Brody walked into the training room behind the others, for once, he was not excited to learn. This was physical combat class, and he was taking it with Alpha's who had spent years honing their skills. He had read about it a little in books, but that was the extent of his knowledge.
Sure, he had extra strength seeing as he was an Alpha, but so did everyone else in the room.
He hadn't really spoken to anyone since he had left the pond the previous day, and so the idea of human interaction was somewhat daunting. He had finally let himself open up a little and then what Nate had said had hit him close to home.
He stood at the back of the group, peering around other boys broad shoulders to see the leader for this class.
He stood tall and confident, the exact idea of what a combat trainer should look like. His black singlet gave a view of his broad muscles and smooth skin. He stood with his hands to his sides as he watched the students enter the room.
Brody's Alpha nature was telling him not to worry, that he would be able to do this, but a better knowing part of him worried that he was going to embarrass himself in front of the entire class of Alphas.
'Welcome to lesson one in combat. This is your last year, so you all know the basics, I assume.' Brody felt even worse at that comment. The instructor continued, 'and so I let you partner up straight away. Work together, help each other, and at the end of the hour we will get back together and do some group work.'
People started pairing off and before he knew it, he was standing alone in the middle of the room. The instructor came over to him, 'Do you have a partner..uh..?' it seemed that the instructor was searching his mind for his name but coming up short.
'Brody.'
'Do you have a partner Brody?'
'No,' Brody told him, 'This is also my first combat lesson.'
'First?' the instructor looked at him slightly confused.
The door to the training room opened and a guy came running through, 'Sorry, I'm late.'
Brody rolled his eyes when he realised that it was actually Nate who had ran through the doors. If anyone was going to be late to their first class it was going to be Nate, of course.
'Good, come pair up with Brody here,' the instructor motioned towards Brody.
'Do I have to be paired up with him?' Brody asked in desperation but the hard look he was thrown was enough of an answer.
Nate came over to Brody and the instructor left them, heading over to another pair.
'Uh Hey Brody,' Nate greeted, looking down, 'I uh, I'm sorry about yesterday.'
'I don't want to talk about it, let's just fight,' Brody stated.
'Uh, Okay.' The two of them walked over to the training mats and Nate looked towards Brody, 'So how much do you know about combat training?'
'Not much,' Brody admitted.
'Well, we learn two types, one in our wolf forms and one in human. Human is more self-defence and basic skills for the most part. So, just come at me and I'll show you a few moves.'
Brody lunged towards Nate with his fist and Nate dodged the blow effortlessly. He tried again and this time Nate grabbed his fist, using it as leverage, and within seconds Brody was on the ground, looking up at the ceiling and Nate's concerned face.
'Sorry, that was a bit much, are you alright?' Nate asked.
'I'm fine,' Brody insisted even though he had to stretch out his arm a little before it felt right again.
This time Nate tried to throw a weak punch at Brody and he dodged it perfectly. He at least had his small size on his side, if he was moving it was quite hard for Nate to land any punches at all.
Nate showed Brody some of the basics and he picked them up quickly, replicating each move with confidence.
'You're actually pretty good,' Nate told him.
'You don't have to lie,' Brody looked down at his feet.
'You really are good, I would have never picked all of this up as easy as you have,' Nate admitted and Brody's gaze lifted.
'Really?' Brody asked with only slight hesitation.
'Yep,' Nate nodded, 'You are too hard on yourself. You are going to do well here, you already have the history down pat, and you'll get to our level soon I think with combat. You don't have to worry too much,' Nate told him.
'Thanks,' Brody smiled and Nate seemed to be happy with Brody's reaction.
The instructor came over to them, 'Good Job guys,' he looked at Brody, 'For your first lesson, you are doing great. Why don't you both get some water and come back?'
Nate smiled at Brody, leading him outside of the room where a water fountain was placed against the hallway wall.
'Woah, you must have done well,' Nate smiled at Brody like he had accomplished something, and Brody didn't understand.
'What do you mean?' Brody asked just as they reached the fountain.
'I mean that I have had him as an instructor since I was fifteen and I can count the complements he's given me on one hand,' Nate told him, grabbing two cups and filling them up.
'Really?' Brody still didn't believe it.
'Really.'
Nate handed him the cup and they drank in silence, the quiet awkwardness from before creeping up on them.
Brody could almost see Nate thinking about what to say, and he knew that he would try to apologise for what he had said the day before.
It wasn't that Brody was still upset about it but the words had cut like a knife and he knew that the cuts hadn't healed yet. He looked down at his cup.
It seemed that Nate wasn't going to get the chance to apologise as suddenly his name was being called out from down the hall. They both looked up to see that the camp leader Michael was walking towards them.
Nate looked nervous suddenly and Brody watched in confusion as Michael walked up to them, stopping right in front of Nate.
'Nate, I think you have some explaining to do,' Michael said in a stern voice.
Nate looked apologetic, 'I am so sorry, It was a complete accident.'
