"So the Beta was telling me that once we start to excel in our training then we will have to take special combat classes and more classes on being Alphas, Betas and Gammas," James explained as he and Gabriel swung together on the swing set in the pack playground. Even though it was a cloudy day it was still beautiful outside but oddly enough children were rarely seen playing outside. Only the ones younger than 11 were known to play outside but the others spent their days training inside, trying hard not to dishonor their family and preventing themselves from getting de ranked.

"Isn't it weird that we have to refer to our father's as Alpha and Beta?" Gabriel asked his best friend.

"Yeah but like it's whatever ya know? That's just the rules of the pack," James shrugged his shoulders and swung higher. His smile brightening as he aimed for higher.

"I don't like the rules," Gabriel hung his head low and kicked his feet in the dirt. Not moving an inch from the ground.

"Come on Gabe don't be a downer! You'll accept the rules more when you're closer to being the Alpha,"

"If he becomes our Alpha then the pack is going to turn to shit," James stopped swinging and both boys turned around in their seats to see a group of boys walking toward them, boys that were in their combat class.

"What's that supposed to mean?" James asked as he stood up and balled up his fist, preparing to defend himself.

Gabriel didn't want this, he just wanted to leave and not fight anyone, fighting wasn't something Gabriel liked, unlike the kids in his class whom loved to fight and lash their anger out of others. There was so much hate in all of their hearts and so much anger that they didn't know what to do with it, so as a solution they used violence to cope with it unlike Gabriel who didn't have much hate or anger in his heart.

"It means his little sister has a better chance of being a decent Alpha than him, what's he gonna do when we are face to face with an enemy? Beg them for mercy??" The kid in the front named Chris smirked and stepped closer.

"Come on James let's just go," Gabriel told James who wouldn't back down. He wanted to just walk away and ignore them, he knew they were just trying to rile him up because he was the weakest in the class but he didn't want anyone to have that type of power over him. He would rather just walk away.

"Are you going to let him say that stuff about you?" He questioned Gabriel.

"Yes, now come on," Gabriel insisted.

"Gabe is too much of a bitch to do anything anyway, I guess that's what happens when you're the pack runt, it's a shame it had to be the Alpha and Luna's first born," Chris continued to take jabs at him.

Gabriel turned away and balled up his fist as he held back his tears. He knew he was the pack runt, he knew he was smaller and not as stronger as everyone else. That didn't mean he couldn't grow to be someone better, why was it that everyone constantly held those words over his head as if he didn't already know it himself.

"Come on James," Gabriel said a little more aggressively.

"Oh look at Gabe getting some balls finally," Chris said which made his entire crew laugh around them.

"But Gabe...."

Gabriel felt a rumbling in his chest that wanted to break free, he wanted to punch Chris and his friends for making fun of him and he wanted to punch James for being an idiot and wanting to fight. He just wanted everyone to disappear and all that be left were him and his book on wolves, that was all he wanted so why was it so hard to accomplish, why was he doomed to be a laughing stock of his own pack?

"James can we please go," Gabriel sighed in such a defeated tone.

James noticed the sadness in his voice and immediately began walking away from the group with Gabriel. Avoiding all confrontation as the boys behind them hooped and hollered after them both, trying to get them to come back and fight.

"Gabe you can't let them make fun of you, you're the future Alpha!" James argued.

"Alpha's do more than fight James," Gabriel said.

"I'm not asking you to fight I'm asking you to defend yourself!" James shouted.

"Some battles aren't worth fighting! It's best to just walk away from situations like that," Gabriel snapped.

He looked at his best friend as if daring him to say something else about it.

"Whatever," James huffed and kicked a rock in front of him.

"Do you still want to come over?" James asked.

"Sure I just have to go in and check in with my dad,"

"The Alpha," James corrected him.

He rolled his eyes at Jame's formalities and motioned for him to follow him home.

He reached the door to unlock it and immediately was attacked by his screaming little sister.

"HI GABY!!!" Gabriella screamed at him and clutched onto his legs tightly. She grinned up at him with her face covered in chocolate and her eyes twinkling with happiness as she was finally able to see her favorite person in the entire world.

"Hi Gabriella, do you remember James?" Gabriel asked as he motioned to James next to him who waved at little Gabriella.

"No, I don't care," She shrugged her shoulders and ran away giggling.

He watched as his mother scooped up Gabriella before she could dash away and sighed.

"She somehow climbed into the cupboard and ate all of the chocolate chip cookies. If only she were a gentle soul like you then I would probably have less grey hairs than I do now," Addilyn shook her head and hugged her son tightly.

"Hello Luna Lyn," James bowed at the presence of the Luna in front of him.

"Hello young James, how have you been?" Addilyn asked.

"I've been well," He smiled slightly blushing under her gaze as he realized how beautiful the Luna truly was.

"Gabriel," He looked behind his mother and noticed his father standing at the bottom of the stairs with is usual glaring look to his face.

"Alpha Michael," James bowed once again.

"Hello James," Michael growled.

"Da- Alpha I was wondering if I could spend the night over the Beta's house tonight," Gabriel quickly corrected himself, wanting to avoid any altercations with his father.

"Be home by 5 in the morning tomorrow, your authoritative class starts at 6:30 and then your combative class is at 8. Don't you dare be late," Michael said sternly.

"Yes Alpha," Gabriel bowed and quickly ran upstairs to pack his bag.

There was a soft knock on his bedroom door and he turned around to see his mother in the doorway smiling down at him.

"How has school been Gabriel?" His mother asked softly.

"Its been good, I've been getting good grades, my PE grades aren't great but I will get them up. My english teacher says I have a beautiful eye for literature and my essays are so wonderfully written but I haven't gotten any compliments from my PE teacher so none of that matters, " Gabriel said quickly as he began throwing things into his bag.

"It's okay sweetie, you were always mentally stronger instead of physically," She smiled and placed her hand on his back to reassure him.

"Dad says combative class and PE should be my best classes, instead they're the worst," Gabriel looked down at his fist balled tightly.

"Your father can be hotheaded and ignorant sometimes, he only wants what's best for you and the pack," She forced a smile.

Turthfully Michael didn't care about his son, he just wanted the best for the pack, since Gabriel was his first born he needed him to be a suitable Alpha. An Alpha de ranking his own pup brings shame to the entire pack and family. Michael didn't need nor want that in their future so he needed to train Gabriel hard.

"He didn't care I got first place in the spelling bee," Gabriel said.

Addilyn sat down next to him on the bed and caressed his cheek lovingly.

"You are such a beautiful unique boy, you do not have to prove anything to anyone, not even your own father," She insisted.

"I just want to make him proud, that's all I ever wanted," Gabriel also insisted.

She sighed and got up from the bed, before walking out the door she turned and smiled.

"Have fun with James baby," She walked out the door.

He continued packing his bag and raced downstairs to James.

"Alright I'm ready," Gabriel said eagerly finally being away from his father without worrying if he will blow up on him, hit him or peek through his soul with those black eyes.

They left the Alpha's house and made their way toward the Beta's house.

"Your dad is pretty scary," James said after a long silence during their walk.

Gabriel shrugged. "He's always like that,"

"The Beta was telling me about when he was younger, he said your grandfather was worse,"

"The wolves in my family aren't the friendliest," Gabriel again shrugged.