Chapter Nineteen

Grabbing the bag Sam had brought with him I pull out the weapons inside laying them on the ground, it is the first time in training I have had the chance to take them out due to my ever-expanding class. I watch as the warrior's eyes widen in surprise as I stand tall to gather their attention.

"Ok everyone if I can have all your attention, please." They stop immediately, well those who were not already watching me "I only have a small number of weapons that I have collated over the years and will only be able to train a few at a time. Unless you have some, I will start with the younger pups, whilst the other pups start there warm up and then I should have time to work with a few others after that. That is whoever would like to learn to wield a weapon. Those I do not get around to will have the opportunity tomorrow, we will also give our wolves an opportunity to train with us tomorrow."

"What the fuck is she doing?" I heal a snarl from the stands, ignoring it I turn my head back to the pups who are already moving forward, used to the routine. "Settle down she wouldn't let any of them get harmed" I hear another comment. Sofia grabs the daggers first and I take my position away from her as the other young pups line up behind her waiting their turn. She gets into the correct stance before flicking the dagger towards me and I hear a lowly growl from the stand but ignore it as I catch it.

"Ok Sofia, great first attempt. Now I know you can do better remember it's all in the wrist. You got this." She lets it fly and I catch it again, but she soon gets back into the flow of her movements letting the others fly "Great work your throws have gotten much stronger and became more precise as you went on, Scott your turn." I leave the daggers in front of him making less of a gap letting him pick one up "Now Scott remember you need to get used to the blade. At the moment I don't want you worrying about your stance like Sofia. I just want you to get used to throwing them. ok?" he nods, and I watch as he concentrates on what he is doing before he throws his.

Each of the younger pups take their turn with the daggers, I never wanted them to learn to wield a weapon let alone train but due to the Red Moon Pack they wanted to, it made them feel safe and anything that made them safe was a bonus. Coming to the last pup Lily stands at the ready waiting for my instructions.

"Lily ready?" she takes her stance and lets one fly followed by another and another making me have to catch and drop as they fly towards me. "Great work Lily, next time I want you to try and aim at different parts of my body now you can consistently aim at my torso." Jumping in the air she cheers. "Okay if you can pop them in the bag and go get yourselves a drink."

Moving gracefully over to Sam and Conner I watch them for a few moments and smile at the improvement they are showing in their chosen weapons. "Ok you guys are you warmed up?" They look at each other before nodding picking up my swords off the floor I get into my stance, the weapons were once my father's and are perfectly balanced, taking in a deep breath I command the two of them "Go."

They launch their attack in perfect synchronisation, Sam dodges to the side and Conner strikes, blocking his sword with my own I swivel my spare blade behind me in time to block Sam's blade. Gasps ring out across the arena at the same time as the sounds of our swords clash, thankfully they have learnt and ignore them concentrating on the fight rather than get distracted by the observers.

Using my strength, I push their blades towards them causing them to step back, dodging towards Sam to make them think I am attacking him, Conner comes after me, but I turn so swiftly I take Conner by surprise as I go to attack him instead, even though he should be used to it he still wasn't prepared for it. However, he doesn't let his surprise affect him for long, bringing his sword up from an offensive move to defence, showing me that he is learning not to let something effect his concentration.

Moving swiftly, I block his defensive move and use my second sword to attack Sam who stepped in to attack me whilst my attention was on Conner. We end up parrying for a few more minutes, each attacking and defending, the oohs and ahhs around us tell me that everyone has stopped to watch us. I hear a muffled "That's my boy" making me chuckle.

I see the moment that Sam's wolf gets frustrated with me as I block another attack from him, taking out Conner I bring the tip of my sword to his throat knowing I need to concentrate on Sam now or his wolf Murdoch will force a shift and with the witnesses around I cannot let that happen.

"You're out sorry Con" I feel the slice of the blade tearing my shirt as Sam's sword thrusts forward as I move to the slide out the way before ducking under the sword as he twirls it my way. "You sure you want to do this" I see Sam's wolf Murdock pushing forward as Sam's eyes darken. "You both do this I am not taking it easy on you" I warn as we circle each other.

Sam's wolf has struggled holding back to hide for safety over the years, being an alpha wolf, we are prone to stand and fight, to defend, not to cower like we have had to. Training with me has and is the only time he is able to let out some of his frustration and anger. So, though I asked if he was sure he wanted to do this, I know that he is a hundred percent sure that he does and just like that Sam's lips quirk up confirming it "Ok bring it squirt."

He launches forward the strength in the attack magnified with Murdock forward sharing control with Sam. I let him keep up the barrage of attacks towards me, dropping one of my swords I duck at a blow towards me picking up Conners sword and launching it at Sam to catch, who effortlessly catches it spinning it in his hand as I pick my other sword back up before circling again.

Murdoch lets out a fierce growl before he moves in for his attack, one sword after another comes at me and I throw his moves back at him, well as well as he is giving to let Murdoch get his frustration out, there is no point in subduing him at the moment it would just defeat the objective in letting them find a little piece of peace.

