The Luna's Alpha

Cody's POV.

Everyone goes silent as soon as I walk into the training room. All eyes are on me. Most faces hold a scowl, but there are a few smiles. Donny is the first to greet me with a smile and a handshake. Ben and Micco are at the front of the room, both give me nods, but they don't move as they survey the scene. I recognize Jude's dad who isn't scowling, but I can see he doesn't want to pull apart from the crowd. I take in a deep breath and let it out. "Come on, you can work with me." Donny leads me to the mat.

"Our new face is Cody Johnson. Yes, he's human, but he's part of our pack as you can see by the pack mark on his arm. He's also Tess's mate, so unless you want to piss her off, I suggest being civil. Now that you know who he is, let's get back to work." Micco growls out. "Cody, make sure you address me as Alpha in this setting. And don't hold back."

"Yes, Alpha," I answer then adjust my gloves and throw in my mouth guard to square up with Donny. I already went on a run with Tess so I'm warmed up. Donny knows my capabilities so he goes at it straight away, which I appreciate. I take a shot to the jaw, that kind of rings my bell. I'm on the ground before I can shake my head clear, but I have plenty of practice escaping holds and I quickly recover, reversing so I'm on top and I get the upper hand. Donny certainly isn't a novice and we go back and forth taking control. I'm on top and see an opening for his throat so I take it, making him tap.

I help Donny to his feet and notice a crowd has gathered. My jaws are slack and my eyes are bugging as I look around. "Tess is the only one that could ever best me. Good work, Cody." Donny whispers as he wipes his sweat on a towel. Damn, I should've brought one.

I remove my gloves and look around for something I can use until a towel is thrown in my face and I'm tackled to the ground. I take a few blows to the gut before I get the towel from my face. I don't hold back from this challenge and start wailing on whoever this guy is. His hair is long so I catch it in my grip and get control of his head as I land punches to his now-recognizable face. Griffin. I'm not about to hold back.

Griffin fights dirty, but it's more training for me. Bare knuckles cause more damage to his pretty face, but so be it. It was a cheap shot and everyone knows it. I'm not wrong for going all out and breaking his arm under my knee. He screams and shoves me as hard as he can. He rolls away and shifts into a dark brown wolf with black paws. The same wolf that chased me just over a month ago. He growls then springs into action, but I'm ready.

I pull my karaits just in time to land a blow then a swipe to his side, but not before his tooth sinks into my left forearm. I grunt at the sting but kick at his hind leg and send a punch to his nose. He whimpers then jumps at me. A claw tears at my leg, but my blades are at his belly and they're sharp, sharp enough to cut across his torso, then my other blade hooks around his neck and he stills, knowing I have the advantage. One move and my blades could slice his throat. "SHIFT NOW, GRIFFIN," I tell him.

A man with blood seeping from his wounds stares me down with his chest heaving. "I had to try. For the sake of our pack, and for my own pride. I spent a month in a cell because of you."

I nod then slowly pull back my blade. My hands up to show I mean no harm. "I understand. Your Grandfather already made known his opinion of me. Your own choices put you in a cell. I'm part of the pack now, and I know a human isn't anyone's first choice to succeed Alpha Micco. I get it. As it stands, I'm Tess's mate. I'm going to do what's best for her and my daughter."

I look around to all the guards surrounding us. After becoming my blades, I offer Griffin a hand-up. He looks at my hand then to my face before finally accepting the offer. I let out a breath and then addressed the room. "I'm still learning what it takes to be an Alpha. I hope over time you may see me worthy, if not, I know a formal challenge can be issued. I will not turn down any challenge as long as you understand that while I cannot shift, I still can fight and I will use my karambits. They are impregnated with wolfsbane so you'll heal at about the same rate as a human."

I nod at Griffin's still-bleeding chest. "Griffin, you should probably pay a visit to the hospital." Griffin looks to Micco, who nods. Griffin grabs his gear with his good arm and leaves the room, still nude. I shake my head, that's one part that will take time to get used to.

I feel eyes on me so I look up at a bleached blond with a pretty face. I don't know who he is, but he eyes me warily.

"Cody?" Tess's voice has me turn to the door where she just walked through. Her soft smile pulls my breath from my lungs, she's radiant. I step toward her then hiss, remembering my leg is shredded. She pulls my arm over her shoulder and guides me to a bench. She kneels beside me then wipes away most of the blood. Her eyes meet mine as she licks up my wound. The cuts begin to heal with every lick. After the fourth pass, I pull her to my lap and hold her against me. She notices the puncture in my arm. "Damn it." She whispers then uses the towel to wipe away the blood before licking the hole. The tip of her tongue drips her saliva into my wound and healing begins.

