The Alphas & The Heiress
CHAPTER 9

Syble (Magnolia)

The way the alphas look at me makes me think they expected a fight.

“I’ll brief the trackers. Varian, show her to the training center.” Ro says.

“If you don’t need me, Rohanor, I think I’ll accompany Syble and Varian.” Says Incandis.

Ro nods in agreement and the three of us leave him in his office heading off for the training center.

Turns out I was right last night, the warehouse building down the path from the manor is where all the training equipment and classes are held. The building is deceptively small. Inside there are two floors, the bottom is filled with all kinds of equipment; free weights, medicine balls, treadmills, ellipticals, ropes, bikes, and an assortment of other weight lifting equipment. From the first floor you can look up into the second floor. There’s a large oval opening where people can run around an indoor track. Varian explains that there are rooms upstairs along the wall for various classes.

On the far side there’s a set of double doors that lead into a tunnel which opens up into a much larger domed area. I can smell the pool before I can see it, the chlorine making the air thick. Here there are also locker rooms fitted with spa amenities like jacuzzi tubs, saunas, and steam rooms. It’s an impressive set up which is why I’m unsure of why they need my help.

“This is all very impressive.” I say to Varian sincerely. “It looks like you have more than enough training equipment here, why do you need me?”

Varian lowers his voice, “my father didn’t believe in allowing women to train, he never allowed it. When we took over we began encouraging everyone, men and women, to train in combat skills. It’s been met with mixed reception. Not many of our warriors have the patience to train the women’s classes so Ro and I have been pulling double shifts for months. Perhaps they’d feel more comfortable learning from another woman, and not their alpha.”

“That’s awfully considerate of you.” My tone is sharp, perhaps sharper than I intended. I stalk off a little ways away to warm up, still within earshot of Varian and Incandis.

Incandis sighs, “don’t mind her. Back home, things are different than here. Women rule in our colony, led by our matriarch. They’re strong, fearless…revered. We’d go to any lengths to defend her — er, them. Defend them.”

I don’t hear Varian’s response. But I’m sure it’s something condescending. I don’t get the sense that he’s all-in on the women training front, that he’s doing it to appease them. Pity training. Well, when I get done with these women they’ll be able to put anyone on their knees.

The thought of sparring against the alphas rushes through me. I’m sure, besides Incandis, that those two are the only ones that pose any real challenge for me. I wonder, given their feelings towards women, if they’d even entertain a fight. I make a mental note to ask about that later.

As I’m warming up, women start trickling in for training. Some disregard my presence completely while others are visibly wary. The trickle of people halts and I count twenty five women. They look on the younger side, young adults perhaps.

Varian and Incandis come up next to me so they’re standing on either side of me. I smile appreciatively at Incandis, sometimes it seems like he treats me more as his queen than his sister, but perhaps when things settle down he’ll stop being so formal. I sense Varian’s eyes on me and I peek up at him, the hint of a smile still on my lips quickly vanishes at the sight of him frowning down at me.

He clears his throat and announces to the crowd, “ladies this is Syble and her…assistant Incandis. Syble has generously agreed to take over some training sessions for the next few weeks.”

He looks at me, “they’re all yours. Train them with whatever methods you see fit, minus the flames. No one else is fireproof.”

His gaze on me softens momentarily before adding, “I’ll be back in an hour.” He looks like he wants to say more but he holds back, his face impassive as he retreats for the door.

I look ahead at the group of she-wolves in front of me. It would appear I have my work cut out for me. Though they are all fit and lean, none of them strike me as looking like warriors. Their posture is slumped – bored, even. That’s no way to face an enemy.

“Good morning ladies, let’s get warmed up and then we’ll be starting circuit training to increase our strength and endurance. I’ll be setting up stations, after a minute you’ll switch and move to the next one in a counterclockwise rotation. Half of you will be completing the circuit while the other half of you complete a 5 mile run. Once group 1 has completed 3 sets of their circuit, group 2 will switch with them, and group 1 will go for their run. Break off into two groups and let’s get started.”

As the women sort themselves out I set up various stations; arms, legs, abs, a little bit of everything alternating throughout the set. When they’ve divided themselves up into two groups Incandis heads upstairs with group 2 to run on the track. I stay with group 1 downstairs and join them in their work out. I put on some music and turn up the volume so they can hear it even upstairs and with that we begin.

Some of these women are stronger than they look, so for some I increased their weights with every circuit to push them even further. After about a half hour or so the two groups were ready to switch. We kept at it for another half hour until everyone was finished. By the end of the hour there were a few people out of breath and even more collapsed on the floor.

“It’ll get easier, today was a great first day.” I try to encourage them.

One woman bent over with her hands on her knees asks me between breaths, “I thought you were going to train us in combat, why are we doing all this?” She waves her hand gesturing vaguely at the equipment.

“Endurance. When you can ask me that question without panting then we can start combat training. Get some rest, I’ll see you again tomorrow.”

There’s a series of groans before the women start filing out. Some thanked me as they left but the majority were just eager to get home.

I look around for Incandis to see if he wanted to train a little more when I see him talking with a group of males. It would appear that the next group of warriors has arrived for training. There’s not a single unattractive guy in the group. They’re all sporting defined muscles, some bulkier than others, and tight abs.

Though none of them compare to the alphas. Rohanor stands out among the crowd, slightly taller than the rest and much broader. He uses this deep voice to gain their undivided attention and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t tug at something deep in my belly. His dominance is almost inescapable and I groan silently to myself.

I blush furiously as a few heads snap to look in my direction. I thought I was silent. Ro’s eyes are among those glued to me. His nostrils flare and his eyes flash black before he breaks contact and growls lowly, making all the other men look away from me and down at their feet.

I approach their group slowly, but confidently. I’m in charge of an entire military back home, a small pack of pups doesn’t intimidate me in the slightest. Ro doesn’t look too pleased at my presence.

I’m sure he’s going to ask me to leave, but he surprises me by introducing me to his warriors.

“Men, this is Syble and in the back there is Incandis. In exchange for our aid they’ll be assisting us with some projects here. I expect you to treat them with respect for the duration of their stay.”

There’s that deep voice of his again. I do a better job this time of preventing my mind from wandering.

The men warm up a bit before pairing off to begin sparring practice. I watch as Incandis participates, and I know he’s taking it easy on them. I have half a mind to kick his ass for pulling his punches.

A young man approaches behind me. “You’ve been watching this whole time, are you learning a lot?”

I turn slowly, deceptively calm, a wicked grin overtaking my face. “I think I’m more of a hands-on learner. Care to teach me?” I say with a saccharine smile.

The young man beams darkly at me and we take our positions on the sparring mat. He makes the first move swinging hard at me with his fist. I dodge it easily and watch his bewildered expression. He strikes at me again, this time I catch his fist twisting it and send a punch of my own to his gut. He’s momentarily winded but recovers quickly, anger leaking out of his eyes.

He sends a volley of punches my way, each of which I dodge. He’s wearing himself out and beginning to pant. His anger is making him careless and sloppy. He throws another punch towards me but I grab his fist and swipe my leg wide, kicking his feet out from under him. He lands on his back with a thud, all the breath left in his lungs pushed out by the force of his landing.

Too easy, it’s not even fun. I see Incandis has moved on and is now sparring with Runidar, the alphas’ right hand man. I scan the room looking for my next victim when I set my sights on Rohanor.

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