"Is the big bad wolf finished?" I say teasingly as I leap back out of the way winding him up further as I dismiss his attack.

"Never" he yells rushing forward and I meet him in the middle and start pushing forward making my attacks faster and more precise to overpower him gently and gradually. I see the flicker of his wolf settling now his frustration has been unleashed and finally land the jab to his ribs with my elbow deflecting his attack and then swiping his legs out. He lands with a thump on the ground puffing and panting from exertion.

"You're getting better but next time rather than following your frustration, calm your mind and attack more precisely. You need to watch what your opponent is telling you. I never hid what I attended to do but you were more concentrated on your frustration to realise that I left many openings for you to land a blow."

"Damn, sorry" he lets his head flop back.

"No need to be sorry, this is why we train so we are ready when the time comes. Making mistakes now helps you grow, helps all of us grow" I add knowing everyone's attention is still on me, it has been from the start of our weapons training. "Mistakes do happen it is what we do with them that counts and by some of them happening now we can train so when they happen out there in the real world, we will know how to interact without thinking."

"Yes Ma'am" they all respond making me shake my head.

"Alright, you lazy lot. You better not think that I didn't realise you didn't carry on training whilst the pups worked on their weapon training. Add five additional laps onto your cool down and stretch out. Carl's training group make sure you drink plenty of water before Carl takes over." They groan with displeasure but still smile at me before doing as I ask.

"Can we do a group exercise?" Harry asks, retying my ponytail I nod.

"Ok. Sam, Conner you have been training the longest so you will be the adults you are seriously injured you know the time it takes to heal enough to attack. Everyone else remember your training and how you have learnt to work together in your groups. I need a victim" Sofia's hand shoots up yelling me, me.

"Ok. Sofia is in danger you lot, your adults are down for the count you need to distract me from killing anyone. Remember no one expects pups to be able to fight use this to your advantage." Crouching down to Sofia I whisper "You remember where you need to put your weight for the strangle hold" she nods standing I move swiftly over to Conner and Sam jabbing them swiftly in the stomachs making them fall to the floor before turning and lifting Sofia in a strangle hold her feet resting on my hip.

A roar comes from behind me, and I feel the aurora come at me in full force dropping Sofia to the ground she rolls as I have taught her, so she doesn't hurt herself. Moving with precise moves to move the beta away from the pups he follows as expected with me "How dare you hurt her?" he jabs at me his moves are aggressive and forceful, but he is giving his moves away with each movement he takes. I hear Sofia squeal in shock before a sob comes from her.

"Pups what is Beta Thomas doing wrong?" I question trying to make out this is training not and actual attack to settle Sofia.

"I am going to rip you to shreds" he snarls lunging at me again.

"Come on pups you know the answer" I take a blow to my stomach causing my rib to crack slightly, ignoring the effects of the blow I make a move to swipe out his legs as planned when I took the blow but he brings his fist down towards my knee and I know if he lands the blow he is going to take my leg out, changing the direction of my attack I bring my knee up towards me and land my foot smack bang in his face, I feel the moment his nose breaks. The other wolves are in the process of protecting the other pups and unsure whether to get involved in the fight.

"His acting out of anger" Harry shouts over the noise around us.

"Correct Harry and why shouldn't we act out in anger?"

"It makes our movements obvious."

"We cannot land our shots preciously for an effective hit as they are sloppy." Supplies Luke wanting to join in too.

"Correct Harry and Luke" I say dodging more blows looking for the perfect opportunity to subdue him.

"We should never attack out of anger, or frustration-" Conner starts before he is interrupted by Sofia.

"We should always remain calm and collective, watch for the perfect opportunity to take down those wanting to cause us harm." she finishes.

Just like that the perfect opportunity shows itself to me, moving my right leg I pretend to attack, thankfully he doesn't know my fighting style and doesn't know that when I fight, I give nothing away I only allow them to see what I want them to see. Which means he plays right into my hands, his fist comes right at me the way I had hoped, clasping my hand around his wrist I bring him forward using his memento to put him in a choke hold, he cannot get out of.

Sofia runs up to the beta excitingly "you were amazing" she squeals "but next time you need to let go of your anger. Can we now have Jenni back as we want to finish what we were doing before Carl gets the space."

"She hurt you" he growls softly not wanting to upset her.

"No, she didn't silly. Jenni taught us all how to keep ourselves safe in certain holds. I had my feet braced on her hip and had hold of her wrist. She holds all my weight, so I don't strangle myself." I loosen my grip everyone staring at me in awe, well that or shock I cannot be over certain.

"I would never put one of the pups in harm. Now I am going to let you go Beta Thomas." He nods and I straighten up.

"How the hell do you know how to fight like that?" I turn to find Jet staring at me along with everyone else.

"I was taught of course" I say simply avoiding the question "I really should get back to training the pups they have school tomorrow and Carl needs the grounds for his training session." I turn away from them and we go back to training pulling off the scenario without any more interruptions.