Chapter 3

Kinsley finished his solo training so he headed to the nearby stream. There was a deep spot where he would take a dip once in a while in his human form. The cool waters soothed his aching muscles.

Unlike his other pack members, Kinsley could feel pain more and he healed slower. He did not really mind these things. He had enough to worry with his inability to communicate with his so called family. While Asher, his wolf, could be hard headed and strong willed, he thought it was because of him that Kinsley could not communicate with the pack. He told Kinsley once that he didn't feel like himself, as if something was definitely missing. And he wasn't talking about their ability to tap into the pack link.

It bothered him for a while but after wracking his brains out, Kinsley couldn't find an answer. He thought perhaps his wolf just tried to make reason for their disadvantage and evidently putting the blame on himself. He made Asher stop thinking about what's missing in them. For all they knew, he could be right about finding their mate and finally be compete. Kinsley looked forward to that time but also dreaded it at times.

Kinsley was done taking a refreshing soak when he sensed four wolves closing in to where he was. He shifted immediately when his nose picked up the scents of the bullies that blocked his way earlier. Since he was still tired, he couldn't run fast enough even when Asher fully took over.

“This way, even if they caught up to us, you won't feel all the pain,” Asher told him and Kinsley growled knowing the wolf’s stubbornness. Kinsley could not control his wolf fully but he respected him as much as he did to him.

Asher nagged a lot though at school, he couldn't let him out when he was getting picked on. He knew that if he did, some human would notice the change of colors in his eyes and the alpha wouldn't like it. The omegas got scolded once when Kinsley suddenly let Asher take over when he was in middle school to defend himself from his bullies.

He adored the people who looked after him. He didn't want them to be reprimanded for something he did.

Asher dug into the dirt before he leaped and ran away from the four scents they were trying to avoid. Four became two and it was too late for him to realize they were running into a trap. His left leg fell into a hole and suddenly there was a searing pain coming from the back of it. A blade had cut through his flesh and he groaned loudly from the injury.

The tan wolf whimpered and tried to grab onto to the ground around him to get his leg off the ditch. He knew for sure there was some other kind of metal and sharp object embedded into the ground surrounding the small hole where his paw landed in.

“Damn it, it hurts,” Kinsely’s wolf growled and whimpered again.

The four scents were back together and Kinselt smelled them getting very close to him. "Well, well, well. It's not a deer, we trapped!" The tallest one said. Kinsley thought that if this boy was going to be the beta of Silver Pack, he’d be better off a run away.

The pack had no future with this jerk around.

"It's little miss deafie,” the second boy added.

Kinsely couldn't communicate with them even if he wanted to so bad to tell them how cowardly it was to set up a trap intended for a deer. Wolves hunt.

The shortest one leaned down to him and flicked his nose hard. Asher snarled at him and bared his fangs. "Watcha gonna say, princess?" He cupped his ear and turned it to him. "What is it? I can't hear! Hahahaha!!!"

They all laughed like a bunch of lunatics. Kinsley swallowed his anger as his wolf struggled to free his paw. The four spineless boys walked away after throwing rocks at him.

When his wolf finally got us out, Kinsley laid on the ground, whining and whimpering while examining the damage on his left leg. A flesh was torn and hanging on the back. A bone was exposed and he would need a doctor plus a full night of rest for it to heal.

"Asher!"

Kinsley’s vision was already getting blurry when he heard and saw the figure that was heading towards him. It was Chester, the young future alpha of the White Moon. He's a nice kid, small but nobody picked on him. The Silver Pack alpha made sure of that.

"Goddess! How did you get that?!"

Chester saw the wound but the other was too tired to respond. His wolf was trying to heal by shutting off their senses and getting some rest.

"Not here. I'll take you back,” Chester said which Kinsley barely heard. He sensed him rustling and before long, he was riding on top of a big wolf. It was Chester's best friend and future beta.

