Training grounds and bruises

“Wake her up.” 

“Kamilah…you must wake up now.”

I blinked as the bright sunlight hit me. What time is it? 

My body instantly alerted me to see two tall men standing by the door, watching me. 

I realized it was Alpha Magnus and Dimitri. 

“What-What’s wrong?” I asked curiously, not remembering why they were here.

“The sun is high up now.” Alpha Magnus remarked sarcastically, his tone so cold that it could slice a saucer. 

I glanced at Dimitri beside him who was giving me some signals. I just raised my eyebrows, asking him to elaborate.

Dimitri sighed, “You have training today. Remember?”

I instantly stood up, now remembering it. “Oh haha right!” 

“Get dressed. We’ll wait for you at the training grounds.” Alpha Magnus said before leaving.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion, wasn’t it just yesterday that he was “nice” to me?” 

Dimitri walked closer to me, “He hates tardiness. Please understand our alpha.”

“Dimitri! Come!” Alpha Magnus' voice thundered from below the stairs. 

Dimitri sent an apologetic smile at me before following his alpha,  “Yes, coming now!” 

I quickly grabbed some clothes and found some nice black leggings and a sports bra. Thank goodness Dimitri stashed some here. 

I instantly showered to freshen up before getting dressed up and running to where the training ground was. 

I muttered a curse, realizing I didn't know where the training ground was. Forget about it. I’ll just figure it out. 

I left the house with an empty stomach and ran to the forest. Just then, I saw Tyra coming out of her house as I passed by her. 

“Kamilah! Do you have training too?” She asked, gasping too. I didn’t know we were even neighbors. 

“Yeah, and I’m late! I don’t know where it is!” I panicked. 

“I’ll guide you. Come!” 

Tyra led me to the location and we walked for a few more minutes. She guided me to the innermost of the woods wherein we could hear some loud yells of submission behind a tree. We continued until we could see an empty land, an empty meadow with trees surrounding us. 

There were around fifty of them squatting on the grass with Alpha Magnus standing tall in front, yelling orders to them. 

Tyra held my hand and motioned for me to come to them, “Damn, we’re really late.” 

I saw Owen and Thora by the side, looking at us shockingly. 

“You two are late. Give me twenty push-ups. Now.” 

Alpha Magnus’s commanding voice sliced through the air, giving a hard stare to me. 

I met his gaze as he raised his eyebrows, “Do you know the consequences of being late, Kamilah?” 

“It’s her first training here, Alpha. Go easy on her.” Said Dimitri, coming to my defense.

“30 pushups. Now.” Alpha Magnus said firmly, ignoring his beta’s request. 

I sighed, giving an apologetic look to Thora for being dragged into this. 

I did as I was told and did the push-ups with Thora following me. I would have crashed doing 10 pushups but since I’m healed up and have the energy, I could bear it now. 

“Continue your pushups. We’ll begin our sparring after this, Alpha Magnus said to the others, approaching our direction. 

He crossed his arms as he watched us, making sure we were doing his orders, his eyes lingering on me until we finished. 

I could see Stacy’s mocking face smiling evilly at me, her expression saying “Goodluck bitch”.

I just rolled my eyes and focused on the task at hand, not in the mood to let Stacy win this. 

Making sure that we clearly finished the punishment, Alpha Magnus then returned to the front, “Pair up into two everyone.” 

Instantly, Owen came to Tyra beside me while Thora came and was about to ask me when Dimitri came to us. 

“Kamilah, the Alpha says I’ll pair up with you.” 

I sighed, mouthing a sorry to Thora who just shrugged. 

Dimitri then stood in front of me, stretching his muscles, and smirked at me, “You can come at me anytime you’re ready.” 

I stretched my hands before launching an attack at Dimitri, whispering to him, “Is he always like that to his new pack members?” 

I know it damn well that Alpha Magnus could hear me and I’m doing it purposely. 

I could sense his head turning to us so I continued, “You need to tell your Alpha that he should stop it.” 

Dimitri was quick enough to dodge my attacks and smirked, understanding what I was planning so he went along, “Pour all your anger to me. I know you’re quite irritated now.” 

“I won’t hold back,” I launched another hard blow, this time much stronger and Dimitri purposely didn’t dodge, accepting my full attack. 

Dimitri bulged a bit from his position, his face a bit shocked, “You really could punch.” 

I nodded, “Why? Don’t I look like it?”

He shook his head, chuckling a bit as blood came out from his lips, “Guess I don’t need to be easy with you.” 

Dimitri then came to me with his punches and my body instantly reacted to doge it. He looked at me with so much focus, carefully calculating all my attacks. Since he was much taller than me, he had the advantage of strength, and seeing him fight now really proves that he is a rightful beta for Alpha Magnus. 

A cut managed to escape from his hands, wounding my arms and bruising my legs. I was sent to the ground, groveling on my feet. 

Dimitri paused, carefully analyzing my moves earlier, “You have speed, Kamilah, but not enough. We need to train you more.” 

I instantly kicked between his legs and he yelped in pain, “You shouldn’t let your guard down when you’re with an enemy,” 

“That was a foul play!” He complained, now laying on the ground. I shrugged, “Everything’s fair when you’re in the battle.” 

A bell suddenly rang, signaling the end of the match. I helped Dimitri up and he accepted my hand. 

“You lost to me.” I teased him and he limped a bit, clutching his groin, “That’s because you cheated, Kamilah.” 

“Dimitri, report to me what happened later.” Alpha Magnus said from behind us, startling me a bit.

Dimitri bowed a bit and left us. 

I faced Alpha Magnus, as he was still watching me. “What?”

“Go to my study with me. I’ll discuss something.” 

I followed behind him and he took a seat in his study, “You seem to be close to Dimitri.” He started and motioned for me to sit. 

I did as he told, “Yes, your beta is nice.” Unlike you now…I wanted to add it but decided against it.

 “How about you? You’re close to Stacy.” My mouth blurted out without much thinking and I honestly regret it. 

His eyes hardened, a golden hue circling around his iris. He clenched his jaw, “That’s another matter. You’re changing the topic.” 

“Why? I was just curious.” I muttered out, “I mean why were you strict? Or are you like that to your new members?” I felt like he was just acting when he was nice and showing his true colors now that I am officially here. It’s nice to speak out like that. Since I’m his new member, I guess I could say anything now. 

“I did it with a reason. I want to toughen you up so that no one would come after you.” He said. 

“No one would dare to, Alpha, I assure you. As of now, I made friends with three of your pack members, oh four if you count Dimitri. And so far, Stacy, your woman, was the only one who dared to come after me.” I spoke up. 

He instantly stood up, “Don’t tell me that she’s my woman. She is not.”  

He’s clearly getting agitated for something so obvious. Why bother denying it? Did I say that wrong? 

“I’m only hard on you so that they will not see you as a weakling, Kamilah. Tell me if Stacy comes again to you. I am giving you the permission to fight back.” He said and turned around, “Grab this box and home now. You reek of sweat.” 

I saw the box from his table and grabbed it, noticing it was food inside. I blinked, Alpha Magnus is strange. He would treat me kindly at first, then continue to treat me harshly saying it was to protect me, and now he’s giving me food. 

“Make sure you go to training tomorrow. You have to work harder than the others as you’re new here.” He said, “Just because I was easy on you doesn’t mean I have to be easy on you always.” 

I blinked. Is he bipolar? One minute he was kind, the next thing he would say some harsh words on me….or was he really kind to me? 

I just shrugged it aside and left his study. I hope tomorrow won’t be like this.