After lunch, we headed to the auditorium. We listened to various speakers until 6:07 pm. We then ate supper. We went to a surprise outdoor concert. I called it a night at about 10:30 pm
The following day after, we got cleaned up from our hunt. We met outside in the courtyard. I saw Jocelyn and Hutton standing beside Scott. "Connor and number 9 will be joining us shortly. As you know, three young, shifted wolves were on their first hunt and tangled with a bear. They were hurt but will recover."
You could see everyone looking relieved.
Jocelyn adds, "If you do not know me, I am Alpha Jocelyn, and this is my mate, Luan Hutton, from Juniper Pack. We need to shout out to 9, 10, 21, 25, 42, 43, 67, 69, 71, 83, 91, 97 and 98. If not for their quick response, we would most likely have a funeral for those three young wolves." The pack members and Lycan started howling in appreciation.
When it quieted down, Hutton started to speak. "I was told that this group began with 326 wolves being tested, and we have 42 that were exempt from training.
Jocelyn takeover, "We started with 368 adults. Plus, about 1,000 pups.
Let's subtract out the exempt adults. That brought us back to 326.
We have seventeen still in leadership training. This brings us down to 309 adults
We have nineteen looking to retire within five years. We placed them in a pre-retirement class. That brought us to 290.
We ended up having 223 going through various warrior training. We decided where they would go to improve their skills.
This left us with 67, who had no fighting skills. They, along with 42 exempt from training, will be placed in a defensive class." Bruno and a couple of other wolves growled. Jocelyn and Hutton roared back. Jocelyn looked at Bruno, "Calm down. I know she is pregnant. It will be a show-and-tell class and not an action class for those wolves unless the doctor gives an all-clear. For growling at me, give a five-point deduction next time you have your notebook.
We have 17 left, as I started in supervisor roles. Plus, we have 19 up for elder parts. Your two groups listened to various speakers about leadership yesterday. If you want to be tested for the pack elder council role, I want you to follow Hutton. He will take you to your testing room." They get up and leave. "Some of you decided not to go. You can decide to join the non-fighters, warriors, or pups. As future elders, whether on pack council or not, deserve a chance to help your pack where you decide. You can get up and join them where you wish."
"Those of you placed in warrior strengthening go to the training yard. Your instructors will meet you there." They stand up and leave.
Scott says, "I want those going through non-warrior defensive training to report to the clinic. Their doctors will assess your health to determine if you observe or participate in defensive training." The members of that group get up and leave.
Jocelyn says, "The great of you are in the leadership assessment. Just then, Connor and number 9, Alpha Bruno, walked in. She looked at them, " I just have separated the groups. Bruno, I mean 9. You can join your supervisor's group." Just then, five pups came running in, "Mom, where is Dad? Can't we smell him? He said he would bring us to training today."
Jocelyn laughed, "settle down. Uncle Scott and I sent him out with a group. I forgot he was going to do that."
"Mom!!!"
She growled, "You know better than to use that tone on me, Charles. You are still only two."
Charlie growls, "I am five and a half."
"Your tone sounded younger. You were told if you tried that alpha tone on me again, you would be punished."
Charles kicked a rock, and it bounced off the ground by his mother's feet. Jocelyn's eyes turned dark grey as she growled at her son.
Connor spoke up, " How about they join us? We will be walking by their training field anyway. "
Guinevere looked at Elizabeth. She said, "How come you look like Uncle Scott but younger?"
He laughed and said, "he is my uncle by blood."
Davis yelled, "Uncle Frank," and went running to me.
Zane yelled, "Uncle Bruno," and ran to him."
The others looked and ran over to them. Bruno looked at Charles like he had a staring contest with his mom. "That tone is bad enough to use toward an alpha, but to talk that way to your mother is worse. You add that disrespect from your mother, peers, and superiors is worse. You also add doing that in front of other packs- you disgraced your name, Charles."
Charles's eyes dropped to the ground. He took a deep breath and blew it out. He looked up at Bruno, "How do I make it right?"
"Since I am here as a guest in training. Your mom is here as a guest to help train. I will have to turn the matter of proper punishment over to Councilman Connor. He will have to decide if he issues punishment or turns it over to your parents, uncle, or grandfather since they are the top three here."
A few warriors looked at 9, "I did not realize there were rules like that."
Bruno replied, "When I was sent to what my dad called summer camp with Frank and Mitch, some was fun, but we had three hours of top three training. It went over those types of etiquette rules. If one of you were to take over through this peaceful means or if a pack is taken over through violence, it is recommended that the council make the new alpha do that sort of training. This helps keep a pack strong and not in war."
One Warrior asked, "When we questioned leadership, why did you not kick our asses and force your rules on us?"
