Chapter 8 Landon

• I was just returning to my room after my early morning run. Something I chose to do despite the fact my day was taken up by constant strict training regimes. The morning run was my time alone with my wolf. A time to let my thoughts go, and simply run. And my wolf, Dex, liked to run. We had cut it fine by returning so late today.
• I would just about have enough time for a shower before heading to breakfast in the dining hall to catch the last sitting before heading to the training field. Today would be even more punishing than normal with the heat of the sun already increasing. Not that the coaches seemed to care. They beasted us within an inch of our lives. Their focus was getting the strongest warriors possible out of the recruits. Not that I would ever become a warrior…
• I quickly stripped and stepped into the cool shower, knowing it would help cool me down, I was sweating profusely already from a combination of over-exertion and that crazy heat outside. Just as I did, I heard my phone buzzing on the side in my room. I was lucky enough to have been blessed with a private room, unlike so many of the recruits that were enrolled here. Though, that was the added bonus of the Training Facility belonging to the pack of my family.
• The phone rang incessantly considering the time, making me wonder who it could be, but whoever it was would have to wait. I had already put myself on a time restriction. So, I continued to shower, quickly washing my hair and body off, and rinsing, before grabbing a towel and stepping out of the shower. My stomach grumbled loudly, telling me it was definitely time to go and grab some food and a coffee. I had worked up an appetite by going on the run, and would need plenty of energy for the day ahead.
• Moving toward my room, I could still hear the phone buzzing. I tended to keep it on silent, hating the disturbance it brought to my life. Often going as far as ignoring calls and messages, choosing carefully who to respond to. I preferred the selective way of contact. That way I only had to speak to who I chose to... But, whoever it was trying to call me was simply not getting the message today…
• I moved across the room, seeing my Grandfather’s name on the screen, and found myself frowning. He normally gave up after a few attempts if I did not answer him. He was not the most patient of men, so for him to continue to keep calling, I couldn’t help but wonder if things were okay… I clicked answer, and put the call onto speakerphone as I continued to get ready for my day ahead, not planning to allow him to distract me.
• “Finally, Landon, do you not know how to answer a phone?! I have been calling nonstop for a good hour. Not to mention all the messages I have sent lately you seem to ignore. You have been taught better than that. Being so god-damn ignorant.” My grandfather snapped, and I rolled my eyes. I should have known that would be coming. He hated to be ignored, and in essence, that was what I had been doing.
• “Hi to you too, GG.” I used his nickname I had used since being a child in the hope it might soften his mood. “My phone has been playing up. So, I haven't seen any messages, sorry. You know I would have responded to them if I had. And as for you calling just now, I have been out for a run before training and only just got in. Is everything okay?” I explained, feeling somewhat guilty for my lies, but he did not need to know I was avoiding his messages. I just wished he would work it out on his own that I did not want to come back…
• “Hmm, well I haven’t got time to sit and discuss whether your phone is not working or not. I wanted you to know that Uncle Trent is in the pack hospital. He collapsed.” His words sounded fraught with tension, and I knew how much it must have been bothering him, as this was his closest friend from childhood. He had been there through thick and thin for my Grandad. Even choosing to stay on in the Beta role for an extended period in a show of support for my Grandad after my father died.
• Dread filled my stomach. For a werewolf to be ill, it has to be serious. Their wolf should be healing them. That was what usually happened. But I knew Uncle Trent had been quite seriously injured in a rogue attack, which he never quite fully healed from, which did impair his wolf somewhat from what my Grandad told me. Which makes me wonder now if that meant his wolf had been struggling to heal him. “Will he be okay?” I asked tentatively. Nervous about what this may mean for me, but more than anything, worried about my grandfather, knowing he must be so anxious right now.
• “They are doing tests and monitoring him.” he said tersely. I awaited further information from him, but none came. And, his lack of communication told me all I needed to know. Normally a man of many words, when my grandfather was not saying much you knew he was struggling.
• “Will you keep me updated?” I asked, hoping that my Uncle would be okay. Our doctors in the pack hospital were skilled, and should be able to help him, I was sure. I definitely wanted to know how he was doing. That man had been like part of a second family to me growing up. Him, his wife, their daughter, her mate and their kids.
• “You don’t plan to come home?” My grandfather snapped, and the frustration within his voice made me wish I had never answered the call now. He expected me to return to help him deal with this. Yet, in all honesty, I did not know what to do. I would not know how to help him...
• “What use am I going to be there, GG? Just another body pacing the floor waiting for Uncle Trent to recover?” I explained, and I heard a deep sigh, telling me I had only angered him further. Such a disappointment, no doubt, I seemed to be good at that…
• “How about beginning to plan for you taking over? Because try as you may to avoid this Landon, the time is coming for you to take on the title of Alpha. Trent and I have battled on valiantly considering our age, especially when we have managed without a Gamma too, in order for you to have the freedom you craved. But, now with Trent being ill, it is becoming too much. I fear he has become this way through doing too much.” His words cut at me like a knife. He was implying this was my fault? That seemed unfair. I never asked for any of this…
• I knew it was childish, and the wrong thing to do, but I simply hung up. I do not need this right now. Yes, I felt terrible for my Uncle, but never once had I asked either of them to continue their roles for as long as they had. I never asked to be the Alpha. Now fully dressed, I stormed from my room, I needed to get to training and take my frustrations out on somebody…