4: The Young alpha

 *Therian*

 “No, no focus for god's sake”. I growl, feeling annoyed and shaking my head, as I walk around between my supposedly best warriors. I am watching them as they are training their techniques in human form. 

 They might think it is unnecessary, and I feel some of them are not giving their best due to this fact, but I believe strongly that everyone needs to be able to defend themselves even if they for some reason can’t change into their wolf and as the Alpha I am making sure everyone understands that.

 I pull off my shirt, throwing it on a bench. As I flex my muscles, warming up, I hear a couple of the younger girls in the pack giggle as they walk past the training area... Knowing their hungry eyes are on me I can’t help but flex a bit extra.

 Being the alpha has its perks, also with the ladies, they all want to be my Luna and birth my pups.

 Then I turn my focus back on where it needs to be right now, and call out to one of the best fighters. “Ulf, attack me...no holding back”.

 Ulf, who is a big and muscular man, almost as big as me, throws himself forward, trying to hit me with his fists. I grab him around the waist, throwing him to the ground in the same movement, using his momentum against him. Hearing him whimper in pain. “No... not good enough”.

 He springs to his feet and I tease him by making a ‘come here’ movement with my hand. He growls lowly and springs at me again. He is a bit more cautious this time, but nonetheless, ten seconds later I still slam him into the ground.

 “And you call yourself a fighter... you are a fucking whimpering lap dog”. I growl at him, as he rolls up on all fours groaning.

 “Sorry... “. Ulf slowly gets up, he looks embarrassed by himself and right now he should be.

 I am just about to ask him to get ready for a third round, when my father calls for me from the mansion stairs. “Therian... a word please”.

 “Keep training... focus. This is important... even if you think it isn’t”. I yell as I grab my shirt and pull it over my head walking over to my father. “What is it dad ?”

 “You don’t think you are too harsh on them ?” He nods towards the men. “Maybe they need to be encouraged… not embarrassed”.

 I shake my head. “No... they are not doing their best… I demand the best. Was this what you wanted to see me about ? To tell me to baby my warriors”.

 “No…let's go into the office. I like to take this in private”. He turns and walks inside, limping slightly. He was hurt badly in a fight a couple of years ago, that is why he stepped down as an Alpha and left the spot to me.

 I follow him inside, wondering what it is… hopefully not more moping about me being too harsh. I am not... but those guys slack off if they get the change. And I was young for an Alpha when I took over, I still am... I need to be firm or they won’t respect me.

 He opens the door and holds it for me as I walk inside and slump down in a chair. “Okay then... what is it ?”

 “I think you know it, Therian”. He closes the door. “You are working so hard…only focusing on training, fighting... you need to relax a bit... focus on…”.

 “On what... family”. Unintentionally the words come out sounding like an insult.

 He sighs and for a moment I feel bad about saying it like that. “Therian... a family is not a bad thing. You run around with these… second rate females... human girls even.. at your age you should have… a mate or at least be looking for her... be ready to start a family of your own”.

 “You seemed to think family was a bad thing when you abandoned us”. I growl harshly, making my father winch.

 “Therian ! I know I did wrong back then…I can’t change that now,  but I am trying to make it up... don't make my actions ruin your future”. He says sadly. “Don’t copy my mistakes… don’t end up like me”.

 I shrug. “What if I don’t want to settle down ? Or what if I prefer to marry a human woman… All that mate stuff is total bullshit anyway… fairy tales for cubs”.

 “Don’t say that son”. He shakes his head. I know my father would do everything to stop me from marrying a human, he seems to think them below us…not worthy of us. “She will show up when you least expect it… your true mate and everything will suddenly make sense”.

 “Yeah... because that worked out so well for you and mom right ? If mates are forever, then why did you run off with the tail between your legs ? Leaving her... my sisters and me to fight for ourselves”. I glare at him. 

 He had chosen to abandon me and my sisters when I was five and was out of our lives for ten years.

 He looks out the window for a while, then he turns back to look at me. “Your mother… was not right, she was … crazy... you know that. I could not stand being with her,  but I have always loved her… that is why I have never found another mate. Believe me… the imprinting and mate bond is very much a real thing and a strong thing... it can’t be denied”.

 “She was crazy alright… believe me I know. I was the one who couldn’t run away... the one who was stuck with her when she... went on her rants”. I huff and walk towards the door. “This conversation is over”.

 “Therian !” My father calls out, but I walk out, slamming the door behind me... I am not him and I never will be.

 I don’t need some needy mate taking my time and attention. I don’t want one. I want to be the strongest and most powerful alpha there ever was and I want to unite the wolf clans. I don’t want all those romantic entanglements… They only bring problems and pain… No thanks.