Second Chances

A bunch of savages

Joel's p.o.v

I watch her walk out of the room with her father and my dad. "I think she likes you." I hear one of those mutts that came with that Alpha tell him. I fist my hands to my side. I want to smash his head in to the ground. I want them to leave back to their pack already. This Alpha has his eyes on my mate. "Jojo" I hear repeatedly being called "what?" I snap at Griffy. "You went somewhere. I was just trying to say that we are hungry." Griffy tells me. "Go eat then. I am going to train." I say, and walk out. I can feel that Alpha and that group looking at me, but I don't care. I walk on to the field and I feel people behind me. I turn around and they are making their way here too. Maybe I will get a chance to fight one of these assh0les today. I watch them walk straight to Cat. "You alright?" Nico comes up to me and asks me. He looks like he has been out here working out for some time. He is all sweaty and smelly. "I don't like them being all over my mate. All of them look at her like she is their goddess", I tell him. He turns to look at the group. "Oh, I am surprised you don't look at her that way," is all he says. I frown. Of course, I look at her that way. I think to myself. "Alright, I am going to pair everyone up. Start with basic warm ups and we are going to run 5 miles. The last pair has to run 5 more." Alpha Liam says. He calls out everyone's name and pairs them up. The only people left are me, Cat, and the 3 from the other pack. I hope he pairs Cat and I up. This would be the perfect time to talk to her, but my plans are crushed instantly, "Cat, you and Valen, Zeus and Christoph and Joel, you are with your father," Alpha says. A huge smile graces Cat's face. "Hurry and stretch, we can't lose," she tells him. I watch her take her hoodie off and my eyes go wide. Those biker shorts are basically lingerie for a workout. I didn't know my mate has an a$$ this fat. My wolf is salivating. "Cat, put your sweater back on." Valen tells her and my wolf growls. He is checking her out and how dare he tell her what to do. "I'm going to get hot running. Plus, this huge sweater will slow me down," she tells him. She bends down and begins stretching and I groan and hear them also groan. "Damn Cat, I don't remember your back side being so big." One of them tells her and she bursts out laughing. "I'm small compared to Valentina. Now that girl has an a$$." Cat tells them. "I don't know who that is." he tells her. "You don't remember her from school? I will have to introduce you guys." Cat says. "Please do." he tells her, wiggling his eyebrows at her and she rolls her eyes. His Alpha smacks him in the back of his head. "Stop staring" he growls. "Lets make this fun...a bet. The losing team has to pay for drinks for the other team tonight and go skinny dipping in the river at midnight." she tells them. They all look at each other and shrug. "I know you two are going to win. He's an Alpha" one of the guys says. "You should have confidence in yourself" she tells him and their eyes light up. "Fine, deal, it's a bet" they say. I want to laugh, because she just straight played them. That's one thing about Cat. She can make anyone do whatever she wants with just a couple of simple words. She can also make you feel like you are the highest, almighty when she talks to you. She can make you feel all of these big feelings and emotions. Maybe it is because she is my mate though. I can only hope I am the only one she makes feel this way. "You, may begin," Alpha Liam says, and we all begin running. I am trying to beat them, even if I am not part of their bet. I need to show her that I am stronger than the Alpha. I decide to play with her a bit. "Want to bet with me? What do I get if I win your team?" I mind link her. I can hear her gasp in the link and all of a sudden she closes the link. She straight up put a wall up to keep me out. My wolf growls.

"Slow down Joel, I'm not as young as you anymore," dad mind links me. "I have to beat that Alpha" I mind link him back. Dad sighs "You can learn a thing or two from him, son. This Alpha is doing everything you should be doing for your mate. If you really want Cat, then you have to step it up. He is moving in on your mate. I can tell he is interested and he knows that Cat is a healer and Alpha Liam seems to like him too. I am sure he would approve of them being together. You need to get your sh!t together. Griffy needs to go home." he says, and a lightbulb goes off in my head. "That is it dad, he wants her because she is a healer and it will empower his pack. Why would he be all over her? He should be looking for his mate, yet he is all over mine." I mind link my dad. He sighs. I need to talk to Cat to let her know what I discovered. I will also bring this up to Alpha Liam and Luna Rose so they can kick them out of the pack. He won't get my mate to fall for his stup!d charm and make a fool out of her. I think to myself. "Like you have" my wolf chimes in and shame washes all over it. "I am trying to fix it though." I snap back at him. "Can you really fix it? You think Cat will accept a pup you had with someone else as her own? I love my mate, but I already love my pup even more. What if she asks us to choose? My pup will always come first. Plus, I haven't even been able to talk to Misty. My mate's wolf is locked up nice and tight. She isn't allowing a bond to form. Being close to her wolf could have helped us. I could convince her to convince her human to accept our pup as her own, but no, so, What does this tell you? You need to try harder. We only have until the next full moon to win her back and get her to accept us and our pup or our bond will break." he reminds me. "Don't worry. Once this Alpha gets out of here, I will begin to show her that I am all about her and my pup won't get in the way of our relationship." I tell him. He shakes his head and closes his eyes and curls in a ball and whimpers. I will show him and everyone else.

