Rise of the Underdogs: VALIK

XIX

Called into the Alpha’s office a few days later, I grinned at my brother.

Blaze sat across from Logan, dressed in full parade uniform — the deep wave-green tunic tailored to precision, its high collar stiff and formal. Gold shoulder boards gleamed under the office lights, marked with stars and insignia that spoke of rank and legacy. His trousers matched the tunic, sharp-creased and lined with a subtle stripe denoting his branch. A ceremonial belt cinched his waist, and his polished black boots rested flat against the floor, silent but commanding. The peaked cap resting on his knee bore the traditional cockade — a gold star framed by orange and black, edged in rays and a wreath that echoed both Soviet and Imperial heritage.

I snapped to attention, standing tall, yet demure in the face of those who severely outranked me. “I didn’t know we had company, Alpha. Welcome, Prince Blaze. Was there something you needed?”

“Glad to know my training wasn’t wasted, Wolf,” Blaze said. “No, there’s nothing you need to be worried about. I came to visit a Vampire Lord, and he summoned you for a completely different reason.”

I scowled, not understanding what was going on. “Please explain, because I’m lost.”

“For one, I’m releasing your team to Logan’s pack as they’re done with training, and he requires additional guards. They’ve proven loyalty to you, specifically, and refuse to take any other partners into the fold of their teamwork.” He told me.

Logan chuckled under his breath. “Two, you’re being assigned to your Mate and her best friend for the remainder of the school year. You’re to do drops and pick-ups for both her and Ember. I need my Medics kept safer than the King of Milan.”

The only thought that crossed my mind was that someone or something had threatened the girls. I would be heartbroken if anything happened to Heaven, and Ember was her go-to for everything since they were small pups. They were inseparable — the kind of bond that didn’t need words to be understood. “When, where, and what do you need me to watch for?”

“Not going to complain?” Logan asked, his eyes searching my face for a beat of time.

“Over guarding a few vulnerable members of the Howlers? Hell, nah. That’s the job of the Alpha’s Elite, isn’t it? Ensuring I follow your orders and keep our pack safe?” I pressed, wanting to show just how grown I’d become in only a year. My voice didn’t waver, and I held his gaze, steady and sure.

Logan leaned back in his chair, a slow smile spreading across his face. His eyes softened, pride flickering behind the usual sharpness. “You sound like someone who’s finally figured out what it means to wear that badge.”

Blaze gave a quiet nod, his expression unreadable at first, then shifting into something that looked like approval. “Good. That’s the kind of answer I expect from someone who trained under my command. You’re not just protecting them because you were told to — you’re doing it because you understand why it matters.”

Logan glanced at Blaze, then back at me. “You’ve come a long way, Valik. I knew you had it in you, but hearing it out loud? That’s something else.”

Blaze stood, adjusting the ceremonial belt around his waist with a practiced motion. “Then it’s settled. Your team will be briefed on the route and schedule tomorrow morning.”

I blinked as he excused himself to follow the Omega who was called on to show him to his quarters. Turning my head to look at my brother, I watched him shrug.

“That… was unexpected.”

“In what way?” Logan asked, his voice quiet, his gaze still lingering on the door Blaze had just walked through.

“Well, I kinda figured that you’d want me to watch over Heaven and Ember, but the fact that my team from Camp Katya won’t take any other third except for me? That was the unexpected part,” I advised, rubbing the back of my neck as I tried to process it.

Logan leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “They trained with you. Fought beside you. Trusted you when you were still figuring yourself out. That kind of bond doesn’t just fade because the mission ends.”

I nodded slowly, letting his words settle. It made sense but hearing it out loud gave it weight. My team didn’t just respect me — they chose me. That meant something.

“They see you as their anchor,” Logan added. “And honestly? So do I. According to Blaze, you led your team out of mock enemy fire after sneaking into opposing territory to free them. Then, you led them back in to capture the flag and end the mock mission. That wasn’t just leadership, that was primal instinct kicking in with a vengeance.”

The scent hit me like a smack as he spoke, and I let a smile curve my lips. I bit the inside of my cheek, a shiver stealing through my entire body as if every pore, every nerve was bracing for something.

Logan glanced at me as he worked through the paperwork in front of him. “Is there a reason you’re standing like a statue in my office?”

“Yup,” I said. “They’re here.”

“Who?” He questioned, one red brow arching over his pale, blue-grey eyes. Eyes that held an eerie ring of red around the pupil.

“My team, Samara Hyde and Peiter Von Hoist. They’re the two Vampires I was bunked with during training. Nothing but friendship between us, though,” I answered, moving into a more relaxed position.

He rose to his feet, shifting his weight as he approached. “Why would that thought cross your mind? What are you afraid of, little brother?”

“Honestly? I’m afraid of disappointing you,” I admitted, my voice softer than I meant it to be.

“Why would that even come up? Did I say or do something to bring that fear to you, Valik?” Logan’s tone wasn’t of boredom or the usual casual sarcasm. This was different. He wanted truth and answers.

Answers only I could give.

“No, but my history with people in power isn’t black and white, either. You’re the first, other than my mother, who actually cared about someone other than themselves and being on a power trip.” I told him, watching carefully as he relaxed.

Nodding, he sighed, “That’s normal for anyone who’s suffered through the kind of trauma we survived. But that’s just it, Valik. We’re not just survivors anymore. We’re warriors. Thriving in the same world that tried to silence us through aggression and powerplay tactics we saw through so fast our enemies didn’t know what hit them.”

Blinking back tears, I nodded. He was right. We hadn’t just survived – we’d thrived on the bare minimum because we knew how to make it work for us instead of the other way around. “Thank you, Logan. Not just for being the brother I needed, but for being an Alpha who sees potential in broken things and helps set them right.”

“You’re not broken. Not anymore,” he whispered, his voice harsh with pain.

A knowing snicker reached my ears, and I turned to see my friends and my visibly upset Mate. Peiter smirked at me, his eyes reflecting his mischievous nature. “Sup?”

“Everything taller than you,” I shot back. “Heaven, why are you upset?”

Her eyes flickered to the floor then back at me. “Are they really your friends?”

“Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on who you ask,” I said with a grunt.

“And you’re not… you know… her ex?”

Samara started to laugh hysterically. “Aw, hell no. I like the guy, but not like that. Trust me, he’s all yours, Pumpkin. I got my girl coming from Syria soon.”

Her face turning an adorable shade of red, Heaven sucked in a breath. “Oh… okay. I’m…”

I gently covered her mouth with my hand. “Didn’t we talk about this? You don’t have to apologize, Heaven. I didn’t know until a few minutes ago they were coming.”

She nodded, curling into me with a soft sigh.