'That window is going to cost over one hundred dollars to get fixed.'
Brody suddenly knew what was happening. Nate was taking the blame for the window that he had broken in the argument with Tye and Jace. It didn't feel right, he didn't understand why Nate, someone that he had only just met, would take the risk and tell people that he did it.
'Sir, I can expl-' Brody started, but Nate just looked at him with wide eyes and stepped in front of him.
'I was working out and I just wasn't thinking,' Nate told Michael. Brody stood behind Nate, wanting to tell the truth but Nate wouldn't stop talking. 'I am so sorry, and I will personally pay for the window to be fixed. It won't happen again, I promise.'
Michael nodded, 'Alright, you won't receive any repercussions for this, but if you step one toe out of line again and I will be calling your father, understood?'
'Yes sir.'
'Good,' the hard expression was gone and Michael smiled at them both before heading off down the hall again.
Nate stepped away from Brody, turning towards him.
'Nate, why did you do that?' Brody asked, some accusation in his words. He didn't need people fixing his problems for him.
'I just, you didn't,' Nate fumbled over his words, 'You didn't need that on your record. If it was anyone else, Michael would have been furious, but because of my father he really wasn't that mad. I just thought that I would help out.'
Brody huffed, 'I don't need help. I can deal with my own problems.'
Nate rolled his eyes in frustration, obviously not understanding where Brody was coming from, 'You don't have to do this alone, you know? We are all in this together. We should at least try to help each other out, we are both in the same boat here.'
'Oh, really? Your pack is the largest in the country, you are full of fighters and you have power,' Nate looked slightly guilty at his words.
'What does that have to do with anything? We can't be friends because of that?'
Brody just huffed, 'no, because my pack is tiny, constantly attacked, I have lost people. I am here to learn to protect them, you are here to mess around. No, I do not need help from you.'
Nate gasped, 'Brody, I can help you learn, I can-'
'I don't want your help,' Brody huffed out angrily, 'How many times do I have to tell you?'
Nate opened his mouth to speak, but Brody turned away, walking back down the hall.
'Brody, wait!' Nate called out, but Brody wasn't listening.
He walked straight out of the building, his class forgotten and he didn't stop until he reached the library. He had to learn more, there was no time for sulking, he had to gain more skills, know more, work harder.
The library was the same as he had seen it yesterday, but this time it was quieter, most people were in classes or activities so most of the dark wooden tables were vacant of people. He took a few breaths until he was calm and then wandered through the aisles.
Books had always calmed him, the swing and swish of words soothing his mind as he turned the pages. He had spent summer after summer alone in the pack house which he lived with his family and a couple of others. His brother would always leave him books to read while he was gone and then when he came back Brody would read the textbooks given to Hunter at camp.
Brody was small, much smaller than any other Alpha usually would be, and so his parents had been very careful with him. The rouges which lived in the woods outside of his home would spare no hesitation in killing him instantly, knowing that it would weaken the pack.
Therefore, Brody would spend summers alone in his room, reading about tales and adventures of people with lives much more extravagant and charmed than his would ever be, and when his brother would come home he would tell him of his camp adventures and in turn, Brody would talk about his books.
Now Hunter was gone, but the adventures which lie inside of the books on these shelves still remained. So, Brody walked down the narrow corridors which were lined in the hard cover objects, reading titles and the occasional blurb to find something that sparked his interest.
He stopped when he found a book on the history of werewolf politics, wondering if anything in the book would be able to help him once he became the leader of his pack. He put it down, knowing that he needed to find a way to strengthen his own pack, not learn about politics.
He knew that he had heard of a book about a pack that was dying out, only to become one of the more powerful packs of their time. He forgot their name but he remembered that the pack was in Pennsylvania.
He left the book on the shelf and walked over to the librarians counter, seeing a girl sitting behind it. She had fiery red hair which was in a high ponytail. Her bright green eyes were focussed on the screen of the computer she was sitting at.
'Hello,' he walked up to her.
The girl jumped, looking up at him with wide eyes, 'Thank god!' she exclaimed before calming slightly, 'I thought you were a leader or something!'
Yeah, this girl was definitely too loud to be a real librarian.
Brody laughed softly, 'You aren't a librarian, are you?'
The girl shook her head, 'Nope, but this place is so understaffed that I had no choice.'
Brody smiled at the girl, 'What are you looking for?'
'Oh, a book on werewolf politics, but I don't know where they keep them.'
'I saw one just before, want me to show you where it is?'
The girl looked up with a grin, 'You are a lifesaver. What are you looking for?'
'A book on werewolf pack history in Pennsylvania.'
She nodded, 'Strange but okay, let me see if I can use this weird program they have to find one for you.'
The girl looked back down at the screen, her fingers typing away against the keyboard.
'Found one, its on shelf 120,' she told him, quickly jumping from her chair and leaving the desk. 'Where was the politics one?' she asked.
'Over here,' Brody lead the girl back to the shelf where he had found the book, pulling it out.
