Her Savior Alpha
Chapter 20

Dane’s wrath had me shaken a little, but the next few mornings I worked out a routine to avoid him completely. As I was completing my chores faster these days I could duck in and out of spaces without being detected. Once safely over at the barracks I told Thelma about how bad Dane was.

“He is becoming uncontrollable. I don’t get what his problem is. I mean more than the normal highly dysfunctional problems he already has.”

Thelma laughed wholeheartedly “Ha, that’s nuts. He is a psycho and it must be him growing senile in his old age. That’s all it can be. He’s insane and throwing dishes at your head like frisbees. He’s lost it all the way.”

“You’re telling me and then locking me in the fucking basement. I’m pissed off about it.” I could have been furious on the inside about it, but due to my wolf being high intelligent and letting me out to run I didn’t give two shits at the end of the day.

“I wondered what happened to you. I was looking out for you for the last three days. I was so upset.” Thelma threw her arms around me and I received her hug and wound my arms around her.

“I’m fine. More than fine. They don’t know about my wolf and what it can do,” I said aloofly.

Thelma visibly looked shaken. “That makes perfect sense, your wolf is brilliant. I’m so proud you’re my bestie.” Her warm pixie eyes greeted mine in happiness as I cuddled into her once more. My heart dropped a little as I didn’t want to leave Thelma, but to me I had no choice. “When I asked Dane what happened he barked at me. I didn’t feel like being thrown across the room again.”

“I understand that completely. I’ve got allies now. It’s different.”

“Hang on- is that why you look so healthy after being locked in the basement like that? I was thinking I would have to smuggle out some food to you so I could fatten you up.”

A twinkle sprung in my eye. “My wolf let me out and I ran and I ran to hunt Thelma.” There was a fierce fire rolling through me now and nothing could stop me anymore. Not even Dane. If there were more beatings to come I was hoping my wolf would come to the party and we would dance.

We both put our heads together as I pulled out equipment ready for the veteran wolves to train for their quarterly assessments and she squealed pulling on my ears.

“Vera! Your wolf is so beautiful! I am so happy for you. I can’t believe it. I want to be like you when I grow up,” she gushed and it’s not as if I had a mirror to see myself, but if my wolf was what I saw in my dream then I fully appreciated the praise she was casting on me.

I took my ears out of her hands as I rubbed them looking at her weirdly, but thoroughly entertained by her antics. “Thelma, my ears. You do not want to be like me when you grow up I assure you. You don’t want to be an orphan with no parents and asshole relatives.”

Thelma tsked in response. “You got me on that one. I sure as hell don’t, but your wolf Vera. You’re magical. Totally magical, and Clive and Archer are your family now. That’s gotta be a good feeling right?” She picked at her teeth as she waited for my answer.

“Yes, although I wish they wouldn’t fight so much over me.”

Thelma picked up one of the towels I was holding and whipped me with it. “Yes, they should fight over you. You deserve that at least. Why don’t you have some fun with the two of them?”

Thelma winked at me in a suggestive way as I thought about the two of them. Both of them were such different men and wolves. One had to fend for himself as a rogue and the terrain and travels of unknown territory and predators hadn’t hardened him. He carried himself in a refined manner. That be Archer. Clive on the other hand was bold and forthright. His muscles rippled in the sunlight and his Adonis like features were very easy on the eye. Both of them were the time of eye candy I would want to see if I was watching Netflix. It was hard to choose between them both.

“You might be right Thelma. I like them both, and they sure are cute.”

“Cute?” Thelma tinkled her fingers at me as if she was throwing magic dust in my face. “I don’t think anyone would describe Clive as cute. Hot as hell and very bangable is what we call that. I don’t mind training hard if he’s the wolf I get to see every day. You should see the new wolves Savannah and Claire practically losing their minds.”

“Bangable? Thelma where the hell do you get this shit from?”

Thelma whipped me one more time with the towel and this time I gripped it in time taking it from her. “I don’t know. I’m gifted that way,” she giggled as she sauntered out of the medic room and I shook my shiny ebony hair at her. I’d left my hair long as it was my crowning glory and a mane I was proud of. I had a fond memory attached to it as well and I wasn’t keen on letting go of it. My mother used to sit me by the window overlooking the Mount Hunter mountains as she brushed my hair before bed and I loved the feeling of it. How I longed for it now, but the penetrating darkness of another permeated my thoughts as Reily strode by. I quickly wiped the smile from my face as I stored the last of the towels on the shelf. The last I wanted him to see was my happiness.

