Chapter 196

Michael POV

"I'm going to apply for the Royal Army and Mom is harassing me not to go," Peter said as we prepared for training. "I want to do this, Michael, you understand, right?" he asks me in an exasperated tone.

"Yeah I get it," I say. "Just talk to her and explain your reasons. She can't be mad at you for wanting to contribute to the safety of our kind," I say.

"Wait, what did you say?" Peter asked.

"Uh, she can't be mad at you," I say.

"No, after that," he says with a smile. "You are a genius!" he claps his hands together and then rubs his palms back and forth. "If I tell her I want to make a contribution to the safety of our kind, she can't argue with that. Mom lives for that bleeding heart stuff," he says. "She's a typical Luna. She wants everyone to be safe, happy, and healthy."

"Oh yeah, it's her thing for sure," I say with a laugh. "You know she tried to stop me from going to Guardian training, too. She was crying every day," I said. "I told her I would be protecting Alphas who had retired and needed to travel to make sure others were safe. I told her my job was to keep them safe so they could watch over the weaker wolves. She ate that shit up."

"She is making me come over for dinner tonight," Peter said. "She thinks I'm heartbroken over Stephanie. The truth is, I could care less about her."

"She's gone," I say, as I wrap my hands. "Or didn't you hear?"

"Yeah, I heard. She's traveling around to mating balls for the rest of the year, looking for her mate. I guess she got all weird after the Priestess gave her speech the night of the mating run," he claps his hands together to check his wraps and then holds his fists up. "Guess she decided she was tired of being someone's leftovers," Peter shrugs. "I'm ready to fight big brother."

"I'd like to remind you that you slept with her, too," I say, giving him a look. "It is not polite to speak poorly of the women you have been with, no matter how loose they may have been."

Peter scoffs, "She slept with half the single men here, me included. I blame myself for being foolish. She's gorgeous, I must admit. She knows what she's doing in bed, best fucking blow job ever," Peter laughs. "Sorry, that was too much and I know better. I'm just pissed off at her; she made me feel like a loser, dumping me so she could chase some other dude that she knew nothing about."

"Said dude didn't want anything to do with that," Cedric says as he approaches the mat.

"Oh, hey man, didn't hear you come in," Peter says, looking slightly embarrassed.

"That should be a lesson to you, don't talk bad about people if you aren't prepared to be overheard," Cedric said, clapping him on the shoulder.

"Haven't seen you for a few days," I say. "I wasn't sure I 'd see you again so soon. Everything good?"

"Yeah, it actually is really damn good," Cedric says with a grin. "The bad part is I leave in a couple of days, so I'm here for some sparring. I gotta burn off some energy. Connie is working all day and I need to get my mind somewhere besides leaving."

"You have it all worked out?" I ask.

"Mostly," he turns to Peter. "You ready, man? I will spar with you."

"You want to wrap your hands?" he asks.

"Nah, let's do this," Cedric says.

The two go to the center of the mat, and I stand on the side to watch them. I have a class starting in about thirty minutes, and warriors are beginning to trickle in with their gear, sitting in the bleachers as they observe Cedric and Peter. Peter gets a few good hits in, but Cedric blocks most of them. "Cone on, Alpha," someone shouts from the top of the bleachers. "Kick his ass."

Cedric gives them all a devilish smile and then sweeps his leg to throw Peter off balance. He lands with a thud on his back. Before Cedric can best him, he rolls to the side and pops back up on his feet. My brother is fast, lythe even. He's an Alpha, and he's strong, but Cedric works out every single day. He's got quite a bit of muscle mass on his frame, making him thicker than Peter. Size doesn't usually matter if you have speed on your side. Peter does. Cedric is never really able to get him down and keep him down, Peter rolling before Cedric can throw his heavy frame on top of him. Peter pulls a quick left, then slips out of Cedric's reach. As Cedric goes in for the upper cut, Peter catches his fist in his hand and manages to flip Cedric onto his back. Peter slides down from behind him and pulls his head into his chest for a choke hold. At the same time, he wraps both legs around his torso and squeezes. They stay in this position for a good three minutes. Cedric taps out.

Peter releases his hold and stands. The warriors are clapping and standing for him. Peter offers his hand to Cedric, and he takes it, and Peter pulls him up. "Nice job," Cedric says. "I can't see why the King would turn you down."

"I sure hope you're right," he says. "What about you?"

Cedric shrugs. "What I need is here. I have to leave, but I will be back. Clint offered me a job if I want it and second to that," he jerks his thumb at me. "Still waiting on this asshole to offer me a job."

"Doctor Constance, huh?" Peter shakes his head. "I'd have never thought that. You two couldn't be more different, but I can see how that works."

"She's perfect," Cedric says. "Her wolf keeps my angry ass wolf calm too, so we are a good fit. Who knows, maybe you will find your mate out there in Europe," Cedric says.

"I'm not holding my breath for that," I hear Peter say, as I walk away to start getting my class ready.

Cedric and Peter part ways; Peter grabs his gym bag and heads for the door. Cedric walks up next to me and waits for me to finish talking to the group in front of me. "Mind if I stay?" he asks. "I can spar or do whatever I need to keep busy."

"Sure," I say. "Who wants to spar with Cedric?" I ask as I turn towards the group. I hear a few groans and then one of my female warriors steps forward.

"I will do it, Alpha," she says. "I haven't had the opportunity to take down some fresh meat in a while."

Cedric lifts a brow and looks at me with a questioning look. "Be concerned," I say to him with a wink. "Be very concerned." The twitters of laughter around the room let him know that I'm actually not kidding around at all. Helene is a badass on the mat; there isn't a warrior here she hasn't bested yet, aside from me. She moves at lightning speed, and you almost don't see her coming. I pull them to the center of the mat, where they bump fists. Helene gives Cedric a mocking smile, he raises a brow, and she takes the first punch to his gut.