Sparring Cont'd

I felt Rogan’s lips seconds away from kissing me and although we’d barely talked or even knew each other I wasn’t going to stop him. I felt his hand pulling me in closer and I was just going with the motion but then there was a large noise from the trees that made us both jump. Rogan was up on his feet so fast I still laid on the ground with my head turned to the side and saw two squirrels chattering and chasing each other up the tree. It was a bit hysterical to me that squirrels took away the moment and then when I looked at Rogan he was in a fighter’s stance which made the whole thing seem ridiculous. I burst out laughing. “Are you going to beat up on some squirrels now?” Rogan looked down at me and started laughing.

He put out his hand to help me up which I accepted. “Hey, you wouldn’t want to be attacked by some rabid squirrels?”

“No, I wouldn’t want “rabid” squirrels to get me.” He pulled me up easily and I flew up again practically to his chest but this time I put my hands out to stop myself before causing us to be quite so intimate again.

He must have noticed and let me pull away. “Okay now, are you ready to spar?”

I put my hands up and did my best imitation of him a minute ago. “Sure let’s go!” Rogan laughed but he came at me using his hands and grabbing my waist then spilling me around as if I was a paper doll.

He laughed but also made his eyebrows frown, “See I shouldn’t be able to do that so easily Kellina. You can’t let people come at you like that, you could get hurt.” His face turned more serious and I knew he meant it.

I took a deep breath and let go of my fear, “Okay show me how not to let that happen.” I then lunged at Rogan who slowly but surely blocked my every move.

We kept going like that for hours and I finally started making some progress. I was frustrated but then a part of my inner studious self kicked in and I made my mind remember the actions and move with Rogan’s instructions. Rogan was a good teacher and surprisingly I felt stronger than I’d ever felt before because I could at least defend myself if I were attacked. We stopped for a drink of soda making me disappointed we hadn’t brought water but at least it helped cool me down a bit. I was surprised by how sweaty both of us were and realized we must have been going at it more than I thought. “You are doing really good Kellina. I didn’t think you would pick up on this stuff as fast with you being a priess…..” He stopped in his tracks as I’m sure I was glaring because I felt a rage in me unlike before with the words he was saying. I wanted him to stop making me different and wanted to be treated the same as everyone else.

“Priestess, that doesn’t make me that much different than you I hope you know. I’m still a part of the pack like you and still a werewolf. In less than two weeks I will have my wolf and that will be before you.” I took a step back realizing I was snapping at him.

Rogan put his arms up as if my words were making him feel helpless. “Hey, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. I know

I put my head down disappointed at myself for acting like that and found myself ashamed as I’d insulted my future alpha. “I’m sorry it’s just frustrating sometimes being born different without any control of what anyone thinks of you or what is expected out of you without anyone ever asking what you want.”

Rogan walked over and I felt his finger on my chin slowly pushing my face up to look directly at those beautiful dark chocolate eyes with silver flecks in them. “Um, I know you don’t think it but you are literally talking to someone who gets it.” I felt stupid for not thinking Rogan might get what I am thinking. It wasn’t as if he had a choice if he wanted to be Alpha either but here we were the future Alpha and a priestess helpless to make our own choices in so many ways. His face broke into a smile and there was something about his smile that instantly made me smile back.

“I’m sorry I didn’t think of it that way.” He pulled his hand away from my face and I found myself feeling the hints of electricity and wishing his hand was touching me again

“It isn’t all it’s cracked up to be all the time, huh?”

“Not always.” I shrugged and realized I needed to tell him something. “Can you just call me Kel?”

His head tilted and he smiled at me again. “Kel huh? Did I just get bumped up to the friend club at least?”

I laughed softly, “Well you kind of got bumped up as soon as you let me tackle you to the ground but now it’s official.”

“I like your sense of humor,” he chuckled. “So ready to go at it again?”

“I probably better check the time,” I went to my sweatshirt pocket and pulled it out with several text messages. I opened them up and saw three were from Reese asking how things were going, did you have sex yet, and demanding a report. Then I went to the next message and saw it was from a fellow priestess asking me what I was going to return as the High Priestess was expecting me for dinner. I looked at the time and saw it was already 5 pm. How did the time go so fast? “I have to go.” I looked sadly at Rogan’s face who looked just as sad as I.

“Oh, okay.”

“Sorry I sort of have to make it to the evening meal with the high priestess every single day of my life.” I shrugged.

“Right because she is your mom? I bet that is rough.”

“She isn’t my mom. I mean technically I guess in some ways but my parents died during the rogue attack when I was little so hence why I have to live there.”

“Well, maybe not for too much longer. I mean you will be 18 in a couple of weeks maybe you will meet your mate.” I nodded still with my head down. “I want to see you again.” He said it so abruptly I looked up and saw those silver specs swirling again causing the butterflies in my stomach to turn in the same motion. “I mean we can do this again to help you learn if you want.”

“Yeah, I’d like that. I just get stuck doing a lot of priestess stuff I don’t always know how to get out of.”

“So how did you make it today?”

“Truthfully?”

“Nothing less than the truth between us Kel.”