My Soldier Mate

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER NINETEEN:

JASON POV:

When we finally got Nala to agree to come watch a movie and relax. It was ruined by a girl that had no business joining in. I mean what the hell is up with this woman constantly watching and wanting to be with Nala? It is kind of creepy. So I have been keeping an eye out for her because something is wrong with her. After Nala left, Alex and I started talking about what happened. It was clear to everyone that Kelly had an issue with Nala. And I, for one, am going to figure out what it is about. And hopefully put a stop to it before we go over to Afghanistan. When everyone was going back to their rooms. I was thinking it was going to be a long day tomorrow. And then we are going to where we have been assigned. I am just glad I am going to be with my mate Julia, my new best friends Nala and Alex. I know for a fact that they will have my back. I love how Nala is not afraid of anything. But that has me wondering what happened to make her distant and not feeling a lot of pain. The fact Nala could shoot before she even got a lot of training, is very impressive. And that she was willing to help me with a gun and give me pointers, she was very patient with teaching us. The fact is, I am not really good with a weapon, because in my territory we can just turn into our own wolves and fight with our hands without any weapons. So I was proud to be learning something I didn’t know anything about. Back to the present, so when I got back to my bed, I literally set my alarm and just crashed on the bed.

The next morning, I got ready for our last training session, and then went to my dorm about five minutes later. While I was walking to the training grounds, I looked up and realized that I was like the seventh one there. I noticed that Nala wasn't there yet, which is not like her. I figured she might be very tired because she was falling asleep when it came to watching a movie, when normally she would be up and moving around. So I just smiled that she was asleep. About a few minutes later, more people showed up. About two more people, Nala, arrived, being number ten. She actually looks rested, for the first time she has been here in training camp. We all started to talk when Nala noticed the First Sergeant coming. The First Sergeant started to talk about training and how this is our last training before we are all shipped off to our deployment. While he was talking, I noticed that Nala wasn’t really paying attention, she was looking at something else behind the Sergeant. I looked at where she was looking and realized it was Kelly coming very late and not in uniform, not very neat. I ignored her and started to pay attention. The First Sergeant told us to get ready to go running. Once we were about to run, the First Sergeant yelled, “Cadets halt.” We all did as we were told. Kelly was finally coming into the training. The First Sergeant asked, “Private Finch, why are you late?”

Kelly replied, “I was sitting outside Private Aston’s room and I fell asleep, I guess, and I hadn’t set my alarm. Private Aston should have woken me up to be a teammate.”

The First Sergeant turned his head towards Nala and asked for her to step up. She did as she was asked. The First Sergeant asked, “Was she outside your door?”

Nala answered, “Yes, sir. Honestly, her dorm was in my dorm room. Her dorm is across the quad. Yes, she was asleep, but I didn’t think it was my job to make sure she was up and ready to go, because that is not my job. My job is to make sure when we are on the field we will be able to work together and be a team. And Kelly has admitted to me that she is trying to get me disqualified and sent home because her best friend Amanda was sent home because she couldn't follow the rules. So she has done everything in her power to make sure I was sent home. So I was tired of making sure she was not going to do something that would mess up my spot here in the United States Army.”

The First Sergeant replied, “You are right. You are not responsible to make sure she can make it. Private Finch, you best be one of the first ones across the finish line, or you are going home. Okay everyone, let's start the run.” We all got into the running stance, and we heard the whistle, and we started to run. Nala was in front. Then it was Alex, Julia and then me. Alex looked at me. I knew we were going at our werewolf speed, but I didn’t realize Nala could keep up with us or pass us. I couldn't figure out how she could do this because she is not our kind, she is human. This is not normal, at all. But I think it is fun because I like to be challenged. So Alex and I nodded at each other, and we started to pick up the speed. Nala did the same, and she was still in front of us. Then she started to really run and the next thing I knew, she was way ahead of us. I looked at Alex, and he looked back at me. I asked, “Dude, how in the hell is she able to even outrun us?” Are we not even human?”

Alex replied, “I have absolutely no idea. But it gives us something to keep going faster.”

