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It was high summer by now, and New York was hot, continuing with the higher than average warming trend from spring. The entire Hound Wolf Squad looked miserable in the afternoon sun as they ran the obstacle course in the lot behind the BSAA, with an equally-too-warm Captain Redfield watching their progress while noting areas for development. Calling a break once they’d run the course for the third time, he directed his team to the shaded area where there was both water and electrolytes ready.
“Sir, are we doing that course again?” Canine asked after downing half a bottle of water.
“No, I think that we’ve done enough of that today. The whole course needs to be rebuilt, improved, and your times are very good compared to three months ago. That endurance training is paying off.”
“Thank you Sir!” Wolves responded, that was high praise from their grumpy Alpha.
“Hit the showers, we’re done for today.”
“E-early?” Umber Eyes stuttered.
“Yeah. It’s hot as balls out here and I’m having flashbacks to that volcano. Back at your regular start time tomorrow.” Chris cracked a small smile and headed back inside, leaving a stunned Squad behind.
“Did… he just give us two extra hours off today?” Umber was still shocked.
“Maybe the heat’s getting to him too? Man’s a furnace on a good day.” Piers chuckled.
“I sat next to him on the flight to Minnesota. I didn’t need my jacket until we landed.” Lobo grinned.
“Furnace, told ya.”
Their chatter was interrupted when Jill Valentine made her way over.
“Ma’am?” Tundra snapped to attention.
“BBQ at my lakeside cottage this Saturday, Chris can give you the directions. Be there or else.” She smirked and headed off just as quickly as she’d approached.
“I think there may be a viral outbreak within the upper ranks of the BSAA. First Alpha giving us an early day, now Valentine inviting us to a summer BBQ?” Night Howl’s brows were knit into a solid line.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning brought a schedule switch-up for outdoor training in the morning, while there were residual cooler temperatures from the strangely chilly night. Running laps first, they were then directed through a series of defensive hand-to-hand maneuvers by Leon S. Kennedy. After about an hour of instruction, they were set up to spar as Kennedy watched over.
West wandered over with Redfield to watch the mock-fights with interest. Plopping down on an empty wooden crate, lips twitching in a smile as Tundra was clearly having fun being on the offensive against Piers. Maybe a little too much fun… and Piers was doing his best to not knock her on her ass with his longer reach and heavier build.
“Nivans! Nae be afraid of hittin’ a girl if she’s hitting you first!”
“I don’t want to do too much damage in a spar!” Piers called back, blocking another hit aimed for his ribs before deflecting Tundra’s momentum a bit too enthusiastically. Tundra was sent tumbling into the soft sand with an audible oof.
“Good redirection Nivans! I think you’ll have fun next week with throws. You good Berkhoff?” Leon chuckled.
“Yes, Sir! I’m coming for ya Piers!”
“What did I do to deserve you as a partner today?” Piers sounded a little exasperated.
“Your ass looks nicer in our issued pants than mine does. I’m offended!” She cackled and resumed her strikes.
“You’re attacking me because I put on ten pounds?! That’s not my fault! Alpha’s been making me do more squats!”
“Yeah, but I can smack you around better. One swat from Alpha and I’m in the hospital.”
Chris snorted, “I don’t hospitalize my team members unless one’s been a particularly dumb shit. Mildly concuss? Maybe.”
“You more than mildly concussed me in Cameroon! Folded me like a damn pretzel after body slamming me into the wall.” Leon crossed his arms and raised a brow.
“As I recall, you had just triggered an explosive that took out half of the building we were standing in. I shielded you, you mouthy shrimp. Got shrapnel damage in my shoulder because somebody is allergic to wearing body armor in a warzone.”
“Still could have been gentler with the carryout. I’m not a piece of luggage, you big galoot!”
“If you’d put on a few pounds, you’d have less complaints about the carrying Beanpole. I’d have something other than bones to get a grip on for quick exfil.” He snorted, “You were like a bag of dead fish when I grabbed you.”
“Because you vertically pancaked me like a fat kid on an ice cream cone!”
“Did not!”
“Behemoth, I say!”
“Almost lunchtime, boys.” Claire called as she walked over, seeing West silently laughing so hard that he’d keeled over sideways, and the Wolves not much better. “You two bicker more than the old ladies at the supermarket with expired coupons, I swear.”
