Chapter 10: 10
"Rapid shift training." I call to the men gaining their attention for our mid day training. "You should be able to shift in 5 seconds. This timer will go off every 60 seconds for ten minutes then decrease by one second every other cycle. When the timer rings you shift. If you don't shift, well... I have excellent aim." I say tossing a baseball in the air and catching it.
The commander threw knives but I doubt the King will go for that.
"We can't shift that quickly!" A man yells.
"You will learn." I tell him.
"We need more time!" Another adds.
"War won't wait for you... do your best and you will improve." I respond. "Prepare to shift."
I look out on the crowd the men begin to undress. That is when I notice the one woman among the men.
"Nope!" My wolf growls.
"What do you think you are doing?!" I ask Emily when I reach her. She is right up front where all the men can see her! She has already removed her shirt and I'm not letting her go any further.
"You said to get ready to shift." She answers.
"Not you!" I growl.
"No. You can't avoid me when it suits you then act like a mate when you feel like it! I'm here to train so suck it up, Mate!" She challenges me. I growl grabbing her arm and dragging her to the back of the crowd.
"If you look behind you I use knives instead of baseballs!" I growl to the men who keep their eyes forward. Good!
"You just gave me a view of all the men in the pack Asher." Emily links me and I growl.
"Focus on your training Emily." I link back.
"I could just focus on my trainer." She responds.
"Knock it off!" I growl. I hear her chuckle then block the link.
"Begin!" I announce hitting the timer.
DING!
Everyone begins to shift.
DING!
About half didn't finish in time to shift back. My arm is gonna hurt. I reach into the bucket rapid firing the balls hitting the men in the chest, back and stomach (not over the heart because that can kill you. That's why kids wear heart guards in baseball.) I hear many yelps and groans as the balls impact. I recruited a couple pups to retrieve the balls for me and they find this hilarious.
I stop training early as all of the men fall out covered in circular welts and bruises.
"That's Enough!" I yell as I stop the timer. "Good effort men! tomorrow we start again. Tonight I want each of you in wolf form. One hour run at least. Challenge yourselves. Push yourself to your limit then rest up! We start again at 0500."
I turn to walk away but am caught by Emily.
"You went easy on me." She states.
"I don't know what you mean." I say.
"I fell out early on yet I wasn't hit once. I wonder why that is?" She taunts.
"Guess I missed." I say shrugging my shoulders.
"Sure you did... soooo since you've decided to go all possessive protective mate on me how about we have dinner tonight before the run?" She asks.
"Yes!" My wolf howls.
"No... I've told you. Don't get attached to me. I'll only let you down." I tell her.
"You have dinner with me or I stick to you all day. We can spend plenty of time together." She smirks running a hand down my chest. I growl.
"Fine! Dinner... now stop toying with me!" I take her hand removing it from my chest. I sigh and take off. I can't give in to her!
"See you at 6, Mate!" She calls after me.
1800 (6pm)
"Hurry up mate! Its pizza night and I'm not missing out on the meat lovers!" Emily says pulling me down the stairs.
"I'm coming Meme." I say.
"Sooo... what's your favorite color?" She asks as we sit with our food.
"I'm not doing this Emily." I tell her.
"Its a simple question Asher." She responds.
"Green... Black... camo... it doesn't matter anyway you don't want to get to know me. The things in this mind would give you nightmares." I tell her tapping my temple.
"I can handle it... mine is Blue... favorite song?" She asks. I sigh.
"Techaikovsky's 1812 Overture." I answer.
"Seriously?" She asks eyebrows raised. I shrug.
"Haven't heard much... that one is just full of such raw emotion. You can feel it. Alot of modern songs just all sound the same." I explain.
"You amaze me." She says grinning... oh no! Not that look! I need to get our of here!
"I can't do this!" I panic standing up I run to my room.
"You can't outrun the mate bond." My wolf tells me.
"I can try." I respond flopping onto my bed.
Moments later my door opens and I sit up.
"You can't be in here!" I tell her remembering the King's rules.
"You can't leave me." She says nearly crying.
"Please don't." I beg her standing up. I walk towards her.
"You can't die! You can't give up!" She yells throwing me against the door.
"I already Love you you idiot!" Her lips quickly meet mine. I sink into the kiss. I'm just putty in her hands.
She pulls away from me and I am panting for breath as she attacks my neck with kisses. It feels amazing. One moment it's her lips and the next I feel pain as she sinks her teeth in. The pleasure that follows makes my canines elongate searching for the spot to mark.
"Promise me boy!"
"I will not mark Emily."
I push away from her vaulting over the bed.
"Come on Asher!" Emily says coming over to me. "You know you want to." She moves her hair away from her neck.
I can't do this!
"Come on human! It was hard enough convincing her wolf to mark you without a ceremony! Just Do IT!" My wolf yells.
I bite my lip piercing through it. I can't believe my wolf set this up! I can't be in the same room as her! I want to mark her so bad!
"I'm giving you permission, mate." Emily says pushing towards the window.
"Mine!" I growl holding her. She closes her eyes.
No!
Just as my teeth graze her skin I snap out of it, release her, and jump through the window landing two stories below in a pile of shattered glass. I run into the woods. As soon as I reach the trees I shift unable to hold it any longer.
"Asher!" The King calls me as he enters the woods. I walk up to him and bow.
"What happened pup?... your window was shattered. I thought you were hurt." He seems concerned. I am still shaking. Everything within me wants to go mark my mate. But I will not do it. I think the promise I made the King is all that allows me to hold on to my sanity.
"Shift Asher. I need to know what happened." He says. I shake my head. I can't let him see the mark. "Really boy don't make me force you..." I still refuse. "Fine SHIFT NOW!" He orders. Soon I am human on my hands and knees head down. Ok now if I stay like this he won't see... "stand up Gamma." Reluctantly I stand keeping my head down to hide the mark. "Look at me." Well this will be fun.
I look up at the King and his eyes immediately lock onto the mark. They turn black with rage as he charges at me punching me in the face.
"You promised not to mark her!" He hits me again. "Not without a ceremony!" And again. "My little girl!" A few more punches.
"Daddy." the sweet voice stops him and he stands to face her.
"Meme are you okay? I can't believe he forced you..." the king stops speaking to grab me as I step towards her. I grind my teeth trying to maintain control.
"My King, if you don't want your daughter marked I suggest you get her out of here. I'm not sure how much longer I can stop myself." I growl clenching my fists.
He looks at Emily examining her. Once he sees no mark it clicks. My control snaps and I lunge for her only to be grabbed by the King.
"Malakai! Take Emily and lock her up in her room at my house. Post guards. She is not to leave!" He orders.
"Daddy please!" Emily steps forward but the Beta grabs her pulling her away along with three other wolves to guard her.
"You Okay, Boy?" The King asks after they've gone.
"No. I'm gonna mark her Alpha. I can't control myself. I barely got out of there. If I mark her I'll hurt her. I can't tie us together like that but now... with this on my neck... I can't resist her!" I say honestly.
"You just have to last a few days. Since you didn't mark her it will fade." He tells me.
"Lock me up." I tell him.
"You are the Gamma. You will not be returning to the cells... we need you for training. I will keep Emily away... thank you son... I can't imagine missing out on her Mates Ceremony... and she will be having one." He says.
"Yes sir." I respond.
"Go to bed Asher you need it... that's an order!" He smiles at me.
"Yes sir." I respond returning to the pack house.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone