Chapter 53 I screamed and fell to my knees.

Chapter 53 I screamed and fell to my knees.
Arel

I watched her spar with Harrold for ten minutes, and every second of it made me want to kick that warrior off the field. When he landed a hard punch to her stomach, I could barely hold myself back. But she just smiled at him like it was nothing.

She shook it off and flipped her hair, acting like she did not feel a thing. Then she got serious and started throwing heavy punches before swinging hard on her left side. That put the warrior on the ground in no time.

Harrold got up fast and came at her. But I think she knew what was coming because she moved quick to the side and threw her knuckles right into his jaw. He did not expect that. He stumbled back, hissing from the pain.

Next thing I knew, I was walking to the middle of the training ground.

"Enough, Harrold. Find someone else to fight with," I said. They both turned to look at me. Harrold bowed and ran off without saying anything.

But my Leona just stood there with an annoyed look on her face. Hands on her hips. Lips pressed together. Then she finally spoke. "I want to train. You can not just walk in here and chase my partner away like that."

I laughed and pulled my shirt over my head, throwing it on the ground. I flexed a little, just to mess with her. "I did not say you are done training. I will train with you for the rest of the morning." I let myself smirk.

Her mouth fell open. But I saw it. Her eyes went black for just a second while she looked at my body.

My wolf felt happy seeing our mate check us out.

"That is not fair! How am I supposed to focus when you are standing there naked in front of me!" Her voice came out soft but angry. If I did not have wolf hearing, I would have missed it. She pressed her legs together slowly, like she thought I would not notice.

She dropped her head and bit her lip, trying to calm her breathing before looking back at me.

I got into position and then said, "We are even. You think I can focus when you look that good in your training clothes? If you do not want me distracting you, put on a shirt next time and leave that sports bra in my bedroom."

"Ewww, since when did sports bras become sexy? Do not worry. Next time I will wear a potato sack to training." She glared at me and got into her position.

"You could wear a trash bag and still look sexy, princess."

Her eyes went wide. Her cheeks turned red. "Are you flirting with me, Alpha?"

"Maybe. Are you still not used to it?" I tilted my head, watching her.

"Oh, I could never get used to how you act. One moment you are hot and the next you are cold." She rolled her eyes and stood up straight, letting out a long breath.

"Stop flirting back and just throw some punches at me," I teased her, clapping my hands.

"Excuse me, I am not flirting with you right now." She glared before jumping at me and throwing a left hook. I dodged it.

"I am here to train." She threw another punch at my right shoulder, but I caught her hand and turned her around, wrapping my arms around her. She was so easy to predict.

"And you keep bothering me!" She muttered under her breath and jabbed her elbow into my stomach. I let her do it because I did not really want to train anyway. I just wanted to hold her.

I leaned in and brushed her ear with my lips. She went stiff. "You smell so good. Can I lick you?" I asked, my voice low.

She hissed and hit my stomach with her elbow again. I let go of her. Her whole face was red.

"What is wrong with you?" She snapped at me, glaring.

I still wanted to tease her. I did not care about everyone watching us. I was just looking at her when someone behind me cleared their throat.

I turned around. Silas stood there with an apologetic look. "Alpha, Lady Chantelle is here. The patrollers brought her. She is waiting on the balcony."

I frowned and looked up at the balcony. Chantelle stood there, waving and smiling big.

What was she doing here? I looked back at Leona. I saw pain flash in her eyes for just a second before she turned and walked away.

"I will see you around, Alpha," she said without looking back.

I sighed and nodded at Silas. "Thank you. I will go to her." I picked up my shirt and walked toward the building.

I hurried upstairs to my office and went straight to the balcony. I needed to know why Chantelle showed up without telling anyone.

I had not seen her in two years. Her being here surprised me. But I did not care about that. I just wanted to get this over with so I could go back to Leona. I felt like I needed to explain things to her.

She did not say anything when she walked away, but I could feel her jealousy. She did not need to worry. Chantelle meant nothing to me.

"Chantelle," I said. She turned away from the balcony railing to look at me. "I did not know you were coming."

"So formal, Arel. Do you not miss me?" She smiled in that seductive way she always did. It used to pull me into her bed. But it did nothing to me now.

Ever since Leona came back, I had not felt any attraction to any woman. Not physically. Not emotionally. And I did not think I ever would again except for Leona.