“Mantis Shrimp over here gets lippy.”
“I’ll ‘mantis shrimp’ you one, you fucking bear.”
“Bring it, Tiny Tim. I’ll fold you like a cheap lawn chair. Again.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Wolves got cleaned up quickly, not wanting to miss the Friday tradition of the group lunch. The day had already been exceedingly entertaining; they were looking forward to whatever a larger grouping could provide with Leon already having riled Redfield up.
They were not disappointed.
West got the ball rolling as his attention turned directly to Chris, who looked mildly intrigued.
“Hear me out…”
“Beginning any discussion with that is never a good sign.” Chris was starting to look concerned.
“Jill and I have been discussing something that needs more input.”
“Oh fuck. That’s even worse.” Brows fully knit now.
“Raccoon City could have been avoided if you’d pegged Albert Wesker over the desk. He wouldnae have had the motivation to mess with so many viruses had he been properly receiving the good ol’ Redfield Ram.” West finally finished, taking a sip of his tea.
“Oh my God!” Leon cracked up laughing!
“Ewww! Also, I’m inclined to agree. Why didn’t you work harder on that? ’98 was shit, Chris.” Claire was laughing.
Redfield blushed so hard that he matched the hot sauce dipping bowl he had next to his fries.
“I called Barry, and he is on the same page.” Jill took a bite of her salad, trying not to laugh at the thump of Chris’ forehead hitting the top of the lunch table.
“What is today? Attack a Redfield?” He groaned. “There’s two at the table, go get the shorter one.”
“I think they have a valid point.” Rebecca started. “Wesker was hot for you, a blind man could see it. One time when you passed by to get coffee after an all-nighter, your hand brushed his ass and the look on his face was very telling." She snickered.
“And don’t forget the watercooler incident. Forest knocked over that big bottle trying to get it changed on the dispenser, soaked right through your white t-shirt. I thought Wesker was going to jump you.” Jill cackled.
“And you just stood there going over the inventory forms with him staring at you like a steak dinner the whole time.” Rebecca was full on giggling now. Chris had finally sat back up, shaking his head and rubbing his face with one hand.
“Ugh. That explains why he was always telling me that my gear straps weren’t tight enough.”
That set off the whole table into another round of laughter.
“Chris, you ruined my first day at work. That’s just rude.” Leon grinned.
“I put it to a vote: If Redfield had done his duty and given Wesker the good dick, we may nae have experienced the outbreak. All in favor, show of hands.”
The Wolves were sheepish in raising hands, West had both hands up, and Chris groaned as he raised his hand to match the others around the table.
“The good dick!” Carlos was wheezing.
“I’m still stuck at the Redfield Ram.” Canine was shaking with laughter.
“West, you’re a fucking menace." Chris shook his head and had a bite of his sandwich.
“Aye, but I’m your menace, Big Boy.” Wiggling his brows suggestively.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After lunch time on Saturday, the Wolves pulled up to Jill’s lakeside cottage property. They could hear a radio playing the latest hits and laughter as they parked and got out. The day was hotter than the previous two, temperatures soaring high enough that the lake looked very inviting. Jill waved them over to the big yard where lawn chairs and coolers full of iced drinks were available.
“Thanks for coming! Help yourself. Bathroom for is the first door on the left, I have loads of towels in case you didn’t bring your own. Swim, drink, hang out, whatever.”
Emily set her clothing bag to her chair as she plunked down next to where West, Claire, Becca, Jill, Leon, and Carlos were clustered. West had a book and appeared to be reading out loud for the benefit of the group, which had Kennedy snickering as he sipped a cold beer. Chris walked out of the cottage with a wave to the Wolves just in time to hear something that made him pause.
“That’s my good girl.” West let out a deep, bass growl where the novel said to. “You’ll wear my mark, like the pretty little doll you are, Mate.”
Piers lit up with a blush like the fourth of July. The rest of the Wolves were frozen, not sure what to do with that.
“Oliveira, why on earth are you having West read your werewolf trash out loud?” Chris looked a mixture of confused, concerned, and maybe a little bit horny.
“The girls put us up to it. Wanted to know what a real growl sounds like from a big fucker.” He grinned.
