Chapter Thirty-One

ALPHA JOE POV

Getting hit by paintball pellets is definitely not something I enjoy. How was it even an obstacle? I think I really need to sit down with her and clarify what an obstacle course actually is. However, the swim was refreshing and helped ease all my aches and pains. Thankfully with the help of the other teams Harry had enough of the antidote to counter act the sedative, however once the other effects worked their way into the pup's systems, they informed us all the effects they were feeling.

We already knew one was a sedation thanks to the pups and one of them was sight thanks to the mind link from Cayden, but the others shocked me, disorientation, hearing and smell. We couldn't work out what the sixth one was but was soon enlightened to what it was by Carmen who informed us it was something to block our mink links so we wouldn't be able to communicate to them that way.

The biggest shock though was none of the pups seemed to panic about losing their senses which I found rather odd and strange. With our help we managed to steer and carry the pups without issues and luckily none of the paintballs were aimed at them, I swear I saw Sam pull Carl out the way of getting hit, I am not sure how he managed it though.

Now we are at the second to last obstacle and I'm not sure if I prefer today's training session or one of her actual training sessions.

"Why exactly is she getting us to pick up twigs and branches?" Hell, if I know but I'll take it over being hit by paintballs any day.

"Hang on" Jordan blurts out opening up his bag "look there is something in the bag" peering into his bag I see a small vial holding a blue liquid "What do you think it is?" plucking it out of the bag I see a tag attached to it, flipping it around I see the message.

"Well done in getting here. You are nearly to the end. Feeling a little topsy turvy then drink me" smiling I look up at the others "Crafty minx. She is getting us to pick up twigs whilst the antidote works its way into the pup's system so they can enjoy the last bit of the course." I'm so glad the two idiots didn't pick up this bag.

"Ok everyone. Make sure the pups get the antidote" helping them drink, we get them settled on the ground whilst we get to work and fill up the bags with kindling, some are quicker than others so help those still gathering so we finish all at the same time "Now what do we do with them?" looking around to see what we are meant to do with the bags.

"Oh, don't worry Alpha. She has organised for some pack members to pick them up and take them back to the shed to restock our bonfire stock." The twinkle in Janice's eye gives it away, they've organised a bonfire.

"Finally, I can hear" Harry cheers "that was the weirdest feeling ever."

"You're telling me" Danny shakes his head "so glad Jenni trained us."

"What?!" Carl asks brows funnelled in confusion and disappointment, obviously he wasn't part of this training.

"Games" Darcy chirps.

"Training" Darren adds straight after.

"Sister plays games with us where she blindfolds us so we cannot see." Lily carries on explaining.

"Jenni teaches us about balance in training and gets us to spar one legged sometimes."

"She gets us to meditate at night telling us to block out everything around us and concentrate on what we feel."

"Basically, ensuring that we are capable no matter what" Sam says proudly "She made sure that the obstacle used all the skills she has trained us in, letting us put all our mental and physical abilities to the test. The water pistols were a bit of fun to get us out of our heads, Phoebe was the first test, she wanted us to work as a team but also hoped that we would join all our teams together."

"But isn't this a competition?" Jordan asks."

"She wanted to see if we could put our competitive sides aside and work together. As she would say it doesn't matter if you are different species, it doesn't mean you cannot be on the same team" Conner says smiling at Sam.

"The rogue attack showed that we don't always have to fight straight away and that getting away is ok to then fight another day. But also, to show that as pups that we can help in a battle to change the tide" Sofia tells us.

"Knowledge always important" Scott says not wanting to feel left out.

"Yes, because knowing the past and what is happening can always help with."

"How we move forward and how we deal with situations that evolve in front of us." Darcy starts and like most times Darren finishes.

"She had a category on alpha as she always tells us that though it is important for an alpha to be trained as an alpha it doesn't hurt us knowing it too. It is easy to judge but without being in one's shoes you don't know what they have to deal with" Aaron says.

