Chapter Thirty-Five

Dom

"Again," Smokey ordered.

Paws to the dirt and digging my claws into the ground, I was shoulder to shoulder with a growling Amelia.

Smokey had taken us deep into the mountains. Now that I was making some serious improvements and Amelia was growing even stronger, he didn't want us to be watched too closely. The warriors who had seen us training before didn't need to see and possibly report back to Evander what we were up to anymore. Not now, not when we were only a few weeks from the next full moon. Not when we were about to topple Evander.

The two of us lunged in synch, slamming into a dead tree that was easily as big around as either of us in wolf form. This time I heard a crack as we pushed into it with all our might.

"Okay, ease back," Smokey said.

We took a few steps back, and I eyed the huge tree as it swayed lightly.

"Looks like you're going to fell this one too," Smokey said. "Dom, you do this one."

I sighed through my nose, but obliged. Digging my claws into the earth under me, I sprang from the ground and lunged at the trunk. With my full weight and every ounce of muscle I could spare, I pushed into the tree.

"Your enemy won't always be smaller than you," Smokey said, watching from a safe distance. "And Evander is one big son of a bitch. Dom, you were born a beta but from good stock. Amelia, you were a born alpha, but as a female, you'll always be a bit smaller. Push through the tree, imagine your target a little farther back than the actual center of it, and shove until you're there."

A growl of frustration slipped out as I heaved, one last push. I imagined it just as Smokey had described, and shoved until more cracking told me the tree was about to give.

"Back off it!" Smokey snapped.

I leaped out of the way just in time to watch it tumble over, scattering birds, bugs, and broken branches everywhere. When all the debris was settled, I turned to Smokey.

"Not bad, kid. Not bad," he said. "Do you two want to get something to eat and head back home?"

Do you mean head back home and then get something to eat? Amelia asked.

"You know I don't, girlie." Smokey chuckled. "Come on, no lying around. We hunt like wolves."

Smokey shifted, and I caught my breath after slamming into trees all day. Once he was a grizzled, furry bastard, he led the way down the slope.

The sky was turning gray, a likely sign of rain tonight. I thought of June and her tracking lessons with Tanner. She would probably be thrown for a loop if all the scents washed away, but I suppose if anyone could show her how to get around that, Tanner could.

June was so fucking cute when she came home and told me about the trackers. Whatever our future brought, even if she was my luna, these skills would only benefit the pack, and I had no hesitations about her learning them. And it was always good to see her happy about something.

Dom. Smokey interrupted my thoughts. Get your head out of your ass and go start a fight with Nathan.

I swung my head around, looking, and listening. Nathan? Wait, I see him.

Sure enough, he was walking with Anna and his little cousin a good distance ahead of where we were heading toward a big grazing field to find dinner. Nathan stood out as the biggest, but Anna's shiny, mostly white coat was eye catching as well.

You want me to start a fight, with Nathan? I asked. Why?

Don't question me, boy! Just get in there. Smokey nipped at my tail, and I growled lightly but stayed fairly quiet. The wind was on my side anyway, so I crept toward the future alpha and beta quietly.

Don't fuck it up, Dom , Amelia warned. You might be able to take Nate, but Anna is no slouch. She's his second for a reason.

Good point , Smokey said. Get in there and help him.

Amelia crouched in the grass and followed my lead toward the Salt Fur wolves.

Grass brushed against my side as I crouched as low as possible. I faintly registered the smell of geese, possibly something we could come back for later if Smokey still wanted to hunt. Nathan, Anna, and Matt walked along, not showing any signs of noticing us.

As I crept into range, Nathan's ear twitched. It could have been a bug or an itch or the wind irritating him, but there was no taking chances with a wolf as strong as Nathan. I jumped, and Amelia was right behind me.

Nathan twisted, snarling, and swinging a set of sharp claws in the air between us, causing me to fall back. Anna was on top of Amelia, and Matt joined them soon after.

The fight was brutal. Nathan was definitely bred from alpha stock. Huge, heavy, and so much muscle to get through. When I wasn't defending myself from him, I managed to get in a few swipes or bites of my own while avoiding the mess behind me that was Anna, Matt, and Amelia.

But Amelia could handle them on her own. The problem was, Nathan knew that too.

In sync, Anna and Nathan jumped way back, putting space between them and their fights, and switched targets. Suddenly, Anna was on me with a whole new strategy and Matt was bouncing between whoever he could reach relatively safely.

