Chapter 16

Susan

Following the incident with Ardal in the locker room, Susan left for the day - claiming she wasn’t feeling well. She called her mother during her drive home, letting her know Susan needed to see her immediately.

Due to living so close, Susan arrived at her house quickly, causing her to storm through the door as she remained unnerved. Her anger even caused her to knock over a few vases and photos, leaving glass to scatter to the ground.

But just as she was about to turnover her entire entryway table, her mother’s voice coming through the front door stopped her.

“What is the meaning of this?” her mother asked, studying the glass and Susan’s wild state.

“That stupid bitch at work is trying to steal Kadeem!” Susan yelled quickly, hungry to destroy something else. However, she couldn’t move under her mother’s thoughtful gaze.

“Smashing things won’t solve your problems,” the woman scolded, clicking your tongue. “Only getting pregnant will.”

Susan harshly sighed as she knew her mother was right. Her hands went to her stomach, cradling herself and the baby that wasn’t actually there.

She’d been lying to Kadeem - telling him that she’d become pregnant and faking symptoms. She’d even bribed her doctor, paying him generously to uphold her lies as he offered forged test results and ultrasounds.

But it was for the best. She needed Kadeem to believe the pregnancy in order to keep his favor. The only problem was - there wasn’t actually a baby, and she knew she wouldn’t be successful unless she managed to become pregnant.

“Seduce him tonight,” her mother said then. “Do whatever you can. But make sure you get pregnant.”

Ardal

When I enter the ring, Kadeem and I waste no time before we prepare for our own fight. Already, we are studying one another, considering our opponent as we take our stances. And because there are no refs or bells, I wait for Kadeem to nod before we begin.

Just like him and the other wolf, we circle each other, getting closer as we look for our openings. However, I wait for Kadeem to strike first.

I see the movement before he swings his left fist forward, causing me to slide back so his hand only meets the air. I then block his right hook that I knew he would throw at me next, keeping my feet steady as he steps back.

“You’re quick,” he says, semi mocking me as we focus on each other again. “I guess that gold medal is worth something after all.”

From there, Kadeem continues to swing at me, leaving me to dodge and block wherever I can. However, he also does the same whenever I try to land a blow, leaving us both unable to hurt the other.

It’s like a dance and both of us work up a sweat as we go. I can tell Kadeem’s punches are becoming firmer as he notices my strength. After all, I’m not like Susan or any of the other women he may have trained.

I was a Beta - to his own pack. And as a Beta, I’m sturdier and have long-lasting endurance. I can keep up better than most, and I don’t plan to let Kadeem catch me slacking.

As we continue, a crowd begins to form on the edges of the ring, people obviously enjoying the scene as I don’t crumble against Kadeem’s power within seconds. But as more time goes by, Kadeem seems to only become stronger.

He was going easy on me - I realize. He’d started the fight by only using some of his strength to see how much I can withstand. But even as his blows become harder, I block them confidently.

Kadeem seems impressed too, I can see it in his eyes as he tries to land a fist against my face that I immediately knock away. However, I know if he only continues to make his strikes harder and faster that I’ll have more problems stopping him. I may have been a Beta, but he still has the skills of an Alpha.

Still, I refuse to accept defeat even now as I begin to pant. Even if he inevitably knocks me down, I swear to myself that I’ll get up and keep fighting.

Only, Kadeem seems to also notice my determination, realizing I’ll only stop if I’m knocked out. It’s foolish on my part as I know I’ll only get hurt, but I can’t stop.

Gritting my teeth, I finally send another blow toward him, knowing it won’t land. However, I’m startled as I see Kadeem remain still, not blocking like I expected.

Instead, my fist hits his face hard, causing his head to snap to the side a little. Only, my instincts continue to take over, causing me to deliver another quick punch to his side. As he’s trying to recover, it gives me the perfect opening to then shift, forcing him to the ground as I sweep his legs out from under him.

And much to my disbelief, Kadeem goes crashing down to the ground.

