Chapter Thirty-Three
Graham brought another warrior to the ground with a thud. The boy sucked in a breath, his wide eyes blinked a few times up at him.
“Now, what did he do wrong?” Graham asked, turning to the group of warriors watching carefully.
“Swiped his leg too early,” said one.
“Turned his back,” said another.
“Both,”Graham agreed. “If he’d waited until I’d shifted my weight before the kick and then kept his body facing me, he may have succeeded in taking me down rather than giving me the opportunity to strike.” The warriors nodded as two of them helped the poor guy up.
He may have been going too hard on them today. He was frustrated and took it out on the trainees. Realizing this, he took himself out of the equation and ordered them to spar each other. Normally Theo would be the one teaching the youngest recruits. He enjoyed allowing them to get the upper hand. He said it gave them confidence when they could knock down a fully matured lycan. While Graham would never allow some little twerp to even think he’d gotten the better of him, he couldn’t argue with Theo’s tactic.
Today though Graham had sent Theo out to teach another class the duty of patrol. He would be out scouting the fence lines all day. With the threat of rogues growing throughout the area, he needed to beef up security. While the trainees were a bit reckless and eager to prove themselves, he needed the
extra man power.
Graham walked down the line, observing and correcting when needed. About thirty minutes went by when he picked up on a bit of murmuring at the beginning of the line. He stepped back and glanced over to find Jensen walking toward him in workout attire. He sighed and rubbed his face. Graham asked Jensen to not come out when he was training the younger men as it distracted them. He could tell though the older alpha had something on his mind and he had a few guesses what it could be.
“Jensen,” Graham greeted, crossing his arms while he continued to watch the pair fighting in front of him.
Jensen clapped him on the shoulder. “Looking good, Grey. I saw you had them switch to sparring a little bit ago. Beforehand it looked like you were giving them a hard time. Something bothering you?” Jensen asked, giving him a knowing look.
“I’m a bit on edge, as you can imagine,” Graham agreed.
“Mhmm, care to talk about it?”
Graham pivoted to face the alpha after one of the opponents managed to get the other man to the ground.
“There is nothing to talk about until you’ve lowered your command. I’m doing my job, now if you don’t mind I will continue,” Graham said, dismissing him by walking to the next group.
Jensen followed and observed beside him. After a few minutes, Jensen nodded his approval. “I won’t keep you then. Oh, by the way, there have been rogue sightings on the fence lines.”
“I’ve heard.”
“Good, then you know all about it and can leave right away. I want you to track them down and bring them back for interrogation,” Jensen said, turning on his heel. Graham swiveled in time to see the hint of a smile on his alpha’s face.
“No.”
Jensen halted. He placed both hands behind his back before turning to Graham. The men around him had stopped their sparring to watch the two higher ranks facing off.
“No?” Jensen asked, walking back up to him. His eyes flicked to the men who ducked their heads. “Did you just say ‘no’ to an order given by your alpha?”
“No,” Graham started causing Jensen to lift a brow in curiosity. “I said ‘no’ to my mate’s father. I won’t leave her unprotected and that’s final.” Graham glared at the warriors still standing around. “Why the fuck have you stopped?”
“Because they want to see how this plays out,” Jensen laughed, causing the men to stop their flurry to get back to fighting. Their eyes jerked between Jensen
and Graham
1/3
Chapter Thirty-Three
Graham knew he came out here on purpose to test his teachings. It was drilled into these men to always follow orders, even when they disagreed with them. For Graham to dismiss his alpha, no less, was a huge sign of disrespect punishable in many packs by death.
Graham glared at Jensen. “I know what you’re doing.”
“Do you? Shall we give these young pups a show? Demonstrate what two well-matched opponents can do?”
“I won’t be your beta. I won’t leave Catherine here while I go on one of your missions. You can’t force my hand.”
“Who’s forcing?” Jensen asked, already shucking off his shirt to show the younger men the hundreds of tattoos marking his skin. “Catherine will be safe in the packhouse. I’ll train her. Rebecca will give her a job. She won’t even know you’re gone,” Jensen taunted.
Graham growled and pulled his t-shirt over his head. Jensen knew him too well but Graham could say the same in reverse. The two men circled each other lazily while the young warriors watched on in awe. They all knew Graham had to tread carefully.
If he let his temper get the better of him, he might provoke the alpha and get himself killed or worse, overpower the alpha and end up unwittingly challenging him. Graham and Jensen had faced each other enough times to know the limit, but with how Jensen continued to taunt him, Graham was fighting for control.
Jensen attacked first, as was his nature and Graham deflected, taking on the defense, as was his nature. Jensen continued to deliver blow after blow. A few connected with Graham’s stomach, and legs but more often than not, they barely grazed his skin. Graham waited until he noticed a sheen of sweat appear on Jensen’s forehead before he went on the offensive.
He pushed Jensen back, delivering a few swift kicks and punches to Jensen’s center. After nearly ten minutes the two were locked in a stalemate. They faced each other, breathing heavily but neither wanting to back down. Jensen moved again, coming forward with a furious snarl. Graham went to block when…
Graham…
Jensen succeeded in knocking him to the ground. He only had a moment to analyze Catherine’s soft voice calling out in his head before he had to roll to avoid Jensen’s knee. He stood sharply, still confused but blocked out the gnawing feeling in his gut as Jensen took the advantage.
He rained blow after blow on Graham’s upper body, knocking him down. Graham decided to let him, falling to his knees. Jensen went to deliver a final kick to the head when Graham caught his leg and twisted. Jensen swiveled and his palms hit the dirt.
A flurry of voices entered Graham’s head and Jensen stilled as the same happened to him. They both stood apart trying to decipher the multiple voices vying for attention.
“Rogues,” Jensen growled.
“You are to stay put and run laps until myself or Theo returns, understood?” Graham ordered. The trainees nodded eagerly though their eyes lingered, wondering what excitement they were about to be excluded from.
Jensen shifted in a moment and Graham followed suit. The rogues had been spotted on the last line of defense. He didn’t understand how that could happen. How had they managed to get through two of the highest secured fences in the country? Who the fuck let them get so close? His paws sunk into the damp earth as he pushed himself faster, keeping stride with his alpha as they headed toward where Theo lost their trail.
Graham!
A fission of fear ripped through him, causing him to lose his balance. He stumbled and nearly face planted in the earth at the strange sensation coursing through him. His breath hitched and he whined, knowing for certain now it had been Catherine yelling for him through his mindlink. But how? And where the fuck was she?
Graham, a different voice connected. Theo. Graham didn’t like the tone, the unease lacing his friend’s words.
I know, Graham responded. Where is my mate?
213
Surrendering to Destiny