“Ah, you’re out. How was your little adventure to the dungeon? Did you enjoy that?” Reily taunted me as his fingers clutched onto the doorframe and I had the bravery to turn around and face him.

“It looks like I’m still here, so I guess it wasn’t so bad.” I wanted to defy and show him that he couldn’t do the same damage as he did before. With my wolf I was different now, confident, becoming a badass through all the rigors of training and more ready to face him.

Reily’s face held a frown. “Why do you look different? Where’s-” he pointed to my forearm that had been marked with the coyotes bite. My Lycan wolf had healed that and it brought a glimmer of hope to me that everything would be alright.

Jack swept him up and moved him along which I was grateful for. The last thing I wanted to deal with was a showdown with Reily in the medic room. He’d noticed the changes though, I could tell. He could see how I was changing right before his eyes.

I finished my chores in the mess hall, the place was empty from the morning registrations and I only had to do a general sweep and mop of the floors. All in all my day wasn’t too taxing, but being locked away should have been a severe punishment in Dane’s eyes, but to me even though it was cold, dank and dark with no lighting. I was able to sleep soundly without Grant’s snoring in my ear to give me the shits.

Later that day I hit the training ground and changed into my lycra which no longer loose fitting. I’d filled out some and my thighs had this line indented on the side of them from all the running, lunging and climbing hikes I’d been doing with Clive and Archer. It felt amazing to be fit and mobile. I thought I was always going to be scrawny and looking like a raggedy ann doll. Today, I was a different woman and had a new wolf. I shifted my shoulders strapping which held bows and arrows in them. I was going to practice a new skill and I was excited. There was a darts board in the mess hall, but I didn’t get the time to play unless I snuck a few throws in while no-one was looking.

Inside the back of my pack were arrows made with the finest wood and tipped with stainless steel. All of the arrows were made in the town and crafted with precision. I got to ground and Archer was standing with his hands on his hips looking hot and tasty. An ache filled my belly as I sighed and approached him. What a sexy wolf. The sun was facing him, but one of his eyes was closed as he waved at me upon arrival.

“Hey Archer. You’re ready to go I see.” I arched an eyebrow as I drank him in. The muscles of his thighs were visible through his thin lycra. He had shorts on top of them with a tight fitted top accentuating his broad, yet wiry chest. There was an elegance about him that Clive didn’t have and his olive skin and carved jawline were to die for.

“Yep. I’m setting up the targets now. You look ready to. How are you feeling today champion?” he grinned as he showed off the whites of his teeth.

“I’m feeling amazing. I am.” I bounced on my toes because I was, there wasn’t a single soul on the training ground which I found weird so I asked about it.

“What’s going on? Why is nobody here right now? Where’s Clive?”

Archer dropped his eyes to the grass for a moment and then cut them back to me.

“I’m pretty sure Clive is busy, I think he has some other private lesson with another student. It’s just you and me today and if I’m being honest that’s how I like it.” The confession produced a heat flush on my cheeks as I took down the arrows from my back.

“Thanks Archer. It’s nice to spend time with you too.”

“Glad to hear. Shall we shoot some arrows today? I will come there and show you how to pull back your bow and aim.”

“I can’t wait. I hope I can do it.” I looked over to the main hall and saw it was quiet. I didn’t want anyone to interrupt us.

Archer marched towards me with purpose as he got closer a hitch caught in my throat. He was looking better and better every time I saw him. Archer ran a hand down the side of my face and his gray eyes penetrated mine. “You really have to start believing in yourself Vera. You have what it takes. I’m not going to let you fail.” Archer’s husky tone and a tendril of his dark chocolate locks hanging near my face made my knees weak. I licked my lips with nervousness as his hot breath drifted over my skin. My hair fell forward as I got the heavy bow upright which I’d been carrying.

“Here we go, so let’s set this up like this.” Archer’s long fingers curled around mine as his body curved into mine. His hands were hot and on top of mine, I was hoping and not hoping at the same time that I would be able to feel if he had a hard on, but we weren’t quite close enough for that.

Frowning in concentration I looked out at the target which was a bullseye with rings of different color on it. It was easy enough to understand. “Thanks Archer,” I replied quietly as I shifted my hair out of my face.