"If your going to question the top three instead of following us without question, I felt we should give you a chance to see if there are reasons. If you have noticed, Frank and Mitch have stood back observing you. At the same time, I have been running interference, like breaking up fights. Yesterday when Frank was asked to switch seats, he complied. It was because he let those go who argued earlier to see if they could figure out if they could comply. The one did without fighting."
He looked at Frank, "When Frank saw many mates getting ready to cause a stir because of a mate being touched to put a number of them, he spoke a few words to keep the peace. Some of you looked at it as weakness, but as an Alpha, I saw a strong wolf who put a pack over pride. He could have acted, and many of us, including myself, would have joined. Some of us would have been injured and maybe killed. We would have all been jailed to stand trial before the supernatural council."
He looked back at the remaining pack members,
"You all have been honest with me. How many of you know you would have attacked if Frank did not speak up?" About half the group admitted they would of. "As leaders- you need to learn when to have battles. As leaders, you need to remember when to have discipline. Yet, at the same time, we need to know when to let others try walking in our shoes. Being an alpha, beta, and delta is not just leading and fighting wars. There is a lot more behind it.
Many of you know Alphas can be territorial and dislike being told no. We dislike having our decisions questioned. Yet at the same time, if those who ask us do it respectfully, it can lead to a better pack life. I have always had an open-door policy. However, no matter the top three states, you put a negative twist on Beta Frank getting counseling. If we allowed it to keep happening, we would lose a great Beta, and the pack is potentially failing."
Charlie asked, "Me questioning and disrespecting Mommy can bring dishonor and failure to Juniper!"
Bruno smiled at Charlie, "It depends if it is allowed to continue, yes, but nipping it in the bud normally, no. You are turning it into a teachable moment when the young can stop it. You are young enough to be taught. As I said, I want you to think about what you did wrong. I also want you to think about whom you should talk to. Your mom looked angry but sad. Which is why I intervened."
Charlie stood up tall. Turning, He looked up at Connor, "Are you going to give me my punishment."
Connor replied, "When someone talks with insubordination to their..."
"Councilman Connor, what is insubtion?" interrupted Charles.
"Insubordination is the act of willfully disobeying an order of one's superior. In your case, it was you disobeying your alpha and mother. However, I think it is worse because it was also your mother. It is generally a punishable offense. When I was young, I the insubordination with my mom, but my dad caught me. He whipped me behind. Plus fined me $50, and I had to do chores to pay it back."
"What is my punishment?"
Connor thought about it. He then knelt and looked Charles in the eye. "We are planning a bonfire later this week. Your punishment will be to move all the wood from the ax yard and move to the lake, where we have the bonfire. Normally we request pack members to grab an armful and bring it with them, but this time you will do it yourself. I will link one of our omegas to show you where it is and where it goes. The people in the woodyard will let you know when enough has been moved."
"Yes, sir." he turned toward his siblings. "I got to get started. I will see you later." He turned and walked away." He looked at his mom and said, "Mom, I love you." He looked like he wanted to say more but continued walking.
The other pups looked at Connor, "Can't we go help him?"
"No, he will one day be an alpha. He will have to learn responsibility on his own. There will come a time you all will have to learn it too. Today might be a good day to start learning how to be leaders and not followers." He looked at one of the Lycans and said, "Put them all in different groups for training today."
I scooped the girls in my arms, and Delta Quinton scooped the boys up in his. I looked at Connor, "Since you plan to work on fighting endurance can Mitch and I take these pups for the morning? Have them work on some of their beta and delta skills. I know at this age, they are feeling the loss of their leader, Charles. We can help them with their skills and their loss?"
"Go ahead." He looked at the pups and replied, "When the other pups eat lunch, you will join them. Then this afternoon, start your individual classes."
We took the pups to a training spot. I worked with the girls on Beta items. Mitch's worked with the boys on Delta items. After lunch, the pups went to individual classes. We rejoined the leadership or warrior training in their classes.
The leaders of the classes decided to stay merged for the rest of the day as they worked on their weak fighting areas.
As I was leaving to join the warrior training, I had Jocelyn and Hutton stopped me. "Thank you, Frank, for helping the girls this morning with the transition of not having Charlie with them to lead."
"It was no problem. I am glad I could help." I looked at them, "Honestly, I know I could not have done as great a job as you have done, Hutton raising those pups. I want to say thank you for letting me at least be an honorary uncle to them."
Jocelyn replied, "I am happy with my second chance, mate. I will rejoice when you find yours. I told you before I forgave you months ago. Let it rest, and one day I will be glad to be your pup's aunt."
The rest of the week, we were in training, and we were on our last day of training before the finals when we were told, "Tomorrow after breakfast, you will each report to the cubicles, and we will have you pull out that packet that been sitting on that desk all week."
