The Alpha Twins Rejection
Chapter Nine - Zac

I spent the entirety of the day immersed in pack business with Alpha Miller along with Alpha Rayne and Alpha Kane, showing them around our territory security lines and going over every minute security detail I thought necessary. If the River Run Pack were to be of any assistance, they would need to know just about everything. I had scarcely known them for twenty-four hours and had already grown weary of their company, longing desperately to be back beside Ashley’s bedside. Her ambitious plans to escape the hospital tomorrow pissed me off, but there was no way anyone could stop that woman once she made her mind up. She was as stubborn as a mule, I thought with a wry laugh. I had been informed earlier that morning that my father had been discharged from the hospital and was currently at home resting. Apparently, he hadn’t taken that advice too seriously until Alpha Miller used his Alpha voice and ordered him to have the rest of the day off. I chuckled once more; he was as stubborn as Ashley, I thought fondly.

By the afternoon, the Alpha’s and I had concluded our security business and headed back to the training centre to oversee the pack with their fighting drills. My nostrils flared on entering the building, taking in dozens of unfamiliar scents as I scanned the room, noting all the new faces of the River Run Pack members. More pack members had arrived this morning and were being put through their paces today to show off their strength and ability so that they could be assigned a duty accordingly. Striding confidently onto an unoccupied area of the training mats, several she-wolves ceased what they were doing, their jaws comically hitting the ground as soon as they observed the Alpha twin’s presence. Briefly glancing at Alpha Rayne and Alpha Kane, I could see they thoroughly enjoyed the attention. Typical cocky Alpha’s, I thought with a snort. Alpha Miller studiously ignored the disruption, walking to the centre of the room where he cleared his throat and spoke clearly, addressing the room, “I would like to thank you all for being here today.” He said earnestly, “Without you, we would not be able to hold our annual Bloodmoon Ball due to the recent rogue attacks. My pack and I value your time and assistance with protection and security. For those of you wondering who the handsome young men standing behind me are, I would like to introduce Alpha Rayne and Alpha Kane from the River Run Pack. They’ll be assisting with training today, supporting anyone who needs help with their fighting technique. Dismissed”.

Turning back towards us, Alpha Miller addressed Alpha Rayne and Alpha Kane. “Do you mind if I leave you in the capable hands of Delta McMillan,” he asked with an apologetic smile. “I have some personal business to attend to but will join you again this evening for dinner”. “Sure,” they replied affirmatively as one. I rolled my eyes at their joint response, thankful they were only visiting, and I wouldn’t have to put up with them for much longer. As Alpha Miller left the training centre, a lone male approached us with what I can only describe as a cocky grin on his face. The guy was huge! I naturally assumed he was from River Run Pack as I had never seen him before; judging by his size, he wouldn’t be someone I would forget in a hurry.

“Alpha Rayne, Alpha Kane,” he acknowledged with a nod while extending a large, beefy hand towards me, making that annoying, knowing look pass over the Alpha twin’s faces again. It was frustrating being around the two of them. I thought sourly, not for the first time. “Hi. I’m Tyler. I am the Delta of River Run Pack,” He said, seemingly sizing me up as he spoke. “Nice to meet you, Tyler. My name is Zac, and I am Delta of Blood Moon. How can I assist you” I replied politely, curious why he had approached us. “I don’t have a sparring partner and was wondering if you were free”, he shot back with devious determination in his eyes? Dick measuring comp coming up, I thought with a laugh, why not. “Sure, I’ve got time,” I said eagerly. While we moved off to replace a clear area to spar, the Alpha twins started making their way around the room, stopping every so often to give a word of advice or encouragement but never fully taking their eyes off us. I harboured a sneaking suspicion that Alpha Kane and Alpha Rayne had put Tyler up to offering me out. Well, two could play at that game. They were in for a surprise.

Tyler barely waited for me to remove my tee-shirt, the discarded item of clothing hitting the ground as he ran at me like a freight train. Sparring was out of the question, then I snorted, instantly bringing my fists up, ready to hit him with everything I had. Bring it on, buddy. My right fist connected solidly with Tyler’s jaw creating a dull thudding sound, his head jerking back in genuine surprise. I wasn’t in the mood to show mercy or to be tested by Alpha twins, who had something to prove. I wanted to be back by Ashley’s side. As Tyler turned around, I could see he was pissed off at being caught off guard, not expecting such a solid blow. Good, I thought. I would use his considerable anger to my advantage. Enraged people were usually sloppy, fighting with fierce rage instead of necessary precision. As expected, he lunged at me again, his right fist aiming for a sucker punch to the side of my head. Dodging to the side, his knuckles barely grazed my cheek as I brought my left leg up to land a brutal kick to his stomach that caused a loud wheezing sound to hiss from Tyler’s lips as he flew backwards, momentarily stripping him of the capability to breath properly. Using the momentum from the kick, Tyler tucked himself into a ball, springing to his feet promptly and was ready to attack once more with a furious look on his face, his nostrils flaring as he took deep, angry breaths. I will give him credit where credit is due. Tyler was a skilled fighter, I thought with a smirk. Just not as skilled as me. All the extra training sessions Ashley had insisted we do have paid off. Even though I was annoyed with the impromptu dick measuring contest, I was enjoying the rush that sparring with him afforded. It wasn’t every day you could use brute force against a partner.

