Training

Derrick

“Release his bonds,” Dr. Fine orders. The two guards do as they’re told and unlock the chains around my hands and ankles.

I look around once I’m allowed to move freely.

I’ve been taken to an outside arena. The ground is a hard asphalt that has seen better days with the rising cracks and blood streaks on the concrete walls. Overhead, there are large football field-like lights to illuminate the dark area.

I can’t forget to mention the large fencing going the entire length of this place with strips of large barbed wire twirling around the top end of it.

Two very large rusted signs attached to the fence say, “CAUTION! ELECTRIC FENCING!” in big bold letters. The fence itself is bent in some places while others are barely sticking to their designated posts stuck in the ground.

“Now, 247,” Dr. Fine looks at me with her glasses on the point of her nose, “This place is a ~privilege~. Any misbehavior and you will be sent right back to your cell. Am I understood?”

I wouldn’t call this place a privilege. The smell of blood is driving my senses insane with some kind of pressure building in my mind. I can only describe it as needing to please whoever gives me an order to rip through something.

I nod.

“Great!” The doctor clicks her pen a few times and motions to a few straw men in the distance, “Let me see how you are in combat.”

I give her a puzzled look as she and the guards step back a few ways behind me.

“Attack.”

That word seems to hit a switch in my body. My muscles stiffen and the calmness in my body is removed by a surge of pure adrenaline. My vision becomes dark and all I can see is heat signatures coming from the straw dummies ahead of me.

I propel myself forwards. Feeling myself shift to nothing short of between my wolf and my regular human forms. I walk on two feet, but my hands balance my body as I run on the jagged concrete.

I enjoy it as I rip the first one in two pieces. All I can envision is the sounds of warm flesh and bones tearing at the force of my strength. The cheap wooden stake of the dummy cracks in half and makes me wish it were an actual spine.

It’s not long before straw and hay are all over me as the two dummies lay at my feet with only a reminisce of what they once were. Unrecognizable to anyone that was to walk into the arena right now.

I calmly walk back to the doctor to await instruction.

I’m covered in hay and the weak knockoff version of clothing the dummies were wearing are all over my legs. They oddly smell of blood and the fabric seems to blend with my jumpsuit, but I pay no mind to it. I did as instructed and that’s all that matters.

“I didn’t even have to recall you at all that time,” Dr. Fine states, “Very good, 247.”

A metal door on the other side of the arena opens and two large men walk out. They seem to be in a daze with their milky white eyes but sniff the air roughly. I lock eyes with one.

“Your goal is to stop these two, 247,” Dr. Fine stands behind me, “Simply subdue them before they’re able to get to me. Break bones, choke them, anything so I’m not hurt. You know what will happen if you fail.”

I know that all too well. In order to keep me in compliance, they keep threatening my mate. To beat her, sever limbs, and even feed me her own eyeball in a soup. That’s the only reason I do anything for these bastards and this mad woman they call a doctor.

The two males grunt and growl like animals. The biggest one starts prowling the grounds towards me. I let out a growl of warning, but he doesn’t seem to get the message as he starts barreling for me and the doctor.

“Alright…” I roll my eyes and meet my opponent head on smack dab in the middle of the arena. His breath smells of rotten meat and blood. My hands grip his large shoulders with all of my strength.

I let out a low grunt before somehow getting the male back a few steps. His white, milky eyes look into mine, I can see his intent for blood and carnage.

The smaller male runs past us, his claws are like daggers and he’s headed straight for the doctor. Who, need I remind you, is crazy and doesn’t move an inch.

I growl loudly and swing the largest male in the direction of the one that got past me. I send the male flying into the other with more effort than I’m willing to tell. I hear bones snap and blood vessels rupture as the two collide with each other and then the ground. They roll over each other and land directly at the feet of Dr. Fine.

She smirks, “Well done, 247.”

I’m breathing heavily at this point and wipe the sweat from my brow. If anything, I’ve learned to just leave the doctor to her own devices unless she asks me a question.

“So, 247…”

I spoke too soon.

“I would like you to shift, are you able to do that?” The doctor asks, “I need to gauge your strength as a wolf, too.”

“Doctor, my wolf isn’t—“

“Try, 247.” She hushes me, “The serum is in your system. You should have complete control over either form you take.”

I raise an eyebrow and nod, “Yes, ma’am.”

I put all of my concentration into my form. I suddenly feel a surge of energy and almost effortlessly, I’m on all fours. A bit dizzy, I get my footing and stand tall.

“Oh!” Dr. Fine gets that weird smile she gets as her cuckoo clock goes off, “A solid black wolf with red eyes instead of fully black eyes of a rogue! Fascinating!”

The doctor gathers herself and clears her throat, “Now for your final test, ~my pet~.”

The door closest to me opens. I turn and see the male that is usually in the hall across the hall from me sitting in the middle of the darkened room. From the scent, I can tell he no longer has the serum in his system.

It’s odd. Including the doctor and Evin, the scents of every wolf here have the markings of the serum. Not smelling the serum has my nerves shot and predator instincts coming alive.

“Kill him.” Dr. Fine orders. I look at her and hesitate.

This male has done nothing to me. Though my instincts are telling me he doesn’t belong, I don’t get the need to kill him. He's not a threat.

The male gets to his feet and wobbles out of the room he’s in. His figure is more skeletal than it was just a few days ago and his eyes are more of a green/blue color now.

“247, I gave you an order.”

I look at the male again. He looks disoriented and confused about where he is. The vibes I’m getting from him aren’t menacing at all, so I shake my head at the order.

Everything inside of my body is willing me to carry out the doctor’s wishes, but I consciously can’t do it without cause for concern.

“Do I need to remind you of who we have in our hands?” Dr. Fine gets my full attention. “She will suffer heavily because of this.”

I close my eyes tightly. My mate. She’s here and under the control of that merciless man and this crazed woman. Goddess knows what they’d do to her small frame.

I finally give in to my animal instincts. The thought of my mate going through unimaginable torture and pain because of my actions is enough for my sanity to let go.

I go for his throat.