marshal, the werewolf council member in this territory had made sure they all were on good term. He knew there were a council member in the territory for ever creatures that maintained a pack or whatever they would call it within the area. He just hadn’t bothered to meet them since Marshal said it wasn’t necessary. This was actual why they were here. Marshal and Dawn, the vampire council member opened a new gym together. They made it for the council and any one who needed an area for heightened practice.

“There it is!” Veta squealed.

Alarick ticked his tongue. “Jesus, V, volume control.”

She chuckled, “yes,sir, alpha sir.”

He rolled his eyes as he parked the vehicle. “You can tell it’s getting later, the weather sucks.”

“Marshal told me what app scanned us in the building. I already got it ready on our phones on the way here. There is a pool here! I’ll probably take a dip before we leave.”

Alarick nodded along, “I’ll probably run the track and just lift some weights. I don’t know why you insist on coming here. Our pack’s gym works just fine.”

“You know we are both in work mode there. Here we don’t have to worry about the whole place seeing us as Alpha and Beta. You can take your time and not have all the she-bitches crowding you.”

He smirked at the comment. “Same goes for you. It will be nice not showing every person how to use the machines.”

Marshal greeted them at the door. His dark chocolate skin made the blue gym clothes stand out. The words Midnight Gym were on his right peck circled with a moon. When he turned to lead them to the desk, his back had Manager written in big letters. Alarick noticed other workers had staff or coach. As he walked in there was a blissful smell of green tea, jasmine flowers and honey, that attacked his nose.

“Shit.”

Marshal looked up quickly from a paper he was reading to them. “Alarick, everything okay?”

“I can smell my mate.”

“Oh is she here?” Marshal asked with a sinister smirk.

Alarick shook his head, “damn, I honestly can’t tell her smell is everywhere.”

“Maybe she works here, Alpha.” Veta rubbed her neck.

“Well I know we have about six women here on the staff unmated not including my co-owner. At least four are werewolves, one is a vampire and the other a witch. My co-owner is a vampire. I know at least three are working right now.”

Alarick crossed his arms, “we can focus on the tour. I appreciate the information though. We know the moon goddess will bring us to meet, when it is supposed to happen.”

His head was in a fog of her scent and trying to retain the information being thrown at him.

“Up here at the desk, we have all your supplements, stronger ones for each specie specific. Shakes that can be made at anytime. The co-owner, Dawn, has a program for meal planning and does taste testing every once in awhile. She also has her assistant make food for the gym’s events. Your app will have all the options we talk about on it. It also tells you about events, workout programs, music or videos for working out. For all of us in the creature world, it notifies if anything happens while you are here.”

Veta jumps excitedly. “You guys really thought this through, Council Member.”

“Please call me Marshal, Veta. Outside actual council business, I’m just a gym owner.”

Alarick laughed, “knowing V she will still call you Council Member.”

“It’s not even my title.” Marshal laughed.

Veta leans up on the counter, “wait what’s your title?”

He looks to Alarick. “Attorney General. It makes for a great joke with my name being Marshal. If it makes you feel more relaxed though, I grew up in your pack.”

Veta gasped loudly. “What? How have I not met you?”

“He was constantly training to follow in his father’s footsteps. I think I was the only one his parents openly allowed over. My role as future alpha made them see me as worthy.”

“You seem nothing like what he just described General.”

“I appreciate that Veta. Hopefully next time you are here I can introduce you two to Dawn as well.”

Alarick took a deep breath. His mates scent was causing his focus to waver. It took all his willpower not to run through the gym and search for the source of the scent. As they passed a room, he felt it become overwhelming.

“What room is that?”

Marshal leaned back to see the door he pointed to. “Oh that’s the kitchen. Are you hungry? Definitely thought you could tell it was the kitchen from the smell.”

Alarick chuckled sarcastically, “as if I can focus on any other smell right now.”

“Sorry kind of forgot. You are taking this way better than when I found my mate. I almost scared them half to death. I ripped a door off it’s hinges in the Council’s headquarters.”

Veta filled the hall with laughter. “I bet she flew back thinking she was being attacked.”

Alarick cleared his throat, “he did.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Well damn. I didn’t know.”

“Most people assume otherwise. Especially since my blood is of royal bloodline.”

“Where are we heading now?”

Marshal turned to walk backwards. “Well here is the locker rooms. The left door leads to the pool and hot tub. Through this door opens to classes taught by our coaches. We have personal trainers in the main area, but I doubt you need that. To end the tour. This area up here is the main gym. It has all the machines, racks, the track and so forth. I’ll leave you guys to get to your workout. If you need anything, you can ask the staff or find me upfront. I may be around after awhile.”

Alarick nods as he heads to the locker rooms. Changing didn’t take long and he had exited at the same time as Veta. He really needed to workout so he could clear the fog from his head. Veta sighed and rubbed her temple.

“You okay, V?”

She locked eyes with Alarick. “One of the Vampires or witch is an emphath.”

Veta’s father was the former beta and her mom was a local witch. Where Alarick couldn’t tap into the same aura reading she could, if his normal senses were working properly he probably would of caught on. Alarick couldn’t make out anything, but the soft smell that seemed to touch every crevice of the gym.

“You can’t feel that?” V groaned.

He glanced dazedly at her. “Honestly V, I am so overwhelmed right now. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to come here. It’s taking everything in me not to rip this place apart.”

She gave a worried look. “Alpha, why aren’t you trying to find her.”

“V, I don’t think she is here right now. I think she works here and probably walks around cleaning or talking or coaching everyone. I can’t even think too much about it. I honestly will just get mad. I mean she could be a coach or a physical trainer helping other guys. You know I’m going to just try to finish my workout as fast as I can.”

They took off for the gym area. It took them thirty minutes to do a workout that normally lasted an hour and a half. Alarick was losing patience and needed to get out before he regretted something. They both headed to the front after changing and waved at Marshal.

“Hope you guys had fun! See you again real soon! Probably really soon.” Marshal threw a smirk at Alarick.

He waved his arm and they headed out. As they piled into the Jeep, He swore the scent got stronger, but didn’t want to risk going back in. Plus he hadn’t seen anyone go in through the front. Veta turned up some music as they headed back to the pack house.

“Al, are you okay?”

He sighed, while rubbing his face. “V, it’s just very overwhelming. If I had less self control, I’d stay there until I found her. It’s taking all my control not to turn around. Still this far away all I can smell is her.”