"Jon! Jon! Jon!" cried a voice from above the sleeping pitbull mix's face. Former S.T.O.R.M. Beta Jon Ace looked up to see Chase Suno, Alpha of the Core-Tech pack, looking down at him.
Jon Ace rolled onto his grey belly. Giving his non-bitten off ear a twitch he addressed the young wolf before him. "What is it Chase? Is there trouble?"
"No," answered the grey and blue wolf.
"Then way did you wake me up?" Jon straightened himself into a sitting position. The grown male had his legs splayed out underneath him. He remembered Charlemagne addressing it as a 'puppy sit' and that it was annoying and pathetic for a grown, trained dog like him.
Chase grinned. "Play with me."
Jon cocked his head to the side. "Excuse me?"
"Play with me Jon! I'm booooooorrrred!" whined the Alpha. He bowed sticking his rear in the air. His fuzzy tail whipped back and forth playfully.
"No," snapped Jon. "You are an Alpha."
"Please," begged Chase.
"No, Chase. Do something productive. Go check the area, scent mark, or go get your Omega or Beta to play with you instead of an old dog like me," growled Jon Ace into the young Alpha's face.
"But I've patrolled this place five times, Dax has peed all over everything, Bren's looking at the Core Tablet for stuff on my dad, and Jinja's getting porcupine quills out of Beyal's muzzle. Poor little monk dog's never seen a porcupine before. He thought it was a rare plant. But that's not the point! I'm bored, there's nothing to do, and you're the only one in the pack right now that's not busy!"
"No means no, Chase Suno," snarled Jon using the pup's full name to let Chase know he meant business. Chase may be the Alpha, but he wasn't the boss of THIS dog.
Chase smacked the top of Jon's head with a paw. "C'mon, stop being such a sour puss! What are you, a cat?" he teased.
When Jon grunted the Alpha gave a yip and batted the larger dog again. Jon still didn't budge. Chase wagged his tail and nipped Jon's chest. Still no reaction from the older male. Chase playfully chewed on Jon's legs and nipped at his docked tail. Jon Ace just stood like a statue.
Jon Ace was no pushover. When Chase marked him to show dominance after the male quit his beta position in the S.T.O.R.M. pack the male didn't bat an eye. While Dax on the other hand writhed, squirmed, and bit in defiance. The Lowland mutt was sullen for days.
Chase whimpered. "Ok, I guess I'll go see what Bren's doing." The Alpha began walking away sullenly.
"Good," spat Jon as he watched the wolf retreat.
Just before he was fully situated on the ground Chase bounded at him and tackled the older canine to the ground. Jon growled in annoyance, but Chase just laughed as he nibbled at what was left of Jon's left ear playfully. Jon nicked the wolf's face with his canine teeth. In return Chase tugged on one of Jon Ace's skinfolds under his neck. The two males went back and forth until Jon had Chase pinned.
"Looks like you got me," chuckled Chase.
"Looks like it, Chase," panted Ace. The pitbull mix's tongue drooped out of his mouth as he tried to catch his breath. Pups had so much energy. Growing up sucks.
Chase grinned slyly. "I thought you didn't want to play Jon?"
Jon snarled. "You make do some stupid things, pup."
Jon got off of Chase and settled back into the grass. Chase rolled onto his belly. The Alpha cuddled up next to the grey dog. Chase began cleaning Jon's short fur. The older dog sighed at the pleasant feel of Chase's wolf tongue against the scar on his brow. The thing hurt from time to time, especially when he grimaced a lot.
"Did you ever play fight with my dad?" asked Chase suddenly.
Jon gave Chase a small, sad smile. "Yeah, when his research got rough or boring, or when we wanted to relieve some stress. Your father was a great fighter. He was strong, but knew how to control his urge to tear into a stupid mutt like me. You know, it takes a real wolf not to bite into a dog."
Chase looked at Jon, thoughtfully. He never knew that. The thought of killing or seriously harming Beyal or Dax had never come to mind. Punishing them at times yes, but never maiming them.
Jon rested his muzzled against Chase's. "You're just like you're father, Chase. You're a good pup."