Tyler took a moment, thinking through his next move before he made it, obviously learning quickly from his previous mistakes. He inched closer to me on the mat with a pissed-off look. His fists clenched tightly at his sides before feigning to lunge at me. At the last second, he cocked his right arm back, landing a solid punch to the side of my face. Cheeky bastard. I could hear the audible snap of my head as it was knocked sideways by his massive blow. The fucker could hit hard when he actually landed one, I thought, wincing slightly from the pain. The triumphant look on Tyler’s face was rapidly replaced with one of horror as he realised too late that I had already balled my fists up in retaliation. Split seconds later, there was a sickening crunching sound as Tyler’s nose broke beneath my fist, followed swiftly by a steady trickle of thick red blood instantly running down his face. If I thought he was pissed off before, I was mistaken. I could tell his wolf was trying desperately to come to the surface as his eyes shifted rapidly from brown to black as he tried to stem the bleeding. The beast inside him was furious, his chest vibrating with an audible growl. Just as I thought he would shift into his wolf form and attack again, Alpha Rayne and Alpha Kane made their way over to us and dismissed Tyler by asking him to help them evaluate the other pack member’s abilities and pair them accordingly.

Cracking my neck and knuckles to release the tension from the fight, I picked up my discarded shirt from the training room floor and approached two pack members on the far wall who looked like they were struggling with their technique to help them with it. As I slipped the shirt over my head and headed towards them, my path was suddenly blocked by two gorgeous she-wolves, giggling like schoolgirls asking if I could aid them personally with their fighting techniques. They were not fighters; they explained but had volunteered to help run perimeter checks to aid security while staying on Blood Moon territory. They promptly introduced themselves as Eve and Jessica. They were sisters from the River Run Pack. Apparently, I had passed whatever childish test they were putting me through, I thought with a chuckle. I was about to politely decline their offer as I had a lot of work to do and people to help, but I could suddenly feel an intense prickling sensation on the back of my head like I was being watched. Curious.

So, instead of moving off, I continued chatting to the flirty young ladies for a few more minutes before casually turning around to notice Alpha Rayne and Alpha Kane staring fiercely at me with narrowed eyes from across the room. If looks could kill, I would be a dead man. When they realised they had been caught staring, they swiftly schooled their expressions, not quick enough, though. Then it hit me. Their expressions suddenly made sense. The alpha twins must be seeing, or at least sleeping with, one or both young ladies! This could be fun, I thought darkly! It wasn’t like me to try and piss people off, especially Alpha’s, but after their little game of strength with Tyler, I thought I would see how they liked being tested. A smirk settled on my face as I thought about the little show I was about to give them. “Sure ladies, anything for you,” I said when they asked me again to help their form, giving them what I hoped was my biggest, panty-melting grin.

Jessica and Eve had their hands all over me in no time, trying to position themselves into different offensive and defensive poses. Their touch twisted my stomach with guilt as I thought about Ashley lying in her hospital bed, but I could practically feel the considerable anger rolling off the alpha twins now and couldn’t help touching them back. I knew I was being a shit, but I thoroughly enjoyed pressing their buttons and watching them squirm. “You’re so handsome and strong”, Eve purred while watching me demonstrate to her sister how to get out of a headlock. “Thank you”, I replied with a wink, making her blush and giggle behind her hand. “Are you single?” Jessica asked breathlessly in my ear. “No, sorry, I have a partner,” I replied honestly while flipping her gently onto her back. “What a shame for us,” She replied teasingly with a pout of her lips.

