Chapter 16

“And why would I believe you helped me?” I snapped. I crossed my arms over my chest.

Maximus’s foot was still caught in the door. I couldn’t push past his massive frame and ignore him. So, I decided to piss him off. Maybe then he’d storm off in a rage again and I could go the fuck to sleep.

“I didn’t want a dead idiot on my porch,” Maximus sneered cold as ever.

“Well I didn’t die,” I snapped. “And I’m not dead so if you could please, move—”

I wrenched the door open but it didn’t move. I looked up and saw Maximus’s hand holding it half open. His body was smack in the middle. I narrowed my eyes at him.

“You’re going to get yourself killed,” he leered.

I tried the door again. “I will if I don’t get home—” I grunted and tried to shove myself past him. My arm was about to hit his when he flinched out of the way. His hand dropped the door and I scurried past him.

“Don’t fight Kairos,” he called as I ran up the stairs.

I stopped and turned around to look at him. For once, he genuinely looked sincere as he said it. I figured it was just a rouse to get me to submit to the almighty douchebags of Alpha Academy. I narrowed my eyes again, glaring down at him.

“Why not?” I challenged.

“It’s impossible,” Maximus said. “No wolfless has ever beaten him. Those that try and sent to the infirmary for months.”

I stood up straight. “Nothing is impossible,” I said, voice barely above a whisper. But Maximus seemed to hear it. He set his lips in a thin, angry line and all but punched the door open, going back into the night.

I rolled my eyes at his dramatics then walked the way up to my room. As I went into my room, quietly as I was sure that Loren had passed out by then, I noticed a note wedged in the frame. I slipped it into may hand as I walked into the darkness of my room.

Luckily my desk lamp was still on. I pushed the note into the light and marveled at the elegant script written across it.

Tomorrow. Same time. Same place.

I smiled. It was from Valentin. I tucked it deep within my desk before I went to get ready for bed. I would truly show Maximus that nothing was impossible.

The next morning, I walked into the gym just shy of six in the morning. Valentin was there, hair swooped back into a bun off his face. He was wearing a similar get up to my previous training session, though this one was a navy blue. It made his eyes stick out even more in the hazy morning glow.

“Good morning,” I smiled at him. He didn’t return it and my face fell. “What?”

“How much clearer did I need to be about Kairos?” he hissed. “I told you he was unbeatable at your current strength and you still challenge him?”

I scowled back at him. “Who’s your little spy on campus, telling you all this then? Is it Loren?”

“Miss Moonbeam would do it if I asked but, no,” Valentin shook his head. He took a step closer to me. His eyes pinned mine. “I am the Headmaster of this institution, Princess. I know everything that happens on my campus.”

His words set a shiver down my spine. I tried to not fidget and show him how affected I was by him. But I felt my hand twitch slightly. My heartbeat sounded in my ears. There was that gentle hum behind it. Valentin took a step back. It disappeared.

“You’re not fighting Kairos,” Valentin had an air of finality in his voice.

“I am,” I threw back.

“Your mother would be livid!” Valentin said, his voice raising slightly. “Have you even thought of how you’re going to deal with the aftermath? Kairos will break every bone you have, Zora.”

It was the first time he’d said my name. Usually he referred to me by my human last name or “Princess.” Something about my real name on his tongue made me feel butterflies in my chest. I ignored it and kept scowling at him.

“I have you to train me, don’t I?” I retorted.

“You do,” he said. “But two weeks isn’t enough time.”

“It is, you can help me. I know it,” I said.

Valentin’s lip twitched. I knew I got him. I kept going, taking a step towards him in the process. “Teach me, Valentin. Show me how to be a good wolf. Show me how to be strong.”

Valentin’s lip twitched again. My heartbeat was back in my ears, same with the humming. It increased again before Valentin licked his bottom lip and stepped away. He faced the way, away from me and ran a hand through his hair. The stray strands not in his bun flew off his face.

“Fine,” he bit out. “But you must practice without me! Every day.”

“I will,” I replied. “I—”

“And know this, Princess,” he threatened. “The moment you lose, your identity and your safety are mine to decide. I will tell everyone who you truly are. Whether your mother agrees or not.”

I nodded, afraid of how stern he was being. He truly meant it. “I was here last night,” I said. “I tried the run again. Did some shadow boing and core work.”

Valentin nodded. “Good,” he said. He turned back to face me. “You must know your strength will not be your advantage.”

I rolled my eyes. “Duh,” I looked back up at Valentin. His pupils had blown out, dark and wide. They neared made the white-yellow of his eyes disappear. His jaw ticked once. I slunk back on myself. Clearly, I hit a nerve.

“You’re flexible and fast,” Valentin said, he started to circle me. “But you’re all that for a human. You need to train yourself to be fast for a wolf. Better reaction times and higher precision.”

“And how do I do that?” I said. I crossed my arms over my chest. My eyes were following Valentin around as he circled me.

“There’s some drills I have in mind,” he said. “On top of that, we need to fix your posture. It’s atrocious.”

I snorted unattractively and rolled my eyes. Valentin disappeared behind me. Then I felt his hand, snake around my waist. My breath caught in my throat. The fire within me starting burning again, right where he held me. I felt his breath ghost over the shell of my ear. My entire spine started to burn as I shivered.

I bit down hard on my lip to escape the moan that was working it’s way up my throat. Valentin let out a sigh that shook me again.

“You roll your eyes one more time, Princess,” he whispered. “And we’re going to have bigger problems than this posture.”

My lips parted immediately. Something about the threat seemed so seductive, so tempting. My head fell back slightly. I felt Valentin’s nose trail down the line of my throat.

My heart was in my ears again. Along with that humming. The same “lub dub” I heared last time we trained. I ached in all parts of my body, burned in the ones not aching. I needed something. I needed him.

I slow clap broke me from my thoughts. I gasped as Valentin pulled himself away from me. Once again, the electricity was gone. The noises stopped and I was left cold and alone.

I looked up to see none other than Maximus walking across the gym, still clapping. He had a sick smirk on his face.

“Professor Lunerly,” he greeted. “I do have to say, it’s shocking to see you with the wolfless human. But I suppose the rumors are true. You do have a favorite student.”

“Wolfham,” Valentin said sternly. “This is a closed session. I’d like you to leave.”

“Closed session?” Maximus said, eyebrow arched. “I thought you only reserved those for the future High Alpha Princess.” He turned to look at me.

“Unless you’re trying to tell that little Miss Zora Smith is the Alpha Princess?”