Wunderhein Academy: Book 1- Awakening

“Meh. I’m freakin’ bored.” Dmitri sighed as they headed down the passage back to their rooms. He took a drag from the cigarette in his hand. “Great view though.”

“I don’t care how great the view of her ass is.” Aleksei growled, glaring at Kitten who was walking ahead of them chatting to Boris. “I can’t believe she’s so...so...”

He mimicked putting his hands around an imaginary throat, keeping his hands in eye level with her throat. A few students glanced at him as they saluted. He ignored them, making a twisting motion instead behind Kitten’s back.

“Cute?” Dmitri checked, before killing his cigarette.

“I was going for painfully annoying.” Aleksei snarled. “Boris wasn’t even this much trouble.”

“Boris didn’t smell as good as her.” Dmitri grinned, making Aleksei turn to him sharply. “We should keep her in the room or something? Help make the place smell better.”

“She’s not an air-freshener Dimi.”

“Was just sayin’.” Dmitri shrugged. “I mean if it smells good...”

“Remember the rules.” Aleksei cut the shark off. “She’s still pack.”

“How does that work? Ya wanna her dead?” Dmitri stuck a finger in his ear, pulling it out a few moments later and flicking away the contents he had dug out. “But I’m the bad guy?”

“I want her to have some sense.” Aleksei’s eyes narrowed. “She gave all her things away. Who does that? We horded like crazy before we had our cuts.” Aleksei took a deep breath to try and calm down but it didn’t make him feel better. “You’ll have to go to Jov. See if you can arrange new gear for her.”

“Ya should come too.” Dmitri took a few steps forward, turning to face Aleksei with a smirk. “Since she owns ya. Be good for ya to arrange stuff for ya mistress like a good puppy.”

“She doesn’t own me.” Aleksei corrected harshly, his hand lifting to rub his throat. “No one owns me. Not ever again.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Dmitri shrugged, walking backward a few steps before walking in line next to Aleksei again. “That’ll teach ya for taking on an eleven-year-old. Ya could have waited a few years until Kitten looked good top-wise like Sister Sandoff before taking her in.” Dmitri made exaggerated circles with his hands around his chest. “Give us something to look at.”

“Kitten’s not Eleven.” Aleksei blasted into another rant. “Fourteen. She’s fourteen. Do you remember what we did at fourteen?”

“Yeah.” Dmitri replied evenly. “I became ya back-up when ya became the Alpha’s leader.”

“You discovered the nurses.” Aleksei pointed out.

“Favourite bit, that one.” Dmitri smirked. “Needed something for my nerves after ya had ya ass kicked by the Behemoth.”

“We lost those forsaken collars.” Aleksei’s eyes narrowed.

“Our first drink.” Dmitri nudged Aleksei. “Remember?”

“I remember throwing up the contents of my stomach.” Aleksei chuckled. “I thought I was dying that day.”

“Best year ever.” Dmitri remised.

“We really grew up that year, didn’t we?”

“Pish.” Dmitri snorted. “We grew up the moment we set foot here.”

“Maybe.” Aleksei rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Blyad Dimi. Fourteen. Girls are different at Fourteen. What are we meant to do with her?”

“I could give you some ideas.” Dmitri’s eyes brightened.

Aleksei was about to answer but halted. Instead, he watched the two in front of him and frowned.

“Dmitri,” He began in a lowered voice. "Have you noticed how everyone is acting weird around Kitten?”

“Blyad,” Dmitri rolled his eyes. “Ya want a talk on why men like girls now? I told ya to go to the nurses for that.”

“Don’t be an idiot. I did cover the basics in Biology.” Aleksei’s frown deepened. “Watch them. Some are avoiding her like she’s a monster. Others are just standing watching her.”

“Cause we’re behind her?” Dmitri hit on fist into the palm of his hand. “They know what’s good for them?”

“More like their spooked.”

“More like their scared of us.” Dmitri laughed. “Weak idiots.”

“I don’t know. Something about this feels strange.”

“Relax. It’s all good.” Dmitri closed his eyes and shrugged his hands into his pockets.

Aleksei didn’t respond. Instead, he continued his surveillance of the hallway. Instead of separating at the dorms, Boris grabbed Kittens arm and tried to pull her into the courtyard. She pulled back, laughing, and ended up slipping backward. Aleksei felt the muscles in his body tense up as he tried to stop himself from running to catch her.

‘She has to learn.’ He reminded himself, clutching his hands at his side. ‘I can’t baby her.’

Instead of falling to the ground she slipped back a few steps, bumping into another student that broke her fall.

She quickly turned to look at the student and, from the way her mouth opened, Aleksei was sure she was about to apologize. The other student was a Cut Aleksei recognized. Poison Dart, a lower fighter in rank than Aleksei but one obviously higher than she was. By right, Dart was allowed to punish her for even touching him. Aleksei readied himself in case he needed to stop her from being beaten. Some Cuts liked taking it too far.

Except Dart didn’t try and put her in her place.

Aleksei’s eyes narrowed as he watched Dart jump back as if hit by lightning. Kitten tried again to apologize, getting down on the floor to help pick up his books.

