Chapter 30

Ardal

I can’t stop fidgeting. I’m not pacing anymore, but my fingers still twitch at my sides or mindlessly brushing escaped hairs out my face every few seconds.

I’m supposed to be meeting with Kadeem for another training session. It’s the first time I’ll see him since the incident at the studio or after I made the call to Merrick. I have no idea what to expect, but I know I need to appear perfectly normal so Kadeem doesn’t somehow get suspicious.

Taking a deep breath, I straighten my arms at my sides, contemplating if I should do some stretching. However, my shoulders are soon jumping as I hear the door to the training room open.

I sense him immediately - my body perfectly aware of his every move despite my back being turned to him. Slowly, I swivel, my eyes locking on Kadeem just as he comes to a stop. He stands at least ten feet away, his arms crossing over his chest.

“Hair up, gloves on,” he orders before he nods toward the ring. “Let’s go.”

Brows beginning to pull together, Kadeem doesn’t even wait for my reaction as he turns away, heading straight into the ring. And as much as I don’t want to, I follow his request as I tie my hair back and slide my training gloves on.

Finally, I enter the ring, my feet planting as I wait since Kadeem now has his back to me. He eventually turns though, giving me a firm look before he nods.

I don’t know what I was expecting exactly, but it wasn’t this. Maybe I thought he’d tease me, corner me again as he brought up the kiss. But instead, he’s straight to business.

I should probably count my blessings - especially because I don’t want to discuss the kiss either. I want to forget it ever happened. But it still lingers in my mind along with the image of him stealing Silas’s hair off of my son’s shoulder.

Taking more steps forward, I meet up with Kadeem until we’re three feet away from one another. There, we continue to hold each other’s gaze as we ready our hands, find the proper placement of our feet.

“On your cue, Chels,” he draws out, the nickname sending a shock through me. Only, it also has me throwing out a punch.

As I expected, Kadeem blocks it, unbothered as my hand swiftly goes back to its previous position. And then, we soon fall into our dance again.

We circle each other, huffing out breaths and hissing through our teeth as we both strike toward one another just to be blocked or dodged. Kadeem’s eyes are focused, never leaving mine even as he ducks or steps back.

But mine never leave his either, they stay right on him even as I shift my weight to avoid a punch meant for my jaw. I’m a little surprised I wasn’t hit as his hand nearly skims me, but I’m lighter on my feet today.

“You’ve been training,” Kadeem comments, seeming to notice too. However, I don’t respond as I try to land a blow on his shoulder, just for him to rock out of the way.

“Faster,” he says. “You hesitated and missed your opening. And next time, aim for the nose instead.”

As if trying to show me, Kadeem repeats the same punch he just tried before, allowing me to step out of the way again before I quickly aim a fist to his nose. Only, Kadeem still manages to avoid my hit despite his previous suggestion.

“Good,” he says with a nod. “Any other wolf wouldn’t expect that. You’d break their nose easily.”

I pant in response, my brows pulling together. But soon Kadeem is speaking again.

“Tighten your stance,” he says, nodding down to my legs. “The longer you fight, the looser it becomes. It might feel tight, but your muscles are just tired.”

Following his advice again, I adjust my body, getting another nod of approval.

“Okay, now try the same combination you did at the beginning, but this time - start with your left,” he stated.

Kadeem and I continue like that, still fighting as he guides me through different exercises, makes improvements as needed. At first, it was a little annoying, but when I see my fist nearly hit him - and not just because he lets me - I feel a warmth of realization.

Even though Kadeem asked me to train him - he’s the one training me. I’m not sure why, but it’s as if he wants me to improve, wants me to be able to defend myself under any circumstances. And as odd as it is, I let him.

I’m too enthralled with the quick progress I make due to his adjustments. It almost makes me want to laugh, especially as he stops talking as though he believes I now have things under control.

In fact, a smile does manage to sneak onto my face as I throw a few more punches - and I swear I see one on his too. Only, both of our features go blank as I strike out once more, just for him to catch and hold my fist within his hand.

Shit. He’d still been going easy on me. I’m certain he’s going to teach me another lesson by twisting my arm behind my back, but instead he continues to hold my fist as he lowers it.

“Change,” he says as he releases me. But then he reaches up as I watch him, soft huffs escaping my lips. However, I nearly lose all the air from my lungs as Kadeem pulls off his shirt, his scent wafting toward me as his chest becomes bare.

“We’re going back to the pool.”

~

This is a bad idea. Everything in me knows this is a bad idea. Kadeem and me back in the water?

It’s sure to lead to a disaster.

So far, our track record with water hasn’t been good, which only makes me more indifferent as I head to the pool area. But whether I like it or not, I can’t run from this. It’s what I agreed to.

Finally, pushing through the doorway I’m quick to stop as I see Kadeem already standing at the pool’s edge. I’m shocked to find him there as I would have expected him pinned to the wall so he could be as far away from the water as possible. However, he’s not even trembling as he stares down at the blue ripples at his feet.

Allowing the door to slip from my grasp, the sound of it closing causes Kadeem to turn back. Again, his eyes meet mine and hold as I walk closer, practically feeling like I’m being reeled in. I think to stop sooner, but still I continue forward before I’m standing at the edge as well - two feet from him.

“I don’t bite,” he states as he nods at the distance between us. His sudden comment has me narrowing my eyes at him.

Liar. We both know he bites - he’d proven that back on the bank.

Memories threaten to fill my head again, but I wave them away as I shake my head - my attention falling on him again. Only, he’s smiling at me.

“Something on your mind?” he asks with a knowing look.

“No,” I clip out.

“You sure?” he asks, turning more toward me. I’m able to get a better look at him and - holy Goddess - it’s so annoying how good he looks. I don’t even realize I’m staring at the muscles at his chest until he clears his throat.

“You certainly seem like you’re thinking about something,” he says as my eyes snap up, discovering he’s wearing a smirk.

“Kadeem,” I warn as if I give him a scowl. Only, he’s not deterred as he takes a step forward.

“You want to know what I’m thinking about?” he asks, threatening to take another step.

“No,” I state firmly.

“You sure?” he asks, officially taking that next step. He’s basically a foot away now, causing me to feel the heat radiating from his body - I resist the urge to swallow.

“Come on, Chels,” he murmurs, giving me a jumpstart as he uses the nickname again. “Tell me.”

And then I see it, his hand raising, ready to brush against my face. However, I quickly jerk back, seconds before I reach for his shoulders, swivel, and immediately throw him into the water.

Only, Kadeem manages to grab onto my wrist…

Tugging me along with him.