'You are a lifesaver ...uh..' she must have just realised that she hadn't gotten his name.
'Brody,' he supplied, handing the book over. 'And what was your name?'
'Lucy,' she said in reply. 'Let's go find your book.'
They wandered around for a while, eventually finding shelf 120 in the far back corner of the library on the second floor. The books in this section were old and hardly used, and he found the book which he was looking for on the top shelf.
He pulled it down and slid his hand over the dust, revealing the thick, bolded letters under his hand.
The Packs of Pennsylvania from 1900 to 1970
Under the title was a map of the state, little red dots where the notable packs were during the time. There weren't many packs that he could see, but he did see a lot of forestry, and that was prime for rouge populations. No wonder the smaller packs had a hard time.
He looked to Lucy, 'Do you want to just sit here and read?'
'Sure,' Lucy replied, sitting down on the floor, her back flush against the wall.
He followed suit, crossing his legs underneath him and hesitantly leaning his back against the old shelf, hoping that it wouldn't fall over under the pressure. The idea of all of the old shelves falling like dominos was a scary thought.
He opened the book, looking at the different sections. There was one chapter titled History Of Extremely Notable Packs.
That appeared to be his best bet, and he opened the old book. The pages were thick and old but he could read each word clearly. The paper smelt old, but in a nice way, in a way that reminded him of home and that time he went through his grandfather's old letters to his mate when he was in the war.
He found what he was looking for on the first page of the chapter.
-the pack was located just outside of Barnesville, PA. The pack had only fifty members in the summer of 1950 and the numbers were rapidly declining. The rouge population in the region was on the rise over the previous years with no sign of slowing down. The thick forestry which surrounded the packs homes provided the perfect coverage for rouges, who kidnapped and killed many of the packs members during 1940 to 1955.
The packs leadership changed over in the winter of 1955 to the previous Alpha's son, Robert and his mate. Robert had just turned eighteen and the packs in the area were afraid that the young Alpha would lead what remained of the pack to a devastating end.
Over the next few years the pack's numbers rose from 45 in the summer of 1955 to over 100 in the spring of 1965. Other packs were dumfounded at the rapid rate the pack had recovered. The number of fighters in the pack had doubled and there was a newfound community which had developed amongst the members.
This increase in numbers was able to happen as the pack members were more organised and with strong leadership they were able to teach the adults to protect the pack, allowing for their families to grow. Most of the adults had children in that ten years, creating a pack which was young, yet had the resources to raise a strong pack in the future.
The praise was put to Robert who had lead the pack, but many people praised his Mate also, who they said was the glue which held the pack together and allowed for them to become the strong pack that they were.
It was only discovered years later that Robert's mate â
'Brody?' Lucy got his attention.
Brody lifted his eyes from the book, 'Yes?'
'I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for how Tye and Jace acted, they told me what happened. I do hope that you don't hold it against them, they are just silly boy Alpha's, no offence, but they were just stating their territory, you know? You are the new kid on the block.'
Brody shrugged, 'Yeah, I get it, I guess.'
Lucy nodded, 'Nate was real nice to cover for you though.'
'I would have taken the blame, he didn't need to do that,' Brody admitted.
'That's the sort of person that Nate is. He is going to have hell to pay for it though,' Lucy shook her head as she looked down.
'What?' Nate had made it sound like taking the blame would have no effect on him, but he was beginning to think that Nate had lied to spare Brody the guilt.
'His father is going to be furious with him,' Lucy explained. 'His father is always preaching perfection and breaking a window at a camp full of future leaders isn't exactly perfect future Council member behaviour.'
Brody suddenly understood the magnitude of what Nate had done for him. He felt awfully guilty about what he had said, when Nate really was just trying to help him.
'Why did he protect me?'
'Most people wouldn't have. Alpha's are mostly quite self-absorbed, aside from perfect me ff course,' Lucy joked. 'But Nate is different. He used his position to help people, always has. He really is a good guy.'
Brody realised how mean he had been. He would never admit, even to himself, that maybe Nate's help was a good thing, but it was true. Nate wasn't like other Alpha's, Nate was kind and nice and Brody realised that he had just stuffed him in the box with all the other stereotypic Alpha's that he had met, but he was wrong about Nate, he knew that now.
'I have to go,' Brody shut the book with a soft thump and stood up.
'Okay,' Lucy nodded but Brody didn't see, he was already heading out of the narrow corridor.
He made his way downstairs, pleased to see a real librarian at the desk this time. He walked up to her, placing the book on the desk. 'Am I able to borrow this out?'
The librarian looked at him with a friendly smile that seemed to be restricted to old librarians, 'Sure darling, can I grab your name?'
'Brody Lewis,' he replied.
The old librarian typed his name into the system awfully slowly and then she turned the book towards her, typing the name of it into the system as well.
'You are all good to go, have a good day, young man,' she smiled.
'Thank-you.'
Brody tucked the book under his arm and left through the large doors into the cool air outside. He had to find Nate, he had to make things right.
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