Chapter 2

Cole’s POV

He gave me a hard time and several beatings before he caved. I was just shy of my twenty-first birthday when he finally submitted the application to the council. I was accepted into my first run, the Blue Mountain pack about six hours south of Whitefield, New Hampshire six months later.

Soon the dense forest thins out revealing a massive complex much bigger than all the packs I’ve been to so far. The pack house is easily identifiable, as it’s always the first building anyone entering the territory by car will see. The complex is well lit giving it the appearance of a small city illuminating the pack house against the moonlit sky.

The pack house is four stories high with what appears to be a massive ground floor. It’s completely white with large white pillars in the front behind a small set of stairs. Large, French style double doors are centered between bay windows with smaller double windows beside them. As the bus continues its trek through the complex, I’m able to catch a glimpse of the backside of the house, it extends back nearly twice as far as it is wide.

I look briefly at my watch and shake my head in silence. I knew today would be a long day as my father only signs me up for the packs that are farthest away, but I certainly wasn’t expecting it to be nearly nine at night. Even with the early sunsets of late January I wasn’t expecting it to be quite this dark, it didn’t help that the bus got a late start. With fourteen of the twenty-four prospects being brand new to the program and on their first trip out, they were either late getting to the bus or packed more than the bus could carry.

Even though I find it overwhelming to meet new alphas, betas and deltas it doesn’t compare to the gut-wrenching, stomach-churning anxiety I experience when I find myself returning home. My only friend Jamie once asked me what I would do if I were given the opportunity to stay away from home. I have frequently pondered that question for over a year but still have no answer.

All I know is that years ago I vowed to find my mate and if she is residing in a pack better than mine, I would move in with her. If her pack honors the old tradition of the mate’s claiming ceremony, I will request to have one as it’s the only way I know I can rid myself of the Redmen name. I will take hers instead. Neither she nor my children, if my father hasn’t ruined that for me too, will ever experience the hell that I have lived. They will never know my side of the family as they might as well be dead to me. It’s already been made very clear that I am nothing to them so ridding myself of them permanently shouldn’t make a big difference.

It’s the squealing brakes of the bus that pulls me from my thoughts as it comes to a stop in front of a large apartment complex. Based on my previous trips with the prospect program it’s easy for me to guess that this complex, less than a quarter mile west of the pack house, is the prospect’s dormitory. I’m immediately impressed as the grandeur of the apartment complex is equal to that of the pack house, piquing my interest in how the rest of the pack lives.

 I can easily make out three large, three story buildings. The interior lights of only one building, the one the bus parked in front of is lit. It too, has a double door entrance but instead of French doors they are glass and appear to be motion activated. There are also tons of windows exposing it to lots of natural light and air. The two upper floors have balconies while the ground floor has a small concrete patio. All of them have two outdoor chairs set off to the side.

As I continue my watch out the window my attention is soon drawn to several figures exiting the dormitory and heading towards the bus. It’s only a few seconds later that the door to the bus opens and half the prospects stand, preparing to disembark. The driver holds out his hand, halting everyone's movements before bowing slightly at the neck towards the young man that boards the bus.

“Please, take a seat. It’s going to be a few minutes before you start getting off.”

Dallas, a delta from my pack, doesn’t seem to take the young man seriously and remains standing while all the first timers sit back down. It’s easy to see why Dallas has an issue with his authority.

He looks young, too young to be in the program, let alone to lead it. He’s a tall, stocky, fair skinned young male with straight, ink black hair and bright sky-blue eyes. A striking combination that I haven’t encountered before. Despite the respectful bow he received from the driver telling me he’s of a higher rank, he’s down on one knee while speaking quietly to the driver. I watch their interaction closely as the driver seems to be keeping eye contact with this young man, something I don’t see back home.

It only takes a moment for Dallas to leave his seat and start down the aisle, acting as if he’s going to push his way by the man speaking to the driver. The young man stands to face the group just as Dallas stops in front of him.

“Please head back to your seat and wait until instructions have been given.”

“Who are you to be ordering us around? We are grown warriors here and you’re nothing more than a pup.”

Now that Dallas is standing close to this upper ranked wolf, I can compare his size. He easily has two to three inches in height on Dallas, who is approximately five feet nine inches, making him at least six foot tall and his young appearance indicates that he’s not done growing. His eyes flash black as his wolf briefly makes an appearance and his aura grows.

“Head back to your seat and wait for instructions.”

He growls out the directive, this time leaving no room for doubt that he’s an alpha. Fortunately, Dallas relents his hardheadedness and starts back to his seat as the driver stands and exits the bus. Seconds later I can hear the under-bus storage being opened and conversation between multiple people have started.

“Welcome to Crimson Dawn.” The young man calls our attention back to him.

“I am Alpha Damian Black, son of Alpha Demetri Black, leader of this pack. I will be one of several trainers you will be interacting with during your stay here. Alpha Dominic Cullen is another.”

Alpha Black has started walking slowly towards the back of the bus as the footsteps of another is heard climbing aboard. A second young man appears at the front of the bus, standing calmly next to the driver’s seat. He appears older, of an appropriate age to be a prospect if he wanted to be. His physical appearance is almost opposite of Alpha Black though much more common. He appears to be of a similar height to the first alpha but sports a buzz cut dirty blond hair with dark brown eyes.

My anxiety is growing at an alarming rate as none of the previous packs had the alpha greeting us as soon as we arrived. I can feel my eyes starting to dart around, looking for a quick exit that I know doesn’t exist while sitting on the bus. I’m finding it hard to focus on either one of these two alphas. Knowing that they are both alphas has me on edge as I struggle to keep the thoughts of them punishing me at bay.

“Since it’s late and I’m certain you’re all tired from such a long trip, I will save most of the details of our rules and expectations for Monday’s orientation. All prospects are given the same general introduction to our pack before they get off the bus. The time and location of the orientation meeting will be announced Friday evening once we are certain that all five buses have arrived. I believe that Alpha Black will be running three different meetings due to the larger than normal response to this run. Alpha Black will be the primary speaker but myself, Alpha Dominic, Alpha Lucas, Beta Patrick and Beta Parker will also be there to cover anything that he misses as well as to answer any questions you may have.

All of us will have some involvement with you during your training here at Crimson Dawn. As I am certain you have already heard, we are a strict and when needed, unforgiving pack. We do implement physical punishment in accordance with council laws when we feel it’s appropriate.

If you are caught in the act of raping or assaulting anyone; male or female, a member of your pack or a non-pack member, be prepared to present your bare ass to Alpha Black in his office where he has a leather belt waiting with your name on it. The penalty for rape or assault starts at ten full strength hits but he is allowed up to half your age. I can assure you from personal experience you will not sit comfortably for a few days afterwards. For those of you who can’t do math, and you will be tested on your level of education, that means if you’re twenty-four years old you can receive up to twelve full strength hits to your bare skin before you are sent home and a report filed with the council. Odd numbered ages receive the lower amount.”