Tyler

I'm confused.

For the past few days, I have been working hard at the internship with dad and training just as much with our Delta. I don't know why I thought this would be easier for me. Like somehow I'd be more prepared. I am prepared, sure. But it's incredibly difficult.

For once, I'm exhausted every single day. Not only do I have school full time, I have to rush back to the pack house for more learning and then head back to the center for warrior training. On top of it all, I still have wrestling practice at school.

Honestly, I'm beat. If I weren't a werewolf, I wouldn't be able to get up in the morning from the exhaustion. There comes a point where enough is enough.

Sadly, that point is far from reached. I'm nowhere near done with any of these. And I'm not about to throw in the towel. I'd rather die first, to be honest. So I endure.

However, the more time I spend with Jack, the harder it is to hate him. And it's not like he doesn't help his case by calling me Beta any chance he gets. Of course, he doesn't call me that in front of my dad, he's not stupid.

And it does get to me every time, which is why he calls me that in the first place, to annoy me. But after a while, it loses its power. By Friday, I'm used to this and it doesn't bother me. Correction, it does. But not to the point it makes me hate him.

It doesn't help that he gives me a ride to training everyday without complaining. Back and forth. He's not nice to me along the way, but he doesn't complain or throw it in my face.

We fight every single day at training. I best him. He beats me. We learn from each other. It's good to boast the first few times, but it gets boring after a while. Like I said, I'm running out of reasons to hate the guy.

And even though he dates my sister, he never talks about her to me or make callous remarks. Or lewd comments to rattle or destabilize me, which he could easily do.

But he doesn't. I guess he does like her and he is a nice guy. Fuck! This would be so much easier if he wasn't, wouldn't it be? Yes, he said what he said that fateful first day, no doubt brought by Mr. Mathews' announcement. But there isn't a teenage werewolf on Earth that doesn't think about completing the bond with their mate, even before they meet them. So, it's not like I can fault him there.

I do think about it as well. Yes, I do have a fling with Elsa but she's terrified of getting an unmated pregnancy. Even though there's something called condoms nowadays. Of course, that's not to say we never did the deed. But it's too rare and far between to count.

Still, I can't complain. There are boys who never do it before mated at 18. Honestly, I'm too horny to wait. And if I were Stonehold, with all the girls vying to be his Luna, I'd probably be sleeping around. No doubt about it.

"Are you listening to me, son?" - Dad snapped me out of my thoughts. We're at his office for the internship. It's Friday. I'm just so tired at this point, I must have dozed off for a second.

"Yes, dad. Sorry, you were saying that you don't control the pack budget. You only manage it." - I replied, a little embarrassed.

"No, I said nothing of the sort. I said that I plan and manage the budget, but it has to be approved by the Elder Council. Keep your head in the game, son. You're being evaluated." - Dad chastised me, making Jack giggle in amusement.

Dad continued his lesson, explaining more about his role as Alpha, which is much less glamorous than I thought. Honestly, he's underpaid. Not that my sister and I want for nothing. We live comfortably, there's just no luxury. But then again, neither did Stonehold had any. And his dad had much more wealth than mine.

"How are you not tired? Are you taking steroids?" - I asked Jack once we're in his car driving to the center.

"I'm fucking exhausted! I just can't afford to slip up with your dad. He'll be much less forgiving to me if I ever do. I can't give him any reason to write me off." - He replied with more honesty than I expected. I thought he would just brag or something.

"I know you think my dad will favor me in the evaluation, but you're wrong. He'll be fair." - I told him with not a hint of malice.

Jack looked at me from his driver's seat in disbelief for a second.

"Right..." - Doubt drips from his voice. I get annoyed by his tone, but I probably wouldn't believe it myself if I were on his shoes.

I would ask Delta to not put us to fight each other today, but I can't exactly give him any reason to write me off either. Not that his evaluation has anything to do with who wins or loses a fight. We're werewolves, not fighters. We train so that we don't have to. But we have to be prepared. When we get complacent, that's when another massacre happens.

Not a chance in hell. Not on my watch. I mean, dad's.

"Submit to your Alpha!" - Jack demanded as he pins me against him in hand to hand combat. He's forcing me to yield by pushing me down with force and an intricate hold on me that pushes me to the ground, cutting off my lower body circulation.

"Never!" - I replied, angrily. Before Delta Jones called off the fight, I managed to kick him off of me, causing him to lose balance and hit his head in the ground hard. A loud bump can be heard and the Delta immediately goes to Jack to check on him.

His head starts bleeding profusely. Jones called for assistance and another warrior comes rushing in with a first aid kit. He cleaned his wound and patched it up nicely. At this point, they're probably experts in treating injuries.