I relax from the relief and lean back against the wall. "Hey, Darlin'. Glad you could stop by."

She rolls her eyes. "Shut up. Dad called me over as soon as Griffin got behind you. He threw a towel in your face?" She shakes her head.

"What did you expect?"

"A fair fight." She bluntly seethes.

I shrug my shoulder. "I'm not worried about it." I look up to see the blond guy watching us. He glares at me with his arms crossed over his chest. "Darlin', who is that?"

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She looks up in time to see the guy turn back to watch a match that's taking place. "Fucking Silas, don't act like you can't hear us. Get your ass over here and meet my mate."

Silas dramatically rolls his eyes, but still jogs over. I set Tess on the bench beside me then stand up to meet the guy. Tess gets to her feet. "Cody, this is Silas. Silas. This is my mate, Cody." I hold out my hand. The guy lets out a breath then shakes my hand a total of one half-ass shake.

"We've met, remember, Tess." He grunts out.

Confusion sets over me. "We have?" The guy cocks his brow at me.

"He's the guard from the lake," Tess informs me and realization sets in.

He's the one she would've chosen if she had to make that choice. My fingers itch to grab her and pull her closer, showing him she's mine, but I refrain. "Ah. It's good to put a face with the wolf that watched while we were having such an intimate moment.” I put my fingers to my lips, remembering the taste of her.

Silas's jaw ticks. "Yeah, she does taste great, doesn't she." He smiles as if in triumph.

Tess's chest rumbles, but I don't mind, I get that she had past relationships. "She sure does. She feels great too, but you wouldn't know anything about that, would you?" I wink like I'm some kind of douchebag.

Tess's claws dig into my back and I turn to look at her seething, yet red face. Oh, fuck. I feel how pissed and embarrassed she is. Silas smirks. Point for the ex-boyfriend. Damn. He baited me and I fell for it. I discreetly pull her hand away from my back and slide my fingers through hers. I turn to pull her fingers to my lips. "I'm sorry, Darlin', that was inappropriate of me, regardless of how true it is. I love you and I know better than to stoop so low." The smirk falls from Silas's face. Micco growls out for the two of us to get back to the mats. I doubt Tess has forgiven me, but at least she's not clawing my back apart. "Cody. Are you waiting for a special invitation?" Micco grumbles. I wait for Tess to nod then I rush back to the mat. "Pair up with Silas. You two get to work."

"Yes, Alpha." We both answer and get into position.

We face off for a few moments then Silas makes the first move. I block, but get a fist to the jaw. Damn, that's twice I've taken shots to the jaw. These guys are fast, much faster than the guys I fought in the MMA. I wonder if they have rules against that...? Focus Cody. I throw an elbow, catching Silas in the chin. He shakes out his head, but I take the opportunity to wrestle him down. After a bit of back and forth, I gain control and get him to submit. We're both breathing heavily, but go at it again, and again, and again, each time ending with me the victor.

Micco has me partner up with a younger kid that looks similar to Silas, but his hair is his natural dark brown. He introduces himself as Prentis then we get into position. "Cody, he's new to the guard, so work with him, but don't let him win unless he can earn it," Micco tells me and I relax a little, but still keep my guard up. I get him to submit four times before Micco has me work with a guy named Parker.

Of all the group, aside from Donny, Parker is the toughest and I have to work the hardest to get him to submit the one chance I get. By the time we finish training, no one is scowling and I actually get a few handshakes.

Tess is waiting for me with her arms across her chest. I can feel that she's still mad, not that I blame her. I stop in front of her and pull her hands into mine. "I'm sorry, Tess. How can I make it up to you for saying such stupid things?" Her perfect brow arches up. "Oh, I can think of a few ways."

I kiss her powerful hands. "I'll do anything you say as long as you forgive me. I feel awful for what I said, but you being angry feels even worse.

She grunts out a breath. "Why can't I stay mad at you?" Pressing her body to mine, I wrap my arms around her as she lays her head on my chest. I run my nose along her mate mark, causing her to shudder. "Because you know I'm not usually an asshole and that was out of character for me," I suggest.

Her perfect breasts move up and down as she softly chuckles. "I guess so. Let's go home so you can start making it up to me." I hum, loving the sound of that.