Wunderhein Academy: Book 1- Awakening
Chapter 21

Aleksei frowned, lost in thought as he stared at his murky drink. He didn’t pay attention as Dmitri downed his own in an instant, smacking his lips before slamming the tin cup on the makeshift bar counter.

“’Nother here.”

It was only when Dmitri nudged him did Aleksei begin to focus. Gathering his courage, Aleksei downed the drink before making a face to Dmitri’s amusement.

“You mixed something with that.” Aleksei turned to his friend who laughed his accusation off.

“Ya live once Lexie.” Dmitri raised his hand and ordered another round of whatever.

Aleksei took his, clinking his partly filled cup against Dmitri’s own before downing the drink.

It burned like crazy and tasted disgusting. The abundance of salt in the drink only made him thirstier.

“Good crowd tonight, eh Lexie.”

Aleksei shook his head with a smile. “What are you scanning the room for?”

“Could get lucky.” Dmitri chuckled. “Kitty might be here.”

“No. She’s on punishment.” Aleksei instantly lost his good mood. “Besides if I catch her in ‘The Nest’ I’ll kill her.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Dmitri rolled his eyes. “Ya should both do a battle match since ya both wanna kill each other so much. Get it over with so we can get on with our lives.”

“We’re not doing a death match just to amuse you.”

“Just saying.” Dmitri shrugged.

“Maybe I am over-reacting a little with Kitten…” Aleksei frowned, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “She just manages to annoy me all the time.”

“I told ya, ya too jumpy.” Dmitri continued. “Just put us all out of our misery and hook up with someone already. Anybody!”

“I don’t do …” Aleksei began protesting when Dmitri cut him off.

“Yeah, yeah, I don’t care.” Dmitri began lighting a cigarette. “Ya need to… Hey get lost, I’m talking here.”

Aleksei lifted his head and found a Cut, one without his strips, backing away from Dmitri. For a brief moment, Aleksei felt sorry for the guy. Lower ranks didn’t approach higher-ups often. That one must have really had guts.

“Guy can’t even drink in peace.” Dmitri muttered, returning to his drink, swigging it down as if it were water.

“It’s your pretty face.” Aleksei joked, playing with his own cup between his hands.

“Nah, ya the pretty one.’ Dmitri ordered a bottle this time and filled his cup. Aleksei examined it closely, noting the neatly hand-written label. Salt-water with a dash of ground ants. That explained the burn.

“This is for you two.” Cups, filled quarter-way, were placed in front of them. Aleksei picked the drink up in confusion. Like lightening Dmitri his hand over the top of the cup, forcing Aleksei to put it back on the table.

“We didn’t order Vodka.” Aleksei heard Dmitri inform the bar-keeper.

Vodka? Aleksei’s eyes widened. They couldn’t afford that. Teams were given a small allowance that Captains could keep or share depending on the captain. The amount depended on the teams fighting rank. Alpha Pack made enough to get by but hardly enough to afford pure Vodka in a place like this. The stash they had back in the dorm Dmitri had won in a game.

“On the house.” The bar-keep nodded towards a booth behind them. “Courtesy of Captain Wunderhein.”

Aleksei felt the hair on his neck stand up.

Dmitri spat on the bar table, much to the bar-keepers annoyance.

“Come on.” Dmitri began, standing up and slipping his hands into his pants. “Let’s get out of here. I hate the smell of birds.”

“No, I should go thank Wunderhein.” Aleksei rose, drink in hand, and headed to the Falcons table. “One Captain to another.”

As expected, Grigori Wunderhein wasn’t alone. He was watching the crowd in ‘The Nest’ with cold, calculating black eyes over a beak-like nose, ignoring the harem of pretty boys surrounding him.

For a moment, Aleksei swallowed as he spotted the collars on the fancily dressed teens.

“Cassonov.” Wunderhein smiled. “Do join me.”

He indicated to a seat that had been taken by two of the collared Pretty Boys. As soon as Wunderhein indicated, they abandoned their place for Aleksei.

Aleksei tried to ignore them.

“I came to return this.” He placed the drink in his hand on the table.

“Return?”

“Thank you but I’m over my limit for the night.” Aleksei straightened.

“You are over your limit on Salt-water?” Wunderhein gave a nasal laugh. “Sit down and have a real drink for a change. My treat.”

