Jack

It hurts.

I could be talking about my body after the training session I had yesterday, but I actually mean my ego. How did that little turd got the better of me? I simply cannot fathom that.

Okay, he's not exactly little. He's almost as tall as me. But that's not the point. I had him, I showed him off with his own father even though he had a 3 months head start. That was great, I can't deny. Hearing him admitting that was the highlight of my whole day, I hate to admit it.

And at the center, I showed the Delta how well trained I was, much to his surprise. He was gobsmacked. So was Tyler. And it's going great until we actually fight and somehow he got the better of me. The turd wouldn't let go. I've literally lifted his entire body to the air and threw it back to the ground hard. Still, nothing.

I can't believe Delta Jones had to call off the fight for him to drop me. Motherfucker!

I hope he got to savor that win because it's not happening anytime soon. Not a chance in hell. Today we have wrestling practice at school and I'm gonna crush him. Hard.

"Jason, my Goddess, you should have seen the poor boy. Delta Jones had to stop me before he collapsed on the floor." - Tyler bragged to his friends unsurprisingly as I reach the place at school where Sarah was. It's so unfortunate that she's his brother and I'm forced to tolerate his presence even when I just want to see her. They're never far apart from each other.

But to watch his smug grin is much, much worse.

"I'm not poor anything. And you just got lucky!" - I interjected, glaring at him before I greet everyone and Sarah with a kiss on her cheek.

"Okay Jack, you don't need to rub it on our faces that you're rich. It's rude." - He rebuked with a smirk. His friends laughed. My eyes glowed with anger.

"I'm not rich, that's not what I meant at all and you know it." - I said with clenched fists.

My jaw twitches with anger. It scares Tony a little as he's right beside me.

"Are you okay? My brother has been bragging about that stupid fight like he won gold at the Olympics." - Sarah asked me, looking concerned.

I looked at her with affection. Her face the only good thing to calm me trough this storm.

"I'm fine. A couple more minutes and I'd have him. He just got lucky Delta Jones stopped the fight." - I replied, not letting him get away with this.

"Sure, Jack. Or I'd kill you. Then I would never ascend." - He snickered. His idiot friends laughed and I pulled Sarah away from them before I falter and anticipate our wrestling practice.

When Sarah and I got to an empty corner, I kissed her gently but hungrily. I leave her gasping for air after a good minute. But she doesn't complain.

"Sorry, I needed this." - I apologize, though I'm not really sorry. I only wish we could do more.

"No complaints here." - She snickered, grinning.

"Can we see each other again next Saturday?" - I asked her, not wasting time.

"Yes, please." - She replied without missing a beat. I smiled wide at this.

"Great. See you in class?" - I give her one more kiss before I went inside. She nodded along.

Classes go normally like any Tuesday. I get by at school. I'm not valedictorian material, but I never failed either. I struggled after my parents died but that's to be expected or so I was told at the time.

To be honest the only thing I was looking forward was wrestling practice. I geared up to face the captain of the team. I was salivating for it. And he knew it, he wanted to give it to me.

But wrestling is not the same as warrior training. And because of our fight last week, the coach refused to pit us against each other, despite how much we asked for it. And we certainly did.

I went to the locker room blue balled for a fight. I mean, I did fought. There're more boys in the team than just the two of us, of course. And it was a nice practice. But still...

"Did you ask the coach to not put you against Tyler so he doesn't choke you again?" - Jason joked, laughing at me while we took off our singlets.

"Do I look like someone afraid of anyone?" - I stare at him down so intensely he gasped and bowed down in submission.

"No, we did asked to fight together. But we don't always get what we want... But there's always this afternoon." - Tyler intervened with an amused tone. He too was getting undressed next to Jason.

"I'm so looking forward to it, Beta!" - I said as I winked at him. His eyes glowed with anger that was radiating towards me. I couldn't resist a smirk.

I took a necessary shower and got dressed for the next class. At lunch break, I resisted the urge to sit with Sarah. I like her but I can't stomach her 'company'. Especially when I already have the displeasure of having him together with me trough almost all of my activities.

But it's not forever. This too shall pass. One way or another. Goddess, I hope it's my way. I have no idea what I'm gonna do with my life if I don't become Alpha, honestly.