"Are you dizzy? Light headed? Do you feel okay?" - Delta Jones asked Jack, who did NOT look okay.

"Just a little dizzy, but it'll pass." - He replied after a while.

"Okay, go to take a shower. I'll drive you to the hospital to get checked out." - Jones ordered him.

"I don't need to go to the hospital. I'll heal by myself." - Jack rebuked in an annoyed tone.

"Yes, but you hit your head, you still need to be checked out by a doctor. That's not a request. Tyler, make sure he's fine in the locker room. If he passes out, call me and I'll be there in a second." - Delta told me and I nodded along.

He helped Jack back up and we went to the locker room together. We usually shower alone because at the time we finish training, the warriors are still working or exercising. So it's just the two of us.

"I'm sorry, Jack. I didn't mean for this to happen, I swear!" - I apologized on our way there.

"I know, Tyler. Relax! I don't actually think you're a psychopath. I know why you hit me in the first place. And it had nothing to do with your sister." - He barked at me, raising his voice.

"You do? Why?" - I asked curious as to what his conclusion was.

"Because you thought your path to succeeding your dad was clear and then I came along with a better claim than yours and it pissed you off. I get that you're trying to follow in your dad's footsteps. Why do you think I wanna be Alpha in the first place?" - He argued, as we reached inside the locker room.

Well, I wish I could fault his reasoning and say he's crazy. But he nailed it. Like I said before, he didn't actually disrespect my sister. And if he did, she wouldn't be dating him, would she?

Jack removes his shirt with some painful growls.

"Do you need any help?" - I asked, not sure what I could do but it's the right thing to say.

"Yes, you can call Sarah to give me a sponge bath." - He joked and I resisted the urge to knock him down again. I'm already frightened of the blowback I'm gonna get from this when his uncle get word. Or worse, his grandfather.

"Now it's not the time to joke. Or to mention my sister." - I replied angrily. My eyes glowed with contained anger.

"I know, I'm sorry. I don't want you to put me in a hospital. Oops. Too late." - He snickered and I laughed. I couldn't resist it.

We got undressed and went to take a shower. I watched him like a hawk afraid he would pass out or something. I don't want him dead, I just don't want him to ascend. Plus, if I kill a Stonehold there's not a chance in hell I'd ascend. Tony would've a better shot than I would.

Afterwards, Delta took him to the hospital in his car. He had already called Mr. Gutierrez to meet them there. I walked home as I lost my ride and I'd never take Jack's. Especially without his permission. Or would even ask for it.

As soon as I got home, dad grilled me.

"You put him in a hospital?" - Dad shouted in an angry tone.

"How do you already know that?" - I asked instead, baffled.

"I'm the Alpha! Who do you think the Delta answers to?" - He snapped at me, seriously pissed off.

"The Beta?" - I snickered. Though I'm not technically wrong, my timing is awful. Beta, my dad's previous position, is tied to the pack security and therefore he works directly with the Delta, ranking above him.

"I'm glad you find this funny. Let's see how you laugh when the Elder Council announces Jack's ascension." - Dad jabbed. He's not one to joke, as I previously said. But I don't know how much worse I can feel. If only...

"You put him in the hospital? Tyler, what the fuck?" - Sarah barked at me, so close to my face I thought she'd slap me.

"Not on purpose. Gee... You say it like I'm a psycho. I'm not. He's actually not a bad kid." - I argued, trying to get away from her.

"You were doing so great, son. Things were just starting to get back to normal. People just now stopped talking about your fight. Now, we're back to square one. If his grandfather doesn't get the Elder Council to rule in his favor over this, I don't know what will to be honest." - Dad told me. His tone was desperate and innerving. He's clearly very distraught.

"I defended you to all our friends during your suspension. Saying that you only did what you did out of love for me. But it had nothing to do with me, had it? You just hate him for no good reason other than he will ascend as Alpha of the Stonehold pack. Even if he is a fucking Stonehold." - Sarah spoke to me, deeply hurt. I could tell she's really furious with me. Honestly, it hurts the worst. Even worse than losing Alpha.

If my own sister doesn't believe I didn't do it on purpose, who will? I'm crushed. I got to my room and stayed there till dinner, which thankfully wasn't long as I'm already starving. Especially after having to walk back home.

I was so looking forward to the weekend. Now, it's just a matter of time before dad gets the dreadful e-mail. I can't believe the one time I actually wasn't trying for, I hurt him. I mean, come on...

A|N: Poor Tyler, sometimes life doesn't get any easier. Even when you don't deserve it.

But the shock of his life is yet to come. This is only the beginning!

Love,

Léo.