"You're putting Amber on probation?" The Gamma Chief was in shock.
He primarily thought that the Alpha would be forgiving; after all, it was Amber they were talking about here.
When it comes to the child, it has always been a challenge for the Alpha to remain impartial.
So, what's happening now?
"Yes," Alpha Severus declared, his gaze emotionless. Anyone could tell from his stiff posture that he was trying to stay calm as much as possible.
Right after the match ended, the audience wasn't given a time to recover from the match's result, and react.
As soon as the word 'go' left the Alpha's mouth, everyone—both trainees and official pack warriors alike, scurried to vacate the premises, and disappear from his sight.
And according to the facial expression they were wearing, it seemed that they were still stuck in between the state of agitation, and surprise.
Agitated to heed the Alpha's command without any delay.
Surprised by the sparring outcome between a low-level trainee… and a squad leader.
Some went out of their way to greet the Alpha first before finally taking their leave, and those who had the guts… they still made an attempt to look back at the ring. What was just witnessed today would certainly be remembered for life by the spectators.
What was achieved today would certainly be written in the pack's history.
After all, the River Severn Pack has been paying the highest of its respects to the unparalleled pack warriors since the pack's founding.
The sparring match today marks another feat, seized by a young trainee.
And that trainee is a girl.
Beta Trent was the officiator, so he was obliged to announce the winner himself.
And considering his reputation as a pack official who doesn't play favorites, and treats the wolves with equal harshness, the announcement that he made after a careful consideration between Amber and Cataleya's condition, made a huge impact.
And that's because the people trust him enough not to side with anyone.
And even on the off-chance that he did that, it would make more sense for him to pick the side of a squad leader—a person that he had worked with for quite a significant time already, than that naïve girl whose only contribution to the pack was her kickboxing records.
"How is she doing now?" Alpha Severus questioned one of the nurses.
The nurse bowed his head, and solemnly replied, "Amber acted fine when the medical team informed her that a radiographic examination—"
The Alpha glared at his incompetence. "I was talking about Cataleya. I know that child is perfectly fine, and even if she's not—she will play it cool in front of you. I have no need for such details, so proceed with the report that I actually need to hear."
His voice was strained, and that was probably for keeping his wolf at bay.
A member of his pack got hurt.
And it wasn't even caused by a typical accident that usually occurred in trainings.
"Cataleya…" the nurse hesitated, his pained expression already giving everyone the idea that she wasn't okay. "She's unconscious, and taking rest as we speak, Alpha. Still, the pack doctor had to put her on sedatives, and anesthetics. They need to perform an emergency surgery to try to save Cataleya's… f-face. Unfortunately, it was a total flap loss. There wasn't much skin left of her…" The nurse swallowed down, hard, "…cheeks and nose."
Damn.
It was that bad?
Trent and Brandon shared a grave look with each other.
They understood Amber's determination to get even, but no one was expecting she'd go that far.
That her will to accomplish something could result to someone else's devastating misfortune.
'I don't think she did it on purpose,' Brandon told Trent via mindlink. It's not a good idea to share their opinion right now. It would only take one stupid comment for the Alpha to abandon his current disposition, and snap. "Cataleya was just unlucky for not being able to… dodge.'
Trent hummed in agreement. It had been a while for the two of them to share the same thoughts, so this occasion was rare. 'That kick…'
"To think she'd actually use that in a spar…" Alpha Severus pinched his nose bridge in frustration.
Huh?
What does the Alpha mean?
To answer his men's confusion, he continued, "I taught her the basics of taekwondo during the time when she practiced low-crawling near the sea—that was when."
His Beta didn't look convinced. "The basics…?"
"Yes, Trent. Did you think I was lying?"
Trent's eyes widened in horror. "No, Alpha. I just thought that… a reverse roundhouse kick was…"
A high-level stunt.
Precision and flexibility were required to be able to pull off that move!
And even if you have those, it's still not guaranteed you can do it without a problem!
Severus blew an exasperated breath. "I showed that to her," he began, "but just once."
Suddenly, the surroundings fell quiet.
The men were all trying to digest what the Alpha just said.
It all got them thinking… then, how about those claws?
Who taught her that?
Amber's claws were out when she delivered that ruthless kick, and Cataleya, unsuspecting of the girl's plan, was stunned at the very last moment. Literally no person in the crowd was expecting that Amber Santiago still had the capability to turn the table—with that surprise attack no less!
