#Chapter 67: I owed him nothing

“Is everything alright, boss?” Kayden jogged up to me, sweaty and panting, squinting against the late morning sun. I raised an eyebrow at him. “Why do you ask that?” He shrugged, turning his body the same direction as mine. We stood shoulder to shoulder, watching our men sparring in pairs. “Just a feeling. You were pushing the guys pretty hard earlier.” “Wish I didn’t have to.” I narrowed my eyes, watching the soldiers carefully. Some of them were slipping, their reaction times slow. Slower than was acceptable. Having not seen active combat in months, they were getting lazy and comfortable, forgetting that we could be called back into battle at any time. The pack was out of earshot, all of them groaning and grunting loudly with exertion as they attempted to out-fight each other into submission, but I lowered my voice and turned around anyway, leading Kayden a few paces off in the opposite direction. “Think any of them can tell I’m distracted?” I asked my beta quietly.