Page 8

CHAPTER 8

Frankie

Allen was one of our bigger alpha detectives with the kind of size on him that could really hurt someone if they weren’t careful. He wasn’t quite as big as Soren, but I knew just how hard Allen could punch and none of these rookies looked like they’d survive it if they didn’t block in time.

I stepped in between the senior detectives and the rookies, giving the other alphas my back as I focused on the new recruits. “You’re not obligated to spar against your seniors unless you want to,” I reminded them.

All four of them instantly dropped their gaze to the floor, even the alphas. I should be used to it by now, but for whatever reason it surprised me every damn time.

Ignoring that uncomfortable sensation, I turned on my heel and faced the other detectives, crossing my arms over my chest as I raised a single eyebrow at them in question.

Allen and Walker both dropped their gazes and took a step back, looking instantly chagrined, but the other two bristled at my silent challenge.

“What’s wrong now?” Taylor demanded. “There something you don’t like about the way we train our recruits?”

“Yeah, actually there is.” I shifted my attention from Taylor to Harris, knowing this one preferred to follow even if he’d never admit it. “What you’re trying to do is dangerous.”

Harris looked away but not down. “All rookies need to be tested.”

“Sure, but it should be done in a safe environment and with their consent. None of them look like they want to do this.”

“They don’t have a choice,” Taylor snapped. “We have to test their skills.”

I uncrossed my arms and took a step forward, getting in his face.

It didn’t matter that he had about four inches on me. I stared into his dark brown eyes and let him see just how much I didn’t give a fuck that he was bigger.

To his credit, he didn’t back down or look away even though it was obvious he wanted to. I didn’t blink as I watched him try to get his shit together, his instincts telling him he didn’t want this problem.

Unfortunately, alphas didn’t always have their brains developed enough to think shit through before doing something stupid.

“I can go first,” I suggested. “Who would like to go against me?”

The other three alphas took another step back, but Taylor stubbornly glared down at me even though he’s lost to me before.

“Looks like you’re volunteering.” I took another step closer and Taylor flinched. “Why don’t you get on the mat?”

“What’s it to you anyway?” he demanded.

I tilted my head slightly, not sure if he was fucking with me or not. “Do you really not know?”

Silence.

Well, that was a problem.

“Even if they verbally agreed to whatever fuckshit you told them to do, there’s a power imbalance,” I reminded him. “They can’t actually tell you no without risking their new jobs. No one’s going to do that after everything they’ve done to get this far.”

Taylor searched my eyes, still glaring at me even if he did seem less combative. “You’re doing the same shit to me right now.”

I clapped my hand on his shoulder and his entire body jerked in response, making me grin. “How does it feel? Not very good, right? You’re scared you’re going to lose and look fucking stupid. If you say no, I might just get you fired since my rank is higher than yours. But what can you do about it? Go whine and cry to the commander?”

His pheromones started leaking through the scent blockers and the rancid smell of fear filled my nose, making my instincts stand up and take notice.

I licked my lips and squeezed his shoulder hard enough he winced. “You better get control of your pheromones because if you don’t, I’d actually have a real reason to report you to the commander.”

His stubborn refusal to back down made me want to rip off my scent blockers so I could force him to his knees. If I couldn’t do that, I would drag him onto the mats and make him bleed until he begged for mercy, showing me his throat in deference to the difference in our strength.

My alpha instincts were fucking psycho and I normally had them locked up without too much issue, but this whole day’s been eroding what little sanity I have left and my grip on those instincts were starting to feel a little…slippery.

Finally, Taylor dropped his gaze but it was too little too late.

“Come spar with me,” I murmured, leaning in ever so slightly. “Show me how much you’ve improved since the last time we were on the mat together.”

It sounded like a suggestion – the soft tone alluring enough to hide the threat if one didn’t look too closely.

Leaning down to look up into Taylor’s eyes, I gave him a broad smile that showed all my teeth. “Wouldn’t that be fun? I’m sure you’re itching to get some exercise since you just won’t stop barking.”

“I’d love to spar with you, James,” Taylor lied through his teeth.

But what was he going to do about it? He’d made his bed. Now he had to lie in.

The new recruits stepped aside as I practically dragged Taylor onto the mats. I only let go when I was sure he wouldn’t run off.

Soren handed me the wraps for my hands while Harris did the same for Taylor.

I was so worked up I couldn’t look away from Taylor even when my rookie decided to wrap my hands for me.

“Got him trained already, do you?” Taylor called out, trying to regain some sense of control.

“I do.” I gave him a wink as if we shared some kind of secret. “He’s such a good boy, isn’t he?”

Soren paused briefly before tying off my remaining hand.

I rolled my shoulders back and used my chin to show Soren where I wanted him to be. Behind me. Guarding my back with his to the wall so I knew he’d be safe if, by some miracle, I lost this fight and they tried to take it out on my rookie.

He obeyed without hesitation, making it easy to focus on my opponent.

“You should really mind your own business,” Taylor grumbled. “You’ve never had to train a rookie before. So, why bother now?”

I didn’t respond as I studied his body language.

Taylor hasn’t improved at all since the last time we sparred. If anything, he’s gotten worse.

The knee injury a few years ago really fucked him up, but he was a good detective who always got the evidence. Almost like he had a nose for drama or something.

I stood still as the other alpha bounced on the balls of his feet, psyching himself up.

