The Pack’s Alpha Chapter 12: Nickname

Cyra

It sounds cliché, but Yorick is poetry in motion when he fights. He’s beautiful. Even when he falls, it’s somehow graceful and athletic.

I knew he wouldn’t lose. He just had that look on his face like he refused to lose. Perhaps I need some lessons from him. That thought makes me smile as he is announced the winner and he jogs back to our group with that panty-dropping smile aimed right at me.

Yeah, I’ll be dropping these panties for you later, Alpha.

He’s about to kiss me when we hear the next round called.

We’re both instantly alert and I look at Piper, who gets an evil grin on her face.

“Looks like I’ll get my chance to kick her ass quickly,” she says as she walks to the front.

“You’ve got this, Hellfire!” Zach says to her.

“Take her down, Piper!” I yell.

I’ve noticed that the instructors have been watching us, especially when we cheer for each other. I’m not sure if that’s a good sign or a bad sign, but I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.

For now, I refocus on Piper. When Alpha Nevaeh calls the start of the match, I realize quickly that while Piper is an excellent fighter, so is Megan. Both women are fast, their punches like snake bites, quick and painful. They are equally matched, both flexible and agile, with high kicks that would send an opponent spinning to the ground if it landed on the side of your head and leaps over legs that swipe to knock you down.

They both block quickly, use their agility to bend, flex, and maneuver out of the way as the other attacks. Piper has just managed to swipe Megan’s legs out from under her when Alpha Nevaeh calls the match.

Piper pulls the punch that would have won the match, but rather than being a graceful loser, Megan takes the opportunity to land a bruising punch on Piper’s inner thigh.

“HEY!” the four of us yell, pushing forward.

“Fight fair in a fight and you lose,” Megan growls, standing and facing off to a furious Piper.

“That may be true in a real-life fight, Ms. Alston, but in this Academy, when an instructor calls the end of the fight and you don’t listen, there are consequences. By default, I call Piper the winner!” Alpha Nevaeh says, pointing to Piper.

“But she didn’t win!” Megan whines.

“She would have if she’d had two more seconds. Your move, on the other hand, was merely done out of spiteful anger. You don’t win fights with emotion either, Ms. Alston,” Alpha Nevaeh says.

Megan glares at Piper who smirks and shrugs at her before limping back over to us.

“Are you okay?” I ask her.

“Yeah, more pissed off than anything. What a fucking cheater!” she says, making sure the last part comes out loudly enough for everyone to hear.

“Landon Reed and Katelynn Harris,” Warrior Callie calls out.

Landon walks to the front, and when the woman walks out, I lift my nose in the air.

“Alpha,” I say quietly.

“Yep,” Yorick says, pulling me in front of him and wrapping his arms around me as we watch the fight. It’s a bit possessive, but when I see Megan glaring at us, I lean back against him.

Alpha Nevaeh calls the fight, and I get my first glimpse of why Landon was selected for the Academy.

“Holy shit,” Yorick says, and I have to agree. Landon is strong, that’s obvious, but he’s fast too, faster than most Alpha males. He’s faster than the Alpha female he’s up against, and she’s not slow. In two minutes, he has her on the ground and is announced the winner.

He extends his hand to her and she accepts graciously, congratulating him on his win.

“Yep, I like her,” Piper says.

“Me too,” I say.

“I liked Chase as well,” Yorick says.

“Yes, he was nice,” I tell him.

When he comes back we all congratulate him.

“Well done, Hercules!” Zach says to him.

“Dude, really?”

“Hey, you’re no Alpha but you just defeated one,” he says, shrugging unapologetically.

We watch the last of the battles and then we all stand, while Alpha Leo steps in front of us and the others take positions on either side of him.

“Warriors, you would do well to make note of the alliances that are already forming in this year’s group. Most don’t last the entire year, but if they do, it’s a testament of the strength and bonds between those individuals. Alliances strengthen the individual. You cannot and will not win on your own in this Academy. If you haven’t started creating alliances, I’d suggest that you start,” he says.

“Now, follow this pathway and complete the ten-mile run. First person to cross the finish line over there,” he says, pointing on the opposite side of the field, “chooses the menu for dinner tonight.”

We stand there, waiting, as he looks at us.

“Well don’t stand there, get moving! It’s a race for fuck’s sake,” he barks, and we all take off running.

“I’m so thankful we didn’t run this morning,” Yorick says.

“Note to you, we’re not running tonight either,” I tell him.

“Got something else planned for our nightly activities?” he asks, waggling his eyebrows. We’re talking, but we’re still running hard.

“Maybe,” I say, pulling ahead of him.

He growls and quickly catches up to me.

“And what might that be?” he asks me.

“Something I think you’ll like,” I say, pushing harder to pull ahead again.

“If it involves spending time with you, then I’ll definitely enjoy myself,” he says, catching up again.

I grin at him. “I was thinking, you, me, naked …”

“Hell fucking yes!” he growls, pushing past me. “Can we start early if I win?” he asks.

I laugh, pushing myself to catch him.

“That depends on how heavy our dinner is,” I say, pushing past him.

“What’s your favorite food?” he asks me.

“Steak and potatoes, like most wolves. Although I also like a salad,” I tell him.

“Coming right up,” he says, pulling ahead of me again.

“Yorick,” I say as I realize he’s pulling ahead of me fast.

“Sorry, baby. I’ve got a prize to win,” he says.

I can hear the others not too far behind us, but as Yorick and I have been going back and forth, we’ve pulled ahead of the others. Now, as I try to catch him, I realize that he really, REALLY wants to win this.

‘Rina?’ I ask my wolf, wanting more power to run faster.

‘I’m enjoying the view from back here,’ she murmurs. She has a point. Not only is Yorick a graceful runner, but wow, what an ass.

‘I’d like to sink my teeth into that ass,’ she purrs.

‘Maybe we’ll have a chance tonight,’ I say to her.

‘If not, there’s always tomorrow,’ she says, just as Yorick steps over the finish line.

“YES!” he says, dancing around with his arms in the air.

However, the moment I cross the finish line, he pulls me into his arms and takes my mouth in a very dominant kiss.

“Shakespeare, you may want her tonsils for dinner, but the rest of us want real food. Make sure you pick something good,” Zach says.

“No problem, Nickname,” Yorick says, grinning at him.

“Nick… No! I make the nicknames. I don’t have one,” he says.

“Sounds like you do now, Nickname,” Piper says, crossing the finish line and joining our group.

“Yeah, Nickname,” Landon says, slapping him on the shoulder.

Zach turns and points at me. “You’re the last hold out, Aphrodite.”

“Aphrodite?” I ask.

“Hey, you’ve got Shakespeare practically salivating over you. I’d say that makes you the goddess of love,” he says, smirking at me.

“Fine, Nickname. Whatever you say,” I tell him, making everyone laugh as the smirk drops off his face.

“At least if you’re going to give me a nickname, make it a good one,” he grumbles.

“Hey, if the nickname fits…” Yorick says to him.

“Alright everyone! Mr. Hill is our winner. He chooses dinner tonight. What will it be?” Alpha Leo asks Yorick.

Yorick turns to smile at me. “Steak, potatoes, and salad.”

“Done! Go get some lunch, get cleaned up, and we’ll see you in the classroom at one o’clock. Class dismissed,” he says.

We turn to head inside and Chase comes jogging up. “Hey, mind if I sit with you guys at lunch?”

“Happy to have you,” Zach says to him.

“Yeah, come join us,” I say to him.

“Thanks!”