***

Kinsley woke up to a smell of herbal plants and clam chowder. His nose picked up somebody else's scent on where he was laying. He wasn't in his room.

"How are you feeling?" The familiar voice asked him and when he opened his eyes completely, he saw Chester sitting on the edge of the bed next to him. "I didn't tell anyone what happened to you yet. I put some clothes on you and I had your wounds cleaned up and dressed myself. Tell me, Asher, you do know who set the trap, right?"

At one occasion, Chester found him getting a beating from those four in school. He begged him not to tell anyone. It would only cause more trouble. And he knew from the way he asked him about the culprit of the trap that the younger boy knew.

"Don't tell Kelvin or anyone." Kinsley asked of him.

Chester sighed heavily and stood up to get a tray from the dresser across the bed. "Then at least eat,” he said to which Kinsley nodded. He dug right in; he was starving. He checked on his wolf and he seemed still and concentrated on healing his leg. He had shifted in his sleep. Kinsley would do that unconsciously when he felt the need to share the burden with his wolf. That’s what Asher told him.

After Kinsley finished eating, Chester took the dishes away and furrowed his brows on him again. "One day when I find a land for his pack, would you consider coming with us? I could use a fast and stubborn wolf like yours."

Kinsley chuckled and almost choked after drinking his water. "Are you recruiting? You're only fourteen!"

The young future alpha of White Moon looked at him seriously. "How can you let your own pack members bully you? You should stand up for yourself."

Kinsley sighed dejectedly. Kelvin told him how this junior tends to be a nag. He had the heart of a true alpha even when still he's small. He admired the kid for his courage, his strong heart, and his tenacity to survive for his remaining pack members. Which are mostly children, elderly, and some, women.

How hard must it have been to lose your parents and older brother in one night...

"Sometimes, it's best to walk away from a fight, Chester."

The younger boy looked at Kinsley while gritting his teeth. "I am an alpha. I don't walk out on a fight. If one day you become a mate to an alpha, male or female, then what? Will you be proud of yourself for running away like you do now?"

Kinlsey gave him a lopsided smile. "I plan to be a working member of the pack. Not some mate to an alpha. I will live this life the way I want it. In peace. Like it's always gonna be." There was hidden meaning to it and Chester was smart enough to catch on. Not being able to use the link makes Kinsley hear nothing but static noise when he tried so hard to tap into it.

"Just be careful next time. Fight back when you have the chance."

The two shared a small smile before Chester began nagging again about his patient’s leg. Kinsley express his gratitude but he wanted to be excused so he could head back to his quarters. Chester was still rambling about when someone opened the door to his room violently.

"Skylar!" Chester was startled.

If Kinlsey was not accustomed to the alpha's son's cold demeanor to him, he could swear he saw concern on his face. But then again, he saw the flicker of his yellow eyes. It was his wolf who barged in. He seemed angry as his eyes turned back to black, asking him about his leg. Kinsley timidly answered, nervous because even though he regarded Skylar as a jerk, he was the son to the alpha. He had power over him or to anyone in the pack aside from his father, his brother and the beta.

"Well next time, don't be a burden more than you already are."

Skylar left, slamming the door behind him. Kinsley felt a piercing pain in his chest when Skylar said those words. Not even the bullies' worst name callings hurt him this much.

"Kinsley..." Chester's soft voice called to him as he tried to stand up. He handed him a crutch to use.

"Thanks, Ches. You've helped me a lot,” Kinsley said with a painful smile. Chester smiled back.

"You're welcome. And don't think too much into it. It's good to practice his healing skills on you,” he said with a wink. "I didn't have to pay you."

That made Kinsley chuckle. He knew he was good at tending to the wounded but his elders advised him to focus on his alpha training. He sneakily practiced his so called medical gift.

Kinsley was off to his room in the omegas' quarters. Tomorrow was another quiet day for him and he had a long night to let his wolf heal him completely.