Chapter 2: New friends

Roger had made them run again, then spar until the end of the session. When they are all dismissed, Dahlia and Jael head towards Dahlia's house. They are stopped before they can go very far.

"So, you're fast huh?" Tyler says to Dahlia as he catches up to them. Dahlia nods. Jael snorts a laugh.

"Oh she's the fastest in the North Western territories Junior trials," Jael brags about her friend. "In both forms." Earning a raised brow from the alpha. "She was fast, even before her wolf."

"Goddess, Jael! Please stop," Lia begs her best friend through a mind link.

"Impressive," Tyler says.

"Well, they always encouraged us to find a physical activity we were good at as kids," Lia parrots what her brother always says when people ask them.

Jael snorts. "Yeah but you made it half your personality."

"I did not," Dahlia shakes her head. She looks at Tyler. "It was always just something I did to clear my head. Rarely had a bad run in the woods, you know?"

"Sure," Tyler nods. They can tell he is about to say something when they are interrupted.

"Alpha Tyler, there you are!"

Neither Lia or Jael have to look to know the pack beta's daughter, Gemma Ransom, is approaching them.

Jael rolls her eyes.

"Alpha Lars and my father, Beta Oliver, wanted to make sure you hadn't gotten lost on your first day."

"I was just talking to my new training group," Tyler says, gesturing to Dahlia and Jael.

"These two? Oh, that's…nice," Gemma says. Tyler looks at his new teammates, not missing the pause in her sentence or the less than friendly word choice.

"And they seem to know the grounds well enough, I mean, Lia probably has them mapped in her brain, right? Being a promising pack member after all."

"Roger would be disappointed if she didn't," Jael grins.

"Right, anyway, lunch is starting and my brother and a few warriors wanted you to join them."

"And your brother didn't invite me himself?" The young alpha asks, his tone and face giving off the most unamused alpha look possible.

"No, I mean, I offered to tell you," Gemma says, clearly flustered at the implied offense.

"Invitation received, is that all?" Tyler says. "Because we were in the middle of a conversation." He gestures to Lia and Jael.

"Oh, okay."

He doesn't say anything else and just sort of stares at Gemma until she leaves.

When Gemma is out of earshot Jael laughs so hard she doubles over.

"That was the funniest thing I've seen all week," Jael grins.

"She always like that?"

"Gemma?" Lia asks. He nods. "Unfortunately."

Jael adds, "She thinks since her dad is second in command it makes her better than everyone. Instead of, you know, actually being likable."

"Jael!" Lia shouts.

"What? He's going to be here for a while, he might as well know that she's more vapid and shallow than a puddle in a heatwave."

Lia looks at Tyler, who is clearly trying not to laugh. She shakes her head. "Time and place, Jael, time and place."

"Ah yes, time. Time for fancy sallow lunch time," Jael does a mock curtsy.

That time Tyler does laugh but shakes his head.

"I should probably actually go to that lunch," he sighs. "My dad would be pissed if I offended a bunch of warriors my first day."

"Not a bad call," Lia says. "Hopefully Nix will be there, he is actually tolerable."

"Nix is one of the warriors?"

"He got stuck training with George, Gemma's brother, since they were kids. His dad is one of the other instructors. He is a good guy."

"He is," Jael nods. "He'll help you out if you need it. Even if you need a crowbar to get Gemma away. Just let him know."

"I'll keep that in mind," Tyler says.