Chapter 3

Done with the pool and all packed up for the park they all hopped in their Mom's Jeep Wrangler and headed to the park. Jack loved the park but hated not being able to participate in public shifting. It was a safe zone for all shifters but with his size and unusual pelt markings his parents told him not to shift in public until he was older. The Park is completely fenced and guarded twenty four seven by shifters so no humans can get in, and the kids or adults get to play as humans or animals. Originally started by Lee and the Cat clan it was made open to all 4 clans knowing they didn't always have a place to release some of that pent up animal energy.

As soon as Alice Swiped them in and parked the Boys were jumping out of the Jeep calling out to friends they saw that were already there. Sam as the only girl loved spending this time with her mom so she stayed to help unload their food, chairs and drinks. Jack seeing his best friend Hal Ursus Maritimus, a large boy a little smaller than Jack that looked like a real Viking, started running toward him. Clear blue eyes, striking Blonde hair and a muscular body that looked a little like a Bear. He was handsome in a strong kind of way, mostly how he held himself not totally by his actual looks. Everyone looking saw the two clash together in a bear hug that would have set most others teeth rattling. They were truly large boys and you could tell they didn't know their own strength. Alex coming up behind the two clapped Hal on the back and said an extremely less intense hello.

Hal's Dad Thorn was Lee's number two shifter in the Cat clan. His mom died in a car crash after he was born in Scandinavia so they moved to the United States to get a fresh start. Thorn and Hal were Polar Bear Shifters, coming from one of the fiercest fighting families in the world. Hal knowing Alex hated to be manhandled waved back and asked where their beautiful sister was. Alex hating the thought of his sister being taken from him grimaced and laughed at Hals face and said "say that to her face you coward!" Hal might be Jack's best friend but he was madly in love with Sam even if he was only ten, and scared she would beat him to a pulp for treating her like a girl. As boys do, they changed the subject and Hal asked if they wanted to shift and go play in the creek, he loved the water.

Jack knowing his mom would be livid said he couldn't and Hals face dropped. Hal as always whined about Jack never shifting to play. "Why not!!! You never shift at the park and I don't get why…" Normally Jack would just shrug this off and say its cause he doesn't want to, but before he could they all heard a voice with a sneer in it interrupt him. It came from ten feet away. Frank Slade, or Franky to his friends, the wolf Alphas son. A good looking greasy haired muscular little dirtbag. Franky was good looking and he knew it. He interrupted Jack by whining like Hal and saying "Ya Jacky poo why don't you shift and show everyone what kind of ugly little kitty you are!" Jack hated Franky with a passion. That dumb kid was a bully and he did everything in his power at the park or at school to ruin Jack's life. 

Trying to keep his temper in check Jack threw back a retort he knew Franky hated. "Shut up you mangy dog! And leave us alone, we just want to hang out and have a nice day off." Unlike Jack, Franky can't keep his temper in check, faster than a human he leapt at Jack. Maybe it's because of the training that Lee and Thorn have the kids do every day or maybe it's because Jack is an Original, but he saw the punch coming. He quickly moved out of the way deflected the punch to the side and shoved Franky in the back giving him extra momentum. 

The extra push by Jack made Franky turn off balance and go head first into the creek. All the kids in the area pointed and laughed as Franky pushed himself up and out of the water, even his friends were chuckling silently to themselves. Everyone knows Franky knows how to fight but he often lets his anger take over and forgets his training. Cursing like a sailor Franky jumped out of the creek bed yelling at Jack like he was going to kill him. 

Jack could have held his own and more but at that moment every single person in the Park heard the Roar of a massive lion. It made even the strongest shifters in the park pause. Jack's Dad was in the Park and he was not happy. As the four Alphas arrived at the Park after the Gathering they were surprised to hear fighting and cursing. The Park had a no fighting policy and it was well known you shouldn't curse in front of the children. Walking towards the group of boys, not all in the Cat Clan, they all had the brains to lower their eyes and show respect to Lee and the other Alphas. 

In a voice that could have cut someone Lee asked what was going on. Being a bunch of ten year old boys they all mumbled and looked down at the ground. So Lee singled out Jack and asked "What is going on?" Jack Knowing he wasn't going to get out of replying, told his Dad they were all just messing around and it went too far. Lee Knowing exactly what had probably happened, sighed and said anyone in the Cat Clan find your parents and have a nice day.

Letting the others go but stopping Jack, Alex, Hal, Franky and his friends he asked again "What happened and why?" Franky, emboldened by the sight of his father, decided to speak up. "Your giant lummox of a son pushed me in the creek because he can't take a joke." Slade didn't really care what Franky did to the other kids as long as he didn't have to be bothered by it, and he might not like Lee or care about his son at all but this was becoming a scene. Slade only liked it when Franky came out on top.

Slade walked forward, grabbed Franky by the hair, lifted him an inch or two off the ground and told the boy to tell the truth. Franky, in pain and scared of his Dad finally told the truth. "Ow ow ow okay okay! We were insulting each other and I got angry." Slade, knowing he wasn't going to get his son to admit to being the loser in this situation, dropped him to the ground and said "Go wait in the car." Giving everyone one last hateful glare he turned and stiffly walked to the parking lot where he slid into Slade's town car. Then Slade turned to Lee and said "Keep your giant on a leash" then he turned and walked away.

Knowing his boys were in the right didn't help him be disappointed that they replied back in a negative way. So Lee sighed, turned to his boys and Hal and said "I know you didn't start it but you are all three grounded tonight for acting like idiots and that's the last I want to hear of it, understand?" The boys in unison replied with a crisp "Yes sir!" All knowing he was only punishing them for show, that, and they knew they should have reacted better.

Lee looked into every one of their eyes then spun around on his heel and walked to where Alice, Sam and Thorn were sitting talking and putting some food together. Thorn being a second Dad to Jack sat with the three boys on the bank of the creek so their Dad could cool down and relax. Jack couldn't take it any longer. He started laughing and asked if the other two saw Franky's face right before he fell in the creek. The other two boys made a frightened face and made little squeaks as they mimicked the bullies face before he fell in the water. Laughing they got up and went to enjoy the rest of their day.