Wunderhein Academy: Book 1- Awakening

“Stupid animal.” Dr. Foxsonoff muttered as he pulled the needle out of Aleksei.

Aleksei felt sweat dripping down his forehead. He closed his eyes, preferring not to look at the drab brown wall that looked as similar as Kittens’ one.

Not Kitten’s one, he corrected himself. He didn’t have a door to hide the fact he had been stripped to his underwear.

“Scream.” The doctor ordered, plunging the needle into another spot on Aleksei’s behind.

‘Scream,’ Another voice yelled in his head. This one ordered before taking a stick and thrashing him. Aleksei almost could feel the pain again. ‘Scream.’

A whimper escaped Aleksei’s throat and his eyes bolted open at the memory of his old captain.

The sound seemed to please the doctor. This time he pulled the needle out slower but didn’t try and push it back into Aleksei.

“Next time,” The doctor warned, deliberately patting Aleksei’s stinging bottom from the multiple needle attacks, “Don’t cross me.”

Aleksei straightened and gulped at breathe of cool air.

“We’re done.” The doctor turned away from Aleksei, to begin making a few last notes in his medical file. “You may leave.”

Without a word, Aleksei slipped back into his uniform pants, easing into them carefully so he would avoid touching his bottom. Once that was done, he threw on his shirt with a more practiced ability. After one check to make sure he looked neat, Aleksei left the cubicle, nearly walking into his team-mates.

“What are you doing here?” Aleksei felt his face pale slightly at the sight of them. “You should have gone to the dorms already.”

“Her.” Dmitri nodded his head towards Kittens room, making a point to show that no-one was interested in anything else but what lay behind the door. Aleksei felt relieved then frowned.

“This isn’t a peep show.” He scolded at them.

“Do you think his hurting her?” Boris looked up at Aleksei with wide, almost tearful eyes.

A scream echoed from behind the screen before Aleksei could respond. It caught everyone’s attention.

With a bestial growl, Ivan stepped forward, ripping away the make-shift door before Aleksei could stop him. He lunged at Dr. Julian who had been packing away his equipment into the medical bag.

“Ivan,” Aleksei ran into the room after the giant. “Put him down.”

“Bet the Behemoth wins.” Dmitri chuckled behind Aleksei, making the young captain grit his teeth.

“Not now Dmitri.” Aleksei snapped behind him, catching his error in turning around when he spotted Kitten finishing buckling her pants. For a moment she met his eye, an obvious look of betrayal splashing all over her face.

Silently she grabbed her jersey and wiggled past Aleksei towards the door.

“Kitten!” Aleksei heard Boris burst out happily, followed by Dmitri’s calm offer. “Need help putting that thing on?”

“You’re not supposed to walk alone.” Boris squeaked. “She’s not supposed to walk off alone.”

Aleksei rubbed the bridge of his nose for a moment, mentally cursing before turning around. “Ivan, just put the doctor down. He was doing a check-up.”

“Kid’s grow up so fast don’t they?” Dmitri smirked as Aleksei past him. “This morning an innocent elven-year-old and now…”

“This isn’t the time.” Aleksei held up a hand to stop him. “I need you to get everyone to the dorm.”

“Everyone?” Dmitri’s eyes lit up eagerly.

“I’ll handle Kitten.” Aleksei corrected, trying to fight off a yawn.

“Better hurry.” Dmitri warned. “If the shot kicks in before ya back, ya a dead man.”

“Just take care of everyone.” Aleksei winced for a moment before rubbing his stinging backside. He raised his head and began trying to find traces of Kitten’s scent in the air. “And make sure Ivan doesn’t kill the doctor.”

“Aye, aye mon Captain.” Dmitri gave half a salute that Aleksei barely paid attention to.

Instead he rushed to the direction she had taken. If he hurried, he could catch her and tell her about the short cut to their rooms.

Thankfully, the reception area had cleared a little, so he managed to spot her just as she was about to leave the hospital.

“Kitten!” He called out.

When she didn’t respond, he wasn’t sure if she was ignoring him or really hadn’t heard him. Growling softly, he made his way through the few remaining students and exited the building.

Overhead the school bell began to chime slowly. Aleksei straightened and tried to focus on his task.

He watched her throw on her jersey from a distance, as other students leaving still barred his way from her.

“Hey Pretty boy.”

“I’m walking here.”

He ignored the grumbles. Most of the other students were already yawning, offering little resistance as he pushed his way through. The chime went off again breaking through his concentration.

Protect the pack, he tried reminding himself.

He got lucky as his last obstacle turned out of his way to head for another passage. Now he couldn’t just smell her, but if he reached out his hand, he would be able to touch her too. Maybe it wasn’t too late to go the other way to their rooms.

The Bell chimed again.

“Stupid Lexie.” He halted, swearing he heard her crying amongst the noise of boys around them, those coming back from the shots mixing with the awake ones. “Not telling me about that stupid Check-up.”

He pulled his arm back. His first check-up had been unpleasant for different reasons. You just went with the routine now.

So why did it bother him so much?

The clock chimed again.

“Stupid Dmitri.” She continued, turning down into their section of the dorms. Aleksei winced as he watched her wipe her nose with the sleeve of her jersey. “Stupid Ivan.”

Another chime. He hesitated for a moment, trying to calculate the time. He should have at least two more.

He followed her until she reached her room. She continued to mumble as she unlocked her door, stopping to rub her bottom, her face contorting into pain as she yelped. She only scratched now? Aleksei was almost impressed with her. His was still burning as if he had sat on a burning fire. “Stupid Boris.” She took a step inside and he sighed in relief.

One more chime struck and he smiled.

The route she had taken had been longer, so the Alpha Pack should all be in their dorms by now. Aleksei yawned before taking a few steps towards his room. He closed his eyes for a moment before tripping.

The grass he fell on felt cool and tickled his nose.

He yawned again before curling up and blacking out, never hearing the last chime.