Alpha Authority and Beta Training
Marcus sat stiffly in the principal's office, his eyes red and burning faintly, while Logan crouched beside him, not even daring to meet his alpha's gaze. The principal's hand shook slightly as he dialed Marcus's mother on the phone.
Principal: "Ms. Lane… I… I need to tell you that your son—he… he threw another student through a classroom wall…"
On the other end, Marcus's mother snapped with furor.
Mrs. Lane: "WHAT?! You put my son on the phone, now!"
Marcus's mother spoke in a sharp, loud, disbelieving tone.
Mrs. Lane: "Marcus Lane! How on earth do you put another student through a window? Explain yourself this instant!"
Marcus replied calmly, his red eyes fixed on the principal's desk, a hint of restrained anger simmering.
Marcus: "It wasn't just a window. It was a classroom. And… I had to stop him."
Mrs. Lane hardly heard what was being said to her.
Mrs. Lane: "Marcus! This is unacceptable! I will deal with you when you get home!"
Logan sat beside him, fidgeting uncomfortably, muttering to himself under his breath, cursing quietly, staring at the floor—not daring to meet Marcus's intense gaze.
After School: Discipline and Training
Outside the school grounds later, So-Ra watched from a distance as Marcus punished Logan. The strikes were precise, calculated, and more than a show of brute strength; it was control and dominance. Logan got pummeled while his growls and curses filled the air.
Marcus: "And for the record, no food for five days. Consider it a reminder of who's in charge."
Logan spat on the ground, enraged, but said nothing more. Marcus turned, abandoning him, and strode away. So-Ra's blue eyes gleamed with observation of every detail: Logan's grudging obedience; Marcus's red eyes aglow with command.
Logan Teaching So-Ra
Later, Logan took So-Ra to a secluded spot for training. Her badge, uniform, and body cam were off; instead, she wore a simple tank top.
So-Ra: "Why did Marcus punish you so harshly?"
Logan scowled, irritation and respect mixing on his face.
Logan: "Huh… I was just trying to have my own little plaything, but since he… likes that Zoe girl, he got mad."
So-Ra: (tilting her head) "Who's Zoe?"
Logan: "Some girl from school. The one Marcus likes. Don't ask me why, but he's… obsessed."
So-Ra feels a strange tension coil inside her chest. Her wolf instincts flare. Why do I care about her? I don't even like Marcus. But my Alpha… he notices, and another female… I can't allow that. I won't allow it. Protect the Alpha. That girl mustn't interfere. The instincts… they… they scream at me, claw at me. I feel the surge, the need to assert dominance over what's mine. I am her wolf. I feel… jealousy. And I cannot let it go.
So-Ra: "…I don't like it. That she's close to him. I… I can't stand it."
Logan blinked, surprised slightly, a smirk forming.
Logan: "Huh… I didn't know it was that deep, huh? Looks like your wolf isn't just following orders—it's feeling, too."
So-Ra: She grits her teeth. "It is. And it's my duty to protect him… my Alpha."
Logan's grin broadened.
Logan: "Well, looks like I get to watch you go full beast… in time. Alpha's rules, Beta."
They then moved on to partial transformation exercises.
Logan: "You won't be able to fully transform yet. The full moon hasn't come. But partial… you can get a feel for your power."
So-Ra flexed, claws emerging slightly and her blue eyes glowing faintly.
Suddenly, her radio crackled.
Radio: "Detective Han! Robbery in progress! Location—"
She swore under her breath, flicking the radio off and snatching up her gear.
Meanwhile: Marcus at Home
Marcus had just come home, red eyes still glowing faintly, muscles taut and lean. Still angry over the incident at school, his mother slapped him full in the face.
Mrs. Lane: "Marcus! I swear, you will pay for this!"
The slap barely fazed him-his skin had hardened, and his body wasn't human anymore-but her voice cut, hard and angry, and still carried. He rubbed his cheek, smirking faintly. His mother, frustrated that she couldn't hurt him physically, just kept on yelling.