"No," I said, with no hesitation. "Why are you here?"

"Such a bad attitude. Some things never change." She huffed and rolled her eyes at me before walking inside my office. I followed and stood by the door.

"Talk. I do not have all day." I crossed my arms and glanced out at the balcony so I could see Leona on the ground. She was talking to Zara.

"I came to talk about us," she said. I looked back at her. She stood in the middle of my office, smiling at me.

"Us? Do you really think it is not too late for that? We have nothing to talk about. Move on." I shook my head.

"Still angry with me?" She raised her eyebrows and pouted.

"No. Relieved, if there is a word for that."

"Stop lying, Arel! You know I only left because you told me you did not want any woman to be your Luna!" Her voice started getting louder. I could feel how frustrated she was.

"And what is your point?" My own temper started rising too.

"I got an invitation to your gala. It came late because I was not around. So I know you are looking for a mate. A chosen one."

"I am not interested, Chantelle. I will have my men take you back to the border."

"No! Listen to me, Arel. We both know we have something special. For a long time, I was the only woman you dated. I know I hurt you when I ended it, but let me fix it. There is no better choice for a Luna than me. Claim me at the Claiming Ball."

She moved closer and put her hands on my chest. My hands grabbed her wrists on their own.

"Stop. I am not claiming you. I said I am not interested, Chantelle. I already have a Luna." I said it firmly, my eyebrows pulling together.

"No..." She sighed and slowly took her hands off my chest. I thought she was stepping back, so I let go of her wrists. But then she grabbed my face and pressed her lips to mine.

It took me a few seconds to understand what was happening. Then I shoved her off. Her body hit the floor with a loud thud. But all I could think about was Leona.



Leona

Jealousy was eating me alive. I did not know who this Lady Chantelle was, but the way she stood up on that balcony like she belonged there made me think she had been here before. Like she was comfortable.

I asked Zara as soon as I got to her. And she told me something I wish I never heard.

Lady Chantelle was Arel's ex girlfriend. The only real girlfriend he ever had. They were together for two years before she left him. That was two years ago, when it became clear he would never make her or any woman his Luna.

But now he wanted a Chosen Luna. I did not need to be smart to figure it out. She came back for him. And he might still have feelings for her.

That scared me.

All my insecurity came rushing back. Even from far away, Lady Chantelle was beautiful. Tall. Thin. Any man would be stupid not to want her.

And I actually prayed to the Moon Goddess to make my mate stupid so he would not fall for her again.

I threw punches at Zara, but she just kept dodging. That made me even more angry.

"Come on, Zara, hit me back! Do not be a coward!" I yelled at her while attacking. But I did not even know where my own punches were going.

"Hey, what are you doing, Leona? You are only hurting yourself! Control your timing and your aim. You are just throwing punches everywhere!" She yelled back while dodging.

"AAARRGGHHH..." I grabbed my chest when sudden pain exploded inside me. I knew what it meant right away. It only took a second to understand. They kissed.

Zara froze. Her eyes went wide with fear. "Leona! Leona!" She screamed before running to me and grabbing my shoulders. My mouth opened. Tears started falling from my eyes as I looked up at the building where they were.

I screamed and fell to my knees. My fists hit the ground. I punched the dirt in anger before growling and getting back on my feet.

"Leona!" I heard Zara yell again. More warriors came running to us.

Ethan appeared next to me right away. He grabbed my arm and tried to turn me toward him, but before he could ask anything, I smacked his hand away and ran toward the forest. I jumped into the air and shifted into my wolf.



Arel

Then I heard it. Leona screamed. Then she let out a growl I had never heard from her before. It was a growl full of pain.

Guilt ran through me as I ran to the balcony. I got there just in time to see her shift into her wolf and take off running toward the forest.

Fuck this.

I jumped off the balcony and landed on the ground below. Everyone looked at me. I told them all to stay where they were. I saw Ethan react to my command. His wolf wanted to come out, but he could not do anything about it.

The rumble in my throat turned into a snarl as I walked toward the forest.

No one moved. They just stared, confused about what was happening. I let out another growl, and it shut up all the whispering as I walked past them.

I shifted into my wolf and let Rogue search for our mate.

Within seconds, we smelled her and ran the other way to cut her off. When we finally got in front of her, Rogue stood in her path and growled at her, making her stop running.