Taylor knew he was going to lose and he knew it was going to hurt, but I had to hand it to him, he didn’t try to get out of his punishment. He was ready to take it or die trying.

Lucky for him, my father wasn’t the one overseeing his training because if he were…blood would stain my hands once more.

I flexed my fingers but didn’t make a fist. I just let my arms hang as I watched Taylor try to decide if he should strike first or stay on the defensive.

Taylor was a decent person. I needed to remember that. He only had the most basic alpha training and he didn’t really have the pheromones to need more. He was physically strong and smart.

Crippling him would only cripple me since this was my business. I relied on him to get most of the evidence we needed for the big cases since he was so good at sweet talking people.

We happened to have that in common.

I shifted my weight slightly and Taylor stopped bouncing around. He clenched his jaw and braced himself – his instincts picking up on something imperceptible. It was something I’ve never been able to pinpoint either.

Being able to pretend I was anything other than what I was…it was my greatest strength, but I couldn’t hide something if I couldn’t see it.

Was it the way I moved?

It had to be, otherwise he wouldn’t look so apathetic while my arms were still hanging by my sides.

Taylor started getting antsy when I didn’t move again, keeping my body as still as possible while I waited him out.

My hunting style was curated by my father.

Patience was our strongest weapon. It gave the other party the opportunity to walk right into our trap and allowed me to exert the smallest amount of effort possible which was fucking vital for someone like me.

I needed every advantage I could get.

Taylor finally gave in to his impatience and anxiety, moving just as fast as I remembered.

And just like last time, he went for my ribs, swinging as hard and as fast as he could on my right side. I was usually right-handed and I’ve been injured there before so it was a good choice, but he wasn’t fast enough.

Stepping into him, I twisted my torso ever so slightly to dodge his strike, bringing up my fist in a mean left jab as I did so to hit the side of his neck with concentrated force.

His body instantly crumbled at my feet in a massive pile and I stared down at it, unimpressed.

I’d made sure not to permanently damage him. He was just unconscious. Not dead.

Kneeling down to check his pulse, I felt dissatisfied with such an easy win. “Should have gone for my left side.”

Taylor was definitely still breathing so I stood and shoved him with my foot so he was flat on his back, opening up his airway.

“Anyone else wanna draw straws?” I looked over at the other senior detectives and they all stared down at the floor looking properly chastised.

“No, ma’am.”

Good.

“Actually, I would.”

My gaze slid over to the massive rookie who’s been silently waiting in the same place this whole time.

“Are you sure?”

Soren stepped onto the mat without once looking down at Taylor. “I am.”

That’s when I saw he’d wrapped his hands at some point. I raised an eyebrow, wondering what his motive was.

“I feel like I could learn a lot from you,” Soren admitted.

Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t hide my surprise at his admission and I felt the psychotic need to feel blood on my hands start to fade away.

It didn’t seem like he wanted to prove to everyone just how strong he was, but that he wasn’t afraid of me.

He even looked to me as an example.

It was such an impressive way of diffusing the situation that all I could do was stand there like an idiot and stare at him with a hint of admiration.

Soren didn’t exactly blush but the tips of his ears turned red and he cleared his throat before looking down at Taylor who was slowly starting to come to.

“Let’s do some drills then,” I suggested. “I want to see how you deal with an opponent who’s smaller than you.”

My new recruit didn’t bother helping Taylor up, but he did take a step closer until he was standing at my side, nodding once in response to my suggestion. “Whatever you think is best, James.”

I turned my focus to the other senior detectives, hoping no one could tell just how much this rookie was starting to get under my skin.

Even though it was his first day, I could already tell that he’d make an excellent partner if I ever decided to make this situation permanent. Soren would be really good for me since he seemed to have some innate talent in calming me down.

I didn’t understand how he did it so effortlessly, but I really liked it.

Too bad it only made me more nervous instead of less.

I reached out to help Taylor to his feet now that he was finally conscious. “Next time, go for my left side.”

Taylor grimaced, but he nodded instead of arguing. “I always thought you spent too much time in the gym, but you certainly have something to show for it, don’t you?” He rubbed the bruise on his neck with a rueful smile. “Careful rookie, or she’ll eat you up and spit you out.”

I grinned, glad he was proving my assessment of his personality right whether he knew it or not. Taylor was a decent guy if a bit hard headed and stubborn.

“You should go see the physical therapist about your knee,” I suggested. “And make sure to work on your core to make up for it so you won’t have to twist it as much.”

The other detective slapped my shoulder in silent acknowledgement before rejoining the other detectives and their respective rookies. They all looked impressed with him despite his loss and I couldn’t help but wonder what it was I was doing wrong.

I’ve never gotten along with other alphas the same way Taylor did. There was always this space between us that made it impossible to have any comradery. I used to think it was my pheromones, but maybe it was something else.

Maybe they could sense that I wasn’t the same as them somehow – that there was something wrong with me.

Was it the same thing that made alphas like Soren and Leo gravitate toward me?

I glanced over at him to see he was patiently waiting for me to indicate that I was ready to move on to the next thing.

What exactly was it he sensed from me?

“Let’s go,” I muttered, deciding not to ask. “Let’s not waste the last hour we have in the gym.”

Soren followed me without question, his presence impossible to miss.

I had a bad feeling I was going to get used to it far too quickly until his absence would be as obvious and painful as Lucy’s was.

Or Leo’s.