Chapter 27: 27. A training session or alphas show off?
DAY TWO OF TRAINING
MICHAEL
Day two of training, and apparently, word had gotten out that this was the new place to show off, because when I got to the cursed vine path, the other three alphas were already there. Adrian was stretching like some kind of golden, smug gymnast, his tunic clinging in a way that was definitely not accidental. Terrence was cracking his knuckles so loud it echoed through the clearing, and Xavier was sitting on a stump polishing his blade like he was preparing for battle, which was somehow worse.
Charlie, of course, sat cross legged in the grass, smiling like the world’s most innocent chaos gremlin, waving happily when I walked in.
"You’re just in time!" He said, practically glowing.
"In time for what?" I asked suspiciously.
"In time for us to see who’s the best." Terrence said with a sharp grin, already rolling his shoulders like he was about to run the whole path and then fight a bear at the end.
"Who asked for this?" I demanded.
"I did." Charlie said brightly, as if that explained everything. "I wanted to see how strong they are."
I blinked.
"You’re enjoying this way too much."I said.
Charlie just giggled and patted the grass beside him.
"Sit and watch. This is going to be good."He said.
Zavier appeared at my side, silver eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. His arm slid around my waist automatically, his wolf humming possessively.
"They think this is a competition." He muttered.
"Isn’t it?" I said under my breath, because honestly, it sure looked like one.
Adrian went first, of course, because he’s incapable of letting anyone else shine first. He ran the path like he’d choreographed it, hair catching the light, every step perfectly placed, barely breaking a sweat. When he came back, Charlie actually clapped, his golden eyes shining like Adrian had just saved the entire village from starvation.
"That was amazing!" Charlie said, his voice bright with genuine awe.
Adrian smiled, golden and smug.
"Thank you."He said and nodded.
And okay, I didn’t care, I really didn’t, but I definitely noticed that Charlie kept sneaking little glances at Adrian even after he sat back down. Like blushy, shy glances. Like the kind that made my wolf twitch uncomfortably.
Terrence went next, tearing through the course like a storm unleashed, ripping vines out of the ground and hurling them aside like they personally insulted him. By the time he finished, he was panting, shirt half undone, hair wild, and Charlie was giggling again.
"That was so scary but so cool!" He said, bouncing a little where he sat.
Terrence smirked like he’d just won a war. Xavier didn’t say a word when it was his turn, just glided into the path like a shadow, moving so fast and so quiet it barely disturbed a single leaf. He came out the other side without a single scratch, not even breathing hard. Charlie clasped his hands together, eyes wide.
"You’re like a ghost! That was beautiful!"He said.
Xavier’s lips curved just slightly, like that was the only praise he’d ever needed. Meanwhile me? I was sitting there, watching Charlie beam at each of them like they hung the damn moon, and my stomach felt weirdly tight.
Zavier noticed. Of course he did. He leaned down, brushing his lips against my temple, his voice low.
"You’re watching him too closely." He murmured.
"I am NOT." I hissed.
"You are."He said.
I scowled.
"He’s just... staring at Adrian a lot."I explained.
Zavier’s mouth twitched.
"Jealous?"He asked.
I turned bright red.
"No!"I screamed.
Charlie chose that exact moment to look at me, waving enthusiastically like we were sharing some private joke. "Michael! Do you want to try next?!"Charlie asked.
I blinked.
"What? No! I already almost died yesterday!"I said.
"You’ll be fine!" Charlie said encouragingly. "Besides, Zavier can catch you again if you fall!"
Zavier growled low, pulling me closer against him, clearly not loving that the others were watching me now.
"No one needs to see him fall." Zavier said flatly. "He’s not here to entertain them."
Terrence snorted.
"Or maybe he’s just scared."He grinned.
I immediately bristled.
"I am NOT scared!"I said.
"Prove it." Terrence said with a grin.
And somehow, somehow five minutes later I was running the path again, cursing under my breath, Zavier running right behind me like a shadow. Predictably, I tripped halfway through, but before I could eat dirt, Zavier caught me around the waist, spinning me upright like it was choreographed. Charlie actually cheered. Rose, who had apparently appeared at some point, clapped slowly, her grin sharp.
"You two are ridiculous." She said.
"I AGREE." I gasped, still breathless, glaring at Zavier who looked perfectly calm as usual.
