Katana

Kieran couldn’t believe his luck. He was placed to train the newbies for the army and after his test yesterday he wasn’t very impressed. Growling he stalked over to his desk and threw down his clipboard. His best friend appeared in front of him. Xavier arched an eyebrow as he sat in the chair in front of Kieran.

“Do I even want to know what’s got your girl panties in a twist?” Xavier asked.

Panties.

Pink panties.

Kieran snarled and slammed his pen to the table. Xavier eyebrows might as well just jump off his face and run away. He pushed himself into a straighter sitting position.

“Ok, you got me. Tell me who got you pissed off.”

Kieran couldn’t tell his friend that he found his mate and his mate was a puny little boy. He growled louder and ran a hand through his hair. The worst thing was, Kieran was attracted to the puny little boy.

“Goddess, help me.” Kieran groaned and covered his face with his hand.

“No, seriously. Tell me what the hell is going on.” His friend was extra curious now.

“Nothing. It’s just the new recruits. They are worthless little weaklings.” Kieran muttered.

Xavier didn’t look convinced. He tapped his chin as he scrutinized Kieran carefully. Something was really off, but his friend seemed to not want to explain.

“Are they really that highly untrained?”

Kieran thought back to his mate falling flat on his face as he pushed the rock. “Yes.”

Xavier chuckled and his eyebrows wiggled. “Well, I guess you have a lot of work to do before we can go back to the royal palace.”

Xavier doesn’t even know what Kieran must do. His wolf was just as confused as he was. They weren’t expecting a boy as a mate. He wasn’t going to reject his mate, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted to accept his mate either. He and his wolf were both expecting a woman. Groaning out loud, Kieran brought his forehead to his desk.

**

Katana was sleeping soundly when suddenly she felt a presence near her. Her eyes flew open and saw Troy staring down at her. His nose closely pressed to hers.

She screamed and slapped Troy across the face in fright. He went tumbling down to the ground. She pulled her blanket over her body as she looked around the barracks. The barracks. Crap, she forgot where she was for a moment.

“What the hell do you think you are doing?” She shouted as soon as she realized they were alone.

Troy got up and rubbed his cheek. “Well for one thing, we are late for training. Everyone is already-”

“Sh!t!” She growled and burst out of her bed and quickly pulled on a pair of army pants that were given to her yesterday and threw on a white shirt.

Troy sat back and watched her and after she was done she ran out the door without waiting for him. He followed closely after her. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that her mate wasn’t there yet, which meant she wasn’t late.

Troy threw an arm over her shoulder protectively when Lewis walked over with a group of boys. Isaac moved to flank her on the opposite side from where Troy was flanking. Lewis stopped when he was in front of them.

“Well, seeing you here only confirms how weak our General will be. If he believes you have potential, then he is less than capable of holding his position.” Lewis lips curled in a nasty smile.

Troy pushed Lewis away when Lewis tried to take another step forward. “Back it up, clown.”

Lewis’s eyes turned to glare at Troy. “This is none of your business.”

“It is when you are picking on people like a fvcking loser.” Isaac piped in.

“Guys stop.” Katana said quietly and all three turned to glare at her. She decided not to interrupt after that. She stood in the middle while the three threw insults back and forth.

Honestly, Katana compared them to a bunch of girls. They were a bunch of teen girls bickering.

“Soldiers!” A familiar voice boomed that sent a shiver down her spine. Everyone stopped bickering and pulled into a line, leaving her to see who it was.

Her mate walked up to them. His eyes narrowed in on her for a moment, before moving to Troy and Isaac. Something flashed across his eyes before his found Katana again. Her mate looked very angry and very dangerous.

“What the hell is going on?” Kieran growled.

“Some needle dick here was trying to exert his presence-” A pointed look from Kieran to Troy shut him up.

Kieran turned to look at his mate again. Somehow, the thought of how closely these two men stood next to his mate irritated him beyond imagining. He wanted very much to pummel their faces through. He could see the protectiveness in Troy and it only pissed Kieran off even more.

“Nobody needs to exert any kind of power. You are all weaklings, the lowest of the lowest in ranks and thanks to the eagerness of your friends here. You can all start off by carrying the 200 pound sand bags that are to your right and carry it up the hill for an hour.” Kieran growled. Everyone groaned, and a man appeared next to Kieran.

Katana looked at him curiously as he looked at the group in front of him. His eyes landed on Katana and he looked at her closely. She felt like he was stripping her down and can see every single lie she hid. His eyes held a knowing look that unnerved Katana.

He had dirty blonde burred haircut like Kieran.

“Who is that?” The man asked.

Kieran looked at the finger his friend was pointing with and saw that it was pointing at his mate.

“K-Kenneth.” Katana mumbled.

“Hmmm...” He murmured as he scratched at the stubble growing on his chin.

“What?” Kieran snapped, clearly not liking the attention his friend was expressing toward his mate.

“Nothing.” He murmured.

