Chapter Twenty-Nine

Waiting at the finish line I'm waiting for everyone to arrive back from their positions and tasks, along with everyone actually doing the obstacle course. Luna's barbecue is already in full swing, everyone laughing and joking, the pups are playing games to amuse themselves whilst waiting to cheer the groups across the finishing line. The Luna has already collated most of the points received for each obstacle by having the pack link her so she could write them on score sheets she had produced and pinned it up on the wall for me so I could keep track.

Thankfully Chelsea arrives back with Carmen and the doctor carrying all the test papers. I've already written the answers down with complex answers for all of them so others would be able to help me mark them accordingly. Getting Sarah's attention, she joins me at the table along with Chelsea and two others who had volunteered to help mark the tests. About to mark Cayden's alpha test sheet I hear Chelsea mutter before glaring at me and distracting me from marking.

"Jenni, I know I wrote his answers, but I thought he was guessing I didn't even know…how do you even know?" she rambles causing the others to pause, I raise my eyebrow at her waiting for her to carry on and she does without any further prompting "sorry didn't mean to ramble. How does Scott know the words to the Royal anthem? And how do you know it? I only remember part of it, well words of it and faintly the tune."

"Erm…Well it is one of the tunes I have sung to them in the past." They look at me waiting for me to explain further "it's one that stuck with me from my childhood" I look away as I remember how at royal events, they used to sing it, meeting Chelsea's gaze again I wait for the next question I know she is dying to ask me, that I just know I don't want to answer, why did I put it on a damn test.

"And how does he know the exact date of-"

"Jenni" I leap up giving them an apologetic grin before dashing into Alpha Chris outstretched arms he offers out to me embracing me in a bear hug. I don't know what it is with the two alphas, but they just feel like family to me.

"Did you get him?" I grin wickedly making him chuckle.

"Did you doubt me?" he fakes being hit as I shake my head at his antics, plucking his phone out of his pocket he shows me the video footage he recorded, and I find myself holding onto his arm for support his eyes glistening with tears of amusement as I crack up laughing. Sarah and Chelsea arrive in time just to see the first paintballs hitting their mates and join us at watching the drama unfold on Alpha Chris's phone.

"Oh, dear our poor mates" Luna Sarah chuckles clutching onto Chelsea with tears of laughter falling down both their cheeks, as they watch Joe launch himself on the ground to miss being hit but in the process of doing so, he trips up Dean. The whole point of the exercise was for them to use their senses to avoid the paint pellets being shot at them, but they seem to just panic their way through it.

Directing Chris to the points table to add on his scores with his pack group Jet runs up to me, before I can stop him, he grabs me around the waist and spins me around laughing with so much joy shining on his face "That was epic" he kisses the top of my head before releasing me and joining Chris and his dad. Still in shock with the giggle bees laughing at me now, I see Jensen narrow his eyes at me briefly just before he shakes his head as though dispersing whatever thought he had away. Well, that was strange.

Going back to marking the tests I furrow my brows in confusion at the answers on Cayden's test sheet, they are short and sweet as though he didn't bother taking his time to answer, which I know is the case with what I have heard. I am not surprised because of his competitive side but what I am shocked about is the wrong answers or lack of answer he has written. The difference between the pups' answers and his is so significant that you would believe that their answers were ones of a soon to be alpha well young one.

What is the main role of running a pack? Anyone could answer this question.

CAYDEN ANSWER: To instruct the pack in what to do.

Well, the answer isn't wrong, but it is minimal and does not fully answer the question.

CONNER ANSWER: There is no main role in running a pack. As an Alpha there are many responsibilities that they need to oversee, they need to support and protect the pack, but they cannot do that on their own. They also need to ensure that every pack member feels safe and cared for. So, if I have to give one answer its being the main support beam in the pack which provides everything to his pack. Being the main support beam he needs his luna and his pack to stand beside him and support him becoming the other beams to support the whole pack, one beam is not enough. This means the alpha needs to make sure he supports his pack as they support him, they need to be a family.

