Running from my mates book 3 of the werebear series

Chapter 24

Casey’s P.O.V

  I looked at my watch and saw that it was quarter to six when I saw everyone rushing towards me. I stood up when they got to me, proud of each and every one of them for being earlier than what I had said. Today was going to be a little different from what we had been doing, we were going into the woods to observe and then if they passed that, they would start their shifts.

  “Alright guys, today is the day you go out into the woods, but before we get going there are some rules that you are going to have to follow. You will see guards, warriors and fighters out there, but when you see them don’t say anything to them. They are working and need to concentrate, so pay attention to what they are doing because when you are done training today you will be on your first shift. Okay, are you ready?” I asked, hoping they understood how important this was.

  “YES CAPTAIN!! WE’RE READY!!!” They all shouted back, making me smile.

  “Then let's get going.” I said, walking to the front. We started walking to the edge of the woods and when we got there a guard was passing us in his bear form. His name was Matt and he was doing his patrol.

  “Good luck.” Matt said, mind-linking us and nodding his head as he walked past us and continued on with his patrol. Everyone did as I had said and never said a word, but they did smile and nod at him, thanking him for his well wishes.

  Matt’s P.O.V

  I remembered my first day of training out in the woods. I had to watch the guards all day, learn how to fight rogues and take them to the cells to be questioned when needed. I heard the screams and smelled the scent of blood and death in those cells, then I remembered my first work shift. I did what I had to do, but then it happened and I almost lost it.

Flashback….

  I was running after a rogue and shifted into my bear form, shredding my clothes and running fast. I caught up to him in no time and bit into his throat, tearing his jugular out. The second I tasted his blood my bear and I started going berserk, making us want more. I was starting to turn rogue and the guards I was with could see what was happening to me. They all ran over to me, trying to help me, but I was fighting them with everything I had and eventually it took my brothers to shift and stop me. They held me down until I calmed down and it felt like I was being held down for an eternity, until I finally came back to myself. I shifted back into my human form, but I felt so ashamed of myself and how quick I was to turn. There was no way I had done my job right and I was sure I was going to have to start the training program all over again, but as I thought this a few of the older, more experienced guards came up to me. They sat down next to me, sighing as they told me their stories about their first days.

  “I remember my first day like it was yesterday, like I’m sure all of the others will as well. I was in the exact same position you are in now. I chased down a rogue, caught and killed him, but as soon as I did I turned just the way you did just now. It didn’t take as many to stop me and hold me down, but then again you are a bear and I’m a wolf. The first time you kill, no matter the circumstances always drives you to blood lust. They don’t teach you that in the program because it has to be experienced, there is no way to possibly describe the feeling of losing yourself and then coming back. Sometimes they aren’t able to come back, especially if they are on their own when it happens, but most of the time they come back to their senses and are saved. They learn from it and it never happens again.” Rex said, reassuring me and telling me his story. I was relieved to hear that I wasn’t the only one it had happened to, but I also understood what he meant. There was no way to describe this in training, hell I had just gone through it and I couldn’t describe it to anyone who hadn’t been through it themselves. It was a tough lesson to learn, but I’m glad I did.

  “Oh by the way, you have just completed the graduation process.” Randall said, shocking me. I was crying and laughing at the same time when he announced that, happier than I had ever been to know that it was worth going through that hell to achieve becoming a guard.

Flashback Ends….

  Thirty years later and I am still here, guarding my family, friends and pack. I was proud of how far I had come. That was the first and last time I ever had the blood lust and it was also the first and last day I ever almost turned rogue. I hope they all do their best to pass this training, but I also hope they don’t have to go through what I did. If they do then I hope there are others around to help them the way Randall and Rex helped me.

  Casey’s P.O.V

  “Okay, let's do this. Let's start and see what everyone has, but remember what I said about the other guards.” I said, just as the captain of the fighters walked up to us.

  “Hey Casey, great job on getting them ready for me.” Bobbie said and we both chuckled.

  “Fighters line up, we have a long day today and remember, no talking to the others, they are working and any distraction could cost someone their life. You will be watching today and then you will be moving into the fighter's house, so let's get going because your first shift starts in two hours.” Bobbie said and all the ones chosen to become fighters stepped forward.

  “Good luck.” I whispered as they walked past me and over to Bobbie. I turned back to face the remaining pack members, who were chosen to become warriors.

  “Okay, my warriors, let's get going. Like Bobbie said, you will only be watching today, you can’t talk to the others unless they talk to you. Is that clear?” I asked and they all nodded.

  “Alright, let's head further into the woods.” I said, turning to walk. They all followed closely behind me, looking carefully at their surroundings. We walked around for a few hours, keeping our eyes open, but with how beautiful this place is, it was more like we were on a nature walk. The trees were a vibrant green and flowers were blooming all over, making everything seem really peaceful. We saw deer running around freely, rabbits eating and squirrels running around, hiding their nuts for the upcoming winter. Everything around us was calm and quiet, but then it happened. A wolf ran by us, not even seeing us as he bolted past us as fast as he could, then a bear came, heading in the same direction as the wolf and going just as fast. To the untrained eye it looked just like they were racing each other, but I knew they weren't. They were going that fast because they had been called to attend a problem with rogues.

  “Come on, let's go watch, but do not speak a word or you will distract them.” I said and hurried after the bear and wolf. We got to the location they were at and stopped when we saw them fighting against three rogues. The bear took one rogue and grabbed its jaw, splitting it in half, while the wolf took out another one of them. The last rogue tried to run, but the bear caught him and hit him hard against a tree, knocking him out. The wolf and bear shifted back into their human forms, put on some shorts they found hidden in the trees and then grabbed the rogue. I knew they were taking him to the cells to be interrogated, as it was unusual for rogues to travel together unless they were up to something. They started dragging him back to where the cells were and I grabbed my group, gesturing for them to follow me. We made it to the cells just as the bear and wolf got there. They took him down to the cells, locking him up, while we waited outside for their return. Tyler and Brooks walked back up from the cells and nodded to me when they saw us standing here. They were both really kind and I had become very good friends with their mates, Ava and Alice. Brooks has always been a warrior, but Tyler started out as a guard originally and then joined the warrior training program shortly after the last war with my first mate. 

  “Alright, you saw what we just did, so if you think you are ready to be a warrior, then let's head back down to the cells.” Brooks said and the group didn’t say a word. We headed through the door and down the steps to the cells, smelling the horrible stench of blood and death. Some of the group scrunch their noses up and then a blood curdling scream was heard. I thought that a few of them would jump or flinch at the sound, but I was porous to say that I was wrong. We walked past the cells and heard as the prisoners pleaded to be let out, while others who were hung by chains just looked like they wanted to rip our throats out. We walked to the last room on the right when we heard the screams coming from that room.

  “So, I will ask again, do you think you are ready, hearing the screams, smelling the blood and death. Do you think you are ready to become warriors?” Tyler asked and they all quickly nodded.

  “Come on, let's show you what's behind this door.” Brooks said, turning and opening the door. The rogue they had caught in the woods was sitting in a chair with silver chains binding him and burning his flesh. A guard was punching him and asking him why he was on the territory, but he only laughed each time he asked that question. The rogue's nose was bleeding and broken, but once they realised they were not going to get any answers out of him, they grabbed the needle filled with wolfsbane and shot it into his arm. He started screaming and writhing around in pain, pleading for us to let him go, but he still wasn’t giving us any answers.