“How can I help Falcon?” Aleksei folded his arms. “You didn’t send that to be nice.”

“How well you read me.” Wunderhein flicked his delicate hand and the group around him scattered. All save one that stood nearby. Another built up creature like the one behind the bar.

Aleksei’s eyes narrowed seeing him.

“Ignore Snake.” Wunderhein insisted. “Usually I have more bodyguards with me but I thought I would treat myself and mingle a bit.”

“Ya taking the chance no one will come after ya throat Wunder-slime.” Aleksei heard Dmitri behind him. “Ya brave tonight.”

“That’s Captain to you, Petrov.” Wunderhein’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You should learn your place.”

“Is why I’m here.” Aleksei smiled a little as he felt Dmitri pat his back before continuing. “My place.”

“Of course. Typical puppy.” Wunderhein’s body began shaking as he laughed. “Needing his master.”

“Shut up Wunder-brat.”

“How rude.” Wunderhein snorted. “If you belonged to me, I would have had you taken out long ago.”

“If I was yas’, I would have done it myself.” Dmitri pulled on the cigarette in his hand.

“Dmitri enough.” Aleksei glanced at his friend before turning back to the Falcon. “What did you want?”

“I have an interest in that Meat-bag you acquired.”

“What about it.” Aleksei shrugged. “It’s a meat-bag. How can it be interesting?”

“That is true.” Wunderhein shrugged. “Since it is such an unimportant creature, I suggest a trade. We have a Meat-bag on our team that is at least worth something. You can use it in any way you wish.”

Aleksei frowned. “Don’t you specialize in the Pretty boy market?”

“Amongst other things. When they don’t turn out to be the best fighters.” Wunderhein steepled his hands. “You know I prefer dealing in only the best.”

“And you think my Meat-bag is worth only one Meat-bag? That’s a lousy exchange.”

“I apologize if it sounds like an insult to you. I know you prefer to keep your crew small.” Wunderhein cocked his head two one side. “Would you prefer five and a fighter than for you to sell on the Trade market? Or bigger rooms. I can even arrange for you to rise in the ranks if you wish.”

“It would have to be better than that Falcon. The Meat-bag is good. It’s also the only girl here.” Aleksei smirked. “You know what that means in a place like this. Especially if we decide to train her to be a Pretty Boy.”

“Except you wouldn’t do that. Everyone knows you don’t keep Pretty Boys.” Wunderhein pointed out.

“True. So you know it’s still clean. However.” Aleksei added thoughtfully. “It is a girl. I never said I wouldn’t keep a Pretty Girl. Also, Shark here likes girls, don’t you Dimi.”

“You bet I do.” Dmitri agreed, lighting a cigarette with a sly grin. “You ever kissed a girl Wunderhein? You never forget that.”

“That’s Captain Wunderhein to you.” The Falcon corrected Dmitri.

Dmitri just shrugged.

“You need something better on the table then that Wunderhein. I know Balco is itching for her.”

“Balco can’t offer you what I can.”

“Which means he’ll be more creative if I had to offer her to him.” Aleksei saluted. “Good night Captain Wunderhein.”

Aleksei walked out of ‘The Nest’ with Dmitri following at his heels, feeling Wunderhein’s eyes on him.

“Ya really gonna trade her off?” Dmitri asked once they were outside, out of ear-shot.

At Dmitri’s words, Aleksei felt bile rising his throat. He leaned against the wall for a moment, feeling the burn of the salty drink from earlier coming up again.

“Ya ok?” Dmitri checked.

“Yeah.” Aleksei wiped his mouth with the back of his back. “Blyad Dmitri, she’s just a kid. She can’t even go to the bathroom without help and his trying to turn her into a Pretty Boy?”

“I don’t mind helping her.” Dmitri grinned. “Especially if I could help a bit more.”

“This is serious Dimi. If Wunderhein wants her, this means more teams are going to begin trying to trade for her.” Aleksei muttered. “She’s practically a goldmine. Our team could rank up without even trying to if we handed her over. Why didn’t I ever think of that?”

“So what ya wanna do?” Dmitri queried. “Trade her in for something better?”

Aleksei remained silent for a moment.

“Lexie?”

“No.” The young wolf finally shook his head. “The rules seem to be changing Dmitri but team-mates always stick together.”

“Gonna be interesting how much they change, ain’t it.”

“Not really.” Aleksei muttered with a shudder.