Sam

Sam went through all of his clothes, throwing each one out of his cupboard onto the floor. He had nothing to wear to his first training session. The jeans shorts weren't the most appropriate, and neither were his half-sleeved silk shirts. He facepalmed, looking at the pile of clothes and realizing what a big loser he was. God, he had nothing athletic to wear. It was the end of the month and he didn't even have the money to shop for new clothes. He looked at the watch and groaned loudly, he was already late. Talk about good first impressions.

Taking defeat, he picked up the only clothing item that showed the least of his skin. A pair of booty-hugging blue jeans and a Green T-shirt. It wasn't the most comfortable training attire but it was something. He took his bike to the Pack property knowing very well there was no way he would make it in time. His heart pounded as he sped through the wooded area finally coming to the training hall. He threw his bike near the bush, praying no one steals it, and ran inside the facility.

He opened the metal door with a loud clunk that echoed in the huge training hall. Everyone's eyes turned to him, some looking at him with anger while others with disappointment. Sam ran his fingers through his thick hair, tugging on his t-shirt nervously as he walked inside.

Sam recognized a few of the faces, he was friends with them as a kid. He went to school with few while few lived in his neighborhood. The boys glared at him full of hatred. Carl and Juno were two of them, they were the biggest bullies in his school, the way they looked at Sam, it was pretty clear they hadn't changed a bit. The girls whispered among themselves, saying some choice words Sam wasn't new to. Sam did his best to ignore them.

Sam halted in his path when he noticed Rick come out of the locker area. His eyes met Sam's and they hardened. Sam gulped down in nervousness. Rick was in khaki pants and a black t-shirt that showed the contours of his defined muscles. His light eyes hardened as he came closer.

"Stand in the corner. I don't appreciate tardiness in my class." Rick said to Sam, before turning to the rest of the class and greeting them, ignoring Sam. This is not how he expected his first day to go but there was very less he could do. He walked to the corner of the room silently and stood by the bench.

"Welcome to the first day of your werewolf training. This training is to help you control and know your wolf better. Some of you might end up joining the pack security but most of you will take up various jobs inside the pack or work with humans. The first duty as a werewolf is controlling your basic instinct. Second, controlling your anger, and the third, defending yourself from other werewolves. We will learn all that and more in your 6-week training. Are you ready?" Rick asked and everyone said 'yes' in unison.

For the next two hours, Sam kept staring as Rick talked to each of the trainees, learning about them, their weaknesses, and strengths. He made them do some basic gym training. The three hours of standing in the corner were excruciating, watching others train while he did nothing. This wasn't the first time Sam was feeling this way. He had always felt like he didn't belong. He was always an outsider among his people. Standing away from them made him remember all the things he had gone through as a kid. All the things he had been running away from all his life.

"Is he gonna train this faggot?" Carl yelled to one of his friends, not trying to be discreet about his obvious homophobia.

"Put your energy where it's necessary." Rick spat warning Carl to which Carl only chucked and walked out of the training area shoving Sam on his way out. Sam bit the inside of his cheeks trying his best not to react. His reaction only made things worse.

The fact that Rick was defending him made him feel a little less sad. No one ever defended him like this before.

"Meet me in my office," Rick instructed Sam as everyone left the training area. Sam's heart picked up its pace. He had no idea what Rick was going to say or do. Sam followed Rick out of the training area through a corridor. At the other end of the training hall was the pack security office. The officers looked at him curiously as he walked through the hallway to Rick's chamber.

Rick sat on his chair behind the desk and looked at Sam without a trace of expression. Sam's body itched under his intense scrutiny.

"I will throw you out of the training session if you come late again." Rick finally said in the calmest voice possible. But the threat behind his words made Sam shake. He didn't want to be thrown out. Not once again.

"I am sorry. It won't happen again."

"Good." Rick picked up a file and looked at it before instructing Sam to sit on the chair opposite him.

"I know things have been difficult for you. But you have to harden yourself, the world is not the kindest place."

"I understand." Sam looked everywhere but at Rick. there was just something so intense about his gaze that made Sam's wolf whimper and restless.

"You haven't changed. Have you?" Rick said after a second of pause.

"Why?" Sam's eyes finally met Rick's and he felt his pants tighten at the sight. Rick had one of these rare sexy eyes that stared into your soul and touched the most primal part of you.

"For starters, you still ask too many questions?"

Sam wanted to smile. At least Rick remembered. Sam had always been a curious kid, he wanted to know about everything. The number of times he had spent sticking around Rick asking him about irrelevant things was a bit embarrassing. He bit his lip trying to suppress the urge to smile like an idiot.

Rick's eyes flickered to The action for a second before Sam could comprehend what was happening.

"This is your time to know the answers, so ask me if you have any questions."

Sam cleared his throat. "Not that I can think of anything. I will ask you when I remember."

Rick stood up and walked to Sam. "I know werewolves have deep-seated prejudices in our culture. If you face any problem, if anyone gives you trouble, you tell me. Understand?"

Sam nodded.

"I want your words."

"I understand," Sam answered looking up at Rick. Rick's eyes lingered on his face for a tad second longer before he nodded and sat back on his seat.

"Don't be late tomorrow," Rick said as he went back to working on his computer.

"Okay." Sam stood up and practically ran out of Rick's office. The pack security looked at him full of judgment as he ran out of the training grounds to where his bike was.

He cursed inwardly, seeing his bike broken into pieces. Things were going to be more difficult for him than he expected.