The Alpha's Hidden Mate

Moments of Glory

*Ember*

As soon as we reach field eight, any thoughts of Kyan that might’ve been lingering in my mind fade away, and I have to get serious. We’re about to be put through a series of agility tests, speed tests, and weapon use. Most of this will be done in our human form, but Trainer Brett says, “Toward the end of the day, you will be shifting into your wolf forms to compete in a few competitions that will give us an idea of your skills in that regard.”

I almost choke thinking about shifting. In order to shift, one has to take their clothes off or shred them, which leaves them nothing to put on afterward. I didn’t bind my breasts this morning because I thought this might happen and didn’t want to have to worry about it. Besides, I’m barely an A cup. There are guys here with bigger boobs than mine. Still, if any of these men sees me naked, well, they’re gonna know immediately that I’m not a dude.

Thankfully, Brett adds, “I realize some packs have different standards for nudity. While some of us are totally used to letting it all hang out in front of anyone and everyone, if you’re from a pack that has more modest values, feel free to excuse yourself to go behind the trees over there to undress and shift in private. We don’t need to worry about that for now, though. Our first several competitions will be in your human form.”

For some reason, I feel like Brett is speaking to me, even though he’s not even looking at me when he makes that contention about hiding to change. It makes me want to hug him, but I don’t think a guy would do that, so I give him a firm bro nod and then fall into line with everyone else.

We are led through a series of calisthenics to loosen up. Most of the guys in my group are either average height and weight or a little on the small side, like me. Gary is the closest to my size, though we’re not quite the same height, and he probably weighs a little bit more than me. There’s only one guy who’s tall and muscular, and I don’t know his name yet. He’s not as big as Kyan or Luka, but he’s hefty. I assume he’ll be the best at everything.

So when we line up for our first competition, which is a one hundred yard dash, I am shocked when I reach the finish line first.

It’s honestly not even that close. The fellow who comes in second is a good ten seconds behind me. I stare at the others as they finish and then look at Brett, who is smiling broadly at me. “Nice, Emory.” I hear a touch of surprise in his voice, and I can’t blame him. My legs are shorter than everyone else’s .I expected to come in last. But then, I have always been fast. I used to beat Emory and Ruby in races. Maybe I just got lucky.

We move on to the next event, which is a distance run. Trainer Brett explains the course to us. We need to run around the perimeter of the field we’re using twenty times, which he says is equal to ten miles. I used to run at least that far with my cousins when we were younger to get down to the lake on the edge of our village, but it’s been years. I’m not even sure if I can run that far any more without falling over.

I decide to pace myself. Jeremy, the tall guy, who came in third in the sprint, takes off like a lightning bolt, and I fully expect him to win this one. But as the laps continue, I get closer and closer to him. The others are quickly falling behind. At one point, on my sixteenth lap, I pass Gary who looks like he’s about to puke, and I realize he’s a full lap behind me.

On lap eighteen, I’ve caught Jeremy. He’s cursing under his breath as I come up on his left. I can’t tell if he’s angry at me or if he’s just upset at himself. I finish my lap and notice that several guys are walking now. While I’m definitely getting tired, I have more energy than expected, and once again, I finish the task in first place.

Brett meets me at the finish line. “Wow, Emory. Way to go, son!” He gives me a high five and writes down my time on the clipboard he’s been using to take notes. I thank him and head to the water station that’s situated between a few of the fields.

I’m looking at the ground and not paying attention to anything but my own breathing, so I don’t see that Kyan is already there until I’ve practically bumped into him. Like me, he’s dripping in sweat, but rather than looking like a swamp rat–which is suddenly how I feel–he’s glistening. I stare at him for a long moment, wondering how he can still look like an Adonis when I feel like I belong in the armpit of an overweight Alpha.

Gavin comes to mind, and I frown.

“You okay, Emory?” Kyan asks, filling up a paper cup and dumping it over his head before he refills it and chugs it down.

I still haven’t answered him because I’m fumbling with the cups like my fingers no longer work. “Great,” I finally get out.

“How’s it going?” I think I hear a note of sympathy in his voice, like he hopes I’m hanging in there.

“Crushing it.” I down my water and don’t look at him.

He laughs, which does make me turn my head in his direction. Does he think I’m being sarcastic?

“Nice. Me, too.” He offers me his fist to bump, and just like yesterday when he politely tried to shake my hand, I’m frozen for two seconds too long before I finally pound his fist with mine.

I jolt backward a couple of steps as his eyes widen.

Goddess, he f*****g felt that, too.

“Well, keep up the good work.” He tosses his cup in the recycling bin and heads back to his group. I can’t control my tongue at the moment, so I don’t say anything. Desperately, I search the other fields for Luka, looking for someone to ground me. I don’t see him, though.

Jeremy saunters over, a grimace of pain on his face. “Seriously, dude. What the f**k is up with you?”

I’m pulled from my thoughts and stare at him, wondering if he’s serious. He tries to pick up a cup but doubles over in pain.

I fill it up for him. “I don’t know,” I admit. “Good genes?”

He shakes his head and takes the water. “You’re sick.” He’s still shaking his head, but the corner of his mouth is pulled up in a small smile.

For the first time since I had this harebrained idea, I’m starting to think I might be able to do this.

And then I remember–we’re all about to get naked.