I mean, I guess I could travel, stay elsewhere or move away. But where to? This is the only home I've ever known. No, I don't count the 7 years I spent away. That's nice but it was only possible thanks to my uncle, aunt and cousin who were with me.

I couldn't possibly move away from this pack, my pack. It's the Stonehold pack and I am a goddamn Stonehold. Not to mention that all the remaining family I have left is here.

"Are you okay, Jack? You look distracted." - Tony asked me while we finished lunch. He looked a bit worried at me.

"I'm fine. I wished I could've faced Tyler at practice earlier, but that's not why I'm distracted. I'm just worried about possibly not becoming Alpha. I don't know what I'm gonna do, to be honest." - I replied, sincerely. I wish I could lie but why bother. There's no point in hiding it from Tony. He already has seen me at my absolute worst.

"You're not losing Alpha. I don't care that his dad is writing the evaluation." - Tony's eyes looked deeply at me. I smiled softly at him.

"Thanks, brother." - I let out a breathy sigh that I didn't realize I was holding in. Not much longer, we're back inside the classroom.

The internship today went great, just like yesterday. Mr. Burke never treated me differently than he did his son. You'd think he'd show clear favoritism, but he didn't. At least, not to my face. I can't fault him for that. I did expect him to be excruciatingly mean to me, but he wasn't. Not any worse than he's to his son, I mean. But all I ask for is equal opportunity, to say the least.

I rode with Tyler again to the training center. It doesn't make sense for us not to carpool. We're going to the same place for the same reason. We may dislike each other, but no one can relate to our plight better than us two.

Not that any of us will ever admit that. But I don't mind giving him a ride. I also have to drive him back afterwards, but it really is not a bother. I wish this was the worst it got for us.

But the worst is yet to come.

At the center, the Delta gives us exercises that varied from defensive moves to counter strikes. He showed us plenty of ways to defend ourselves against attacks. It's going well. Tyler is very much an excellent fighter.

Though I hate to admit it, but he is. He's evenly matched to me in this regard. Or perhaps even...

The moment we've all been waiting for is here. Our rematch. Same rules as before. It's not a free for all fight and it's not payback. It's for learning. Sure, I'll definitely teach HIM something...

I went after him with vengeance in my eyes. I needed to take the opportunity and get back at him. I desperately wanted to. So I attacked him with fierceness. We fight for a good 10 minutes before any of us can strike a blow to each other.

We're certainly making the most of the defense maneuvers. It takes a while, but I got to him. I get him good. Not like he did me, can't lie. But enough for the Delta to call off the fight. I immobilized him so strongly that he couldn't escape me. But he did try to. I just would've never given him the satisfaction.

When we got to the locker room, I was grinning wide. We don't exchange words, I don't taunt him. But my smile says it all. Payback is a bitch!

"Where did you get that scar?" - Tyler asked snapping me out of my thoughts. He was staring at a scar on my lower back, right above my ass. I got so distracted feeling my oats that I didn't even realize I was standing there naked and still.

"It wasn't me, was it?" - He gasped in a worried tone. I laughed at this.

"Don't flatter yourself, Beta. I got this when I was 10, before I first shifted. Let's just say I went through a destructive phase when I moved away from here." - I replied, having actually forgotten about that scar. Werewolves don't usually get scars. Not unless the cut is deep enough to reach the bone practically. But that was way before I got fast healing.

Tyler looked down in remorse. He understood what I did not need mentioning.

"I'm so sorry for your loss." - He says with his head down, facing away from me.

"It's okay, Ty. I got better eventually." - I replied with a weak smile. I know he didn't mean to bring it up. It's not a big deal. I mean, not anymore.

"Yes, you did. But you're still nowhere near better than me." - He smirked and I laughed out loud. We got to the showers still laughing and we teased each other some more along the way.

You know, Tyler is not that bad after all. Don't get me wrong, I still wanna crush him badly. But he's not a total psychopath... I think. For now. Not really sure. Who knows?

AN: I love their love / hate relationship.

I wonder who's gonna win the Alpha race... read on!

By the way, I had no idea this song even existed. I've literally discovered it just to name the chapter.

Love,

Léo.