Insight

Johnny and Flint had always had a different relationship than the rest of his warrior class. six years ago, everyone in the pack thought the future Alpha was an explosive, violent, unpredictable person. Johnny, on the other hand, saw more than that. The young man thought Flint was strong, fast, determined.

He wanted to be like him. Just as strong, fast, and determined. Johnny approached Flint after a training session when he was fourteen years old. The future Alpha was in the locker room, cleaning the blood from his wounds. He asked Flint to train him outside of the arena and he received laughter in response. It took weeks of annoying him and following him to get Flint to agree.

One evening, he tracked Flint to a bar in the valley. He was sitting at a table with a human girl in his lap. He was whispering to her and she was giggling. Johnny paid no attention to her as he walked up to his superior and plopped down on the bench across from him.

"Fuck..." Flint frowned upon seeing the persistent student.

"Sir." Johnny smiled at him.

"I lost you on the highway. How the hell did you find me?" He replied in an annoyed tone.

"I watched the upper classman's tracking seminar." He shrugged.

Interest flashed through Flint's intensely stern, green eyes.

"Do me a favor?" He stated quietly to the girl. "Go away."

She huffed in confusion and annoyance, before walking away. Flint sat up and drank his entire glass of liquor. When he looked at Johnny again, he had an amused half-smile on his lips.

"You don't want me to train you privately. Trust me, there are reasons I don't do that." Flint stated.

"I know the reasons. Everyone does." Johnny nodded.

"So what then? Do you have a death wish or something?" He chuckled.

"No. I just want to be the best." He smiled.

Flint sighed and shook his head. He examined the young man's shaggy, blonde hair and youthful face. Johnny knew he looked young. Just as he knew that he was skinny and his scores in the arena weren't perfect. Flint eventually nodded slowly, as if making a decision.

"If I do this, and that's a big if, there will be rules." He spoke in an uncertain tone.

Johnny nodded eagerly.

"Number one, no complaining. To me or anyone else. I will hurt you. Often. I don't want to get a call from your mother saying what a monster I am. I get enough of that. Number two; you'll be where I tell you, when I tell you. I won't wait for you. And three, don't follow me anymore. My activities outside pack territory are not examples to follow. Understand all that?" Flint explained.

"Yes, sir." Johnny nodded excitedly.

"Go home, kid. Be in the south woods at six tomorrow morning. I'll find you there and we'll start."

"Deal." The young warrior grinned broadly.

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Johnny was thinking about that conversation as he made his way back to GreenTree. He also recalled the beatings that followed. Every other day, for years, Flint would defeat him and then teach him how to do the same maneuvers. He had perfect scores in the arena and all his classes within six months.

Now, he was strong. Just as he once yearned to be. He was also fast, intelligent, and determined. Flint trusted him with as important a mission as saving his family. Johnny had no intention of letting down his mentor. His friend. His Alpha. He pushed himself forward, feeling the burn in his muscles.

Lynn was beside him. Finding her, his mate, was the most fortunate turn of fate that Johnny could have hoped for. She was everything he wanted, without ever knowing he wanted it. Now that their souls were bonded and their power was shared, Johnny was even stronger and faster than before. He appreciated the brown wolf running beside him for a moment before a loud boom sounded through the trees.

Johnny froze in place as his mate continued forward. Lynn had been given specific orders to circle the area in case of action. She rounded up the wolves while Johnny listened intently. The sound of boots on dead leaves was shortly followed by another blasting sound. Gunfire. There was no doubt.

Avoid. Do not approach. Keep low. Stay together. The orders flew from his mind to the team.

Johnny ran toward the humans. He was conscious of the leather bag hanging around his neck. It bounced off his furry chest with every step he took. Inside, were the winter jade beans. Lynn had the rest strapped around her neck, incase only one of them made it home. Another shot rang out.

Pain. It seared his back leg, no. Not his. Someone in his team. It wasn't Lynn, much to his relief. A group of three hunters came into view. One of them was reloading while the others were looking to see what had been hit.

Status! Now! Johnny growled internally.

Jerry's been shot. Back, right leg. Through and through. Lynn answered immediately.

Location? He probed, creeping closer to the humans.

Four meters to the left. Two of us. Two, eight meters to the right. She replied knowingly.

Get Jerry out of here. Johnny ordered.

The humans stepped toward him, causing the warrior to duck further into the brush.

"Over there. Blood." One of the humans pointed to the left.

Stay covered. Johnny commanded.

There's no coverage! Jerry replied sharply. Go! Leave me!

Do it. Johnny barked. I got him.

He ran out from his hiding place. His deep growls immediately grabbed the humans' attention. They all spun their guns to face him. Johnny didn't hesitate to leap to the right and dodge the following blasts.

He ran to the right, bringing the excited humans to chase after him. Johnny jumped down a small hill, sliding to a stop in front of two of his warriors.

Wait! He demanded, listening to boots approaching. Now!

The pair jumped over him, lunging at the humans. Johnny ran past them, knocking the only one standing, to the ground. The wolves tore into the hunters as he left them all behind.

Circle! Circle! Circle! Johnny demanded.

Lynn and another warrior ran toward their teammates. They circled the humans, silencing them in minutes. Johnny approached Jerry. He was half concealed by fallen leaves, but still very noticeable. The injured wolf whimpered and Johnny latched onto the fur on the nap of his neck. He dragged his warrior down an embankment.

Stay! Johnny barked at him.

He ran back to the others. They were all bloody, but none were injured. It was the blood of the hunters. One was dead. The others were on their way to join him. One of the living had gashes on his arms and legs. He was unconscious. The other living hunter was holding his throat, tryin to put a stop to the bleeding.

Round up. Johnny ordered.

He shifted into his human form. Johnny crouched on the ground and examined him. The human was dying, there would be no saving him. He looked up at Johnny with immense fear in his eyes.

"That's what happens when you go after animals that never hurt you. They bite back." He stated, crouching. "Too bad though. I hate leaving bodies behind me. You shouldn't have gotten in the way. I was ordered to remove all obstacles."

Johnny watched him for a few seconds before the human rattled out his final breath. He shook his head and looked at the unconscious man. He hadn't seen anything. Johnny shifted back into his wolf form, noting the intact leather pouch around his neck.

We're not leaving Jerry behind. He won't be able to keep up with us. Henry, Olivia... Help him home. Be cautious. The rest of us will continue on to the meeting place. Johnny ordered.

Yes, sir. The team responded in tandem.