Chapter 174
Chapter 174
ISABELLA
As I flipped the last pancake onto the plate, I leaned back against the counter, watching Asher. We rarely had these quiet moments alone, and with everything that had happened lately, I was clinging to it. He poured coffee into our mugs, and the warmth of his presence was something I couldn’t ignore.
I took a sip before speaking. "What does this mean for Emilia now that I’m... well, now that I’m like you? Is she going to see me as an even bigger target?"
Asher’s face clouded a little, but he nodded. "Yeah, I think she will. For hunters, it’s one thing to deal with werewolves from birth, but someone like you? It’ll shake them. You were already a link to the supernatural world; now you’re a part of it."
I considered his words, feeling a strange blend of pride and anxiety. "Then train me,” I said. "I want to be able to defend myself and Luca. If she comes for us, I need to know how to handle it.”
He hesitated, clearly weighing my request. I could see the protectiveness in his eyes, but also his doubt. After a moment, he set his coffee down and nodded. "Alright. We’ll start training. You’re right—if anyone deserves to be prepared, it’s you.”
Relief and gratitude washed over me, and I felt myself leaning in, drawn to him. Asher's arms circled around my waist, and just as our lips met in a slow, lingering kiss, we heard a tiny, muffled sound from down the hall.
The baby monitor crackled with Luca’s babbling, sleepy but unmistakably demanding.
Asher pulled back with a sigh, looking at me with an exasperated, fond smile. “Guess he figured we were getting too cozy without him around. Little guy’s already got his dad’s timing.”
I laughed, pressing my forehead to his. “I think he’s just reminding you who your real boss is.”
Asher chuckled, shaking his head as he reluctantly headed to get Luca. “Looks like romance is off the table—Daddy duty calls.”
KNOX
In the quiet of the morning, the clearing was just starting to warm under the sun as I waited for Isabella. I’d already set up a few basics for her training—targets, weights, some makeshift obstacles. Nothing too advanced, just enough to test her instincts. I’d known she was eager, but it was still surprising to hear Asher say she wanted to get serious about training.
When she walked up wearing leggings and a sports bra, she looked more determined than I’d expected. But I couldn’t help noticing how incredible she looked—focused, a little nervous, and definitely ready to get moving.
"Ready for your first day of werewolf boot camp?" I grinned, crossing my arms and giving her an exaggerated once-over.
She rolled her eyes, smirking. "You’re not going to go easy on me, are you?”
"Now, where’s the fun in that?” I stepped closer, my voice lowering. “Besides, I’ve got to make sure you’re up for the challenge.”
Her expression didn’t waver, and that spark of determination made me want to tease her even more. We started with a few basics: stretches, stances, learning how to harness her balance. Every move brought her closer to her own strength, and every time she stumbled or paused, I was right there, pushing her just a little harder.
As the training intensified, she grew sharper, more instinctive, and—honestly—a lot more distracting. My “pointers” quickly turned into flirting, especially when she’d catch my eye after a successful move, her confidence growing.
“So, did you want to actually spar?” I asked at one point, catching her slightly out of breath, a playful glint in her eyes. “Or are you worried you can’t keep up with me?”
“Worried?” she laughed, stepping closer. “I think I’m holding my own just fine, don’t you?”
As she stepped closer, her movements were fluid and confident, with a deliberate slowness that made my pulse jump. I’d always known she was beautiful, but watching her now, sweat glistening on her skin, cheeks flushed from exertion, there was something even more magnetic about her. Each step she took toward me felt like an invitation, and I was helpless not to respond.
When she was just close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from her, she tilted her head slightly, looking up at me through her lashes, a small, knowing smile on her lips. The way her gaze traveled over me, like she was assessing not just my strength but every small reaction I had to her nearness, made it hard to think straight.
“Something on your mind?” she asked, her voice a soft murmur, playful but with an unmistakable edge of challenge.
I swallowed, fully aware that my usually steady control was slipping. “Yeah, actually,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light even though she had me completely captivated. “I’m wondering if you’re planning to fight me…or if you’re thinking about something else.”
She lifted her hand, fingers tracing along my arm with a delicate, feather-light touch. The sensation sent a jolt through me, the kind that made every nerve feel alive, alert. Her touch was electric, and every small, intimate move she made left me struggling to hold back the urge to close the distance between us even more.
She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Maybe I’m planning on surprising you.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. The tension between us, the way she looked at me, all of it was too much to resist. I reached for her, pulling her into my arms, and her soft gasp only made me more certain that this was exactly where we were meant to be. The training session had evolved into something far deeper, a connection and a chemistry I could hardly contain.
And as we lost ourselves in the clearing, I knew this wasn’t just about the intensity of the moment; it was the way she saw me, challenged me, and made me want to be better—for her.