I replied, “Yeah, alright, let's go catch up with her.” And Julia, Alex and I started to really run. I noticed that Nala was already at the finish line. I was really shocked. This was not normal. But I was really impressed. We also crossed the finish line. And then we started to wait for everyone else. And you can see the commander was looking for Kelly. And she was the ninth one to cross the finish line. Then we got the direction to start to pair up for hand-to-hand fighting. Nala and I paired up, and I asked, “Are you sure you want to fight with me?”

Nala replied, “You are no bigger than Alex, so it doesn’t matter unless you are nervous about fighting me.” We both smiled at each other. It was fun having a sibling rivalry when we are not related. It was a nice pace because she didn’t know what I was and she but I can go as hard because she said she doesn’t mind and that it gives her more training. When we figured out what was going on, there was a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Kelly was there. Kelly asked, “Would you mind if I joined your group?” Nala then looked at me and I just nodded my head. Then Nala spoke up and said, “Sure.”

I replied, “Okay, since we are a group of three. Who is against whom?”

Kelly replied, “How about Jason and me again, Nala?” Then we can switch?”

Nala replied, “Sure, why not.” I nodded my head, and we all got into our fighting stance. That is when the commander blew his whistle, to let us know to prepare to begin to fight. I noticed that Kelly was looking at Nala with a petty look on her face. It was then I realized this might be a very bad idea. But I already agreed to this, and I can not just back out now because I don’t think this idea is okay. But I then focused on the task at hand. It is to pin Nala to the ground. Just then the commander blew his whistle twice and it was go time. Kelly was the first to go and Nala predicted this because she blocked Kelly’s punches. And countered with her own combination. That is when I got there. Nala was very alert to everything around her. It was as if she was in her elimination. Nala was fighting perfectly with Kelly and me. I mean she countered every attack that was thrown at her, and she got me good a few times. I swear I even saw her smile like this was fun. I know Kelly was getting pissed because she couldn’t even get a punch on her. I have gotten several. When I punched her in the head, Nala looked pissed and that is when she decided to finish the fight. Kelly started laughing when I punched her in the head. Nala went after her and then immediately pinned her down. The commander saw this and called the pin and then Nala got up and came after me next. I thought I was ready, but I was really wrong. She used my own body to take me down and pinned me. I was impressed. I smiled and said, “This is fun. Okay, it is time to switch rolls.”

Kelly replied, “That is not fair. We need to redo that. Because I was just warming up.”

Nala replied, “No, you were not just warming up, and I am not redoing something that I have already taken you down multiple times in training and that is not going to change. So let’s move on.”

The commander replied, “There will be no do-overs when you get to your assignments. So, Kelly, I don’t know why you would want a “do-over” when this is your last training before you are going to where you were assigned, so we are moving on.” Then we transitioned, to finish out our training. When we got done with training it was almost four in the afternoon. I looked at Kelly, and she had a sour look on her face and she was looking directly at Nala. Nala wasn’t really concerned with what Kelly did. We were all taking a break and drinking water when Nala was just sitting there. Alex was over there talking to her. I was wondering if Alex was starting to tell her or if she was starting to open up to us. So I decided to grab Julia’s hand, and we started to walk over to where they were sitting. I asked “what are you two talking about, anything worth wild?”

Nala replied, “Nothing really besides training and our placements.”

Julia replied, “I still can’t believe we are all going to be the same. And we will have each other’s backs.”

Alex replied, “Yeah. We will always have each other’s backs. Which reminds me, Nala. Is there a chance we can show you something later tonight? It is really important that it stays with us and no one else finds out.”

Nala replied, “Sure. But wait until 0230 because that is when everyone goes to bed.”

Alex replied, “We can do that. And please keep an open mind.” She just nodded her head yes. That is when Kelly came over to us and asked “what we were talking about.”

I replied, “Nothing important. Just waiting for training to continue.” Kelly looked disappointed that we were not including her in our conversation. Just then, the commander told us to get up and start finishing training. We all did as we were told. After about another eight hours, training was finally over. And I was physically tired. I looked around at everyone and noticed that Nala was still wired up, and she looked like she could keep going. And I don’t know how that was possible.