My Secret, My Bully, My Mates.
Chapter 0017

Chapter 0017

“Do either of you have a variation on short you would like to throw in for good measure?” I look atOliver and my brother. They both chuckle and I attempt to use the moment to get out of the twinsandwich I am in.

But they just move as I move, so I stopped trying to get away and looked around to Oliver as hesaid, “Let me get back to you, Bite Size, I’ll come up with something clever.” I rolled my eyes at himand Sierra just laughed.

“And you?” I look at Mateo.

“Right now, Shorty, the only thing I get to call you is the take down champ. Dad is never gonna letany of us live that down.” Everyone chuckles at the memory. He reaches for me between the twinsand wraps an arm around my neck and pulls me close in a gentle headlock type hug, a gesture hehas never done before. I don’t know if it is the beer slowing down his uptight faculties, although Ididn’t think beer really did much to werewolves, and he hasn’t had a ton, but who knows, I’ve neverhad any and he stopped the guys from giving me any tonight. They all offered multiple times as wemingled. Or was he uncomfortable with how close the twins were to me. He’s never been protectivebefore, but I guess I haven’t given him a reason to be, we don’t hang out. Hell, I don’t hang out, withanyone, this is all new for me and he probably knows it.

The moment seemed to go unnoticed by the others and they all started discussing this morning’straining, while we all moved over closer to the fire and found seats on logs or the ground. Mateodidn’t take his arm off my shoulder until I sat down and leaned against one of the logs. Sierra sat byme, but Sam sat on the log behind her, placing her in between his legs. My brother sat on my otherside, leaving Oliver, Cameron and Dakota on the next log that was angled towards us.

“Don’t remind me. I was on the receiving end of that particular beatdown.” Sierra mumbles. I wasworried for a minute that maybe she was irritated with me for the way I beat her during training, but

when I look at her, she doesn’t look upset. She actually looks amused. They all laugh again and Itake a deep breath and join them.

Man, was that training only this morning? I feel like so much has happened since then. I did noticeas we changed our location many more people had shown up too. I was so caught up in our owngroup, I didn’t even notice. I guess Sam was right, everyone came whenever and just hung out aslong as they wanted. The fire was really nice, It was more chilly than I had anticipated. I wasn’t cold,but I would take warmth over cold weather any time.

“The Alpha told us that all the warriors tried to match or better her time using the takedown todayand no one could do it.” Sierra supplies to our group. “Including all your dads.” she added like anafterthought taking a pull from her beer, but I think she was rubbing salt in the wound.

“Really? Damn! Well I don’t feel so bad then, if none of our dad’s could beat it either.” Sam says.

“How many training sessions do you go to?” Oliver asks in his low growl, I can see his brain doingsome kind of calculation. “I know you’re at all the mandatory pack training and you train with LunaAva at advanced training, but what else?” He seemed genuinely curious as he took a slow drink ofhis beer.

“All of them.” I shrug, keeping my focus on the fire. I don’t know why, but I feel uneasy saying thatoutloud. Until today I didn’t hang out with anyone, so outside of getting my homework done Itrained. It was the only time I left the house and Kaley left me alone. I was not going to explain thatto them though. I was just starting to feel a little normal.

Oliver choked on his beer. “All of them, what do you mean ‘all of them’?”

I wasn’t sure how that was unclear, but whatever, maybe the beer was getting to him too. ”I attendall of the morning mandatory trainings for the high schoolers, the advance training for the warriorsand ranked members three times a week and I help and work with Delta Kyle and the warriors who

do the basic trainings, patrol training and work with the pups during beginner training.” I shrug againlike it’s no big deal, because to me it isn’t, never has been. I look forward to working with the pupsand with all of the crap Kaley pulls, I like knowing they are learning to deal with people like her sono one else has to go through this. It keeps my head clear too, the effort makes me happy. I alsothink that basics are undervalued and people don’t focus on them enough. It’s the best way towarm-up and stay sharp. In the middle of a fight, your muscle memory is what takes over and it’snot the fancy sh*t these guys like to mess around with that saves you.