What the hell was that? Amelia snarled.

Strategy , I growled. Do you remember that time in Boston with the wildfire demon?

Hell, yeah, I do , Amelia answered. Let's do it.

Just like Anna and Nathan had done, Amelia and I jumped back. But instead of lunging at different targets, Amelia ran for Nathan and I stayed back for just a heartbeat. Just long enough for Amelia to take up most of Nathan's vision and attention, and then I ran under her.

As Amelia jumped up to attack Nathan's face, I shoved under her and between them. Nathan, preoccupied with Amelia, lashed at her and sent her flying. But he wasn't fast enough to react when I came up to his throat with my teeth.

He was already on unsteady feet, so it was easy for me to shove my weight behind my lunge, and we both fell over, me pinning him down and keeping my fangs hovered over his neck.

Amelia recovered, but not before Anna had rammed her side. But Amelia wouldn't be taken down that easily, and after shoving Matt aside and down the hill a bit, she ran her full form into Anna, pinning her down not unlike I had Nathan. With a glance, the Salt Fur wolves backed down.

"You did all right, you two," Smokey said. He walked through the field behind us, in human form so he could talk to the whole group, not only those of us in Moonpeak.

We took his lead and shifted. I winced as tight, fresh skin where Nathan had gotten his claws in me pretty good pulled in the shift. I glanced at him in satisfaction, seeing a few of my own marks on him as well.

"What the hell?" Nathan growled.

"Keepin' you on your toes." Smokey chuckled. "Getting these two up to snuff."

"Where are you going, anyway?" I asked Nathan.

"Back to the pack. I don't like the sound of those rogues from the other day, and I want to check on everyone."

"To see if they've been spotted there too," Amelia said. "Good idea."

"We didn't see them last time, I don't know if we'll see them this time either," Anna said.

"But we need to stay on top of it anyway," Nathan replied.

"Could you send word if you've had any back home?" I asked. "I'd like to know how similar the rogues are this time compared to before."

"I'll do you one better." Nathan clapped a hand on my shoulder. "I'll be back for the new moon and I'll tell you myself. I'm not done kicking your ass into shape."

"Is that what you called him pinning you?" Anna giggled

"You nearly caught Alpha Evander by surprise this visit," Smokey said. "He doesn't like that kinda thing too much."

"I know." Nathan rubbed the back of his neck, grinning. "What if I said I like trying to catch him off guard?"

Smokey gave Nathan a serious look. "Kid, my loyalty is still to this pack before anything else, and an alpha doesn't drop in on another alpha unannounced."

"Fine, fine." Nathan sighed. "But I hate sitting around at the borders for approval and an escort. There was a time me and Dad could show up whenever we felt like it."

"That time will come again," I promised.

Anna looked back at me and Amelia. "We'll hold you to that promise. See you guys soon enough."

"Yeah, and we might have to repay the surprise." Nathan punched me in the arm. "Keep an eye out over your shoulder, buddy."

"Keep an eye out under your chin," I said.

"He's got you there," Smokey joked.

"Yeah, yeah," Nathan said. "Laugh it up. That trick isn't going to work on me twice."

"It doesn't have to," Amelia said. "We've been together through a lot of shit. We've got more tricks than that up our coats."

"Take care," I said. "Don't let your guard down with those things out there."

Anna nodded. "We won't."

The three of them shifted, skin growing fur, bodies lowering to the ground and getting bigger. Once they left our pack lands, we too shifted into our own wolf forms, and I was satisfied with how our little fight went down.

We need to remember more of the stuff we've pulled off together , I said to Amelia . All five of us. We need to be ready just in case.

I'm game , Amelia said. Just in case.

While I like you're planning and finally acting like real alphas, Smokey interrupted , you two still have to catch something to eat.

And while you're at it, catch some extra for the pack stores , Smokey added . Now, let me see you put some real hustle into it.

There are some geese nearby , I offered.

Nice try, Dom , Smokey said. But I'm feeling pretty damn puckish.

No , Amelia snapped. No, Smokey.

You kids need to catch me a big old moose , Smokey said, pleased with himself.

Dammit, Smokey! Amelia snapped.

I wholeheartedly agreed with a growl. We had been at training for hours.

Make that a moose, each , Smokey said . Now, come on, kids, ol' Smokey's hungry.

And even under the guise of dinner, our training continued.

Dammit, Smokey.