The Code Of The Alpha

I was regretting my decision to meet with Fallon as soon as I stepped outside in my gym shorts. Chill bumps immediately covered my body and I held my arms close to my chest as I walked towards the driveway.

Deciding that I needed to warm up, I walked past the truck and the Jeep and continued my brisk stroll up the driveway towards the gate. The gate opened as it sensed me walking towards it, closing behind me as I stood in the street.

Lifting my left arm, I tapped against my watch to start recording a run and began to jog down the road.

As my feet hit the ground with each step, I was reminded how badly I needed new running shoes. A shin splint was sure to arrive the next day.

Breathing in the cold morning air made my lungs squeeze in my chest and I found it more difficult to get air out and in. By the time I reached the bottom of the hill, I found myself hunched over and panting like I’d already run a marathon.

I looked at my watch.

0. 63 miles.

Kill me now.

I was at least two more miles from the training grounds. I stood up straight and continued on my way, running and walking in intervals.

As much as I regretted my decision to run, I couldn’t help but to be thankful for the brief moments of mental relief it offered. With my heart rate over a hundred and sixty, I couldn’t think of much else other than the burning in my lungs and the way my legs

pounded against the ground with each stride.

Worries about my father and wondering thoughts regarding Luca dissipated from my mind for those few minutes.

As soon as my watch indicated that I had completed two miles, I stopped the workout and decided to walk the rest of the way. I hadn’t gotten very far before a bright red car rolled up beside me.

Turning, I saw Bates leaning out the empty space where the Jeep’s door was missing.

“Are you alright?” He asked.

I couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or sincere.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I’m just wondering if you’re being chased… you look a little out of breath.”

“Shut up.”

He laughed.

“Need a ride?”

I nodded with enthusiasm and walked around the car to the passenger side.

“Satan’s playground?” He asked.

I nodded again.

“So, you’re not okay?” He asked again.

“I’m fine, Bates.”

“Just making sure.”

When we pulled into the parking lot a few minutes later, I saw that it was nearly empty. When I looked around as I got out of the Jeep, I saw Fallon standing next to the ring, pulling gear out of a duffel bag.

She was the only person in sight.

When she turned and noticed us, she began to walk towards the parking lot.

“What are you doing here?” She asked Bates with a scowl.

“A great question-one to which I, myself, was just pondering the answer.”

Fallon rolled her eyes and turned to me.

“Ready?” She asked, eyeing my t-shirt and gym shorts.

I nodded.

Fallon gestured for me to follow her as she turned and began to walk back towards the ring. Bates shot me a playful wink as he turned to leave before I hurried to catch up with Fallon.

“We’ll start with basics this week,” she said, climbing onto the platform.

“Just for future reference,” she added, “you may want to wear something a little more form fitting for MMA fighting. When limbs go flying, so does everything else if it’s not secured down.”

I made a mental note of this, trying not to laugh at the mental image her warning conjured up.

“There are three components of MMA fighting: striking, grappling, and submission,” she said.

“We’ll start off with striking; this will be more stand-up fighting using hands, elbows, knees and feet. I prefer Muay Thai, but I’ll also incorporate

Karate and Taekwondo. With this, I’ll also teach you how to cross-train so you can be building strength and flexibility. Once these are more developed, we’ll move into grappling, which is more floor work involving Judo and Jiu-Jitsu. Got it?”

I nodded, even though I was still trying to process all of the information at once.

“It will make more sense after you’ve been doing it for a few weeks,” she explained, seeing the confusion in my expression.

We started by her showing me how to stretch properly and from there she began to go over the basics of jabs, hooks and punches.

Before I knew it, I was drenched in sweat.

Fighting required much more cardio than I had anticipated and I was sufficiently warned against starting future training with a two-mile run.

When I sat down on the edge of the ring after Fallon had called training for the day, I looked around and noticed all the people who were on the field.

I looked at my watch.

I’d been training for two hours.

I need a nap.

I looked over to the parking lot to see Luca sitting on the tailgate of his truck, shirtless. Fallon made me promise to show up again the next day before

letting me walk off towards him.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

As I drew closer to Luca, I saw the water bottle and towel in his hands and the amusement in his smile.

“How long have you been here?” I asked him.

“Long enough to run and get it in a full forty minute lift.”

I scowled.

“It was chest day in case you were wondering,” he said, flexing his pecs.

I surprised him by taking the water bottle from his hands and finishing it in three gulps.

“What?” I asked him, wiping my lips.

“It’s not like we haven’t shared mouth germs before.”

“I wasn’t done with that.” he said.

“I’m sure there is plenty more water at home,” I said, walking around the truck to get into the passenger seat.

I froze immediately after putting my hand on the car door, realizing that I had just referred to Luca’s house as ‘home’.

Looking back, I made eye contact with him as he shut the tailgate of his truck and I knew he’d caught it too.