Alpha Squad: Boot Camp

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

The first two weeks of training went by in a whirlwind. They did everything Eric had expected to happen: cross-country runs, obstacles, problem solving, and hand-to-hand combat. They had even done some basic firearms safety. The shifters excelled at almost everything, but especially those tasks that relied on strength and endurance. Shooting, not so much, but that had only been a small part of their training.

As a result, the humans had exactly zero chance of coming out on top in the rankings.

The main reason why Eric and the other shifters felt worse for the wear was the unpredictable schedule, sleep disruption, and irregular meal timings. There was always something going on, the major made sure of that.

At the same time, Eric felt that she was purposefully keeping her distance from all the recruits, but especially him. The implied rejection, as much as he understood her likely reasoning, added yet another layer of mental strain to their already challenging situation. This was not how these things were meant to go. Both bears and wolves tended to have very simple relationships: once a potential partner was identified as a shifter's true mate, that was that. There was no denying it, no fighting it, and certainly no ignoring it. But she was a human, not a bear, so perhaps that stretched the rules a bit. Either way, Eric could not force her into acknowledging their connection if she did not want to.

The physical demands of the training were starting to take their toll on the humans as well, yet Bentley, the oldest of the group, seemed to revel in it. He was the only recruit who seemed to know exactly what was going on. His body clock had adjusted to the extent that he was already awake and organizing his uniform before the major came in to formally give them their orders each morning. Eric often found himself wondering if the man ever slept at all.

Most of the group was made up of strong, sometimes difficult personalities, meaning Bentley's assumed superiority had made him somewhat unpopular. The exception here was Blackwood, of course. The wolf was still frustratingly optimistic about everything, and seemed willing to accept orders no matter who uttered them. He was many things—fast, strong, ferocious when he wanted to be—but a natural born leader he was not. As the most easygoing of the team, he provided a bridge, a bit of cohesion between the humans and bears.

Meanwhile, Adam had taken on the role of cook, however grudgingly. Bears had a lot of strengths, but one of their weaknesses was their inability to function properly on an empty stomach. Plus, as Adam had remarked on their first day, he actually had relevant previous experience.

As a wolf, Blackwood was not as affected by their lack of regular meals, but he’d eagerly volunteered to help them hunt when supplies went down. Together, they had managed to catch some small game and fish from the hilly nature reserve that surrounded Brecon, the town that was home to their base.

No matter how incompatible the group seemed, Eric had come around to Alpha Squad a little bit. The idea behind it was still nonsense of course, and the recruits were all inappropriate in their own way, himself included, but he had to admit that the experience was changing everyone little by little. His little brother had turned from unreliable and rebellious into somewhat of a team player in the span of almost two weeks.

Even Cooper, as stubborn as he was, had become just a little bit more respectful over time.

And Eric himself? He had actually started to feel like he belonged somewhere again, as stupid as it sounded. Ever since the New Alliance had become less relevant on-ground and more of a media sensation, he had missed the feeling of being a part of something bigger than just himself.

And so they all found themselves in the kitchen having a quick breakfast when the by now all too familiar sound of Callahan interrupted over the intercom.

"Cadets, the major expects everyone outside in five for an announcement."

Eric and Adam shared a look. Not an exercise, or a drill, but an announcement?

"Don't just stand there looking like idiots. Hurry up!" Bentley barked from across the room and clapped his hands to make his point.

Eric glared at him. One of these days he'd punch the man and shut him up permanently.

Still, he was right. Eric finished his breakfast with one last bite and deposited his now empty plate on the table before heading out the door.

Everyone was outside much sooner than the five minute deadline announced by Private Callahan. The major was already waiting as well, clipboard in hand. How was it that she could look fresh at any time of day, when Eric himself so clearly felt the side effects of lack of sleep and a regular routine?

"Cadets," she started. "You'll remember I mentioned this training program had a number of different stages when you first arrived. Phase One is now over."

Eric exchanged a look with Adam and Blackwood, who stood toward either side of him. Then he stared at her again. The woman of his dreams. She was right there and yet they might as well be on opposite sides of the earth. It hurt, but he couldn't look away.

Why do you avoid me? Do you not realize we’re meant for one another? Eric held his breath and tried to suppress these and many other, similar thoughts.

"I'd also said that only those who are worthy were to remain on the team." Major Williams paused for a moment, then raised the clipboard in front of her. "I'm pleased to announce that everyone is through to the next phase."

She looked up and made eye contact with each of the recruits, skipping Eric, much to his dismay.

Why do you torment me so?

"Good job, everyone. We will start Phase Two tomorrow. Prepare yourselves, because things get a lot more challenging from here."

Challenging would be an understatement, more like impossible, a strange voice spoke in Eric's head.

He frowned.

"Alpha Squad has received authorization from higher up for advanced military training."

Eric glanced across at Bentley, whose expression turned painfully smug. He was right in his element.

"Until now you've been pitched against each other, but going forward, it will be important to work together as a team," the major said.

