Alpha's Winter Promise

Episode 6: Dance - Atticus' POV

I groaned.

I was going to pay for having fallen asleep in the chair last night. All my aches and pains a testiment to just how tired I already was before sitting down and there’s still an abundance of activities planned for the remainder of the week.

I rise and take a quick shower, changing into joggers and a tee shirt. I throw a change of clothes in my bag, adding the romance novel at the last second.

I nearly run headlong into Benni as I exit. He’s also dressed down in preparation for training with some of the other Alpha teams.

I ease the door shut in order to not wake anyone else on the floor. “Everyone heading out shopping later?”

Benni shakes his head. “Nah, Miranda’s grandma has taken a turn for the worse so they left earlier to head back”

“You should be with her, Benni” Sometimes my brother takes his responsibilities too seriously.

“I told her you’d let me go, but she said no. This only happens every ten years so….” He shrugs. “Trust me, Canaan isn’t happy about it but he doesn’t want to argue with her either.”

“Well, lets go work off his energy then.”

We cut through the kitchen, snagging some fresh muffins. Benni winks and blows a kiss at the old omega that runs the kitchen, Agnes. She winds up her dish cloth and pops it at his behind.

“I swear you boys have never grown up. Get on out of here, the rest of those are for the buffet” She’s laughing and there’s a blush to her cheeks.

Benni smiles and waves over his shoulder. “We love you too Ages!”

We make our way over to the training facility in companionable silence. The pack grounds are already bustling with people getting ready for the First Night ceremony later today. I’ve managed to get out of participating in the procession despite being an unmated male by helping with security for the event.

We throw our things into a locker and join everyone else in the small arena space. There are pairs of young men already going through several sparring matches and clumps of people watching from the bleachers above.

Benni and I are just finishing up our second round of fights, shaking hands with our opponents and joking around with them when he catches my eye and nods in the direction of the door.

I narrow my eyes and feel Jericho become more alert.

Xander Grimsleigh saunters in - late, and surrounded by several other alphas and betas all seemingly cut from the same self entitled cloth. A cluster of girls in the stands start to sqeal and wave at the group. I swear I see one of them nearly faint, as if Xander and Co are some sort of idol group deserving of super fans.

We grab our water bottles, taking a few drinks, while the next round of matches are set up. I hear his voice ringing out across the space and my hackles immediately rise.

“Frankly, I don’t see anyone here that would be a challenge for an Alpha like me. But I suppose being from one of the oldest and strongest packs, I could lend a hand educating some of the lower class alphas” His arms are open wide as if saying ‘look at how generous I am’

A hush falls.

I’m looking down, reaching for my towel when the toes of sneakers come into my view. I follow the line up to come face to face with Xander.

I haven’t been in this close of proximity to him in 15 years, preferring to not associate with his circle of sychophants.

Before I can say anything, the Great Wall of Benedictus appears between us. Benni lets out a low growl and puts his hand up to push Xander back.

Xander’s face contorts in disdain. “What, do you have to have your Beta do all your fighting for you?”

I mindlink with Benni - Leave it, we knew this would happen.

Benni slides out of the way, but is clearly unhappy about it.

“Called off your guard dog then?” I put a hand against Benni’s chest as he tries to surge forward.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Xander? I’ll give you the option of bowing out now.” I meet his eyes and I can see his jaw clenching.

For somebody like Xander, I'm an easy target and I know it. Where most Alphas are just shy of being the Incredible Hulk, I’ve always been more lean. Benni joked when we were kids that i was built like a dancer. But the joke’s on him because I took that and ran with it. I studied ballet, fencing, gymnastics,

But most of all, I spent a lifetime going up against people bigger than me.

Benni’s voice sounds in my head - Atti, try not to kill him, yeah? I’d have a hard time hiding a body if everyone sees it happen.

I laughed out loud picturing him pointing away from the crowd and going ‘hey look over there!’ and then tip-toeing off with Xander’s corpse while no one was looking.

My laughter only incised Xander more.

We took our places opposite each other in the ring. All other fights stopped and people gathered around.

The training coordinator laid out the rules - no wolves, thrown from the ring or submitting is a loss, do not fight to kill.

I feel a rush of adrenaline as the fight begins. I dodge a few easy jabs from Xander, duck under a strong right hook, float over a leg sweep.

I know his kind.

His movements were going to get sloppy as this continued on - leaving me openings to pick and choose from. Patience, as Jericho is often saying, is a virtue.

Besides, there’s something satisfying about seeing Xander begin to realize he might have bitten off more than he can chew.

I can see the sweat beading up on his forehead, his breath growing more ragged the longer this goes on. I duck, dodge and weave around his obviously telegraphed swings.

“Quit dancing you, p***y, and fight. Or are you too scared” His bravado is compensating for the obvious mismatch of skills.

Perfectly calm, I reply “And me without a pretty dress, whatever shall I do?”

He roars and rushes across the ring, shoulder dropped to take me out like a pro football linebacker. I let his rage bring him in range of me and in a split second, use his own momentum against him. Before he knows what’s happened to him, I’ve pinned him to the ground in a submission hold.

Xander is screaming and thrashing trying to get out of the lock I have him in. He swings his head around and makes eye contact.

I speak, my voice pitched just for his ears, barely audible with the crowd going crazy. “I know what you did, you asshole.” And with that I slam his head into the ground and release him as the coordinator finishes his 3-count.

I’m walking across the ring back towards the bench with my water and towel when I hear a gasp from the spectators. I see Benni in mid-shift moving at light speed past me.

I turn around and Canaan, Benni’s wolf, is squared off against Xander’s wolf.

The bastard had shifted, thinking to take me out while my back was turned.

Jericho is on the verge of forcing a shift on me when Edwin Grimsleigh strides into the ring, zero fear on his face and brings his wrecking ball of a fist down on the nose of the massive grey wolf across from us.

Just like that, the tension dissipates, though I wouldn't want to be Xander later, having to explain all this.

Edwin strides across the ring to me and extends his hand. “Alpha Atticus, I sincerely apologize for his behavior. It seems that Xander needs some additional education on sparring regulations’

I take his hand and offer him a smile that doesn't reach my eyes. ‘Ah, no harm here Alpha Edwin. We both know that Xander is capable of ….. so much more ….than this little display of his.’ I hold onto the handshake longer than entirely necessary. ‘I’m sure you'll do the right thing’ my statement heavy with unspoken meaning.

Benni has already shifted back and put on some borrowed shorts. He tosses my water bottle to me as I walk away from the scene, shaking his head.

‘well, no bodies to hide at least’ And he starts laughing so hard he's got tears coming from his eyes.

‘Good lord, Benni, I'll be sure to make sure you have extra work to do since you're so keen on keeping busy’.