"The drinks showed that we shouldn't rush into things and that we can rely on those around us to help if needed?" Carl states but comes out more like a question.

"The paintball?" Dean asks.

"Sometimes we should rely on our other senses rather than relying on sight." Liam tells him.

"It isn't guaranteed that you will see the enemy before they attack." Charlie adds.

"The swimming was probably to help the bruises you all gained from the paintballs." Maria muses tilting her head to observe us.

"And we already worked out this obstacle" I say feeling contemplative, I had thought she hadn't considered the aspects of the course, but she had put more thought into it than I thought, making sure it covered all areas and I suddenly realise that my pack training is in adequate and to confirm my thoughts Carl turns to me with his eyes bugging out.

"Alpha, is it bad that I feel somewhat in adequate to train the warriors? I kind of feel like a novice."

"You're not Carl." Sam turns to him smiling "Jenni sometimes watches your sessions whilst she is waiting for us to get out of the changing rooms. I see her approving nods at things you do. There is some moves she disagrees on. Oh, and her exact words. He is too lenient on them, but I suppose they have done an hour of training with me already and could be tired. We will need to work on everyone's stamina." Everyone chuckles as I see him puff up his chest as he blushes at Sam's words.

"Well, I was going to say I feel lacking so I'm glad I wasn't the only one."

"Nonsense Alpha" the pups scold me, and I have to bite my lip to stop me laughing.

"Jenni special" Scott chimes.

"That she is bud" Dean ruffles Scott's hair as he agrees.

"Shall we see what she has install for us for our last hurdle?" they all cheer and we face Janice to find out what we need to do.

"Your final obstacle. Complete the course and make your way over the finish line" she points to an actual obstacle course, what the fuck? Where did that come from? There is no way that this was built in an hour. There is netting for us to crawl under, swing ropes attached to some tree branches, monkey bars, basically everything you would imagine and expect in an obstacle course.

"Yay!" the pups yell rushing forward and head straight for the course, looking around I see everyone else looking as confused as I feel, the last time I was this way it was all overgrown and dangerous. In the distance I see some bushes hiding some other wood bits and I mentally remind myself to come out and investigate later. But our confusion soon starts to turn to excitement as we hear the laughter of the pups and head towards the course ourselves.

"Jenni" Dean and Carl state beside me before glaring at each other, then cracking up with laughter.

'I still don't understand. When did she have time to do this?'

'Not sure Godric but it looks amazing. Wonder who helped her.'

Finishing the course, we all look back with forlorn, pretty sure we all want another go it was tremendous fun. "Come on you lot we can always come back another day. We still need to get across the finish line" I point out and they all smile back before slowly jogging the last bit of the course. What I am not expecting to see is a fight between Caspian and Jenni as soon as we break out of the tree line.

'Don't worry sweetheart Jenni is putting him in his place' my Luna chimes through our bond and I look around to find her standing to the side of the barbecue, organising the pack in putting on more meat and getting them to add more kindling to the bonfire, the same bags we had just filled. Heading off with the group I stand by Alpha Chris watching the debacle in front of me.

"Do I want to even know?" the pups slipping past the wolves crowded around to watch, not seeming worried about Jenni fighting at all.

"Caspian decided to be rude and is now getting what he deserves." He says bluntly, concern stretching across his face.

"My son would not do such a thing." snarls Alpha Rick.

"I'm declined to agree after the way you both acted this morning." He growls back at me as my son steps up to me.

"Where were you?" he scowls.

"With the rest of the team where were you and Caspian? It was a team obstacle course but you both decided to head off on your own. It serves you right that you two were both affected, if you had stayed behind you would have realised there were other choices." Not ready to deal with his mood at the moment while I am ensuring that Jenni doesn't get hurt, but before I know it the fight is over and I am not at all surprised that Jenni won even when I find out all her senses were blocked, after what the pups told us I would be more shocked if she had lost.

"We really need to sort this joint pack training out Alpha Joe" Chris smiles, the same pride shining in his eyes as I assume is shining in mine.