Kieran turned to his troops. “Get to it!”

Everyone scrambled towards the right to grab their sack. Kieran watched as his mate ran after the tall group of men. Sighing he ran a hand over his face.

“He’s tiny.” Xavier pointed at his mate. Kieran had an urge to grab that finger and break it. He didn’t like Xavier pointing at his mate.

“What are you waiting for, Xavier? I’ll lead the troops and you will follow behind. Do not let anyone fall behind or stop.” Kieran ordered.

Xavier smirked. “I think the one that we will have to worry about is the one that is struggling to put the sack on his back.”

Kieran turned to see Troy and Isaac helping his mate. Growling, he marched over to them and pushed the men away. He picked up the damn sack and dropped it on his mate’s back. She squeaked at the heavy impact.

“Go!” Kieran commanded and everyone began a jog up the big hill.

Katana was sweating profusely and they were probably only five minutes in. She couldn’t believe anyone could come up with this kind of torture. She was sure she will have a sore back tomorrow, if not a broken one. Troy and Isaac moved slightly ahead of her and she was one of the last ones jogging. Her steps slowing more and more as the hill grew more elevated.

“Keep going.” The man by the name of Xavier barked from behind her. She had learned his name from Troy.

Apparently, the man was also very well known for his skills and dedication he had for the Alpha King. He had completed many missions and even saved many of his fellow companions. Xavier and Kieran have received many badges and recognition since they joined the Alpha King’s army when they turned eighteen.

Xavier jogged up to her side. “I read a little into your record. You are the son of Damon Richardson.”

He eyed her as he spoke. She huffed and breathlessly nodded as she gulped for air. For a moment, Xavier almost took pity.

“I know your father. I heard he only had a daughter, never heard he had a son.” Xavier pointed out and Katana tripped over her feet the moment he finished the sentence.

“H-he doesn’t speak of me often. I have been traveling.” She lied.

He clicked his tongue in response. She risked a glance at him and saw him watching her from the corner of his eyes.

“Don’t you have other people you have to encourage?” She asked hoping he got the hint and left her alone.

“No.” He simply stated.

“Xavier.” Her mate’s deep voice growled as he approached them. Katana glanced over to see that Kieran’s shirt was dripping with sweat and clung onto him. Kieran’s eyes flashed with irritation.

“Go up ahead and take care of the troops ahead. I’ll take care of the ones falling behind.” Kieran’s eyes moved to Katana. That was much worse. If anything, Katana did not want to be near her mate.

Xavier sped up and she watched him slowly disappear. Her mate dropped to her side and slowly jogged next to her. She did not like this. She did not like this at all.

Quickly and with whatever strength she had left, she pushed harder and faster. Slowly catching up to Troy and Isaac. Anything to get away from her mate, but the faster she ran, the faster he ran.

I just need to pass a couple people and he will be forced to wait for the others, she thought.

She pushed hard and dug in her tiny feet. Her muscles screamed for her to stop but she ignored them. The burning in her thighs was horrible.

She passed one person and then another. Soon she was in the middle of the troops and her mate was right beside her.

“What the fvck?” She mumbled.

“What?” Her mate asked as he glanced over at her.

“Nothing.” She said in irritation and slowed down. Hopefully he will continue his pace. He slowed down with her.

Of all that is holy, she thought.

She dropped her speed until she was next to Troy and a safe distance away from her mate…

“Doing okay?” Troy asked.

She nodded still breathing hard. Her lungs hurt and her legs were about to give up on her. He threw her a grin.

“Faster!” Kieran barked.

Troy picked up his speed. Katana silently begged him to wait for her, but it was useless. She was stuck next to Kieran. She wondered what his problem was. Was it because of her size that he felt he needed to stand next to her?

They made it up the hill and everyone dropped their sack immediately. Katana dropped her sack and fell to the ground breathing so hard, but she seemed to not be catching her breath.

She wheezed and rasped, clutching at her chest. Troy immediately fell down next to her.

“Kenneth!” He shouted.

Her vision was blurring up. She couldn’t believe her luck. She was going to die because she pushed herself too hard. Suddenly, she was ripped away from Troy’s arms and soft tingles spread through her body as her body was placed gently on the ground and her mouth was pried open and fresh air filled her lungs through her mouth.

“Breathe.” Kieran’s voice weaved into her ears. “Breathe damn it!”

I’m trying, she thought.

She heard him growl before he blew another fresh amount of air into her lungs and then again. On the fifth try, she coughed and gagged. Her lungs now worked on their own and remembered to inflate.

She pushed Kieran off from her and turned onto her side. Breathing okay now, she took large gasping breaths and closed her eyes tightly. She finally got a hold of her breathing and opened her eyes to see Kieran looking down at her and Troy beside him.

“I’m okay.” She said weakly.

“Here, let me help you.” Troy said and grabbed one of her arms to try and lift her up. Kieran’s jaw clenched in response but he stood up and walked away.