Chapter 5 - Kane

I can’t believe that I’m actually learning to fight.  I made a simple comment to Wyatt that I wish I could be more like him and bam.  Ford and Mason are teaching me to fight.  I think I could have handled just one teacher, but with both of them, it is like an intense lesson.  When one has to leave to take care of something, the other one comes in and continues with my lesson. 

Usually, Mason is my main teacher since he is the lead warrior and is the one leading all the training sessions while Ford is Wyatt’s Beta.  Between the two, they have taught me in an extremely intense training session every day.  I don’t even get Saturday or Sunday off.

However, if this is going to get me to the level that Wyatt is at, then I’ll gladly work all these hours and more. 

Well, I don’t have much else to do, so I might as well train. 

If I was back at my old pack, I would be getting ready to go back to college.  However, I don’t really miss that either, because my parents forced me to study business when I really wanted to go through the medical program.  Ever since I was little, I had always loved watching the doctors in the pack hospital.  I don’t know if me being an omega had anything to do with it, but the idea of helping people and trying to heal them is what I really want to do. 

However, I have already given up on that idea.  The idea of disappearing means that I can’t be found anywhere and if I go back to college, I would definitely be found.  No.  I would rather not go back to college if it means that I could continue to stay here.

Granted, I haven’t been here long, but Wyatt has made me feel welcomed which means the whole pack has welcomed me.  Now, I’m not saying that I didn’t feel welcomed at my old pack, but I wasn’t liked by quite a few.  For some reason, me being the Beta’s son, even though my older brother is the next beta, meant that some people just couldn’t stand to be around me.  I still haven’t figured out why, but at this point, I really don’t care. 

Mason yells across the training field at me, “Hey, Kane!  Don’t be slacking!  Ford will be here soon to continue your training!”

I smile and yell back, “I’m just getting some water!  I wasn’t slacking!”

I shake my head and grab the bottle of water sitting next to my things on the bench.  As I unscrew the cap, I glance around the training field.  I’m still amazed that everyone is taught how to fight, even the omegas.  Wyatt keeps telling me that it is the responsibility of everyone to learn to defend themselves and the pack.  If they are the last ones left to protect the pack and the children, then they have to know how to stop an attacker. 

I had never thought about it before, but he is right.  In my old pack, I’m always told that omegas can’t fight.  They are too weak, but here they are considered equals with the rest.  That don’t just mean fighting, but with everything.  Everyone takes turns cleaning and cooking, except for the ones that just want to do one job.  No one is forced to do something because of their status.  Shoot.  Even Wyatt helps cook and clean. 

I’m suddenly startled out of my thoughts as Ford’s deep voice asks, “Is there something bothering you, Kane?”

I glance to my side and look at Ford as I shake my head.  “No.  I’m just thinking about how different my old pack is with yours.”  I take a drink of water before I scan the training field again.

Ford turns and looks out at everyone too.  “Well, there aren’t too many packs that think like we do, but we are also a secret pack.  We have gone to great lengths to keep us hidden, which means that we aren’t like all the other packs.”

Ford leans a little closer to me and softly adds, “And we like it like that.”

A small smile spreads across my face as I take another drink of water.  I still haven’t asked why they keep their pack hidden, but maybe when I decide to become part of their pack, I will ask. 

I put the cap back on the water bottle and set it down on the bench.  “Are you here to continue my training or to talk about my old pack?”

Ford chuckles.  “Well, I’m sure that your old pack is interesting, but you still have a lot to learn in order for you to catch up with the others on your fighting skills.  So, let’s get back to training.”

I nod and head back out to the edge of the field where I usually do my training. 

***

“Don’t forget to protect your side.”

Well, I don’t think that I’ll soon forget.  Dang.  He can really throw a punch.  The sad thing is that it probably isn’t at his full strength.  Regardless, it still hurts.

I get up off the ground as I’m breathing heavy.  “I’ll remember.  Don’t worry.”

Ford pats my shoulder.  “You are improving and fast.  I’m sure that it won’t take long before you are just as good as other people your age.”

I put my hand on my side as it continues to throb in pain and shake my head.  “I don’t want to be as good as others my age.  I want to be as good as Wyatt.  If he can do it, so can I.”

Ford smiles and nods his head.  “I’m sure that you can.”

Mason walks up to us and chimes, “Kane, you are getting better.  Keep going and you will get there soon.  Oh, by the way, I’m going to have you fight another pack member tomorrow.

I’ve kept you from participating so far, but I think it is about time that you started to fight the others.

Don’t worry.  I’m not going to have you fight the older pack members first.  Instead, you will start off with the younger ones, who are at about your skill level.”

What?  I thought that I would have more time before I would actually have to start fighting the other pack members.

Ford steps closer to me and gently pats my arm.  “Don’t worry.  You can do it.”

Mason quickly adds, “I wouldn’t have you participate if I didn’t think that you were ready.  Plus, we have to get you to work up the ladder to the better fighters.  That is the only way that you will learn how to handle yourself in a real fight.”