But the worst part? Charlie leaned over to Rose, whispering something that made her laugh, then looked back at me and Zavier with a grin so wide it should’ve been illegal.
"You two really are like a mated pair already." He said, sing song, his tail actually wagging.
Zavier’s ears went red. Mine too. The others? Adrian looked like he’d just bitten into a lemon, Terrence was muttering curses under his breath, and Xavier’s jaw was so tight I thought he’d break his own teeth. Charlie giggled, completely unbothered, and went back to eating berries like nothing happened.
By the time the training ended, my legs felt like wet noodles and my pride felt like it had been chewed on by wolves. Not just mine. Everyone’s. Charlie had been grinning the entire time like this was his favorite soap opera. The rest of the day only got worse. Because after training came watch duty. Which sounded boring and simple until Selene and Rose decided they needed to ’supervise.’
They sat a few feet away, perched like queens on the stone wall, whispering to each other behind dainty hands and grinning at me like they’d already seen three steps into my future.
"You’re smiling too much." I muttered at them suspiciously.
Rose just widened her grin.
"No reason."She said.
Selene smirked, sharper.
"We were just discussing how fast you’re adapting to your role."Selene added.
"I’m not adapting." I snapped. "I’m surviving. Barely."
Rose leaned forward, chin on her hand.
"You look like you’re thriving, actually. The glow is new."She said.
Zavier, who was standing right behind me like my personal shadow, growled softly, and I swore my face burst into flames on the spot. Charlie, who had been sitting cross legged a few feet away
"It’s true! He’s so shiny now!"He said happily.
"Shiny?!" I choked.
"Like moonlight!" Charlie nodded enthusiastically. "The Moon really likes you. You can tell."
Selene made a sound that was halfway between a scoff and a groan, pinching the bridge of her nose. Rose, meanwhile, looked delighted, smirking as if she’d just won a bet I didn’t know I was part of.
"Careful, Selene." Rose said sweetly. "If he keeps glowing like this, Zavier might not let anyone else look at him."
"Zavier already doesn’t let anyone else look at him." Adrian muttered from where he was standing guard, glaring like his golden hair alone should’ve been enough to get Charlie’s attention back.
Charlie ignored him completely, humming happily as he made a little daisy chain out of weeds and then promptly tried to put it on my head.
"No." I said instantly.
"Yes." He said, climbing to his feet and shoving the flower crown toward me.
"No."I said.
"You’ll look cute." He promised.
"I don’t want to look cute-"I begun.
Too late. Charlie plopped the thing on my head, grinning wide.
"Perfect."He said.
I turned to Zavier, silently begging for backup, but the bastard was smirking. Smirking.
"You’re adorable." He murmured, voice low enough for only me to hear, and my wolf actually purred.
I hate it here. Selene groaned loudly.
"This is getting ridiculous. He’s not a doll, Charlie."Selene said.
Charlie stuck his tongue out at her.
"He’s my brother now, I can do what I want!"He said.
"My, what?!" I sputtered, nearly ripping the flower crown off.
Rose clapped her hands, laughing.
"Oh, I love this."She kept laughing.
"Stop loving it!" I snapped, turning redder by the second.
"Why?" Rose asked innocently, batting her lashes. "This is the most fun I’ve had in weeks."
Selene shot her a look sharp enough to cut glass.
"You’re encouraging chaos."She said.
"I am chaos." Rose said sweetly, and then winked at me.
My brain short circuited.
Adrian groaned loudly, Xavier muttered something under his breath, and Terrence just crossed his arms, glaring at the daisy crown like he wanted to throw it into the fire.
Charlie was unbothered, flopping back onto the grass like he’d just solved world peace.
"This is nice." He said dreamily.
"It’s chaos." I corrected.
"Same thing." He grinned, flashing his golden eyes at me before glancing back toward Adrian, again.
And oh, yes, Adrian noticed. His jaw flexed, his perfect smile tightening at the edges as though he couldn’t decide if he was pleased or annoyed to have Charlie’s attention. Selene finally stood, brushing off her robes.
"Well, enjoy your little... bonding session." She said, voice dripping with disdain. "You have one day less to prepare for the Moonflower."
Her gaze lingered on me meaningfully, but Rose just grinned wider, clearly entertained.
"Don’t worry." Rose said, her voice carrying like a bell. "I think Michael’s doing great."
I scowled, because somehow I knew she wasn’t just talking about training.