Chapter 5

Dimitri walked into our combat class, while others would say that he had his usual guardian mask, I noticed the sharpness in his eyes and the tension in his shoulders.

He barked at the class to get into formation. Everyone looked around, this was a far cry from the quiet, antisocial Alpha they were used to. He looked formidable, like an angry god of war.

"Today we are going to learn how to disable our opponents quickly and detain them. Novice Hunt, you will assist with the demonstration." Dimitri fixed Charlie with a hard stare and I could see the younger alpha look nervous.

He walked us through a series of moves that were aimed at disabling an opponent as quickly as possible. The moves were a mix of guardian specific techniques with a few of Jujitsu and Judo moves. While he was thorough with his explanation, he wasn't being gentle with Charlie.

Yuri was the other guardian teaching the class, he kept making snide comments about Charlie. News of him harassing me had gotten around the school. Half the moroi thought I had asked for it, while the other half were disgusted by the Alpha's brutish treatment.

"That one is a particularly good technique for the ladies who have to fend off unwanted advances by creeps who don't understand what no means." Yuri drawled. Meredith caught my eye and we both had to look away to keep from giggling. Mason had the biggest grin on his face, he delighted in watching Charlie get flattened.

As I watched my mate I could feel my primal urges stirring, he made it look effortless as Charlie continued to pound the floor. Dimitri moved like a dancer, never allowing Charlie to get a hold of him until he struck. At one point he threw Charlie like he was a small child and he went skidding into the wall.

"We will split into pairs and go through the techniques."

The class silently got into formation, wanting to avoid the ire of Dimitri. Charlie and Eddie were sparring, but Charlie appeared to be exhausted after Dimitri, so Eddie continued to pummel him into the ground.

At one point I heard Eddie say "What was that? Get off you?… I didn't think you knew what that meant." He let him go from a choke hold and Charlie dropped to his knees to catch his breath. "It means you keep your fucking hands off."

I was sparring with Meredith, we were both able to get a handle on the techniques and take each other down. I took the opportunity to speak to Dimitri by taking a drink break. I stood behind him and to the side, scenting him. I quietly purred and saw him relax his shoulders.

"I take it you heard about the cafeteria line." I whispered quietly. He made a quiet grunt, clearly he was very upset if he wasn't using his words.

"I didn't see you last night, otherwise I would have told you." I gave him another soft purr and took another sniff of his scent, we both relaxed as a result.

"He needs to be taught a lesson, no alpha should touch another Alpha's mate." He grunted.

"Maybe you should claim me then." I said and quickly walked off.

We had been back at the school for almost a full month and I was getting frustrated. I had no doubt in my mind that Dimitri was my mate. As soon as I realised what we were, I understood why I felt so comfortable with him. Being with him made me feel complete and I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him.

Claiming offered a greater connection between mates, some couples even formed bonds between them. It also offered an increased level of protection by changing my scent; warding off other suitors. In the case of Beta's and moroi it was more subconscious, but other alphas would know.

I did not appreciate the attention that I had received from my male classmates. I figured it was because my curves became more developed while I was away. I was a novelty, relatively fresh meat.

I still felt dirty after having Charlie touch me the way he did, like I would never feel clean again.

At the end of practice Dimitri was watching the two alphas fight, he kept criticising Charlie's form. Charlie was utterly exhausted from the session, he was drenched in sweat and limping a little.

"Rose, I'm cancelling your practice today, I think novice Hunt needs it much more." He said loudly in front of the senior class.

I snuck into the gym to watch the training session between Dimitri and Charlie. I made sure to stay down wind from them, not wanting them to catch my scent.

Dimitri was sparring with Charlie, he was fighting at full strength and not holding back. Charlie was utterly decimated.

"What's your problem? I'm an Alpha too, you can't push me around." Charlie spat. I stifled a giggle, he was about to get murdered.

"Unleash your aura on me then." Dimitri said in a bored tone.

"I'm not falling for that, you are just trying to get me into more trouble."

"I'm trying to prove a point… You are not the alpha that you think you are." Dimitri responded. Charlie got mad and let out a large growl, I felt a small amount of pressure pushing me, but nothing making a particular impact. Dimitri stayed where he stood, looking unimpressed.

"Was that it? I thought you were capable of more." Dimitri said. Charlie got angry and tried to physically attack him, Dimitri slammed him face first to the ground.

"My problem is when you sexually harass your classmates thinking that you can do anything because you are an alpha. We have an alpha hierarchy, something which you do not seem to understand. You and I are not equals and you ascend as an alpha by gaining the respect of your fellow alphas. We keep our place in society by exerting discipline and leadership. You cannot throw your weight around like a toddler, thinking that you can have whoever or whatever you want."

He released Charlie and stepped back, watching for him to launch a counter attack. Dimitri continued, "I grew up in a household of women and the one thing that I cannot stand is disrespect or abuse of power. You have privilege because you are an alpha, don't abuse that. You can go."

