Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Tyler's POV

The training room was bursting with activity. The men sparred against themselves, and the air was filled with the crunching of bones and swords clashing against each other. I stood at the corner, my back pressed to the wall as I watched them.

It was the only other alternative instead of staying cooped up in my room, letting the thoughts eat me inside out. And so I was there, overseeing the men training - well, not really overseeing, considering that the general was the one doing all the work. But staying here did work; seeing some action might have been all I needed.

But you know what would have been even better than just watching from the side? Taking part in the action itself. Almost on cue, Alex entered into the room. His eyes spotted me immediately, and he headed towards me.

"What have you got?" I asked as he approached me.

"Very impatient, aren't you?" he remarked, tapping his chin. Everything that Alex does - if he does have any information - he's going to withhold it from me on purpose just to watch my reaction. And well, right now, I don't find it funny.

After my last few minutes of reading through my first book and trying to figure out the next course of action - well, it might have proved to be utterly useless, and I'm still in square one - I did learn a few things. And I knew for sure that Alex would be making more inquiries before the end of the week.

"I've gotten the names of all the humans involved in the weapons creation," Alex said, his expression suddenly serious.

"Tell me the names," I said immediately. A part of me is very grateful that something is working. It would be completely terrible if Alex didn't have any luck on his end; then I'll know for certain that we're completely doomed to fail.

"That's the problem," Alex said, biting his lower lip in contemplation.

"Of course there had to be a 'but,'" I thought, frustration seeping in again.

"Their names are powerful," Alex continued, holding my gaze. "As important as the senator. We can't just make people like that disappear. You get it, don't you?" he asked.

"I see," I said, nodding slowly in understanding. "That does prove to be a hassle," I muttered under my breath.

"Exactly," Alex agreed. "We can't just do away with them, and so the only other option is for us to get them under control, get them to work for us. The manager was right."

"No way," I rubbed my temples. "I can't believe that we're arguing about this right now."

"If you don't want this weapon to fall into the wrong hands, then you have to-" I held up a hand, shutting Alex up.

"You do realize that we're in a public space, don't you?" I asked, keeping my voice down to a whisper as I hissed.

Alex looked around, realization suddenly dawning in his eyes. "Sorry," he muttered sheepishly.

"We'll continue this conversation later," I said with a sigh.

The commander walked towards us, a small smile on his face. "My king," he said, bowing to me in acknowledgment. I replied with a nod.

"I see you all are ready for war," I said, approval washing over me for a brief second as I watched them spar against each other.

"We're ready for the worst," the commander confirmed. He leaned against the weapon rack and grabbed a bottle of water, chugging it down in one go.

"Well," Alex began, "let's sharpen our skills, shall we?" he asked, a small smile tugging at his face.

I wrinkled my nose in displeasure. "I didn't come here to fight," I muttered under my breath. But thinking about it now, I realized that this might be the best opportunity to let out all the steam that was in me. Let it all out on another annoying human - now that sounded like a good deal.

"On second thought," I began, pushing against the wall and standing up straight, "I think that might be a good idea."

Alex's eyes grew wary as he noticed the slight killing intent behind my maniac smile.

"All fired up, I see," the commander nodded in approval. He handed me a wooden knife, and I scowled at the rubber knife, finding it insulting.

"I think I can take him down with my bare hands," I said with a grin.

Alex raised an eyebrow at me. "Oh, bring it on, old man," he said, stepping into the ring.

The next few minutes I spent with us parrying strike after strike. I felt the energy behind his kicks, and frankly speaking, it was a little refreshing.

We both got into our elements in no time, the fight heating up. Each of us circled the other, while the crowd of soldiers stopped their own fighting that could easily have been considered as child's play and gathered around, their training instantly forgotten as they watched the show that was unfolding in front of them.

"Pay attention, men!" their commander barked from the side of the room. Not that he needed to tell them twice - in fights that involved the country, no one had to tell them to pay attention and learn a thing or two.

Alex's eyes gleamed with that infuriating cockiness as he met me strike for strike, his movements lithe and deliberate. I smirked; he wasn't half bad. Honestly, I was glad to see that the era of technology and guns hadn't made him rusty.

I took a step back, rolling my shoulders to shake off any lingering stiffness before lunging forward with a flying kick aimed right at his ribs.

Alex blocked with ease, deflecting the strike and retaliating with a swift jab at my shoulder. I ducked, the tip of his weapon grazing past my ear. Yes, the fucker took a weapon because he was too scared to go at me with his bare hands. According to him, the fight was now balanced.

He swooshed his wooden sword in the air, daring me to come closer. The crowd murmured in approval, but I didn't let it distract me. I pivoted on my heel, driving my knee toward Alex's midsection. He sidestepped, his grin widening as he feinted an attack that I narrowly avoided.

"You've slowed down, Tyler," Alex taunted, dancing backward as I pressed forward with a series of calculated strikes.

"Shut up and fight," I growled, my focus narrowing.

The sound of clashes and kicks echoed around the room as we traded blows, my attacks growing sharper, more precise with every passing second. Alex's grin began to fade as I forced him back; finally, that smug little smile disappeared. I more than welcomed the satisfaction that came with it. I increased my attacks, pressing him closer to a corner.

Alex stumbled, his footwork faltering under the sheer relentlessness of my assault. My strikes grew more aggressive, fueled by the frustration simmering within me.

"Alright, alright," Alex muttered, his voice tight with effort as I cornered him against the wall. I grinned widely, my near-air punch hovering just centimeters from his jaw, and for a moment, I let the triumph wash over me.

Then Alex's eyes flickered with forced acknowledgment, and his lips curled into a sly smile. "You're strong," he admitted, his tone low. "But not as strong as you used to be."

The words hit harder than I expected. I hesitated, my grip faltering. There was no way he would have known, I thought, my mind momentarily disarrayed. Alex took the opportunity to shove me back, the force driving me a few steps away. His expression turned serious, his muscles tensing as if he were preparing for something more.

"I'll give you one thing," Alex said, his tone now tinged with concern. "Your strength's enough to take me down today. But this?" He gestured vaguely to my form, his sharp gaze locking with mine. "This isn't you at your best."

I stiffened, the truth in his words gnawing at me. Before I could retort, Alex's body began to shift, his form trembling as his wolf threatened to break through.

"No," I said abruptly, raising my hand. My voice came out firmer than I intended, cutting through the tension. "I'm done."

Alex froze, his transformation halting mid-step. His expression shifted to one of confusion, then suspicion.

"Done? You're tapping out?"

I nodded, stepping back from him. "Yeah, I'm tired," I said, turning away from him.

"That's... not like you," Alex said, but his tone was softer now, less teasing.

"Maybe not," I replied, grabbing a towel from the bench nearby. I refused to meet his gaze, wiping the sweat from my face. "But I'm not here to prove anything."

The room had gone quiet, the soldiers returning to their sparring, though I could feel Alex's eyes still on me. He didn't say anything further, but I caught the faintest hint of concern in his expression as I strode toward the exit.

For the first time, I didn't feel the satisfaction of a fight well-fought. Instead, Alex's words lingered in my mind.

This form... It definitely isn't me at my best.