How she controlled her toes with enough power, and precise angle…
Severus just came home from a very important meeting, and just when he thought a form of relaxation awaited his arrival… it turned out it wasn't.
Squad leaders hold a pivotal role in his pack, and losing one around such a time isn't exactly ideal.
Perhaps, it would have been easier to let go of the issue if Cataleya was the intel-gathering type.
However, she's not.
She's part of the assault group, and particularly good at making impromptu decisions.
He finds it hard to believe that just because of a single match, she will no longer be able to participate in the campaign. River Severn will be launching an attack against that western village soon.
It's too early for them to lose a vital member of the assault team!
This wouldn't have happened if Trent didn't authorize the match to proceed…
Alpha Severus shook his head.
No…
This wouldn't have happened if Amber wasn't pushed to issue a challenge.
He looked at the brave men, standing before him. One of them was a pack warrior whom he saw jumping in joy earlier when the verdict was made. The man was cheering for Amber.
And the other person who was against the idea of pitting Amber and Cataleya against each other was his Gamma. He has also expressed his disapproval of changing Amber's status into probation.
The status itself could change everything.
Being on probation, Amber won't be allowed to go outside the pack house after school. She will be prohibited from all activities involving physical training, too. Since she is to remain stuck inside the pack house until further notice, trying to be productive during the period of bland days will be her new normal.
And that was meant to be a form of torture for werewolves like her—who was physically active, and strictly following a certain lifestyle.
She could read her books, or meditate…
It's up to her.
As long as she spends the entire day in the pack house, no rules will be violated.
Also…
Shifting and going for a run is impermissible.
Only the Alpha can revoke that status of the pack member, and until he deemed a person's suffering enough, probation period may actually go on… for a lifetime.
Severus understands his Gamma's concern, but first…
"Let me confirm one thing. Does anyone of you have any idea how Amber Santiago was provoked?"
Because the Amber that he knew… was no war-freak.
To his surprise, Trent, his Beta, stepped forward with no hesitation.
"I had kept an eye on the kid, Alpha. Therefore, I can explain to you how everything started."
The Alpha smirked at him sarcastically. "Another attempt for you to have me change my opinion of Amber, I see."
"Not quite, Alpha…" Trent's voice was deep and low, his eyes… swirling with an odd emotion. Was that sympathy? "I approved the spar for Amber to redeem herself."
Severus growled lowly. "What does that mean?"
"Cataleya was targeting her from the start."
"She's a squad leader! It's her job to show the trainees their place," he snapped.
Amber is a good child. There's no doubt about that. She's talented, and someone you can count on in trying times, too.
But, she's still a child.
The praises he's got for her can't surmount Cataleya's position for the next mission.
And that's what important right now!
The mission.
Not Amber.
Not the damage she has taken.
Not her feelings.
"It was a combination of physical and verbal attacks, Alpha. To my judgment, it was enough to warrant Amber's resentment. The rules of the sparring match had been accepted by both sides. I believe there was no reason for us to not carry on."
"You're taking Amber's side now? I thought you weren't biased."
"Please don't get the wrong idea, Alpha. In physics, there's a law." Trent stood by his ground until the end. "That for every action… there's an equal and opposite reaction." He'd never forget that bloodlust—Amber's bloodlust. She had always been a nice girl, that's why, she was well-liked among her peers. But, that moment… everything about her had changed. "Cataleya picked on her, and so, she got invited into a spar. She accepted the challenge, and so, she was deplored for going at it against a trainee. She focused on her opponent's arms, and so, she received…" He stopped there knowingly. "We all know what she received. I've been observing Amber for quite some time to see for myself how qualified she is for the Alpha's attention, and perhaps, that's what Cataleya has been doing as well."
"What…"
"Does that mean Cataleya has already got her eyes on—"
"That was the first time they met each other, though…"
Trent let out a half-smile. "Cataleya had been avoiding Amber's kicks on purpose, and her martial art was probably the main reason. Every competition that Amber had won was ended with a leg strike. And I know this… because I've been observing."
"Are you saying Cataleya had researched Amber thoroughly beforehand?"
"Absolutely," Trent murmured under his breath.. "Otherwise, she wouldn't create her own fears, and fight so sloppily."