Smiling at the answer I chuckle briefly at Conner going off on a tangent slightly but answering it more in-depth than you would expect for a non-alpha line. It is true that the alpha is a sort of support beam, he is there to run the whole pack but to do that he needs the pack to support him, to have their undivided loyalty so he can protect them and care for them, essential it is to be the dad of the pack, protect and care. Giving Cayden a measly one point I finish up on the others and hand them to Sarah to post the scores on the board so I can wait at the line for them to arrive back.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

"I'm going to kill you that was anything but fun" Caspian roars as both him and Cayden step out of the tree line, well stumble they are still dealing with the effects of the drugs they consumed in their drinks.

"You should have waited for the rest of your team, and you wouldn't be-" I remain stoic with my arms folded across my chest even though I'm interrupted.

"Still, it was not fun." Cayden mutters.

"Son, you should quit before you dig yourself a hole" Alpha Chris gently suggests, carefully gauging whether he needs to intervene to protect me or not as Caspian steps closer to me, how sweet.

"With all due respect Alpha Chris this is between us." He flicks his hand between the both of us, placing a hand on Chris's arm I give it a gentle squeeze to reassure him that I have it handled.

"Ok Soon to be Alpha Caspian. Let's settle this. A one-on-one fight. Just because you have not participated in my training sessions before does not give you a reason to disrespect me."

"Me" he scoffs "it is you who is disrespecting me."

"With all due respect it is not. This is my training session, you wanted to participate that is on you not me. As so you should show respect to your trainer." His eyes flame with anger.

"Fine when I have-" slicing my hand through the air I cut him off.

"You should be able to fight in any state. And to prove the point. Doc, can you give Caspian the antidote and give me the drink that will blind me, deafen me, block my mind link, make me lose sense of my balance and block my sense of smell please." I make sure to name all of the effects, so he is aware the depth I'm going too to prove my point.

"You cannot be serious?!" Caspian balks and looks around at the crowd around him losing his balance slightly before rectifying it, no one says or does anything making him stare right back at me.

"Very. Alpha Chris can you be my witness to make sure this a fair fight? Well that there is no cheating."

"Anything for you but are you sure?"

"Of Course. Oh," I turn back to Caspian "I am even happy for you to use weapons Caspian. That is if you wish too."

"This is a joke" he stutters as everyone just looks stunned at me at the mention of weapons.

"I assure you that this is not a joke. And do not disrespect me. If you do not want to that is fine, I will accept an apology and a favour in return."

"What is going on here?" Of course, Alpha Rick would show his face whilst I argue with his oldest son.

"Dad as I discussed with Alpha Chris this is between me and her" that doesn't deter his father though, I don't think anything would from past experiences with him.

"If she is causing a problem then she should be dealt with accordingly. Where is Alpha Joe?"

"Enough this is between us" Caspian snarls finally snapping "I will go ahead with the fight as discussed but if you get hurt let everyone here know that it was her choice, and I am not responsible for your stupidity."

'How dare he call us stupid Jenni' Val growls in my head disappointed in her so-called mate.

"And when I win you will make a formal apology in front of everyone and help me by introducing me to the pups of my pack that are here. And you will spend an hour with me in a training session to learn how a session should be run. Not that you should ever be in charge of anyone's training, it is appalling."

"Kick his arse sweet pea. I hope you make that favour painful for him." Alpha Chris encourages me.

"Hmmm… Ok on one change I get two favours" I grin "you asked for three things so it's only fair."

"A favour from an alpha is worth way more than what my son is asking of you." Alpha Rick snarls.

"Why does it matter what I ask for from him? As Caspian stated he is going to win. So, does it really matter? Or are you worried your son cannot fight and win against your former slave? The one you spent time torturing in your basement." His mouth drops wide open whilst the packs surround me lending me support growling at the alpha, Caspian's eyes bulge wide open as he snaps his stare at his dad "I remember how you used to call me weak and helpless."