Eric glanced back in her direction.

No matter what the orders are, we're in this together, the strange voice said.

These little glimpses, these shreds—they were in his head, but they weren't coming from him.

It's her! His inner bear insisted it was true, even if he couldn't quite believe it. That meant that it was confirmed. They truly were meant to be mates.

But just because he could hear her didn't mean she could hear him. She was human, after all.

Eric raised his hand.

She shot him a quick look. "Yes, Cadet King?"

His heart jumped as she said his name. "Exactly how advanced is this training going to be?"

Eric looked around at his team mates. Blackwood was grinning like an excited kid on Christmas morning, Adam had one eyebrow raised in surprise, and Cooper just looked scared. Meanwhile, Bentley simply rolled his eyes. His question seemed valid, though, even if nobody else had been willing to step up and ask it.

"We will start with an intense survival exercise." Despite answering his question, the major was still avoiding eye contact with him. "But you won't be going out there on your own. We are a team. And we will train as such."

Intense survival? Just exactly what was Alpha Squad's role going to be when all of this was over? Had his expectations been that off? Liaise with police in shifter related matters, he'd thought. Not exactly Special Forces stuff like Bentley would have done in the past.

If only we'd met under different circumstances, the strange voice said, sending his own thoughts into yet another tailspin. If only?

No, his inner bear was not willing to accept defeat just yet, even if the rest of him was mainly just exhausted. How long could he keep on fighting? How long would he hold out hope?

You're mine, even under these circumstances. You just don't know it yet, he thought.

Then he shook his head. What a mess.

"Now, I suggest you use your day off wisely, because we'll push out at the c***k of dawn tomorrow. Dismissed!" She turned on her heel and headed back inside with Private Callahan following closely behind her.

"This is brilliant, isn't it?" Blackwood exclaimed. "We all made it!"

Bentley left without saying a word, leaving only Cooper and the three shifters.

"We made it through Phase One," Cooper remarked. "But who knows, with the extreme survival and all. I never signed up for this stuff!"

"We're a team. And shifters are especially good at survival stuff, even if I say so myself," Blackwood interjected.

Eric nodded and forced a smile. The wolf was right; they wouldn't let each other fail. Still, he did not feel like celebrating. All was again not as it seemed. He had a lot to think about, mostly regarding the thoughts in his head that hadn't belonged to him. What did it all mean?

The major had not even looked him in the eye once since his assessment on the first day of training. And his inner bear was not having any more of it. Something had to change or he would lose his mind, especially if they were going to spend more time together going forward.

And so, rather than stay back in the shared dorm with the rest of the guys, Eric decided he needed time alone to think.

"Today, I think I'll go out for a hunt by myself," he told Adam as they reached their bunks.

His brother simply shrugged. "If that's what you want. Though we'd all probably be better off if we took the day to relax."

No matter how glum Eric felt, Adam's remark made him smile anyway. What a difference a couple of weeks at boot camp had made.

"You're starting to sound like Mom," he teased.

Adam grinned too. "You think so, bro? Damn."

But a spot of motherly advice from the most unlikely person in the room wasn't enough to stop Eric. He collected his backpack and some warm gear and nodded a goodbye at his little brother. "I'll see you when I see you."

And with those words he was out the door and heading back down the same hallway they had all passed through earlier. He slowed instinctively as he neared the major's office.

There was a conversation going on inside her office. The major and Private Callahan were talking to one another. Although Eric did not wish to intrude, he could hear it so clearly it was impossible to ignore.

They did not sound happy. They were talking about orders, just like in the major's thoughts during the announcement. The name General Stone came up.

What had she meant 'no matter what the orders are?’ What were her orders exactly?

Eric shook his head. No, he would not do this again, lurk around the major's office, listening in on conversations, just waiting to be discovered by Blackwood, or worse, Bentley. Whatever it was, it was none of his business anyway. He was here as a lowly recruit. Even if he knew what she was dealing with, it wasn’t like he could help her out.

Eric took a deep breath and marched onward, out of the building. He headed for the tree line of the nearby woods surrounding their compound and put his half empty backpack on the ground. Then he quickly undressed and kept his clothes away before allowing his true instincts to take over.

He was going for a run in the woods by himself not just because he was running away from something, strictly speaking. This was also the only way for Eric to really be himself.

To let his bear roam free and blow off steam would be the only way for him stay in control of his instincts and urges come morning.

Tomorrow they were going on a survival exercise together, all of the recruits as well as Callahan and, of course, the major. He could survive the wild, no problem, but how was he going to survive being so close to her without acting on his desires?

He had the whole day to try to run it off and he wouldn't waste another second of it.

As soon as he had fully shifted, he broke into a trot and headed deeper and deeper into the woods, slipping through a breach in the base's boundary fence on the way.

They had explored a lot of this area before—Adam, Blackwood and himself—and located the best hunting grounds as well as streams and lakes abundant with fish. But he was not heading anywhere in particular.

Today he had just one aim: to get as far away from the major as possible.