Chapter 2
1144 Words
I glared at the blond in front of me and spit out the blood in my mouth. I have to beat him. I need to beat him.
"Maybe we should just stop for today," Wesley suggests. "It's almost lunch and your mom hates when we go in still messy from training." He's right about that part. My mom hates seeing any blood that might have been spilled, she hates when we're covered in sweat, and she especially hates when we get covered in mud. It had been raining one day but we wanted to train anyways. When we went in to eat lunch we were covered in mud she got so mad. For someone who is 5'4 she can be terrifying.
"Just one more round," I tell him. I look to my side to see Uncle Jake observing us. "Any advice?" By advice I mean criticism. There's always something wrong in his eyes.
"Loosen your muscles. You're still too tense when you are fighting. You're going to lose if you're like that and possibly get hurt." I nodded and took a deep breath, trying to loosen my muscles. "And Wesley, stay concentrated. Almost every time that he had an advantage over you, you looked lost in thought." Wesley nodded.
I closed my eyes, feeling the air around me. I moved my left leg behind my right, resting my toes on the ground while my right foot rested fully on the ground. I moved my left arm to my side, fist balled and ready to strike when needed, and elbow bent at an angle that I found easy to strike. My right shoulder was up a little, my elbow out and bent at an eighty degree angle, my fist just a little below my jaw. I bent over a bit so it would be harder for him to strike my stomach.
Wesley got into his stance, looking relaxed. Why can't I be relaxed? My muscles tensed up and I cursed myself inside my head. I took in a breath, begging my body to listen to my mind and for my muscles to relax. It worked a little.
Wesley started off, running towards me more on the front of his feet. His right arm raised above his normal shoulder height, swinging towards me sloppily. I twisted my waist left and spun myself a bit, raising my right hand and un-clenching my fist. My hand latched onto his arm. I moved my weight to my left foot, trying to drag him down. I smile as I see him falling towards the ground, resting my feet more towards my left. Just as he is about to hit the ground he rolls himself away from me, yanking me with him due to my hand still on his arm. I let go of his arm, moving myself back towards my right, hoping to steady myself. I seem out of luck as he pulls me to the ground, putting his right hand on my chest. He moves his left hand to my throat and squeeze gently.
"You lose," he whispers. I growl at him and push him off of me. He pushes himself off the ground and wipes his brow. I get up, glaring at him. "Relax Max, you're getting better."
"Says you. You're always going to be better," I hiss out. He glares at me.
"Look! I can help you or you can fight someone who isn't going to help you in any way." I go to retort when a shine catches my eye. I move back just in time for a knife to land where my feet previously were. I hear a giggle and someone jumps down from a tree that is near the training grounds. I look to Uncle Jake to see he has been looking in that direction for awhile now. Was he just going to let her do that?
She runs towards us, her ginger hair flying behind her and her blue eyes sparkling in amusement. I notice she's wearing the leather belt she got last Christmas that can hold a few of her throwing knives, her favorite knives, a pouch full of tranquilizing darts and the thing she uses for the darts. I don't know what exactly it's called but it was handcrafted for her and she always threatens me with it.
"Seriously Delian? You could have stabbed my foot!" She giggles again.
"I know! That was the idea. You get too distracted! I was going to go for Wesley like Uncle Jake asked but I thought you would be much more fun to stab in the foot!" She reached down, grabbing the throwing knife and slips it back into its place on her belt.
"Speaking of which," Uncle Jake speaks up. "Next time follow my instructions."
She pouted. "Come on, I was just having fun."
"By throwing a knife at me?" Wesley seemed to find this funny and laughed loudly. Delian ignored him.
"Besides, what would you do? Punish me? I'm your favorite niece!"
"You're my only niece. Next time you go against instructions I'm taking your knives. I already have your parents permission so don't think I'm kidding." Her jaw dropped and she huffed.
"Whatever. I'm starving and I hear that Aunt Lesa made lunch! You guys joining?" I nodded and started to walk back to the pack house.
I need to train more. I'll start going everyday as opposed to the four days, sometimes five, I've been attending now. I need to beat him.
It's not like I have something against Wesley or that I hate him. In fact, he's like a brother to me. Him, Delian, and I were a trio all of our lives and that's great. It's just that he is such a great fighter and he's not even the best fighter in the pack, that would be Dad with Uncle Jake behind him for that title and Uncle Jared behind him. I'm pathetic compared to them and I'm the next Alpha. Maybe I should just hand the title over to Wesley. . .
"Maxillius, are you okay?" I look up and smile at Mom. She was in Dad's lap, one hand holding a fork and the other on her large stomach.
"I'm fine Mom. How are you feeling?" She smiled at me and took a bite of food. I looked to Dad.
"She seems fine today." Answering for her earned him a smack on his chest and a glare from Mom.
"I'm fine today. Don't answer for me Xavier," she said and went back to eating. I went to sit down next to her only to earn a glare from her. "No you don't mister, go take a shower. That goes for you two as well," she said to Wesley and Delian who were just starting to sit down. I laughed a bit. "I'm serious Maxillius! You smell!"
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