The next day after breakfast, we went to the Coliseum, where the tables were set up. Everyone who had a wolf was there. Scott walked to the microphone, "Good morning. This past week we have been having you work on endurance and fighting skills. Plus, we have had you listen to various speakers. Several of you were ruled out as leaders. You might wonder why everyone is here for this part of the testing. This part is about office skills today. You might not be leaders in the pack, but that doesn't mean you cannot be given duties based on your skills. Grab and open packet 'A.'
I sat down and pulled packet 'A.' I opened it up and realized it was a bunch of paperwork. It was contracts between other alliances. It was a balancing of books. It was figuring out priorities between meetings. We had to figure out order forms for food, training supplies, repairs, etc. I sighed and started working on them. It took me five and a half hours to finish it. I looked around and saw about one-fifth of the pack members had already left when I finished. Some of them, I realized, had not even been touched.
I decided I was hungry. I went into the wood, removed my clothes, and shifted. I started running and sniffing out a wild pig. I was eating when in the distance, I heard a familiar voice shout, "You son of a bitch. Why did you guys knock him down? He is a pup," that voice sounded angry but still a little weak.
I heard laughing, "he is an omega."
I stepped out just as I heard Sam, AKA number 71, growl, "Omega? No he isn't. He is a pup being punished for talking disrespectfully to his mother." I look at 71. He was on the ground. I could see he had been beaten pretty badly, and behind him, I could see a slight foot and some wood sprawled out. I knew that it was Charles.
My eyes turn black. I roared, "What the hell is going on here?"
Lycan turned toward me, "Remember, you are not a beta here. You are number 10, and this peep squeak is number 71. We are your superiors. You and 71 can leave while we continue to have fun with this omega."
"Even as a student, I am still a Beta. We are guests here. You three must be strong to hurt 71. He normally knocks down several warriors in training. He is doing what any warrior in my pack has been trained to do. He is protecting a pup. Even if that pup is not our pack."
Another Lycan laughs, "That is funny. You did not protect your mate, I heard, and he is weak. You are weak because you rejected her. You had to go through counseling for several years."
I growled, "You heard wrong. Yes, I rejected my mate, but I have learned I am not weak. I have learned I was not weak, and I have defended her several times since. We both are in better places now. We have both moved on and become friends. I am even an honorary uncle to her pups. That is one of her pups on the ground. He is an alpha pup who accepts his punishment. You who are adults have injured my honorary five-year-old nephew and one of my pack members."
I link Bruno, "Send help to the path leading to the bonfire." I shut down my link and shift into my large silver wolf when I see the third Lycan kick 71, who is now trying to stand still over Charles. I notice Charles still is lying.
I attack them. They shift into their Lycan form, which resembles a half-shift between wolf and human. I could tell the one who kicked was a beta, and the two others were others had at least delta blood in them, even if not deltas.
I viciously attacked the beta, who kicked 71. I knew I would most likely lose, but my job was to defend long enough for backup to arrive.
I engaged the Lycan and soon was clawing and snapping at him. I drew first blood. He roared in anger. I felt the other Lycan claw my leg, but then he yelped. I saw him fly through the air. It was then I noticed 71 had shifted. He knocked one Lycan away from me. He was watching my flank and still protecting the pup.
I was rolling around going back and forth between my three various opponents when I saw Bruno and Mitchell arrive with a few other pack warriors. They joined the fight. Suddenly I heard a roar, "Stop this fighting now."
We all froze. I looked over, and it was Alpha Easton. He was Hutton's older brother and the alpha of this Lycan group. "What the hell is going on here?"
The beta Lycan shifted. He replied, "We were teasing an omega when this wolf attacked us, which is within our rights to defend ourselves.
I growled and shifted along with the others, "It is within my pack's rights to protect pups. My pack member was protecting a five-year-old pup." He looked toward the three Lycan. "This pup he refers to as Omega isn't just my honorary nephew. He was an alpha pup being punished for disrespecting his alpha and mother. Plus, he also is your nephew, Charles."
I heard Alpha Easton roar as I saw the three Lycan pale. Plus saw Fairy Georgette fly over to check on Charlie. "You attacked my nephew?"
I saw another Lycan grab the three Lycan and lead them off in chains. Georgette says, "I think he got a concussion, and maybe a fractured arm, but will need to get the pack doctor to do an MRI and X-rays for confirmation." Two Lycan came forward with a stretcher. They put Charles on the stretcher and carried him off.
She pointed to Sam, "Number 71 has a couple of broken ribs and a broken leg. The leg needs to be set back in place before it heals wrong. I am surprised he can stand on it—numerous cuts and bruises. Frank has a few claw marks and bites. His wolf will heal him. But still bring him back, just in case I am wrong. Put them on stretched and carry them to the clinic."
