Chapter 4

JAYSON

I shouldn't have touched her. I shouldn't have fucking touched her. What hell was I thinking?

It was supposed to be innocent enough. Just training right. So, fucking wrong.

When I touched her, this electric heat went straight through my body.

Her scent of sweet flowers and honey hit me like a truck. It filled my brain. Making me light headed.

I had to get away from her. I gave her back to her partner and continued my rounds.

But every five minutes, I'm fucking looking at her. And what's worse is the fucking semi in my shorts. What the hell?

I can't seem to focus so I pass the group to Wren and head to my office. Kale meets me in the hallway.

He claps me on the shoulder. "She's in at 5am again tomorrow?"

I put the key in my door and unlock it. "Yeah. Why?"

He rubbed his neck. "Just asking. Wondering if you changed your mind."

I shake my head. "Nope. 5 am for the whole week."

"Great!" He smiles. He claps my back.

I turn to him. "Kale, don't even think about it."

He smirks. "Whatever happens, happens, Dude. I can't control it." And he jogs off.

I don't know why but Kale's enthusiasm for training Sarah is really starting to grate. My wolf isn't liking it either. I really shouldn't care if she's on Kale's bang list. And right now, I'll force myself not too. I'll just forget he said anything and bury myself in my work. He can have the distraction. I don't need it.

****

The next morning, I get to the field early. There they are. Laughing, giggling, and fucking around again.

It might not be the fact that Kale wants to get in her pants. It just might be the fact that I made this as punishment. To make her suffer for her smart mouth. Kale's making it too fun for her.

I continue to survey the situation when Kale called it and they see me and head my way.

She's got a nice sheet of sweat on her and she is a mess, so maybe they did work. But she still had way too much fun for my liking.

He's saying something to her that I can't hear. She's laughs and he puts his arm around her shoulder, shaking her. This makes my eyes narrow.

Kale has a stupid grin on his face. "Hey, dude. Come to watch the practice?"

Sarah also has the same stupid grin. I look between the both of them. "What practice? All I saw was you two fucking around.... again."

Sarah crosses her arms. "Hey, I'm working hard."

I arch a brow. "Looks like it." I grumble. "Maybe this punishment isn't tough enough."

She was about to respond when Kale interrupted. Turning to Sarah. "Uh, why don't you get ready for practice. I'll text you those tips I was talking about earlier." He flashes her a smile.

She gives a little salute. "Ok, Alpha." And she bounces toward the track for laps.

Once she's out of earshot, I glare at Kale.

He sees it and he gets this innocent look on his face. "What?"

"You got her number?" I question.

He smirks. "Yeah. Just for advice and stuff, of course."

I cross my arms. I don't believe a word out of his mouth. "Don't even go there, Kale."

He smacks my chest with the back of his hand turning to leave. "Dude, if she wants this, who am I to deny a beautiful woman." He chuckles.

"She's a kid, Kale. Don't be messing with her." I warn.

He looks at me and mouth ticks up. "Sounds like someone else wants to do the messing."

"No. I just don't want problems here, ok. I know how you are." I tilt my head to him.

"Hey," He puts his hand on his chest. "I told you, bro. Perfect gentlemen." He flips his Hoodie over his shoulder. "I'll respect her in the morning over breakfast." He slaps my chest again and gives a wink. He jogs off to the Alpha building.

The recruits file out onto the field as I'm watching Sarah run around the track. Kales words rattling my nerves. He's dangerous to kids like her. A girl like Sarah would be crushed by Kale's charm.

As much as she bugs the fuck out of me, I can't let Kale get his claws into her.

I'll have to switch him out. Maybe she'll do better with Luke.

I'll meet with him later. Right now, I have a practice to run and some unexpected tension to release.

****

The afternoon session, I had the kids get in a group.

I stood in front with the other Alphas.

"Settle down! Eyes up here!" I yell

I walk front and center. "Ok. So, you've all had a couple of days to adjust and get a feel for this place. And I must say.... you all need a ton of work."

The kids' heads whip back and forth to neighbors.

"Now, although you'll be worked hard, we do have some activities that may not seem like work to you. But they are." I nod to Dea and Luke. They bring out a big bin. "Today, you'll be learning team work and strategy. Today...." I flip the lid. "We play some football."

The crowd woke up with quiet excitement.

"Ok. You'll break off into two teams. The losing team will have to do laps around the whole complex."

A hand shoots up. It's a kid named Brent. "What do the winners get?"

"The winners get to skip out on afternoon practice tomorrow." I smirk.

High fives and yesses were heard.

"Alright! Let's play!" I let them get their shirts and a ball and the rest of the Alphas divided the teams.

The teams huddle, making their plays and take to the field.

I blow my whistle and the ball is punted.

A kid on Sarah's team has the ball. He throws it to her and she catches it. I was impressed. She runs up the field. Dodging and spinning around the other players. She's fast. She's almost to the goal, when she's pummeled to the ground by a rather large kid. My wolf claws and I look concerned. She gets up dusts herself off and they set up for the next play.

They get into a bit of a scrimmage and Sarah's twin, I found out, took the ball to the goal. The two of them doing goofy dances. Which kind of made the corner of my mouth tip up.