Charlie limped out of the gym with his proverbial tail between his legs. Dimitri watched the door that Charlie left from, waited thirty seconds and then he called out, "Roza".

I got out from my hiding place and dusted myself off before I came into view of Dimitri.

He had a grin on his face when he saw me. "How did you know it was me?"

"Even when down wind, I can locate you within 100m and I can sense where you are in a room, whether I can see you or not."

I too could spot him immediately when I walked into a room.

"Have you been having fun?"

"It's important that he knows to keep his hands off."

"I think he got the message. Was it true? Do alphas have a hierarchy?"

"Yes and no. The hierarchy isn't just based on merit as I told Charlie, it is also based on the raw power of an alpha. Older alpha's can detect the aura's of others, that can help you know who to defer to. However, even those who have a weak aura can be given deference if others believe that their achievements or position warrants it."

My training continued over the next two weeks, Dimitri was still heavy on running and weights with some sparring. Sometimes he would give me a lighter session to talk theory and rest my muscles.

Our sparring got progressively more intense and I started to see results in classes by winning matches with my peers. I told him that I was itching for staking training, and he responded with 'We will when you are ready'.

Dimitri had a busy schedule with his mentoring in addition to his guardian schedule. He tried to visit as much as possible, but it was usually only once or twice a week. He continued to be respectful with chaste kisses and an arm around my shoulders.

Sitting on my couch and snuggled under his arm, he let me ask questions about himself. He told me about his family and the town he grew up in, Baia. "What was your post before Lissa?"

He paused for a moment, looking perturbed. "My best friend Ivan."

Dimitri started rubbing circles on the back of my hand, momentarily lost in his own world. "We were friends at school, not like you and Lissa, but we were close and I was assigned to him on graduation. He treated me like a friend, not his guardian and he always wanted me to take time for myself. I was off duty visiting family, leaving Ivan with his other guardian. I returned home to find them both dead."

I pulled his face towards mine and kissed him, I wanted to take away his pain, if only for a moment. I caressed the side of his face and looked into his eyes. "You hurt, every day. Don't you?"

He looked surprised, like he didn't think I could know him so quickly. I ached to heal his heartbreak, he must have been very lonely before we met.

"I miss my friend, but I find that I am opening myself up again. Since I met you the pain has become more manageable and my world has become so full."

I flushed pink with delight and kissed him on the cheek. "You were what I was missing too".

I started to kiss him and just as I climbed onto his lap he gently moved me off and left with a quick 'goodnight'.

I went to sleep in a huff, I was so impatient for things to happen between us. I felt like I was always one step forward and two steps back.

At afternoon training, I was yet again running, this time Dimitri accompanied me. He matched my stride, and we fell into a companionable rhythm. With my mate beside me, I pushed myself to go faster.

"You shaved 2 minutes off your time, maybe I should run with you more often." I beamed with pride.

Suddenly, I was pulled into Lissa's mind and she was panicking. She had blood on her hands and what looked like a mangled animal on her bed. I set off in a sprint towards the Moroi dorms with Dimitri calling after me.

I didn't take the time to stop, I knew that Lissa needed me. I made it to Lissa's dorm, tracking her to the bathroom where she was dry heaving.

I pulled her into a hug and probed the bond, Darkness had been building within Lissa. While we were away, Lissa had developed techniques to control her darker impulses. Before we left she had started self-harming, but she had found better ways to manage and I had learnt how to share her burden.

I realised that I hadn't taken away the darkness from Lissa for weeks and this malicious prank was drawing her darker impulses to the surface. I pulled some darkness into myself until I felt Lissa gain control of herself.

Dimitri was examining the remains of the dead animal, it looked like an eviscerated fox.

"The smell of the animal blood appears to overpower the scent of others, I can't detect anything other than Lissa, Natalie and you." He murmured to me.

Dimitri used his radio to report the incident to Alberta, she arrived within minutes. I sent a text to my father, he called me straight away. Lissa was cleaning herself up in the bathroom while we waited for the guardians to investigate.

"How is Lissa?" He asked.

"She is a little shaken, but ok. I had to take on some of her feelings." I hadn't confided the extent of my bond to Dimitri and he didn't know about the darkness. I wanted to keep that information quiet for now.

"It will be alright Kiz, I'll have Alberta brief me. Does Lissa feel like she is being watched?"

I looked at Lissa and gently probed her emotions. She was scared, we left because she felt like someone was chasing her. She was worried that this would tip her over the edge and she had felt like someone was watching her today.

"Only recently has she had those feelings again." I replied.

"Don't worry Kiz, we have made contingency plans for you girls. I will keep you safe. I'll see you soon sweetheart." He ended the call, I knew he would be visiting in a few weeks and he had his informants keeping an eye out.