Bruno walks over and yanks Sam's leg. He has his hand down, feeling the leg. I hear it snap into place. Someone handed him a stick and clothes. He rips the shirt into strips he uses the stick. He splints the leg into place. He helps Sam, aka 71, put on shorts. Then he puts on shorts on himself.
We went to the Coliseum clinic and hospital while Alpha Easton left to talk to his new prisoners. We get to the hospital, and Jocelyn and Hutton are waiting there.
Hutton turns toward us, "Where is the bastard who hurt my son?"
I spoke up, "With your brother, Alpha Easton. He is taking care of it."
Jocelyn walked up, "Frank, thank you for protecting my son."
I replied, "Thank Sam. He was protecting him when I came upon them."
Jocelyn looked around, "who is Sam?"
Bruno walked up to us, "he is in the back. They are putting a cast on his leg. I was told he would be ok. I also overheard them say Charlie will be ok."
Just then, a nurse called me to the back, "Beta Frank, let me clean those wounds." I went to the back and got cleaned up. I was sent back to my room for the day. Sam and Charlie were being kept in for observation.
The next day we were back in the classroom. We pulled packet B out of the envelope. We had to devise a search and recovery plan based on intelligence reports. The top 10 plans would be played out over the next few days. We watched them be re-enacted.
The day after we watched the last reenactment, we were brought to the meadow by the lake. Connor walked upon a makeshift stage. "In this envelope, I have this week's testing finding..."
Sam hobbled up on crutches to the front. He was annoyed the doctor refused to take off the cast. The doctor told him it was healed, but the cast stopped him from shifting. Doctors did not want him to go yet. What he did not know was Alpha Bruno did not want him to move and seek revenge on the three Lycan who was still alive but being punished.
"I would like to request those results not be read. It was because of me that doubt was called upon Beta Frank, and this week I have learned my error. I publicly apologize to Beta Frank and Alpha Bruno for doubting them."
Bruno stood up and walked to the front, and stood to face Sam, "Sam, I appreciate these words, but once this testing is in motion, we cannot stop the proceeding." He held out his hand, and Sam shook it. He looked at Connor, "Read the results."
Connor noodled his head, "In this envelope are the results. I am only to read the top three. I will give the full report to your alpha. When you get back to your pack, the alpha can review our results and decide if he will choose the follow the recommendations. We choose by test results, and your alpha will choose by personal knowledge. We will see if he agrees.
After we announce your top three, we will light the bonfire. Serve food to celebrate your top three. The top three winners are.
Alpha is number 9- your alpha stays the same
Beta is number 21- your beta stays the same
Your delta stayed the same even if he only did warrior training.
Top 3, so that you know, two members were just 10 points below your delta. I know your pack has never had enforcers. I would suggest having them stay here for 2-1/2 more months. In two weeks, we kick off an enforcer class at the Lycan Pack. Alpha Bruno, can I share this information with your pack?"
Bruno nodded, "proceed."
"This past week, we had two members show excellent skills of bravery and justice. I will be brutally honest here. One of these members, I am surprised, has such skills after seeing how his family treats him. They talk down to him, but he has remained true to the honor of your parents. If he accepts this role after this training, he will no longer be answerable to them. He is young. I suggest sending him to Enforcer training and then having him spend a month or two with various packs that have enforcers to get experience. Quincy, number 62, please step forward."
He steps forward. You hear a few growls. Alpha Bruno steps forward, "You will stop this growling. You are bringing dishonor to your family name. What was said by the councilman is true? We even discussed this a few weeks ago." He then turns toward Quincy, "It is your choice. Even if you say no to Enforcer training, I will send you away for warrior mentorship. You are one of our strongest fighters, but your parents are bringing you down."
Quincy spoke up, "I agree. I gladly accept the Enforcer Training class."
A few gasped, "You disrespect your parents by turning your back on us?"
Quincy replied, "I am not turning my back on you. I am an adult and now am taking control of my life. It will be up to you if you treat me as an equal but no longer as a pup. Accept my new role in the pack."
Connor cleared his voice, "Now, the second candidate must also decide. He will be going to the pack that caused him anger and injury. Will he be able to put aside his anger and become the enforcer we believe he can be? Sam, number #71, please step forward.
Sam came up on the stage. Alpha Easton said, "Once again, my Beta and his two friends are doing their punishment. I am inviting you into my pack for this training. I request you forgive my idiotic friend who let his new power go to his head. Set your differences aside and go through training."
"I already set that difference aside. I do ask he doesn't interfere with my training. I do like the idea of enforcers training and protecting others."