However, as he falls, I don’t manage to step back fast enough, causing me to catch my foot on his leg. Within seconds, I’m stumbling, falling toward the ground as well. I’m unable to stop myself, leaving me to fall right ontop of Kadeem. closer, my fist disappearing as water is suddenly shooting out toward me.

I step back from the spray, blocking my face as I realize Kadeem is the one who released the water. I figure he planned to use his power to blindside me. Especially as my foot slips on the water, sending me to the ground.

“Huh…” he says with a pant as we look at one another. His face is only a few inches from mine, making my throat tight. I can feel his heart beating firmly against my palms pressed to his chest. “I guess you beat me.”

It’s subtle, but I notice the wickedness behind his eyes, a sort of amusement. It almost makes my breath catch as I realize the truth.

I hadn’t caught Kadeem off guard - I hadn’t outsmarted him. He let me win.

I stare at him, struggling for words as I’m breathless and the crowd along the sides stands in shock before they begin to cheer.

But then I can no longer hear them as my body still lies on top of Kadeem. And I swear I can feel something firm against my stomach - right where his crotch presses against me.

Startled, I pull myself away from him, standing to my feet as I immediately go to drink water. I feel a pair of eyes follow me as I go - and since the crowd has now disappeared…I have to assume it’s Kadeem who stares at me.

Wanting to confirm my suspicion, I turn to look back, still sipping my water. However, the bottle nearly slips out of my hand as I discover Kadeem is now right in front of me, only drawing closer. He doesn’t stop, causing me to retreat until my back meets some equipment and leaves me pinned.

And then Kadeem stops a foot away, caging me in with his arms as he pressed his palms to equipment behind me.

“Nice work,” he murmurs. “You did well.”

I breathe as I stare at him, my head growing foggy as his scent overwhelms me. I can feel heat pooling in my stomach, bringing an ache between my legs.

No, I try to say. But already my wolf is stirring inside of me, waking up again as she notices Kadeem nearby. She doesn’t know what to fully make of him, but I know she wants him.

In turn, I watch as Kadeem’s own nostrils seem to flare as if taking in my scent. I pray even through the sweat that he can’t smell me. I need to make sure he doesn’t.

“Why did you let me win?” I ask, trying to distract us both as his gaze starts to roam me.

“Who says that I did?” he asks quietly - his tone like honey, making me want to sigh.

“You stopped fighting - you didn’t even try to stop me,” I manage to say, remembering how he’d grown still right before I punched him.

Kadeem’s eyes finally come back to mine, causing me to swallow and freeze as I notice their heat. But then he pauses too, as if waiting for something to happen. But then his body begins to lean toward mine again.

I want to gasp as his voice draws closer, unable to pull back as the equipment is still behind me. As he closes the distance between us, my wolf is only growing more restless as she notices him, causing me to nearly allow my eyes to flash down to his lips.

Only, I keep my stare on his as Kadeem eventually stops, his breath brushing my face and making my knees wobble. Why is he so close? What does he want from me?

“Do you have a swimsuit with you?” Kadeem asks suddenly.

“What?” I breathe, surprised by his strange question.

“A swimsuit,” he repeats. “Do you have one in your locker?”

Slowly, I nod, still confused.

“Good,” he says then. “Go change into it.”

“What? Why?” I ask.

“Because,” he breathes, momentarily putting me at a loss as I scent him again. “We’re moving on to the next part of our lesson. You’re going to teach me to swim.”

Teach him to swim?

“Why?” I question, now becoming more focused on his words rather than him.

“I have an…aversion to water,” Kadeem says plainly. “I need to get over it, so I need you to help me.”

An aversion to water? My eyes study his, trying to find answers in his unreadable gaze. I don’t remember Kadeem ever being afraid of the water - he’d never shown signs of the fear six years ago.

What happened between then and now to make him afraid? Was there an accident? Had he nearly drowned?

I want to ask these questions, but my lips can’t form the words. Instead, the wheels in my head are still turning, suddenly thinking of Mateo and the card he’d given me.

A hypnotist…is this why Kadeem had befriended a hypnotist?

“Go change,” Kadeem says then, his body pulling away from mine finally. “I’ll meet you at the pool.”