It seemed Jessica and Eve knew exactly what they were doing and had an agenda. I caught them several times looking over at Alpha Rayne and Alpa Kane. Each time they glanced in their direction, they would laugh a little louder at something I said or place their hands on me in a flirtatious way, obviously gauging their Alpha’s reactions. I had to give it to the girls. They did revenge; what I assumed it was, well. I held my hand out to Jessica to help her to her feet and was startled when she grasped it with both hands and gave a slight tug, pulling me closer to her so that our faces were only inches apart. What the hell is she up to, I wondered. Rising slightly and leaning in close, Jessica inhaled sharply, running her nose along my unmarked neck in a suggestive manner. Shit. What is she doing? Before I could open my mouth to say something, someone cleared their throat loudly from behind me and growled, “Jessica. Eve. Can I have a word with you both in private, please”. Turning around, I saw Alpha Kane standing rigidly behind me, clearly displeased with their little performance. Dropping Jessica’s hand, I let her fall back onto the mat to get herself up, no longer willing to play their silly games.

Both sisters pouted at the request but then obediently followed Alpha Kane into the training centre locker room, where I could have sworn I heard the metal of the lockers groan, followed by a deep rumble that sounded like one pissed-off wolf. I hoped their little performance had not enraged him off too much and wondered if I should follow them in there in case they needed assistance. In the end, I decided not to intrude, they obviously had stuff to work out privately, and I didn’t want anything to do with their pack drama.

After training, the three of us were heading back towards the packhouse when suddenly a god-awful noise pierced the peaceful late afternoon air. It didn’t take me long to register the sound, and I froze in my tracks; Callan instantly tried to come forward and take over.

My heart felt like it was being torn to shreds whenever I heard Ashley’s anguished cries of pain while she slept. Callan instantly bristled at the haunting sound of our partner in distress. “Calm down, Callan”, I said hastily to my inner wolf, glancing toward my companions. “Ashley needs us, Zac”, Callan spat back, agitation rolling off him in waves. Still eyeing Alpha Rayne and Kane, unsure what to do in their presence, I hear a low whine coming from their direction, causing me to narrow my eyes at them in suspicion. Weird, it looks as if they were also fighting their inner wolves as they stood rigid with a pained look in their eyes. Their reaction to the sound of Ashley’s evident pain was disturbing.

How odd, I thought. I guess hearing Ashley’s anguished cry would be enough to make anyone uneasy, I supposed. “What the fuck was that” Alpha Kane questioned, inclining his head towards the hospital building questioningly. I didn’t know how to reply; I wasn’t about to tell a rival pack that our Beta suffered nightmares, waking up screaming in the middle of the night. Ashley had been through enough in her life and didn’t need everyone to know her business. Today was the first time she had had a nightmare during the day, and I supposed it was because she had been resting. Instead of explaining the situation to the Alphas, I decided to shrug my shoulders and continue to escort them back to the packhouse. The Alpha twins passed a knowing look at my lack of response. I could tell they didn’t believe me, but I couldn’t care less. I wasn’t going to say a word. I didn’t owe them an explanation, and as far as I was concerned, it was none of their business.

When we reached the packhouse conference room, I was anxious to see Ashley and comfort her, so I excused myself and set off toward the hospital. Callan and I desperately wanted to make sure she was ok. Stepping into her private hospital room minutes later, I first notice the massive bunch of flowers sitting on her bedside table. Narrowing my eyes at their appearance, I didn’t have to ask Ashley who had sent them; I could smell Alpha Rayne and Alpha Kane’s scent all over them. Fuckers, I thought. I couldn’t get away from them. It would seem. I wondered where they had found the time to buy them, let alone have them delivered. Did they deliver the flowers themselves, I wondered; the idea had a growl rising in my throat at the thought of them being alone with Ashely? No, they couldn’t have. But the flowers had not been there this morning when I visited Ashley, and the Alpha twins had spent all day with me. They must have had one of their pack members buy and deliver them; the thought cheered me slightly. The idea of Alpha Ryane and Alpha Kane near Ashley had my blood boiling. If I had it my way, Ashley would stay in hospital to rest until they have left our territory. I wasn’t usually such a possessive jerk, but something about those two was bothering me, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was.

“What’s up, Zac,” Ashley asks when I don’t say anything straight away. Taking a deep breath, I turn my attention to her and hope like hell she has not noticed me balling my hands into fists at my sides. “Just admiring your lovely flowers”, I reply with a fond smile, leaning over to kiss her sweet lips tenderly. “Don’t start, Zac”, Ashley replies with a chuckle. “I know what you were thinking. There is no need to be jealous,” She scolds sweetly, grabbing my hand in hers and kissing the back of it. “Big day”, she inquired. “You could say that”, I reply with a sigh. It certainly had been a big day. Not only was having other packs in our territory getting on my and Callan’s nerves, but I was also starting to stress about the impending Blood Moon Ball and its implications for both of us. Only one more night, I thought sadly.