“What I want to know is who wrote this shite? That’s nae how werewolves fuck, nor mate mark.” West looked adorably confused.
All forms of tension was broken by gales of laughter.
“And how exactly do they do it? You an authority?” Dion chuckled.
“Kennedy has seen it in action; he interrupted furry coitus in the Eastern Slav.”
“That’s classified!” Leon barked.
“No, it was X-rated with bites to the chest over the heart and neck.”
“Wait… Werewolves are real?” Piers blinked.
“Aye, so are Fae. How do ye nae know this?” More confusion from West.
“So you didn’t participate in the furry coitus?” Becca was trying not to giggle at West’s expression.
“I didnae. I fuck bears, nae unstable wolfy hybrids. Too many bones on a werewolf after shifting.” Head tilted, oblivious to the wheezes. Grabbing the bottle of iced tea next to him, he shook it making a lot of rattling with the ice cubes. “Nae a body that wants to hear that from their lover, ye ken? Bag o’ bones.”
“Oh my God.” Emily was losing it.
“I think I need a change. Too hot.” West padded into the house with a bag in hand to get rid of the heavy jeans and long-sleeve tee. Upon emerging from the house, L was comfortable in a bikini and cover-up, barefoot and headed back to her previous chair.
Claire blinked once. Twice. Mouth opened and closed a few times like stunned fish, a wheeze coming out in a whoosh of air before,
“WHAT THE FUCK?!”
“Claire, this is why I told you that you aren’t allowed to sleep with West. Because I already am.” Chris took a sip of his beer and plopped into a chair comfortably, ignoring the slight complaining creak of it. “And I don’t share.”
He shifted his legs just in time as Claire leaned over to punch him, hitting a thick thigh instead of his stomach as he moved.
“How could you hide something as big as this?! I’m your sister, you giant turd!” She vented, giving her brother a shove in his seat, disappointed that he didn’t so much as budge an inch.
“A man has to get his kicks somewhere. Consider it my older brother privilege to torment you periodically. Also withholding information on occasion.”
“Pillows!” She choked as she remembered her first introduction to West when he hopped the fence with Sherry.
“Aye, pillows.” L grinned.
“I honked your pec at Friday lunch a few weeks ago!”
“And I was disappointed ye didnae honk the other to match. Rude to leave one untouched.”
“UGH!” Claire groaned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The afternoon passed pleasantly, everyone enjoying the summer sun and heat. Playing some outdoor games, chatting, swimming, and eventually feasting on the massive BBQ dinner Carlos and Jill put on for the huge group. The Wolves noted that Chris sat close to L, his plate hidden slightly behind her frame as she leaned a little forward to eat from her own. Slightly saddened that their Captain still wasn’t comfortable eating properly with so many around.
L compensated by going for a heaping second plate when Carlos eyed her meaningfully, also not missed by the Squad. Over time as everyone continued, Perlman noted that she was discretely subtracting from her plate by adding it to Redfield’s at a steady rate, getting an amused huff from the massive man next to her. Claire “accidentally” dumped a spare roll off her plate onto L’s as she walked by, and Becca casually flicked some potato wedges over when Redfield wasn’t looking in her direction. Catching Emily’s eye, John grinned and slid a couple of chicken wings to her plate with a slight tip of his chin. She passed them along dutifully, the other Wolves catching on to the game of food slipping and joining in.
By the time everyone else was full and finished playing the game, Redfield looked equal parts satisfied and relaxed-bordering-on-lazy. The Wolves had never seen that before!
Achievement Unlocked: Full Alpha
Cleaning up was a breeze, as everything was in disposable dishes this time. Most helped to tidy up, loading the garbage bags and non-perishable dinner supplies back the flatbed of Oliveira’s truck. It was almost seven in the evening before anyone noticed that L was quieter, looking flushed and eyes half-lidded. Overheated.
Chris took one look at her and stood up, scooping the petite woman up and heading for the lake.
“Flower’s wilted, time to water.”
And overhead-tossed her at the lake before stripping his shirt and wading in after as she resurfaced with an undignified squawk.
Piers gawped for a moment before Claire snickered.
“Careful, or he’ll throw you in next Piers. Those hands are rated E for Everyone when it comes to water.”