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“Sorry, Alpha Liam, we- “

“I don’t want to hear any excuses unless someone got hurt or killed.” When they stay quiet, I look at them with furrowed brows. “You are wasting my time, and you are wasting the time of your other trainers and your fellow group members. Now go run thirty laps around the field.”

They look slightly shocked by my stern words, eyeing the group and me guiltily. “But-”

“Discuss some more, and it’ll be fifty. Once you are finished, you can do some push-ups. The slowest one of you will do double.”

My last threat makes them set off… the fastest I have ever seen them. Seems like some only learn the hard way. They are lucky it’s just me. If Calvin or my father were leading the training, they wouldn’t get off the hook that easily. When I turn my glance towards Ari, she grins at me. “Remind me not to piss you off.”

“If they can go out to drink and flirt, they can appear at the training on time. I had to reorganize the group because they were missing and switch sparring partners for the others. How is that fair to them?”

“You are absolutely right,” she points out. “Aurelia and Nox go out a lot, but neither would ever be late for training.”

I nod my head. Aurelia has always lacked a bit of focus and a general goal in life, but she was never disrespectful. If she ever came too late, she owned up to it or had a valid excuse. Recently I noticed that she had adapted her private schedule though. She goes to bed earlier than usual and focuses more on schoolwork and training. That’s a whole new development.

She is training with the advanced class from today on. As a brother, I don’t like that she is back on her feet so early, but as the future Alpha, I like how seriously she takes it. Vincent is leading the advanced class, and I notice he's making sure she's not overdoing it. There is no use in pushing her too much when she is still healing. While the others do the actual combat training, he makes sure she and another hurt wolf go for muscle training.

After the kids are finished with their training, I send them off. My three problem children spent the two hours with cardio and muscle training, and I made sure they broke a sweat. Now they come over to me again, apologizing remorsefully and promising they won’t do it again.

Well, we’ll see.

We are prepared, though. I will find out the whole truth behind Annalise’s kidnapping. Although it doesn't matter so much to mewhyAlpha Marcus decided to attack Annalise, I will get justice for it. That means finding out exactly what Alpha Marcus has been up to. Nothing matters more to me than the safety of my mate and pack.

Chapter thirty-nine

Chapter 39 Emerson and his flowers

*LIAM*

Rightaftertraining,Iapproach Annalise again. “And now? Any plans?” I ask her while leaning down and giving her a sweaty kiss.

Annalise squeals and laughs. “You are so gross,” she teases. “Cute and hot, but gross.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Hot, huh?”

“I’m more shocked that she called you cute,” Ari points out, dropping down on the grass next to Annalise. “Didn’t you get bored watching us?”

“Not at all,” she beams. “It was really cool. You are pretty stern but a good trainer. They learn a lot. No surprise they look up to you.” She smiles proudly.

“Well, you watched us for more than two hours,” I say. “So, I assume you enjoyed watching us.”

“I just wish I could fight like you, Ari,” she sighs.

“You might be an Omega, but Beta blood still runs through your veins. The test doesn't change that fact. I heard how you defended yourself when you got kidnapped. I think you have it in you to fight.” She looks at Liam. “What do you think?”

“Don’t ask him,” she raises her brows. “He is deaf when it comes to this topic. He wants me to be fully recovered first before beginning any sort of training. I am fully recovered, mind you.”

“Oh, is that so?” Ari raises her brows while she looks at me.

I decide I need to change the topic fast. I have nothing against Annalise learning how to fight, but she was hurt so badly only recently. I want her to recover fully first. To my utmost relief, Calvin saves me. He is carrying a basket, smiling slightly as he approaches us. Since our conversation before we rescued Annalise, things have been strained between us. I know that he was only doing his job, but it still felt inappropriate.

As my father’s Betas, Calvin and Vincent have both always been with our family. Their relationship with my father is pretty similar to mine with my Betas. Just like Aryanna was my schoolmate – albeit a junior – Vincent and Dad were also school friends. And just like Dante, who is older than me and watched out for me when we were younger, Calvin is older than Dad. They didn’t grow up with each other, but still…

I might not be good at handling Calvin, and I still think he overstepped his boundaries a few days ago, but I decide not to read too much into it out of respect for my father. Calvin watched us grow up. He is a very private man, though, and none of us knows much about him. He never found his mate and didn’t take a chosen mate. He never lacked in looks… even now that he is older, he is quite good-looking.

But who am I to judge?

“Are you playing little red riding hood?” Ari teases him when she sees the red basket in his hand. He is also wearing a red jacket, so it’s kinda funny.