Oliver's POV

Sweat dripped off his chin and onto the cowl covering his face. The heavy kevlar jacket weighed on him but over the last few weeks he steadily got used to it. In the heat of the day it still wore him down.

He held a hand and a half sword in his hands. It was held diagonally across his body waiting for Al Owal to move.

He didn't have to wait long as the man lunged at him. Oliver side stepped before bringing his own sword down. Steel clashed agaisnt steel.

He pushed hard down upon the other's sword. Oliver had the advantage of superior height. Al Owal was heavier in muscle though. The strength behind the muscle soon had them out of the lock.

Oliver wasn't able to get back into the flow. Al Owal's attacks came quickly and pushed him back towards the end of the mat. Any attempts to push back and regain his flow but every attempt was rebuffed.

As he stepped back a hand wrapped around his sword arm and twisted. He barely withheld a gasp in pain and grit his teeth. Another hand joined it and the world suddenly turned.

Oliver's back slammed into the ground his head cracking agaisnt the stone. The cold touch of steel pressed against his throat.

The elder man growled, "Yield."

Oliver replied breathing heavily, "I yield."

The blade left his throat and a hand was held out to him. Oliver took it at the elbow and allowed Al Owal to pull him to his feet. A warm gloved hand squeezed his shoulder. It was grounding and his breathing slowed.

Al Owal had learned the signs of Delta coming forward. Increase heart rate blue eyes fading to grey. Breathing coming quicker. So far he was the only one outside of Panov to he able to calm him.

Oliver pulled back his hood and cowl waiting for Al Owal's assessment. Al Owal said gruffly his grey eyes assessing Oliver, "You need to become more comfortable switching between offensive and defensive forms. Don't let the change throw you off."

Oliver bowed his head as he replied, "Yes, sir."

A sigh wanted to escape him but he held it back. It wasn't Al Owal's fault that he was struggling. Oliver's mind was broken and swordplay wasn't his speciality. Using a bow had been natural for him.

Still he fought with his demons and the nightmares awoke the other initiates. The rooms were shared between all of the new members. They were getting tired of the screams that woke them. Only one made the mistake if trying to wake him.

If one of the guards had not gone to wake Al Owal he would have snapped the initiate's neck. Al Owal had to pin him to the ground and use his omega instincts against him. A hand to the back of his neck brought the omega to heel. From there he was dragged to Panov's rooms. There he was holed up for several days.

There was a rumbled question to bring him out of his thoughts, "What are you thinking about, Al Sahim?"

Oliver glanced at his mentor. Al Sayf was the name the other gave him. It meant the Arrow. Somehow it fit him.

A voice from behind them startled both men. Only Al Owal's hand kept him from raising his sword the scent of a scorched desert just after sunset, "Perhaps he would benefit from a change of pace, Al Owal?"

Both turned to look at him seeing Ra's standing there. The alpha despite being smaller in size was a formidable presence. Oliver bent his head slightly in respect to the alpha.

Al Owal replied his eyes going between his student and his master, "If you believe that is best, my liege."

Ra's stepped forward his scent washed over Oliver. It was gentle but his instincts were on edge. He would not be so easily brought to heel.

Ra's drew his sword and said his grey eyes going cold, "Let's see how far you have come, pup."

Oliver barely had time to bring his sword up when the sword came down upon him. The forced of the attack nearly made him lose his footing.

He shifted his stance to remain standing but in doing so left himself open. Only a second later he hit the ground again. The cold steel touching soft tissue of his throat.

Then it was removed and a hand grabbed to collar of his jacket and hauled him to his feet. Awkwardly he was repositioned by the alpha. Oliver didn't protest the treatment. Instead he kept his attention on the changes.

Ra's used his sword to push on Oliver's now changed form. Instead of losing his form it held.

Ra's stepped back as he lectured calmly, "You are tall and lean with muscle. This gives you advantages with your height and reach. However your center of gravity will shift and be off in swordsfighting. Keep yourself in balance and you will not find yourself on the ground so much."

"Yes, my liege," he intoned dutifully.

With that Ra's left him behind with Al Owal. Oliver stated with a frown, "That man is strange."

Al Owal replied sheathing his sword, "He is the Demon's Head, Al Sahim. It would be strange if you did not consider him so. Though it is unusual for him to take an interest in an initiate. Even one such as you."

What made him so interesting? Why was it the alpha was showing such an interest in him?