Weekend Training And Pranks

Sloane's POV

The final bell shrilled through the hallways, signaling the end of the school day. I grabbed my backpack, navigated the crowded corridors, and made a beeline for the parking lot. The afternoon sun beat down on the asphalt as my eyes scanned the sea of teenagers. I spotted Rhys and Zane leaning casually against Zane's sleek black Dodge Charger. Since the Alpha and Beta estates were practically next door to each other, sharing rides was our standard routine. Neither of the boys had afternoon activities today, which saved me from having to drive my own truck.

As I approached the car, I noticed they were deep in conversation with Pippa and Stella, the twin daughters of our pack's Third in Command. I offered the girls a warm smile as I stepped up to Rhys's side, which they quickly returned. Both of them had recently shifted, and the untamed energy of their wolves still bled into their irises—a glowing testament to their new status. They were still learning the ropes, struggling with the sudden influx of heightened senses and raw power. Their older brother, Ridge—the future Third in Command—was currently taking a three-week hiatus from high school to focus on his own intensive training duties.

"Ready to head out?" Zane asked, spinning his keys around his index finger the moment the twins waved their goodbyes.

I gave a quick nod. We piled into the Charger. I took my usual spot in the back seat, buckling my seatbelt as Zane revved the engine and pulled out of the school lot. Our high school sat right inside pack territory, making the commute to the Beta’s estate a quick fifteen-minute trip down winding, tree-lined roads. We passed the central pack house along the way—a sprawling building dedicated to housing newly mated couples, the pack infirmary, and the Alpha’s spare offices. Before long, Zane's tires crunched up the sweeping driveway of the Beta's massive mansion. This imposing structure, with its pristine white walls reflecting nicely against the dark windows, was the place I now called home.

Rhys and I hopped out of the car and headed up the short front steps. As soon as we stepped through the heavy double doors, Rhys turned to me.

"I'm going to track down Dad in his office," he announced, already walking down the main hallway.

I nodded, adjusting the strap of my bag, and walked straight into the kitchen. The savory aroma of tomatoes, garlic, and roasting meat drifted through the air. Myra stood by the stove, humming softly as she was busy preparing a large pot of spaghetti Bolognese. She glanced over her shoulder as I walked in, her face lighting up with a welcoming smile. I dropped my bag and maneuvered myself onto one of the tall counter stools. She reached into the spice cabinet, grabbing a handful of seasonings and sprinkling them generously over the simmering sauce.

"How was school, sweetheart?" Myra asked, stepping over to the sink. She pumped soap into her palms, washing her hands as the bubbles vanished under the warm running water.

I let out a soft breath and shrugged, my eyes meeting hers. "School is school. It wasn't the worst. I have a math exam next week that I need to study for, but other than that, I’m fully caught up with my work."

Myra dried her hands on a towel and chuckled. "School was never my favorite place either. But it’s your senior year now, and it's nearly over. I know we spoke briefly about it before, but have you thought about whether you want to go to college or step into full-time warrior duties?"

A heavy sigh escaped my lips, the weight of my deep uncertainty pressing down on me. I hadn't yet decided what I wanted to do; the indecision plagued my mind.

"I'm conflicted still. I would like to go to college and have the experience, but I also want to follow in my father's footsteps," I confessed, my voice quiet but honest.

Myra stepped around the counter, her eyes filled with maternal warmth. She reached her hand across the counter, gripping my hands warmly and tightly. Her touch was incredibly grounding.

"You haven't got too long to decide. I understand it's not an easy choice, but both Vander and I will be with you, supporting you no matter what path you ultimately choose."

"Thanks, Myra." Words always fell short when it came to expressing just how much I appreciated her and Vander. I stood up, walked around the large kitchen island, and wrapped my arms around her. She hugged me back instantly.

"Let's serve dinner, shall we? Would you help set the table for me?" she requested, pulling back from the embrace with a gentle smile before ushering me toward the dining room.

After I finished setting up the plates and silverware, both Rhys and Vander appeared. Vander shot me a huge smile, questioning me about my day at school. We all sat together at the large dining table, talking comfortably and eating, the lively chatter filling the room as we discussed our days and what our plans were for the weekend. Rhys, Zane, Gemma, Silas, and I were heading out to the mall tomorrow for some leisure since it was Saturday.

