Chapter 121

Harper’s POV

I stumble back as Jaxon’s fist collides with my shoulder. My arms whirl, and I try to catch myself by spinning, but I still end up on the ground. However, I don’t let myself linger. I jump back up and lunge at Jaxon, landing a kick to his side before grabbing him by the wrist, spinning, and jerking his arm behind his back.

“I give,” he calls, moving away when I release him. “Your shoulder alright?”

I nod. “Yeah. You pack a heavy punch, but I can heal… remember?”

“Doesn’t mean it’s painless.”

He’s right. It did hurt, but progress comes with pain sometimes.

“I’m fine, Jax. I promise.” I add a smile to confirm my words. I glance around the training grounds that have become incredibly familiar over the past three days and spot Lucas a few yards away. He’s checking on the guards the Council sent, making sure they’re settling in well with our pack members.

Again, his sweaty, just-worked-out look makes my chest tighten with desire. Is that what he’d look like in bed? All hot and mussed up with… holy moly.

I watch as Lucas yanks his shirt over his head, using it to wipe his sweat. Taut muscles flex as he lifts his arms and stretches, and something stirs within me. It burns and all I can think of is going over there and touching Lucas.

My feet move on their own, but the moment Lucas turns my direction, I freeze. I can’t move… can’t breathe as he smiles at me.

“Luna?”

“Hmm?”

A hand waves in front of my face, and all the sounds of the training field rush back in. The thud of bodies hitting the ground, the scrape of boots across the grass and dirt, the groans of pain… it all becomes louder as I come back to the present.

“Everything alright over here?”

I whirl around to find Lucas standing not even three feet away, his eyes moving over me and Jax.

“Yeah,” I squeak, my eyes falling to his muscular form.

“Oh yeah?” Lucas mutters. “Then why do you seem distracted?”

“I’m not… not distract—”

His hand flies out, and I dodge on instinct and move back as Lucas lowers into a fighting stance. My mate’s eyes narrow on me, watching me, and I have to force my mind to focus on the fight instead of his body.

A body I’d love to—

No.

Training now—other things… later?

Maybe.

Lucas moves, and so do I. I mirror his stance, remembering all the things he and Jax have drilled into me over the last three days. My opponents are larger and stronger than me, so I need to use my speed and wit to defeat them.

Again, Lucas makes the first move. He reaches for me, grabbing me by the arm, but I ram my foot behind his knee. The moment his grip loosens, I spin away and jab my elbow into his back. He grunts.

Then, Jax jumps in. He tries to pin me with my arms behind my back, but I drop my body weight and break from the hold. I duck low, twist out of his reach, and then slam my elbow back into his ribs with enough force to knock the air out of his lungs.

A broken wheeze flies from Jax, but I don’t have time to pay attention because Lucas is on me. In any other instance, I might like that he wraps his arms around me, but this isn’t personal time. So, I slam my booted foot down on Lucas’s foot and throw my head back.

Of course, he dodges the headbutt, but he releases me anyway. Before he has time to recover from my foot stomping, I dart forward, kneel down, and sweep his feet out from under him. He grunts but catches himself before he can fall to the ground.

“Dang it,” I curse in irritation, trying to steady my breathing.

Then, Jax and Lucas lunge at the same time. I duck and roll out of the way, letting them collide together while I jump back up. I plant my foot in Jax’s back, sending him to the ground, and then spin to punch Lucas in the gut.

I feel guilty for my next hit, but I still slam my knee into his forehead.

Then, both men are on the ground.

“Did I just win?” I ask, shock flooding my system. “Wait… you didn’t let me win, did you? I told you I didn’t want anyone going easy on me because—”

“You won fair and square,” Lucas chuckles and stands. He pulls Jax to his feet, and I step back to give them space. The men around us laugh and jeer at Jax as he rejoins them.

“Good. I don’t want special treatment,” I say, placing a hand over the ache in my side. I let my healing magic flow into the growing bruise before touching Lucas’s forehead and stomach to heal anything I might’ve hurt when I hit him.

Not that he’s fragile. No. Lucas is all muscle.

His tight abs flex beneath my fingers. Goddess, help me.

“That was ruthless, Luna Harper!” Someone shouts behind me. I smile at the warriors behind me, feeling proud to get their praise, even if it’s telling me I’m being ruthless.

“Well, I have to be,” I tell them while pushing damp, sweaty hair from my face. “I can’t always lean on my mate for protection.” The words are out of my mouth before I realize what I’m saying, and everyone goes silent. Fights stop, eyes turn to me, and everyone stares.

Crap.

Slowly, I turn and find Lucas watching me. He’s only a few feet away, standing there with his eyes glued to me. They flicker golden, glowing with an intense heat that makes me stiffen. His wolf… Levi is watching me.

“What did you call me?” He asks, his voice low and rumbly. It’s rough like a command, but soft enough that I want to answer him.

Did I just call him my mate out loud? I search through my mind, trying to remember if I’ve ever done that before, but I come up blank. Was that the first time? I’d gotten used to the idea of trusting Lucas again that it feels natural to be around him again.

The last few days, our time together after Erie and I reunited, has been amazing, but I didn’t realize how my mind and heart changed in such a short time. My mouth had let the words loose before I could think it through, but I don’t regret it. Lucas is my mate.

“Ours,” Erie purrs, rubbing against the barrier between us.

Piece by piece—moment by moment, I’d forgiven Lucas. I haven’t admitted it out loud, but he’s my safe space, the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. He’s the man the Goddess chose to be my perfect partner, and I’m tired of fighting that.

Something in Lucas’s eyes changes, and they fade back to that beautiful blue I’m used to. He moves slowly, like he doesn’t want to scare me, until he’s standing right in front of me. I don’t move. Not even as he cups my face in his palms and searches my eyes.

“Say it again,” he whispers.

“I…” my voice cracks under the emotional weight. The silence is deafening, so I repeat myself. “You’re my mate, Lucas.”

“And you’re mine,” he murmurs before lowering his forehead to mine.