"And that alliance" I say slinging my arm over his shoulder.

"All right if I can have everyone's attention, please" Sarah shouts gathering everyone's attention "It is time for Jenni to notify you of the results and then you can enjoy the barbecue without interruptions."

"Thank you, Luna," she nods to her in respect before carrying on "First off thank you to everyone who helped make this possible. Luna, Chelsea thank you for organising everyone and coming up with the idea of having a pack barbecue as a celebration. To the pups from both packs for joining in and to Alpha Chris and his pack for helping and allowing us access onto their territory," shouts and cheers sound arounds us as she pauses to take a breath.

"I know you all thought my obstacles were strange, but you still went ahead with them. If you would like to know why I had a certain obstacle I am more than happy to explain later but I will tell you it tested all aspects, it requires to be a true warrior." Interesting, I will be finding her later, it seems with many others around me, even though the pups explained I want to know her opinions on a true warrior and how to possibly improve our training.

"Now without further ado I will announce the top three teams. At the beginning of the course the Alpha team was in first place. You all presumed they would win but unfortunately, they did not make it into the top three teams. Sorry to those who made bets." I hear chuckles around me probably from those who made bets.

"What we got back first" Cayden blurt yells as if it has only just registered in his mind what she has said "If we are not in the top three where did we place?" he crosses his arms across his chest glaring at her, no doubt trying to intimidate her, but it does not work she just stares right back at him meeting his furious gaze.

"Last place" Wait what now? I look at her stunned as many others how can we have gone from first place to last place. "Though some of your team gained points others lost points or didn't gain enough points in the test as others did" she states What did the two idiots do to lose us so many points? And points in the test?

"This is bullshit you probably just picked your favourites" Cayden snaps finally snapping out of his shock "Come on then tell us who won and prove me wrong" I watch as Sarah goes to speak but doesn't get a chance.

"I don't have to prove anything, at least of all you" she rolls her eyes "However, I would like you to let me finish so thank you for your so called permission" I cannot help but watch Sarah and Chelsea cover their mouths to hide their laughter as the rest of us openly grin at her sass and listen to her announce Sofia's team coming in third place, Sam's team coming in second and then she pauses and we all wait in anticipation.

"And in first place we have Conner, Scott…" we don't get to hear the rest of the names as everyone cheers drowning her out, she waits for them to stop before carrying on "They beat second place by Scott scoring a high number of points on his test compared to others. We have also rewarded a special prize to Danny from the Red Moon Pack, who will receive the same prize as the first-place winners. Though he is from another pack he worked with his team and contributed just as though he was a part of the Evergreen Forest pack. It is important that you can work with others not only from your own pack but others as well, out on the field you need to work with those beside you smoothly otherwise it can cause problems."

Danny runs up to her flinging his arms around her neck as he continuously thanks her. A faint growl draws my attention to the back of the crowd where I see Alpha Rick storm off, I'm going to have to make sure someone has eyes on him at all times.

"Ok let's eat" Sarah declares.

"Wait a second this is ridiculous you just proved you picked your favourite. How could a pup as young as Scott know the answers?"

"Cayden honey don't be a sore loser and look at the points on the wall." She points to a wall behind her whilst looking disappointingly at him "I can show you the score sheets too if no one minds. And Jenni didn't judge anything on the obstacle course the pack did. Using a score system that I agreed to with Jenni. Also, the tests were marked by me and Chelsea too." I watch as he storms off to look at the points on the wall with a sour expression donning his face.

Everyone else heads off over to the bonfire, Jenni seems to get cornered by the pups like she normally does and directs them in front of her around the fire once she ensures they all have food and drink, she quickly eats something small before taking a sip of drink and I am suddenly yanked by my arm as my mate directs me over to the bonfire "I really need to get that girl to eat more she never seems to eat." She mutters whilst narrowing her eyes at Jenni, I couldn't agree more and just nod in agreement.