“You’re welcome,” he said just as quietly as the wind stilled and it was just the sound of us breathing together in unison as I took the arrow and placed it just so in the middle of the bow string. “Aim the bow high so when the arrow ejects the trajectory of it will take it to the target. Keep your eye on the prize Vera.” He was so close to my ear I thought his tongue might touch it. My whole body was tingling with desire and the same time I had to shoot a bow and arrow.

I more than managed and hit the outer ring of the target on first go. Archer ran out with outstretched arms and a fist pump as I giggled and placed the bow down for a moment. It was a heavier piece of equipment than I thought. Who knew.

“You did it! Great first shot. Now I’ve shown you what the tension is like and far to pull back it’s your turn. You ready?”

“Yup, I’m ready.” I kept my eye on the prize like Archer said and pulled back the arrow as my arm shook. It was hard to hold the arrow in place and then focus on nailing the target. I took in a deep breath and unleashed the arrow as it sailed through the air and hit the same spot as the last. I was happy with it because I was a virgin to arrow practice. Turns out I had another skill I could master.

“You’re a natural at this. I want to give you a pointer before you shoot the next one. I can see if you make a slight tweak it’s going to work better.” Archer jogged over to me as I smiled at him and bit my bottom lip again. He turned his eyes away from me in what appeared to be anger that I didn’t understand.

“Did I upset you or something? I think I did pretty good on that last shot.” My hair was getting so long that every now and then it would get caught in places it didn’t belong. I always brought a hair tie with me so I tied to the top of my head in a quick messy bun as a few of the tendrils fell. I found Archer’s eyes firmly fixated on me and a hankering of lust filled in them.

“You do this thing where you bite your lip and it drives me crazy and now you’ve put that wild hair up in a messy bun. You have no idea how insane you’re driving me,” his voice was dangerously low and my body was responding to the words floating out of his perfect bow shaped lips.

“I had no idea,” I grinned as I prepared for my next shot picking up another arrow. “So why don’t you kiss me?” I challenged in a flirtatious tone. Archer put a hand on top of mine making me lower the bow as his face inched towards mine. Under my lashes I stared at his lips, craving the taste of them. I wanted his touch, and now I would have it. He placed his thumb at the bottom of my chin and lowered it, parting my lips ready for him. His lips collided with mine and they were the most tender, sweet lips I’d ever tasted. Not that I’d experienced lips on me ever, this was to be the first time. His hand slid across the small of my back like a heat patch as I moaned slightly catching Archer’s attention as he stilled for a moment before he continued. Our lips meshed perfectly as his tongue reached in to connect with mine. Our lips melded together and it was if there was nobody else around but us. The whole of the training ground was spinning and we had lifted off together. At least that’s how it felt to me. Archer drew back after a little while and I found myself wanted to know what he looked like naked. Fire burned inside of me as my chest heaved for a moment from his touch.

“Not such a bad idea. Thanks for the challenge. Want to keep practicing?”

I licked my lips not wanting to wipe off the taste of him as I answered. “Umm, yeah, we can keep going. You have nice lips.”

“So do you Vera. You have no fucking idea,” he said with passion as a figure storming towards us caught my eye. Clive. He was furious I could tell, his golden locks were flapping with every step as he stuck out his arm to Archer who was chuckling out loud. Still reeling from the kiss I kept my head down ready to relaunch another arrow.

“You! You little shit. You tried to leave me out. You told me practice was now. Two pm and here you are already! What’s your game Archer?” Clive pushed Archer hard in the chest, but Archer didn’t move very far he was steady.

“You might have heard the time wrong that’s all,” he guffawed as stared at the angst on Clive’s face. I waved not wanting to get involved in their little feud. As long as it didn’t go too far it was quite amusing to me.

“Punk!” Clive spat out.

“Why so mad? You’re here now. We’ve had a few shots, it’s okay. You can teach too.” Archer delivered the blow with self assurance and a cockiness that had fume spilling out of Clive’s ears.

“You did it on purpose. Sorry Vera. I would have been here earlier if it weren’t for the mix up.”

“It’s okay. You’re here now.”

I was starting to see how having two men fighting over me was a good thing.

“Come on, let me help you with that.”

Clive jogged over as I got ready to prepare my next arrow. Mount Hunter was starting to feel like a lot better place now.

Who did I like best?