Chapter 14

Lyra

Honestly, I was just as surprised by my combat skills in sparring class as anyone else. I had never really fought before, so the fact that I had managed to beat Cassidy—at least, until Kael stepped in and cut it short—was completely unexpected.

“It’s in our blood,” Jade said as I dripped sweat onto the sand. The sun was hot today despite the fall weather, although the feeling of it beating on the back of my neck was oddly soothing. “Even though we can’t shift yet, we’re still Alphas. Mother and Father would be proud.”

I clenched my jaw against the wave of emotion that threatened to overcome me at the mention of my dead parents and forcefully punched the dummy. The resounding thwack of my fist hitting the training dummy’s stomach echoed satisfyingly across the outdoor training yard.

“I only want to think of making them proud once I save Silvercrest,” I replied, whirling around to give the dummy a firm kick.

Jade sighed. “And what is your plan again, exactly?”

Another jab. “Build up my strength.” Kick. “Become designated as Alpha next year. And then, when the moment is right—”

“You’re doing it all wrong.”

The sound of Kael’s voice made my next punch hit the dummy even harder. Pain shot up my arm at the impact, and I winced, reeling back so hard I stumbled and nearly fell on my ass. I would have fallen had I not stumbled back into a firm chest, warm arms wrapping around me from behind.

“You’re angling your wrist and hitting with your hand,” Kael said, standing me upright again like a mannequin. “You should be punching with your shoulder. The power comes from the swing, not the actual impact itself.”

I pressed my lips into a thin line. “Thanks. But I can handle it myself.”

Kael clicked his tongue. “Sure, if you want to break your wrist next time.”

Dammit, he was right. I really didn’t have any formal training. Not in this life, and not in my last.

“Here,” Kael said, stepping closer again. “Let me show you.”

Before I could protest, he was wrapping his arms around me again. His right hand came to rest over mine, curling my smaller fist into his larger one so that his fingers nearly completely engulfed mine.

My heart began to pound a frantic rhythm as he slowly drew our arms back, left hand gently tugging my hips closer to his.

“Like this.”

He arced my arm back, shoulder pressing against his chest, then slowly pushed forward again. Just before our fists connected with the dummy, he rotated our wrists counterclockwise.

“See?”

But I wasn’t listening. The proximity of his body, the warmth of his skin radiating through his clothes, the hard planes of his muscles pressing into my back… It was all too much. Even Jade, for all of her wisdom, began to roil with excitement at the closeness of our mate.

Because that was what he still was, despite everything. My mate. The one who was fated to me no matter how much I wished he wasn’t.

And it wasn’t just the proximity, either. It was the fact that he was carefully teaching me. As if he cared. As if, in my past life, he hadn’t refused to train me when I’d asked.

As if he hadn’t trained Bianca instead.

I still remembered that day like it happened yesterday. I had asked Kael to train me and he had outright refused, claiming that a wolfless learning combat was a waste of time. And then Bianca had asked him to train her right after, and he had immediately taken it upon himself to have private lessons with her every fucking morning.

During those days, I had secretly watched from behind pillars and bushes, listening to their lessons. Listening to the careful way he instructed her. Watching how he touched her just like he was touching me right now.

I had gleaned what I could from those lessons, picked up a few tricks that I practiced in the privacy of my room late at night when no one could stop me or judge me. But without proper training, I had never been able to hone my skills.

And now… What had changed? Kael was offering to train me without even asking for permission. He was holding me just as he had once held Bianca, the woman who I knew he would still choose after me.

None of it made a damn lick of sense.

“You’re distracted.” Kael leaned closer, his voice pulling me out of my reverie. “If you don’t focus during combat, you’ll get yourself killed.”

I couldn’t help it. The feeling of his breath tickling my hair made me shiver. I tried to pull away before he could notice, but it was too late.

I half expected him to shove me away, but to my surprise, he tugged me a little closer so the back of my body was fully flush with his now.

Dipping his head so his lips brushed the shell of my ear, he murmured, “You used to like this. It seems like you still do.”

My eyes went as wide as saucers. He was referring to the days before he distanced himself, back when we were close. Back when he would make me laugh or shiver with anticipation.

Before he suddenly turned into the cold bastard he was now.

A pang shot through my chest as I realized that he was just tormenting me, likely because I had pissed him off one too many times over the past few days. Finally regaining my composure, I shoved him away and put some much-needed distance between us.

“Stop it,” I ordered, already turning to leave. “That’s inappropriate.”

Kael didn’t say anything as I walked away, although I could feel his eyes burning into me long after I slipped into the locker room.

Only once I was alone did the tears fall, which was a mercy considering how hard it was to hold them back just then. I stumbled over to the bathroom sink and clutched the cool marble, inhaling deeply in an attempt to quell the wave of emotions.

Red-rimmed blue eyes met mine in the mirror. I felt pathetic, crying like this, like some kind of lovesick fool.

Hadn’t I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t fall for him again? Hadn’t I been so fucking certain that he wouldn’t affect me anymore?

And yet here I was, crying over his torment like the same naive girl I was in my past life.

I shook my head, angrily wiping away my tears. I could feel the heartache all I wanted, but I wasn’t going to get close to him. Never again.

There was no forgiving what he had done to me.

Finally, after a few moments, the tears began to subside and I managed to shove the feelings back down where they belonged, buried deep within the dark pit of my stomach. I splashed some water on my face and smoothed down my hair, taking one last look at myself in the mirror.

I gasped and whirled around as I noticed a familiar form standing in the doorway behind me.

“Cassidy,” I said, pressing my hand to my chest. “I didn’t know you were standing there—”

“There you are, bitch.” Cassidy stormed forward and gripped my shirt tightly, pressing me against the sink. “You’re trying to seduce your adoptive brother, aren’t you?”