"I accept. You win I will apologise and-" Caspian spits out glaring at me as Alpha Rick growls at me and snarls how I am trying to frame him.

"A formal apology, it's only fair" Jet jumps in as he keeps his eyes on me with concern reflecting in his gaze. Smiling at him I turn my attention back to Caspian.

"Ok we know the terms. Doctor Philips if you please." He hands a glass to each of us, draining my drink after confirming that Caspian has no more problems with his balance, I take a deep breath to keep my calm as all my senses disappear, it is frightening but less so that I know what is going to happen to me, thankfully for the pups I could counter the mind link blocking drug using my royal ability to push my way through. I didn't want them to be scared and waited for their bonds linked to me to feel uneasy. Sending them a calming wave I had informed them of the obstacle 'Don't panic you're going to be fine. As a pack you need to trust those around you, just like when you train, so trust them and see you soon.' I felt their resolution and confidence become stronger through the bond letting me know they were not scared and ready for their newest challenge.

All the drugs now in my system I get my mind back in the game, taking an unsteady step to test my balance or should I say unbalance I take one last breathe "Right let's get this going, shall we? Start when you are ready." I inform them, getting in a stance to prove I am ready.

I feel the air move around me, but I don't move I know he is judging whether I can see, hear or even smell him. Giving up on the fake dodges he lifts his arm, his hand comes close to my face to slap it, but I knock it aside before I swipe my leg out to give him a chance to realise that I am not playing around. By the slight contact I make, I know he only barely managed to dodge my attack in time. Not letting him get an advantage I move forward following the air displacement around me as I was trained to do as a child. Moving to attack again he manages to block me and then…then I feel it, he knows this not a joke no more that I am not playing around and knows that he needs to put his all in to take me out.

Blocking his attack, we carry on sparring before I decide that he has learnt enough and knows that I can hold my own now, so I up my barrage of attacks against him. Adding in different attacks making him constantly defend against me, I don't give away any of my moves I know he is finding it difficult getting the upper hand, he only sees what I want him to see to catch him out when I cannot find an opening to land a blow against him. I feel the air move to my right and know he is going to put me in a choke hold from behind, perfect dropping my arms I let him grab me around the throat holding onto his arm I take a breath before dropping my weight and choking myself, I spring straight back up launching my head back into his, making contact I feel the crunch of his nose breaking at the impact and making him loosen his grip around my throat, taking out his legs I fall back with him and manoeuvre myself so I have him pinned and in a choke hold within seconds, his attempts to get free are pointless and I wait for him to admit defeat. I feel him still within my hold before I feel the tap on my arm letting me know he gives up.

'Victory is ours!' Val cheers in my head, yipping with glee as she wags her arse in the air. Stumbling to my feet I hold my hand out to him I feel his grasp and help pull him up.

"Erm…Doc? Can I please have the antidote so I can finish up my training session with everyone? Pretty sure all of them are back by now." I feel a hand clasp mine placing a glass in it and I lift it up to my lips trying to work out my coordination before drinking it. It takes a few minutes to work, and I can feel little arms wrap around me.

"Hey Scotty" I bend down and lift him up unstably but we both know he is safe; I have practised enough after injuries to know how to move unbalanced. "You scored a hundred percent in your test by the way I am so proud of you, and I cannot wait for you to tell me everything but just wait a little longer until all my senses come back" I feel the air move near my leg and know someone is trying to trip me up, stopping I look in their direction. "I recommend the one trying to trip me up moves their leg promptly." I feel the air shift again knowing that they have moved it and head towards the seats again. "Er…Scotty directions to sit please" he taps me on my right shoulder twice and I move to my right twice he then pats my head making me know I need to move forward three places, he then taps my back letting me know I need to turn then he taps my bum with his foot letting me know I can sit, it's not our first time doing this.