AJ

I guess you could sort of consider Xena, Midnight, and Finley as my ‘betas’ though Summer was my only mini-pack, a mix of our word pack, and the human word clique. I sit on a log in combat class. They sit around me. Summer talks to Ainsley with happy, excited movements. I keep an eye on her. I feel very protective of her. Though I know she can handle herself. She prefers not too. She bounds over to us sitting next to me. When Red growls at her Finley grows back.

“You ok Summer?” He asks. He’s the only guy in our group. She nods sharing with them a new song she heard. They listen. Summer has a kind of joy and optimism that’s infectious. People want to listen to her. It’s no wonder there’s talk of her being the Bloom pack’s new beta. Every time I bring it up though she brings up that I’m heir to the Dark Moon pack, and that’s a higher rank. Heirs are chosen by the current Alpha. Beta’s are chosen by the pack. Beta’s only become Alpha if a Heir isn’t chosen, or if both the Alpha and Heir step down, die, or are asked by the pack to step down. Beta’s are an Alpha’s second in command. Getting a command from an Heir though is like getting a command from your future Alpha. We keep my status hush, hush though. I try not to draw more attention to myself that I already have. I’m the only Dark Moon pack member here. I know because I keep a wolf mask on my belt at all times. To wear it is often a sign of strength. Summer herself has a flower tattoo at her temple. A sign of her loyalty to the Bloom pack. I smell the air. Coyotes, wolves, fox’s, lions, tigers, crows, ravens, fish shifter, and human sents all mix together.

“Want to spar?” Kaz asks. Another wolf shifter. I have to be careful who I spar with, but Kaz is a good fighter. His pack like most of the others don’t teach them to fight as well as mine. Fight to kill if we have to.

“Sure.” I say getting up.

“Go AJ.” Summer says. I smile. I think when I’m with Summer is the only time I really smile. I smirk at Kaz.

“You sure you want to do this?” I say stretching.

“I’m sure.” He says. We’ve drawn a few eyes. I mask always draw eyes when I fight. At first we claw at each other, circling. Then we shift. I drag him by his scruff across the ground. Trying to win without really hurting him. He leaps up at me trying to bite my shoulder, but I dodge. I shift human and punch his muzzle hard. He whimpers staggering back.

“Sorry.” I say. Maybe a bit too hard.

“You’re good.” He says holding his jaw. My father would’ve been so mad if I broken it. My father is the Alpha after all. Chooses by our pack. He wants to make sure we keep our good relations. That puts me under a lot of pressure. Which also means I need to stay in control at all times.

“That was really good.” Summer says as I sit back down next to her.

Part 3

Summer

“Maybe you, and I should spar little girl?” Red says. It’s AJ who growls this time.

“No. No thank you.” I say as politely as I can. He growls at me.

“Your freinds won’t always be around to protect you.” He says.

“I can protect myself.” I say as he walks off.

“Will you spar with me?” Ainsley asks nervously brushing her hair out of her eyes. She has long black bangs, and low, slightly wavy pigtails. They’re pretty on her. At the moment, long black rabbit years are out of her head. My hair has black and white streaks. My old bunny ears are sticking out of my head with black and white spots. We spar for a few minutes when I see Red get into an attack position out of the corner of my eye. We’re weaponless, of course. We had only been sparring with our fists. He rushes for me. I both managed to dodge and push Ainsley out of the way. I hop back up to my feet. She moves back, clearly scared. AJ pushes between her, and him in wolf form. Ready to step in if she needs to. I continue to roll and duck out of the way. When he comes at me a fifth time he’s panting. He growls, but there’s no fight left in him.

“Good work Miss. Summer.” The teacher says. “Winning does not always mean fighting. Sometimes it means wearing out your opponent till they can fight no more.” I smile at the praise. Red huffs and leaves. Xena and Midnight share nervous glances. He might be back, but I’ll be ready.