Page 46 of Lightning Strikes

“Alright, Daniels. Let’s go on a jog, then I want to see firsthand your combat and weapons knowledge. You were a cop, but it’s different in packs. You need to know offense and defense in both forms.” I nod to Russell and we take off into the forest and I clear my mind as we run side by side.

After Angela got home from work yesterday, I updated her on my meeting with Deacon, but kept my conversation with Adam to myself for now. We had an early dinner on the back porch as we watched the sun set and watched movies until Ang passed out and I carried her to bed. I see how her four bodyguards care for her and watch her, even when they think we aren’t looking. I smirk to myself as we circle around some boulders and wonder if I could push any of them to make any moves. She deserves the world, and this time, I’m not removing myself from the equation.

With how much I’ll be working, I don’t want her to be alone, and if she could let down her walls and seek pleasure or comfort from others – all the better. I trust these guys; they’ve been nothing but amazing for her so far.

I want to mate her, preferably soon, but even as teens I knew that Angela wasn’t meant for monogamy. In college we lived together in a one-bedroom apartment for freshman year and we were ‘together’, but she still had dates, slept over at their homes, and still was able to give me all the attention I needed.

I have no idea why her and Adam lasted for so long… He demanded exclusivity from her yet slept with any woman that crossed his path. If he washonestwith her… I’m sure they could have worked something out.

“Let’s head back to the house and work in the backyard.” Russell rasps from beside me and I grunt in reply.

We race back to the house and I sit on the grass in the backyard, laying down, staring up at the cloudy sky. I push my fingers into the soil and calm my breaths. Holy shit. I haven’t taken Max for a run in what feels like weeks, and my body feels it.

“Alright, stretch out and let me know when you’re ready.” He smiles gleefully and I chuckle as I stretch out my arms, back, and legs. I step up to him and cross my arms over my chest. “Ever fought another wolf, or did you stick to weak humans?”

I shrug and step back, getting into position. I haven’t mentioned all of the MMA classes and practicing that Angela and I did for years. I haven’t gone up another wolf with the moves aside from her, so this will be interesting. The other shifters in our pack are… lazy. And Adam never wanted any part in our extracurricular activities.

He rushes at me and I sidestep, kicking the back of his knee, chuckling as he tumbles. He rights himself with a glare pointed at me and tilts his head before raising his fists up and we circle around, blocking, punching, and kicking each other until we’re slick with sweat and panting for breath.

“Damn, either they’re progressive in your police department or you have some explaining to do.” He croaks out and tosses me a water bottle from his backpack on the porch. His brown hair is matted to his face with sweat and I clap him on his back.

I wink at him after I chug my water. “Angela and I happen to enjoy MMA.” He nods to himself and leans back against the house.

“Makes sense. Let’s head over to the range and see how you are with a gun. We’ll move onto knives and swords tomorrow.”

After we have breakfast with Angela and the other guards, I jump into the passenger seat in the SUV as Russell drives us to the range. One of the buildings on the other side of the pack that I haven’t seen or heard of before.

“So over here are the normal training grounds. Pups from age fifteen and up can begin during their summer breaks from school, or after they graduate. College isn’t mandatory but it’s smarter to get the degree in case we ever need to be in the human cities if anything happens in the future.” I nod along and follow him into the red brick building and smile when I hear all of the yelling, gun shots, and comradery. “This is the gun range, as you can see. The building to the west is the training gym, and the building to the east is for weapons training. Knives, swords, bows and arrows…” He waves his hand around and leads me to an open range that has handguns, rifles, and shotguns hanging up on the walls. The shelves below are filled with boxes of ammunition, eye and ear protective wear, and cleaning supplies.

“Handguns first?”

He nods and sets up the targets then focuses on his eye and earwear protection. I grab a silver Smith and Wesson .40 and shove the bullets into three clips, lining them up side by side on the table in front of the range. I also set up a Taurus 9mm and place the clear glasses and headphones over my ears.

Russell steps back, leaning against the wall as I line up my sights and go through six clips in total as he switches out the targets, moves them around, and goes back as far as he can go.

Bullseye every time.

“How are you with a rifle and shotgun?”

I smirk and dismantle both weapons to begin cleaning them with the kit from the shelves. “The same. My dad started taking me out shooting when I was about ten. He was always one to be prepared for anything, especially if I couldn’t shift into my wolf to protect myself. The rest was the police academy. I was the top marksman.”

He hums as he tosses all of the paper targets into the trash and flips a sign for someone to clean up all of the brass casings. “Well, let’s head back to the house for lunch then we can do more tomorrow. Good work.” He grumbles and claps my back as we jog out to the SUV with a smile on my face.

I bet he was expecting to be a drill sergeant and have fun with a little hazing. Only Angela knows how much I’ve always wanted to be a beta. A fucking real beta that protected the pack.

He parks in the driveway and I turn to him before he can step out. “What do you think of Angela?”

He cocks a dark brow at me and frowns. “In what way? She’s kind and seems like a great healer. Treats us all as equals.”

I chuckle and lean back in the leather seat and lick my bottom lip. “Are you attracted to her?”

He sighs and runs his fingers through his dark hair, pursing his lips. “I think that’s a trick question, who wouldn’t be attracted to her? She looks like a damn west coast model. Tall, blonde, golden tanned skin. Nothing will come of it, man. We respect you.”

I roll my eyes at him. “If any of you catch feelings, I’m not going to kill you or hold you back. She’s her own woman and has been through too much to have me be a controlling asshole. We’ve had a pretty… open relationship for almost twenty years. We went our separate ways for a bit because of her ex, but I knew we’d come back to each other. Just throwing it out there.” I wink at him before jogging into the house, down the hall, and hop in the shower in the master bedroom. I haven’t checked my phone at all today and it’s been freeing.

Ang let me know last night that she would take Scout to work and drop Max off at my parent’s house so that I could do the training without worrying about anything. The house is quiet, I’m exhilarated from my day with Russell. New beginnings and all that.

I dry off, get dressed, and head into the kitchen to find Russell and Paul talking quietly as they build sandwiches on the counters. I smirk at them as I open the fridge and grab a few more ingredients before joining them and build my own.

Paul coughs and chews on his lip. “Heard you did well today.” I laugh as we all sit down to eat at the island. He tells me how long it took him years to be able to handle a gun properly and hit just one bullseye. I guess he grew up sheltered and his dad didn’t care to show him how to protect himself.

“What do you guys think about what’s happening at the schools?”

Russell grunts and shakes his head. “It wasn’t like that when I was a kid. I haven’t heard a lick about it, so it must be somewhat recent… I can’t think of any new administrators or teachers though. The alpha will handle it, at least that I’m positive about.”

I glance over at Paul and he’s deep in thought, staring out the window as he chews. “I’ve heard rumors but didn’t think much of it. Pups can get out of hand, but I never knew it was so damn bad until Angela came along and has blown the top off of it all. Alpha Deacon was suggesting adding more guards since it’s getting out that she’s the one making a fuss about it all.”

“Well, she has the five of us and my dad’s right next door. I’m not too worried. She’s also a force to be reckoned with… You’ll see.”

---