Well, I guess.  However, I still wish that I had more time training.

I slowly look between Mason and Ford.  “I guess.”

Ford smiles and once again, pats my arm.  “Oh, I almost forgot.  Wyatt wants to see you in his office as soon as you are done with your training today.”

I nod my head.  I wonder what he wants.

***

Exhausted, I grab my things, but I don’t have time to go take a shower yet.  I have to go to Wyatt’s office first and then I can relax in a nice warm bath.  Oh, my muscles really need it.

I don’t even look over my shoulder as I lift my hand and wave.  “Thanks, Mason, for another hard day of training.  I’m off to meet Wyatt.  Bye.”

Mason chuckles.  “Don’t worry.  I’m sure that it isn’t anything serious.”

How does he know that I’m worried about it?  I swear that just when I think I’ve figured something out about this pack, I’m left gaping and wondering if I’ll ever figure anything out.  Well, Wyatt did say that I’ll learn the pack’s secrets, or at least some of them, when I become part of the pack.  However, until that happens, I’m left confused and lost.

I sling my bag over my shoulder and head off towards Wyatt’s office.  The sooner that I get there then the faster I can figure out what he needs. 

As I walk past the various houses and building, I suddenly think about Ben.  I usually try not to think about him too much, because it makes me sad.  I miss him so much.

For some strange reason, I can sense that he is heading towards me.  I don’t know why I’m getting that impression, but I am. 

Dang.  I must miss him a lot.  It has always been Ben who could find me without any effort.  When I would ask how he can do it, he would always tell me that he could just sense my presence and knew where I was.  However, now, I’m the one getting the feeling that Ben is coming to me. 

I shake my head.  This pack is making me crazy.  Well, that isn’t all bad.

I push the notion of Ben out of my mind as I continue on my way towards Wyatt’s office. 

Within minutes, I’m at Wyatt’s office.  My mind is still trying to figure out what Wyatt wants as I knock on his office door.

Knock.  Knock.

Wyatt calls out, “Come in.”

I open the door and walk in.  “Did you need to see me?”

Wyatt looks up from his computer monitor and smiles.  He waves me to sit down in one of the chairs in front of his desk and chimes, “Yes.  I wanted to talk to you about your college.  I already know where you were going to school at, but I have never asked you what you were studying.”

I step forward and take a seat in one of the chairs as I tilt my head.  Why does he want to know about my college?  Now, that I left my previous pack, I already knew that I wouldn’t be going back.  I was one of only a handful of people that were allowed to go.  I’m sure that my father’s status had something to do with it, but I don’t have that here. 

Here, I’m a nobody and I know that I wouldn’t be able to finish my education.  I really didn’t like what I have been studying, but that doesn’t matter now. 

Instead of answering Wyatt’s question, I ask, “Why do you want to know?”

Wyatt’s smile faulters a bit as a line slowly forms across his forehead.  “Am I not allowed to ask what you were studying?  Is it some kind of secret?”

I slowly shake my head.  “No.  It isn’t a secret.  I just want to know why you are asking.  I have already accepted the fact that I won’t be going back to college, so it doesn’t really matter anyway.”

His smile widens again as he playfully teases, “Who says that you aren’t going back?”

I don’t understand. 

A frown slides across my face.  “Well, isn’t it obvious?  I ran away from home, so there isn’t anyone to pay for my tuition.  Plus, I don’t want my family to know where I’m at so they can’t try to force me to go back home.  So, I can’t just call up my school and ask them to forward my records to another university.  If my father talks to my old university, he will know right away where I’m at.”

I stare at Wyatt as his playful smile continues to dance around on his face.   For once, since I’ve gotten here, I can’t understand what Wyatt is even thinking.  Usually, him and I are pretty close in the way that we think, but not on this time.  I have no idea what is going on in his head. 

A gleam in his eyes suddenly begins to sparkle as he leans forward and rests his arms on his desk.  “What would you say if I said that you could be enrolled in our university here without any problems?  Granted our university has both werewolves and humans together, but the only werewolves that are admitted there are wolves from my pack.  We are the only ones that can hide our scent so if we happen to have other werewolves come to campus, they will think the university is full of only humans.”

Is he for real?  There is no way that he can do that.  Is there? 

There is no way that they can really do that.  Right?

He doesn’t even know my real name.

Wyatt chuckles.  “As alpha of the pack and the owner of the university, I can do that, and I have done it in the past.  As for your real name, I already know that too.  I have just chosen not to let you know that I know what it is.  There are a lot of thing I know about you…”  He pauses for a second and looks at me as a smirk playfully dances across his face.

Hey, there is no way that he knows what my name is.  I don’t talk in my sleep and I know that I haven’t said anything to anyone.  Blake is the only name that I’ve used.  I’m sure of it. 

Wyatt softly chuckles again.  “Blake is the only name that you have used since you have been here, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t know what you real name is.  Kane.”

My mouth immediately falls open.  How did he do that?