"What happened?" I heard behind me and I turned to see Natalie walking into their room. A bunch of Moroi girls were peering in from the hallway, trying to get a look at the scene.

She ran up to Lissa, putting her arm around her roommate. Alberta was getting the story off Lissa, probing her for greater detail. Lissa looked tired and pale, like she needed a feeder and Natalie started talking her ear off.

Dimitri looked at me and Lissa, he could tell that there was something that we weren't saying. Dimitri had finished his assessment of the room.

I spoke to Dimitri and Alberta. "Lissa looks like she needs a feed, maybe Natalie can take her to the feeders and I can get dinner for us to take back to my room. It will take a while for the room to get cleaned up and I don't think Liss will want to be in the cafeteria tonight."

Lissa spoke up "Could we stay with Rose tonight? I don't feel safe." Natalie nodded emphatically, she would do whatever Lissa and I wanted to do.

"Dimitri, will you escort Lissa to the feeders and guard them until midday? You were meant to patrol the wards, I can swap you with Celeste."

Dimitri agreed and I tried not to look at him. It was unlikely that he would do anything with Natalie and Lissa around, but I liked the idea of him being close.

Natalie and Lissa stayed on the fold out couch in my room. In the middle of the night I snuck out of my room. Dimitri was standing by the door with his arms crossed.

"Rose," He said with a warning tone, but his face softened when he saw mine.

I pressed myself against his side, slipping under his arm. He pulled me into a hug and lifted me up so I could scent his neck. I felt the tension leave my body and started to purr, and he softly growled in response.

He returned me to the floor, and gently stroked my cheek. He was so gentle with me, it directly contrasted with what I heard about alphas.

He kissed me lightly on the lips and tried to turn me back towards my room. I grabbed his collar and pulled him back down to my lips. I wrapped my legs around his waist and opened my mouth for his tongue to gain entry.

"Dimitri." I said breathlessly.

Suddenly he came alive and pulled me closer to him, forcing his tongue between my lips. I felt the heat rise within me and I pressed my core against his crotch. I moved my hands under his shirt and felt his muscular back while pulling myself tighter to him.

I felt him grow beneath me and I rubbed myself against him, feeling frustrated by the layers of fabric separating us. He growled louder as I pressed myself closer, rubbing myself against his bulge.

He turned me to press my back against the wall and he pressed himself against me. I ached for his hands to move down to my core. My tight little bud spasmed as I ground my hips against him. He skimmed my breasts until he found my nipples and he tweaked them hard.

I bit down hard on his shoulder when I started to feel a wave of pleasure flood through my body from my centre and he continued to provide friction until my limbs ceased their convulsions.

I slumped against his chest, heaving against him while I caught my breath. I started to work my hand into his pants before he stopped me. I could see he wanted me to touch him, but he slowly moved me off of him.

Instead of sharing the loving look emanating from me, he looked horrified. I felt like a bucket of cold water was dumped on my head.

"Roza, we shouldn't take this too far, I'm already risking both of our futures as it is. If anyone finds us doing more you will get expelled and I will be fired." This abruptly ground my post-orgasm haze to a halt and I fixed him with a stare.

"We are mates. I need you Dimitri." I gasped. I felt my heart ache, my soul needed to be close to him, I couldn't explain how much this was destroying me.

I craved his physical body and it was getting very difficult to control my desire for him, but it was so much more than that. My soul called out for him and it hurt for me to be apart from him. In some strange way, we had a bond stronger than what I had with Lissa.

"I need you too Roza, but you aren't 18 yet and we need to slow down. I need to maintain a level of professionalism." He said. "I'm on duty and you have two friends in your room."

"But Dimitri -" I started, my voice cracking. I felt like he was ending things with me.

"I have no impulse control when it comes to you. If we keep going I will claim you too early, they won't recognise us as a couple and inevitably we will get caught. All it will do will put both of our careers in jeopardy. I'm just trying to protect you."

I nodded at him, he had a point, but I still felt like he was rejecting me. He kissed my hand and quietly opened the door for me to return to my room. On a rational level I understood what he was saying, but I was impatient and I wanted things to happen between us right now.

He made complete sense, but I felt like there was a knife in my heart. I felt like I was being rejected by my mate.

AN: I had a lot of requests for updates. I have a few reasons why the updates are slow... I work a full on job, i'm moving interstate for work in two months and i'm trying to finish my first multi-chapter story - Reputation. Basically i'm doing my best and I want to produce a quality story.

I might get some hate re Rose's reaction at the end of this chapter, but I feel like I'm going somewhere with this.

Shout out to Peggy Walterman, I cant reply directly through PM but thank you for your reviews. I had originally planned for Dimitri to be the one to stop Charlie, but I wanted his response in this chapter and I thought this first scene wouldn't make sense if he had encountered Charlie in the cafeteria.

Also I'm not American, so sometimes I use different spelling for words like colour.