We keep running around the pack and when we get back towards the training ground I see Griffy there, cheering me on and I am so embarrassed. "Go Jojo, that's my mate!" she yells "Joel", dad growls. I can hear people laughing. We finally finish, and I rush over to Griffy. Luckily, we did not end up in last place, but I also didn't beat Cat or the people from the other pack and I am so annoyed by that. "You did so good my baby daddy." Griffy tells me. "Griffy. we need to talk, after I finish training okay." I tell her and she nods. "Okay, daddy, we will wait for you right here." she says and rubs her belly. I sigh and run back to finish training. "We can all go in my car" I hear Cat say and now I am beyond annoyed. Why is she going anywhere with them? "Okay, now we are going to switch partners for sparing. I want you all to get used to fighting with different people." Alpha Liam says. He pairs everyone up and I almost faint when he pairs me up with Cat. She is glaring at her dad, but he just came through for me and I won't complain. Her new little friends keep talking to her and you would think I am not even here. They don't even acknowledge me, but I do not care. I am going to get to talk to her. Everyone goes their own way to spar. "Okay Cat, go, attack me," I tell her and she wastes no time. She runs towards me and knocks me on my a$$. I laugh. This is the girl I remember. Always behind Nico and I, wanting us to train with her. "Damn girl, you got strong," I tell her. She doesn't say anything. "Let me teach you some techniques when it comes to your posture. They can give you a step up before attacking your opponents." I tell her. She nods. I bend down and move her ankles around and her legs around in the correct position. The sparks dance on my whole hands and I feel them down to my toes. Her whole body stiffens, so I know she feels them too. "Okay, now attack me" I say and, just as I said, she is faster. She knocks me on my a$$ once again though, so that didn't change much, but I do want her to have the best advantage if she is ever in a fight. "Cat, why haven't you texted me back?" I whisper just for her to hear as we go around each other trying to get a hit in. "Joel, lets just drop it. You have a family now. You should worry about them." she tells me. She punches my face and I shake the hit off. "I have a pup on the way Cat. I don't have a family. Griffy is nothing to me, just a drunken mistake. Please, just open your link or text me back. Let me explain everything to you. I promise to put you first from now on." I tell her "Okay. I will think about it." she says and I smile, but then she kicks me and I land on the floor face down. F*ck, she is strong a$$ f*ck, but she said she will think about it, so I am grinning from ear to ear. I am sure I have dirt in my teeth, but I do not care. "Everyone switch", Alpha yells and she moves on to someone else. This sucks. I feel like I was finally getting somewhere. I am now paired with one of the a$$holes from the other pack. We go at it toe to toe, but in the end he knocks me on my a$$ too. "Switch" Alpha says. We get a chance to fight with almost everyone. I beat some people, but I got beat by Cat and two of the guys from the other pack. The last person I am paired with is the Alpha from the other pack and although I am sure I am getting my a$$ kicked, I will be happy to at least get a hit in. My wolf growls at him. We hate him for having his eyes on our mate. I decide to confront him and see what his deal with Cat is. We circle each other. "So, what is your deal? You got your eyes on my mate?" I ask him. He looks surprised by my sudden question, but he laughs. "Who is your mate?" he asks. I am shocked by his question. Did Cat not tell him she has a mate? "Catalina, she is my mate." I tell him. "Oh yeah, I remember you. She said she is not your mate though. She rejected you." he says smugly, and punches me in the face. I heard a crack and feel blood pouring out of my nose. He broke it. "She is my mate. We are just having a small hiccup that is being worked on." I tell him and swing, but I miss. "Getting another she-wolf pregnant is not just a small hiccup," he says and drop kicks me. I jump back up quickly, not letting him win so fast. So she did tell him about me. "That is between Cat and I. It has nothing to do with you. Mind your business." I tell him and he just laughs. "You are right. I do not care. It isn't any of my business, but you should know that whatever happens between Cat and I is between us and has nothing to do with you, so mind your business." he says and punches me again and I fall back. My head is spinning. It hurts so bad so I just stay on the floor. "Jojo, are you alright?" I hear Griffy. I open my eyes and I groan. I see people all around me, but no Cat. The one person who should be here, making sure I am okay isn't. "She is probably embarrassed. How could you let him knock you out?" My wolf growls. Alpha and Dad help me stand up. "Go to the infirmary to get your nose fixed." Alpha says and I nod. I look around and Cat is busy laughing with him and his pack. Anger surges all through me. She is with him. Did she not see what he did to me? I begin walking to the clinic when she finally looks over. I feel like time has stopped. She looks worried. "Ugh, lets go baby, you are a savage" Griffy says, pointing at the Alpha. "Thank you," he tells Griffy and Cat and the rest of the group chuckle. "This is not a compliment and it is not funny. You are all like him. A bunch of savages." she yells. I am so embarrassed and they just continue laughing. "She can not be here, yelling and going off on everyone. Alpha Valen can punish her if he wants." Alpha mind links me. "I know. I am working on it." I mind link him back. He nods and I walk myself to get checked out.