Chapter 10
1012 Words
I grunted as another punch landed on my side but held my stance. I quickly brought my leg up and swung it at Uncle Jake's side. He easily caught my leg and shoved me backwards, his cold eyes rolling. I stumbled to the ground and quickly pushed myself back up. "You're predictable. That'll get you hurt." I growled.
I moved my left leg behind my right one. My left arm moved to my side where I proceeded to form a fist. My right arm, with my fist clenched, moved to block my chest. I quickly aimed left only to swoop behind him and punch left. I smiled in satisfaction at Uncle Jake's wide eyes from his position on the ground. He brought up his right shoulder and popped it back into place.
He gave me a nod, "Good. Almost childish but good." I let a smile slip onto my lips.
Max, Dad's voice slipped into my mind. Meet me in my office.
"Anything else?" I stretched my arms above my head, hearing a pop. Uncle Jake looked me up and down. He was making a list in his head.
"You still need to relax. How fast can you currently shift?"
"Ten seconds is my fastest time but my usual is fifteen." He looked in thought for a moment.
"Try to get down to seven seconds." My eyes widened.
"That's ridiculous!" He wanted me to shift in seven seconds? It was exhausting as hell trying to get down to even ten and I only did that so I could be faster than Wes. I lost an entire day getting it down to ten seconds.
"Then five." My eyes bugged out more.
"You're trying to kill me," I stated a bit over dramatically honestly.
"Then three. Then two if you can." I shook my head.
"You have truly gone crazy. No one can shift that fast."
"Your father can and he's probably not even the fastest one out there. It'll take some time but I want you to work on it. Every day. You can do it Max. Now go." I took in a deep breath and turned around, going back into the pack house.
I went up the stairs and down the hallway until I got to Dad's office. He was already waiting for me. He gave me a smile and gestured for me to sit in front of his desk. He was sitting behind his desk, writing something on a document."Give me a minute." I sighed. He told me to come here and yet he is doing something else. Why didn't he just wait until he was done?
"Tick tock," I mumbled impatiently. I guess he heard me because he let out a little chuckle. I started tapping my foot. "Potatoes have more chromosomes than humans but less than werewolves." He kept writing. "Wesley once ate 20 hamburgers in one sitting as a bet. Delian won though. She ate 28." Still writing. "How I Met Your Mother has a play called 'Suck It Lily'." Still. Writing. "I had s*x with a magi." He looked up, eyes wide.
"You should be careful. You don't want her mate to track you down." I rolled my eyes.
"She hasn't met her mate yet. And she might not for years. I gave her a good night." My father rolled his eyes and pushed the document aside.
"Let's drop that topic. We have to discuss what I called you here for." I nodded and looked at the papers all over his desk. It was unorganized, messy. He was stressed.
"Is everything alright?"
"I have to leave for another pack. The Dusk Moon pack is in the middle of a war. Alpha Weiss is a very good friend of mine but he's fighting a losing battle so I'm going over there to help. While Jared is staying here, meaning he would take my role, I have decided to try something else." I raised an eyebrow.
"I want to put you in charge." My eyes widened.
"What?"
"I want you to be in charge of the pack while I'm gone."
I can't do this.
"It'll be like a trial run."
I really can't do this.
"Jared will help you whenever you need it."
I will fail.
"But you should try to do it all on your own."
I will drive this pack to the ground.
"It'll only be one or two weeks."
I will drive this pack to the ground in a week. Less even.
"Max?"
I will never be a good Alpha.
"Max, are you okay?"
I mumble, "I can't do this."
"Of course you can. You need to have more faith in yourself."
"Dad, this is a bad idea." I looked up at him. My eyes met his and I shook my head. "I'm not ready."
"You know. You're old enough to officially take over at any point. You should get a little practice in before the real thing. I truly do believe in you son."
"I seriously can't do this. I need more time to prepare."
He chuckled. I glared at him. "It's only one or two weeks. Not forever."
"I can't do this." I put my elbows on my legs and held my head in my hands.
"Take a breath Max." I tried. It came out shaky.
"I think - I think you should ask Wesley." Before he could say anything I got up and left his office. I left the pack house and put a wall up in my mind.
My wolf growls at me for not taking on the challenge. Hell, I'm mad at myself too. I just don't believe that I can do well. I'm not the strongest. I'm not the fastest. The paper work annoys the hell out of me. I can't be a good Alpha. . .
I keep going until I get to town. I look around, trying to decide what I want to do. A particular coffee shop comes to mind and I turn left. Maybe all I need is a nice cup of coffee and a pastry.
- Writer
