"Your mommy is going to be here any minute, let's get your shoes on." I tell the little girl, placing her bag aside.Grabbing the Doc Martins from the bottom of the steps, I help Lottie into her shoes despite her whole 'independence' thing she has going on.Phoebe arrives exactly thirty seconds later, thanking us in a rush as she hurries back to her mate. The issue with rogues on the borders is never ending, last night her mate was ambushed and he's in pretty bad shape, hence why Lottie stayed with us."Do you think he's going to make it?" I ask Hardin softly, knowing how severe the damage to Phoebes mates chest is."I have to, for that little girls sake." Are the words Hardin responds with, solemnly."I should have been out there." I sigh."There were too many, you kept the pups safe and that's more important that anything else during war." Hardin says, gently grabbing my hand.Knowing how I feel about this, I suppose he's trying to comfort me. But I just look up at him, not comforte
We take our previous stance, and I make sure his posture is correct before running through the single move again. Jackson is a little fast to step, leading to a falter in movement."We're just going slow, don't worry about me hitting you." I muse, returning to my previous position.Jackson nods, and we repeat the move again, over and over until he perfects the step and block. Then we move on to the next part, repeating the first step before teaching him the second."Block up, and block down." I teach."Then we're both going to rock back for power, and hit together-" We move slowly as I talk, our staffs clashing lightly mid air as we step forwards again."Bam, right in the middle, right here. That's good placement." I praise, noticing his hands are facing down in staff grip."Now, I'm the aggressor, you're the defender. So once we hit, I'm going to lean back and thrust, you're going to step all the way back in cat stance and block inside." I tell him."Right leg forward, right hand low
"You're quite the spit fire aren't you?" Maddox chuckles, wiping the blood from his nose."Can't handle the heat?" I taunt, trying not to laugh at his glare."Can't handle the...I'm taking it easy on you." He argues, circling with me."You sure? You seem a little out of breath, do you need to take like a fifteen minute break?" I mockingly ask him.Despite being strangers, he reminds me a lot of Dom. Big and tough on the outside, but under the surface is a whole other person. Then again, I don't know him."I'm not out of breath!" He splutters in rage, absolutely appalled.I couldn't help but grin at the look on his face.Maddox swings for me, an attack that I swiftly dodge, dropping into a crouch and sharply kicking my leg out. He jumps over my leg, assuming he's bettered me when I twist my body to the right, bringing up my left leg and hooking my foot behind his knee. One yank, and I drag the Alpha down onto one knee."Not bad." He comments, brown eyes amused.With a hard kick, I let
"It's working, right?" I worry, edging forwards on the chair as my palms sweat a little.The doctor immediately nods, assuring me it is. The relief I feel is instant, like a breath of fresh air after being buried alive."I assumed otherwise, but yes. The Elders are planning to distribute this rod for wolves that wish to stay pup-free." The doctor tells me, which doesn't come as a surprise.I smile a little. "That's good, so everything is fine?" I double check, naturally feeling like there's something wrong every time I see a doctor."All good, don't worry." He assures me, patting my hand slightly in some attempt to provide comfort.Exhaling slowly, I smile in thanks and exit his clinic. Heading out to the car waiting for me, I jump in the passenger side."Is everything alright? Is it working?" Hardin asks, concerned that the rod is going to infect me or something.He never liked the idea of me having this unproven technology in my arm, but I knew the risks could be fixed with time, an
"She's gone." Hardin assures me, closing the office door behind him. I immediately feel the tension fading away. Beck and Hardin had followed the car Lorelei got into, ensuring that she did in fact leave pack ground. Completely for my benefit, and I'm very grateful."Good." I don't hide my relief."This deal between you and Maddox, are you certain he will hold up his end?" Hardin asks, leaning over the desk to read the form I'm filling out."The man doesn't favour war, and I made it perfectly clear that if he betrayed us, we would show no mercy." I assure Hardin, knowing he isn't completely comfortable with me making deals with other Alphas.I know it's not because of me, or my gender, it's because he hates the idea of someone talking down to me. Which happens a lot when Alphas are making alliances and deals, it's an ego thing."How long will he be training you for?" He asks."We agreed on six weeks, split over a period of three months. After that we'll receive ten wolves every secon
"You do NOT want to go there right now!" Hardin bares his canines, eyes ablaze with the fury I haven't seen in a while. Kind of hot."No, I don't! But if you refuse to just trust me on this, then I don't have another choice." I argue in a calmer tone than his."Don't talk to me about choices...you just brought a rogue onto our land, INTO OUR HOME. There are families! Mothers, children, newborn pups!" Hardin breathes heavily, his entire body trembling as he fights off the urge to shift and maul the girl.I felt the change, the bloodlust inside of me coming forth. Hardin is a reasonable man, just not when it comes to rogues. I felt hurt that he doesn't trust me to know what I'm doing."You knew I was going to help her-""I made it clear that it was staying in the cells!" He snarls bitterlyMy ears ring, and the entire mansion quakes with the sheer power of his beast. I immediately felt threatened, mate or not, my wolf wouldn't allow him to speak to me in such a way. Not after the way w
"Are you sure about this?" Jackson wearily eyes the female across the room."It'll be fine." I assure him cheerfully."You don't put a gun in the hands of a trigger happy serial killer." Jackson mutters.Always so over dramatic. I thought to myself, so badly wanting to roll my eyes at his concern."I'm teaching her defence, just to buy her a little time to get away from anyone that comes after her." I tell him.Heading over to Winter, I smile."This is Jackson, he's a close friend of mine so don't worry about anything. The most important thing is to pay attention to your opponent, be prepared for anything and they can't surprise you." I say, figuring she doesn't need the full rundown given she's been in the field her whole life."Can't I train with you?" She asks in a quiet voice, glancing hesitantly at Jackson over my shoulder."Jackson is new to defence training, it's easier for me to guide you both and correct you as it's happening than it is to actually be the one training with yo
"He should be here by now." I voice aloud, so on edge that I couldn't stop my leg bouncing impatiently.What if they've hurt him?"Stay here, and I mean it this time." I tell her firmly, giving her a firm look.Winter nods silently, so I take a leap of faith in trusting her and I rush from the temple in search for my mate.As I round the corner, arms wrap around my waist and quickly guide me back into the temple. Knowing his touch, I make sure he stays with me as we jog back inside."What took so long? Are they still here?" I worry, turning to face him only once we're inside and I know the Elders won't spill blood.The sight of Hardin's face makes my stomach churn. At the time same I felt the unmistaken rush of adrenaline surge through my veins, and my heart begins to pound. The familiar sensation of hunger rumbling through my wolf as she urges me to go hunting."I'm fine, better me than you." Hardin grabs my face, trying to get my attention, to keep me focused."Don't touch me, pleas