Vander took a sip of his water, and as he set the glass down, his tone turned distinctly serious. "You both have training on Sunday. Don't forget, especially since you both have next weekend off as Zane mentioned you were going to Kaelen's birthday celebrations."

He was a dedicated man when it came to pack business and our combat training. Rhys and I both nodded. I hadn't even confirmed whether I was going to the party yet, but I certainly didn't fancy the idea of combat drills.

"It's only for five hours, so hopefully it's not too painful," Vander reminded Rhys and me, letting out a laugh.

The mere thought of undergoing combat training with our Alpha made every muscle in my body physically seize with dread. I could already feel the phantom aches and pains that would inevitably occupy my entire body the following week. His training sessions were notoriously brutal, specifically designed to push us far past our breaking limits to test our true potential.

Myra observed my exhausted expression and sighed. "You both look tired. Why don't you go up to bed, and I'll clear away the table tonight."

After thanking Myra for the delicious meal, I dragged my heavy feet upstairs to my bedroom, which sat directly opposite Rhys's room. He decided to head back down to the office with Vander; he had paperwork related to the pack house that he wanted to complete before calling it a night.

Pushing my bedroom door open, I threw myself face-first onto my bed. I laid there in the dark for a few moments, letting the silence wash over me, before deciding to take a hot shower. I knew I would feel infinitely better once I was clean. Moving into my en-suite bathroom, I stripped off my dirty clothes and stepped under the scalding spray. I washed my blonde hair quickly, letting the hot water melt the tension from my muscles before getting out and drying myself down with a thick towel. After brushing my teeth, I walked back into my bedroom, grabbed a pair of soft shorts and a top, and crawled under my warm comforter. The warmth immediately made me yawn, my utter exhaustion catching up to me as I fell straight into a deep, dreamless sleep.

The very next morning, I slept right through my blaring alarm clock until Rhys began loudly banging on my bedroom door. Before I could even process the noise, he burst into the room and ruthlessly jumped right onto my bed, bouncing the mattress.

I scowled at him, entirely unamused and desperate for just one more hour of sleep.

"You've slept for about fourteen hours. Surely you don't need more sleep?" Rhys asked.

I ignored him, rolling over onto my side and stubbornly tucking the comforter firmly beneath my chin. Rhys just laughed loudly at my misery, his hands gripping the fabric. With one swift motion, he yanked the blankets back with an incredibly aggravating smile plastered on his face.

"It's 11 o'clock, they can wait an hour," I whined, shivering and trying to pull the covers back over my shoulders.

"Sloane, it's 2 o'clock," he replied seriously.

Pure panic instantly set into my veins.

Terrified of completely ruining everyone's meticulously made plans for the day, I darted up from the mattress. I didn't want to be responsible for holding the group back. I sprinted toward my wardrobe, frantically grabbing a pair of jeans, a pink casual top, and my underwear. Rhys lounged casually on top of my bed, clicking the remote to turn on my television as I hurried into the bathroom. I brushed my teeth with manic energy, showered at lightning speed, and scrambled into my clothes in absolute record time.

"I'm ready," I announced breathlessly, hurrying back into the bedroom to show I was prepared to leave.

I froze in my tracks.

Rhys was still lounging on my bed, lazily watching the television screen. As I spoke, he turned his head, a growing smirk spreading across his lips that prominently displayed his deep dimples. My sleep-deprived, panicked brain finally caught up to the highly amused glint shining in his dark eyes. I dropped my arms to my sides, narrowing my eyes at him as suspicion rapidly rose in my chest.

"It's not 2 o'clock, is it?" I demanded.

Rhys's smirk seemed to grow even wider. "No, we have loads of time," he chuckled, his eyes shining with absolute mischief. "It's only half past 9."

My jaw dropped. The exasperation boiled over in an instant.

"Rhys!" I screamed, his booming laughter agitating me even further. He didn't even try to hide his amusement. "You're such a jerk!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, furiously grabbing a pillow off the bed and hitting him forcefully with it.