Dart grabbed them from her, dropping them again as soon as his fingers touched hers. This time he was on the ground before her, grabbing his things. When he straightened, he began backing away from her, his eyes focused on her as she watched him with confusion. Aleksei didn’t miss the desire in the Dart’s as he passed by, glancing back at Kitten.

“He wants her.” Aleksei muttered under his breath. “But why? He’s into guys. Everyone knows that.”

He turned back to Kitten who blinked until she seemed to notice he was watching her. She stuck out her tongue before vanishing into the courtyard, most likely to play with Boris.

”Father Frost, Father Frost, don’t lie too close to the edge of the bed.” Aleksei’s eyes widened as Dmitri’s nonsical song interrupted his thoughts, the words hauntingly familiar. “Or the little Grey Wolf will come and bite off your head.”

Aleksei felt as if his blood had turned to ice. Dmitri halted and turned to look at him. “Lexie? Something wrong?”

In response, Aleksei pushed Dmitri to the wall. “Where did you hear that song?”

“What song?” Dmitri frowned, looking at Aleksei as if the young captain had lost his mind.

“That one you were singing.” Aleksei positioned his arm across Dmitri’s upper chest to stop him from moving while he kept the other hand pinned above the Sharks head. “About the wolf?”

“Dunno, don’t care.” Aleksei felt Dmitri push against him. Silently Aleksei cursed himself. He had used a dumb move on Dmitri. The Shark could counter it easily if he wanted.

“Dmitri, something’s wrong. I know it.” Aleksei leaned forward slightly, his face close to Dmitri’s ear. “I know that song Dimi. I didn’t before.”

“So? Maybe ya mama sang it ta ya.” Dmitri halted in his attempted to throw Aleksei off and hear the Captain out, for which Aleksei was grateful. The Alpha-Wolf knew if it came down to a fight, he would be on the losing end with the Shark.

“I don’t remember her singing that one.” Aleksei confided. “I could be wrong. It was long ago.”

“Ya too jumpy.”

“Dmitri...”

A growl interrupted Aleksei. The two turned and found a giant sluggish figure walking from their dorm.

“Ivan!” Aleksei exclaimed, stepping away from Dmitri. “You’re awake!”

Ivan looked their way for a moment with blank eyes before walking towards them.

“Hey.”

“Watch it.”

Students jumped out of his way as he mindlessly continued towards Aleksei and Dmitri.

“Crud.” Aleksei growled before calling out again. “Ivan, it’s us. Your team-mates, remember.”

“Wake up ya stupid Behemoth.” Dmitri yelled out, taking a fighting stance.

Ivan continued to take lumbered steps, stopping as if sniffing the air. Without a word, he detoured into the courtyard.

“The kids!” Aleksei began running. He halted when he hit the Courtyard. Kitten and Boris were the only two there with Ivan.

“Ivan?” Boris called out merrily, waving at the giant. “You’re awake.”

“Ivan!” Another, more feminine greeted.

“You two get out of there now.” Aleksei yelled at the two. “That’s an order.”

Kitten and Boris looked at him in confusion. He jumped into the Courtyard, followed by Dmitri. There was no way the kids could hold off Ivan, Aleksei gritted his teeth.

“What’s going on...Hey Ivan...” Boris stepped back as the giant nearly trampled him.

“Lexie gave ya an order rat.” Dmitri hissed at Boris. “Move it.”

“But...But Kitten.” Aleksei could hear the quiver in Boris’s voice.

Kitten was stuck with a wall behind her and no place to move. Ivan was heading right for her.

“Dimi.” Aleksei nodded.

Dmitri nodded back as the two made their way towards Ivan.

The monster stopped at the girl, looking down at her.

Like a fool, she just stood there staring back.

“Am not scared of wolves.” Ivan’s thick, sleep filled voice finally spoke.

Kitten blinked. Then she reached up to touch the side of Ivan’s face. Ivan seemed to nuzzle her hand. “Dmitri, wait.” Aleksei held out his hand to stop the Shark from advancing.

“Something’s wrong. Ivan’s never behaved like this before when he woke up.” Aleksei blinked and for a moment the colour vanished from his sight. Anger made him want to attack Ivan and rip the sleeping bear’s throat out.

“Come on Ivan.” Kitten told the bear soothingly. “You just need to eat. You slept for a long time.”

A hand touched Aleksei’s shoulder, shocking the colour back into his sight. The anger dispatched as quickly as it had hit him.

“Ya Ok there, Lexie?” Dmitri asked. “Ivan’s awake. We all are.”

“I don’t know Dmitri.” Aleksei touched his head for a moment. “I really don’t know.”

“Come on, ya need a drink.” Aleksei felt Dmitri pat his shoulders. “Just wash ya face first.”

“My Face?” Aleksei turned to Dmitri in puzzlement. “What’s wrong with my face?”

“Ya got an ‘Early morning special’ on it.”

Aleksei’s mouth dropped open before turning into a snarl, turning back to look at Kitten. “I’m going to kill her.”