They take their kick and it's wide. Now it's defense.

The ball is punted and the opposing team goes in for the toss. The catcher grabs the ball and runs. Sarah jumps to tackle, but he's a solid kid and she bounces off him. He barely falters. She gets up and runs at him again. Lunging at his ankles, grabbing them and making him fall on his face. Not the greatest play, but it worked. He dropped the ball.

When the play is turned to offense, Sarah once again gets the ball and runs. She can't seem to get around the opposing team, so she throws the ball and is immediately tackle by some kid who obviously wasn't paying attention. She goes down on her back hard. Again, my wolf is going nuts.

Luke blows his whistle. He gets on the field, yelling at the kid. Kale runs to see if Sarah's alright. She seems hurt, but nothing serious. He leads her off to the side to sit. I join them.

I look at Kale and then to Sarah. "You, ok?"

She pants. "Yeah. Just a little winded and my chest hurts."

"I should take you to the infirmary to get checked out." I put my hands on my hips.

Ahe shakes her head. "I'm ok. I just need a minute."

"That wasn't a request." I say.

She rolls her eyes. "I'm fine."

I arch a brow at her defiance. "On your feet."

She groans as she stands, holding her chest.

I turn to Kale. "I'll be back."

He nods and runs out to the field to stop Luke from losing his complete shit.

I walk Sarah up to the Alpha building. The infirmary is a twenty-bed clinic. Basic medical staff and access to more serious equipment if needed. For this type of stuff though, we don't need too much. Shifter healing really is a great skill.

As we walk, she glances at me. "You don't have to walk me. I know where it is."

I side eye her. "It's my job."

"I know." She looks ahead. "I'm sure you have better things to do."

"This is part of what I have to do. I have to make sure you're OK." I side eye her again.

"Well, I told you. I'm fine." She doesn't look at me.

"I know you did. I'd just like to hear it from our doctor if that's alright with you." I turn my head to her.

"Whatever.' She mutters. I can't tell if she’s mad about getting hurt, mad about having to leave the game or mad at me coming with her. But her teenage attitude is clearly showing. The kind that bugs me to no end.

I take her in and sit her down on a bed. "Stay here." I order. I grab a nurse and fill them in.

The doctor comes in and tells Sarah to lift her t-shirt. I shouldn't have been watching this. The sight of her stomach and her ribs, although starting to bruise bad, has my wolf growling in my chest. I actually found myself biting my lip.

The doctor feels around and Sarah's yelps loud. He sighs. "Yep. A broken rib. You'll need to take it easy for the rest of the afternoon."

She gets this wrinkle in the middle of her eyebrow. "Can't you just give me something for the pain? I got to a game to win." She whines at the doctor.

"Sorry, young lady." He crosses his arms. "Whatever game you were playing, it's over."

Oh, I think it's just beginning.

The doctor turns to me. "She sits out the rest of practice. She'll be good tomorrow."

I nod. "Come on. I'll take you to your room."

She slowly gets down from the bed. "I can walk myself."

I shake my head. "No. I'm escorting you. No arguments."

"Fine." Again, with the eye roll.

I wave her out the door and we walk to the dorms.

We're about half way there when she stops. Turns and looks me dead in the face. "Why are you doing this?"

I'm kind of shocked by her question. "I told you, it's my job." I furrow my brow.

"No." She shakes her head not breaking eye contact. "I feel like you wouldn't be doing this for anyone else. Why?"

I scoff and continue walking. "I'd do this for anyone under my command. There's nothing to read here."

She steps in line beside me. "I don't know. You're hiding something."

"Don't pretend that you know me, kid. Because you don't." I grumble.

"I think I do. At least a little bit." She smirks.

"Trust me, you don't know shit." I open the door to the dorms and let her in first. I escort her to her room about five doors down the hall from the entrance.

She stops and turns around. "I think there's a cool guy in there somewhere."

I turn her knob and open the door. "Kid, you keep poking and you'll be thoroughly disappointed. Now, get some rest. You're training with Luke tomorrow at 5am and trust me, he's not as chipper as Kale that early in the morning."

She scowls at me and spins. Blonde hair flailing out. She slams the door in my face.

I groan and walk back to the field.

I join the guys in the huddle by the field. The games almost over.

"Luke, you're with the kid at 5am tomorrow morning." I bark.

She's really irritated me now and I'm not having her attitude.

Both Kale and Luke go wide eyed. "What?" They say at the same time.

"What the hell? I'm not getting up that early!" Luke protests.

I stare at him. "Yes, you are. Kale can't keep it in his pants so I need you to do it."

Cass snickers and Kale jabs his arm. "I wasn't doing anything!"

I turn to him. "You're right, you weren't. That includes actual training. If I'm going to teach this kid anything, I need someone who's going to train her, not try to bone her."

He opened his mouth to retort, but closed it because it was true.

I turn back to Luke. "5am and make sure you train her, got it?"

"Fine." He grunts. "But you owe me." He points to my face.

"Just do your job." I walk over to the field. "Ok, recruits! Hit the showers!"

I stomp back up to the Alpha building. With that taken care of, maybe I can reign in this frustration.