Chapter 14

Walking into the barracks, I followed the others into the common area to distribute rooms and hand out keys to each of the trainees. I saw Colt walk away midway through the distribution and grab Matthew, one of the other instructors, before returning to the center of the room to start the final speech.

“Listen up! After you get your room number and keys, make your way to your rooms to clean up and come back downstairs if you want dinner in the mess hall. It is not required, so if you’d rather stay in your rooms and get some rest, that is fine by us. If you do wish to come down for dinner, Alpha Matthew here will take you over.”

Isabella White, the pack’s chef stationed at the canteen, always keeps it open a little longer on the first night new packs arrive for training. She has been working as our training camp chef for over thirty years now. Her cooking is excellent, and she treats all of us like her grandchildren. Her fifty-eighth birthday is coming up at the end of the year, and the pack always holds a large celebration for her. I can’t wait for her to meet Raymond. I just know she’ll be immediately smitten with him, just like Colt and I were.

Matthew steps up and begins his slight introduction. “Good evening, everyone! I am Alpha Matthew Wagner. I am one of the instructors at the base. I will be training some of you. We will meet tomorrow morning after breakfast to assign your groups and instructors. We have quite a few trainees this year and plenty of instructors to take care of you all. You will not all be in the same group as each other, but we still expect you to treat your fellow trainees and pack members with integrity and respect.”

“If anyone wants to come down after getting your things situated and walk over to the canteen for dinner, meet me here in half an hour and we will head over.” He finishes his speech, gives everyone a small nod, then turns back to us before walking away to sit on the couch in the far corner to sit down and rest. 

As the crowd dwindles, Raymond is the only one remaining from the Nightshade pack who still needs his room assignment and key. Colt and I make our way over to his lone figure as I take in his weary body, clearly seeing he’s ready to call it a night.

Colt greets him first, and I hang back slightly, observing.

“You’re the last one, and as luck would have it, you’ll be assigned to the room across from ours. We typically stay in the barracks during runs since sometimes things can get hectic, and it helps us maintain order. It also means if anyone needs us, we’re only steps away.” 

 “Let us lead you to your room since we’re heading up there anyway. It’s been a long, tiring day, and we both need a shower to wash off the sweat and relax our muscles. Plus, we still need to make sure you add our numbers to your phone.”

 I flashed him a grin when my brother mentioned giving Raymond the room across from ours and personally escorting him upstairs.

“Alright, that’s no problem with me, Alpha Colt. Just to let you both know, I don’t have a phone, but I’ll try to get one when I have the opportunity,” Raymond says, a hint of embarrassment lacing his voice.

I feel a spark of excitement when he shows enthusiasm at the idea of us walking him to his room, but it’s quickly dashed when I find out he doesn’t even have a phone. What twenty-year-old from a well-known pack, especially the son of an Alpha, doesn’t have a phone? Though considering everything that’s been strongly hinting at abuse, I guess it makes sense. Shit, I can feel myself getting pissed just thinking about it.

I look at Raymond’s face and see a blush spreading across his cheeks as he clenches his fists loosely while rubbing his palms together with the pads of his fingers. His body language makes it painfully obvious how embarrassed and ashamed he feels, and I don’t want to add to those feelings. I carefully think about my next words while tracing my back molars with the tip of my tongue. I remember that I have an old phone in my nightstand that I don’t use anymore since I just got a new one that came out a few months ago. Sometimes I want to give myself a pat on the back for my cleverness before quickly offering it to Raymond.

“That’s no problem at all. I have an extra phone that you can have. It’s my old phone. I don’t use it anymore since I got the newer model. It still works perfectly fine, and has no damage at all, so don’t worry about it not functioning properly. I always just update my devices once a newer version is released.” 

I looked at Raymond and waited for his response.

He stands there for a moment, doe eyes widening as he looks at me, and damn, I just want to bend down and kiss him.

He looks so adorable right now.

I can feel my heart flutter in my chest, and my abdomen tenses up a bit. I’m going to have to take a shower later not just to clean up, but also to calm my overflowing lust. 

I snap out of my thoughts once Raymond’s voice drifts out with a little uncertainty. “Are you sure that’s okay? Something so valuable feels like a bit much, especially since you don’t know me that well.” 

I’m once again dumbfounded by how polite and cautious this little Alpha is. It’s unusual to see someone who only entered adulthood a few years ago act this way. And considering the pack he came from… it’s unsettling, to say the least.

Colt stepped in to assure the young man, wrapping his arm around his shoulder. “Nah. Don’t sweat it at all. We brothers might seem like stern assholes, but we both look out for others and have a hella protective streak for those who seem like they need a little help.” 

Raymond looks up at Colt and me with his gem-like eyes, a smile playing on his lips as he speaks in that velvety-soft voice. “Well, okay then. Thank you both so much for everything, really.” 

 I slightly shift my legs and pray that the cutie pie in front doesn’t notice the obvious large bulge forming in my pants. 

Damnit. I really want to bring him back to the pack house, hide him away, and make a whimpering mess out of him.

I gave a side eye to Colt and saw he also had a reaction. 

Man, we really are completely fucked.