4:Strip!

I couldn't concentrate on my training. I was always clear headed and focused when it came to morning training, but after the steaming kiss I shared with Alpha Gabriel and the possibility that he might actually have feelings for me in return, I was a disillusioned mess.

I needed to think.

It didn't help when I saw him step outside and walk towards us, his bare toned body gleaming like a perfectly sculptured god. His eyes met mine and the intensity made me shiver with need.

"Move into pairs",he called out, looking away from me finally. I thought he would pair up with me, but I guess that was too much wishful thinking.

Alec and Medea had arrived and they waved at me. I smiled and waved back, watching as the other shewolves arrived and began to pair up with the warriors.

I wasn't surprised when I saw Declan moving towards me and I smiled as he approached.

"I guess I get to pair up with you today",he smiled as he stopped in front of me.

"I'll try to go easy on you",I told him and he laughed, taking a fighting stance.

I made the mistake of gazing at Alpha Gabriel and I saw him coaching a young she-wolf. I knew the girl, Natasha Ives, the queen bee of Blackwood city. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as she giggled uncontrollably. Alpha Gabriel kept trying to show her some punch moves but she kept staring at his face, batting her lashes like a ridiculous imbecile.

"What a bitch",Moon snarled within me. Obviously she disliked Natasha as much as I did.

"I agree with you on that",I said to Moon and was about to turn around and face Declan when I felt a hard punch in my guts.

I grunted and fell back on my butt. The punch had knocked the breath out of me and I glared up at him.

"Try to focus, beautiful",he said with a smile and offered his hand to help me up.

The sweet endearment did nothing to allay my anger and I slapped his hand away, getting up on my own.

"Let's show him what we've got",Moon said and I could feel her itching to land a much harder punch on Declan's smiling face.

"Game on",I mutter back to her and charged at Declan.

...

Fifteen minutes later, I collapsed on the ground breathing hard. I had managed to land just one punch on Declan's jaw, but because I couldn't stop staring at Natasha as she clung to Alpha Gabriel, I wasn't focused.

"What's wrong Serenity? You used to be better than this",Declan squatted before me, his eyes filled with concern. I wanted to be mad but I knew it wasn't his fault. I just couldn't concentrate when Alpha Gabriel was a few meters away from me.

"I don't know",I lied and ran a hand through my hair. "I think it's because of what occured yesterday"

"You don't have to worry about that. No one can hurt you",Declan said kindly and offered his hand again to help me up. This time, I accepted it and he pulled me up, straight into his embrace.

I wanted to step away but Declan had one arm around my waist, keeping me in place. I stared into his deep blue eyes and saw the longing hidden within.

"Declan...",I said softly. I didn't want the other warriors to notice us.

"Why don't you accept me, Serenity?",he asked, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "I really like you, and I'll love to spend time with you"

"Declan you know we can't",I tried to reason with him. "We're both going to turn twenty next year, and we will find our mates. Whatever you think you feel for me will be gone the moment you find her"

"But I feel you're my mate",Declan said calmly.

"Oh no, we can't let him fall in love with us",Moon panicked in my head. I understood her panic. If Declan fell for me, he wouldn't be able to easily let me go even after he finds his mate. And it would not only cause him pain, but also me, my mate and his mate.

I couldn't let that happen.

"What if we're not mates?",I asked desperately. The earnestness in his eyes terrified me. I had never witnessed such raw emotions in my entire life.

"I believe the moon goddess knows our hearts",Declan answered with a small smile. "I really want to be mated to you"

"But we don't",Moon said and I had to agree with her. If the moon goddess really knows what we desire in our hearts, then she would know my heart longed for Alpha Gabriel. He was the only man I wanted.

"Declan...",I began when suddenly someone spinned me out of Declan's arms. My back connected with a hard muscled chest and I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

His voice sent pleasurable shivers down my entire body when he spoke.

"I believe you need another partner, Declan",Alpha Gabriel spoke calmly but I could hear the supressed anger in his voice. I had disobeyed him after he told me to stay away from Declan. I just hope Declan wouldn't be punished.

"I apologize, Alpha",Declan bowed his head deeply, a sign of respect for his alpha. "We were just taking a break. We will continue training now"

"Go pair up with Natasha",Alpha Gabriel ordered.

"Yes, Alpha",Declan bowed again and walked away.

Now that it was just Alpha Gabriel and I, I felt fear. Not fear that he would lash out at me for disobeying him, but fear of what would occur between us.

I was already a scattered mess, unfocused and mentally unstable from his kiss. If something happened between us again, I didn't think I would be able to handle it.

"Alpha...",I began but he cut me short.

"I warned you to stay away from him",Alpha Gabriel said and whipped me around. My eyes connected with his and I gulped. The anger in his expression was evident.

"He offered to pair up with me",I tried to defend myself.

"You don't listen",Alpha Gabriel continued and he grabbed my hand. "And that's why I'm going to punish you"

My heart leaped and I felt desire cloud my brain. "I did nothing wrong",I said.

"You disobeyed me"

"It wasn't intentional",I argued.

"Quiet, Serenity", again he said my name in that peculiar way that made my knees week. "Come with me"

"Oh, Alpha please...",I pleaded and tried to tug my hand out of his grip.

"Don't struggle. Just come",Alpha Gabriel stared at me straight in the eye, warning me without words that I shouldn't resist in the presence of his warriors.

Accepting defeat, I lowered my head and followed him back into the mansion. For some strange reason, I wasn't terrified.

I was expectant because I knew when Alpha Gabriel said he would punish me, he wasn't talking about a real punishment.

He meant something else.

...

Alpha Gabriel

I couldn't deny the feeling of rage I felt when I saw Declan's arms around Serenity. I knew I had to right to be pissed because she wasn't my mate.

Yet.

But seeing her in another man's arms made me burn with rage. Even Spirit growled threateningly in my head, which came as a surprise to me because he never showed any possessive attitude towards Serenity.

I pulled Serenity into the house with me and climbed up the stairs, slowing my pace so she could keep up.

I tried to control the anger I was feeling but it was impossible. I needed to place some sort of claim over her before my anger would subside.

I got to my room which was at the top of the mansion and tugged Serenity into the room with me.

"Alpha...",she began but I shook my head.

"Don't say a word",I ordered and took her towards the large king-size bed. How many nights had I envisioned her in my arms here, moaning out my name as I made love to her?

"Countless",Spirit answered me. He wasn't one to talk much and I was surprised he did.

"Don't try to stop me",I told him.

"I won't",Spirit answered instantly and retreated to the back of my head.

I sat on the side of the bed and positioned Serenity between my legs. I could feel my hardness pushing against the front of my pants but I ignored it.

"Turn around, Serenity",I said calmly.

I could see that Serenity anticipated her punishment and a small smile lifted my lips. I was going to enjoy this.

She slowly turned, giving me a perfect view of her round backside and sexy hips. I sucked in a sharp breath and I felt Spirit come alive in my mind.

"Do you know how I'm going to punish you?",I asked her in a voice that had gone husky.

"No, Alpha",she whispered and I could hear the longing in her voice.

"I'm going to spank that nice ass of yours until you plead for mercy. That will teach you never to disobey me",I told her, keeping my eyes fixed on her heart shaped backside. I was slowly going crazy.

My eyes shifted into golden orbs as I issued my next command.

"Strip"