Chapter 16 CHAPTER 16

Chapter 16 CHAPTER 16
Ophelia’s POV
"I'm not staring!"
"You're drooling."
"I am NOT—"
"Morning," Ryan said, turning around.
I jumped. "Morning! You're early!"
"So are you."
"Yeah, well, I'm always early. Punctuality is very important to me. It's like, one of my core values."
"You were late to dinner every time."
"That's different! That was fashionably late! This is—" I stopped. "Wait, you noticed?"
His ears turned red. "I notice things."
Oh my god. He'd been paying attention to my schedule.
"This is amazing," Hex said gleefully. "You're both disasters."
Nolan arrived a few minutes later, looking surprised to see both of us waiting.
"Miss Ophelia," he said. "Your father told me about the arrangement."
"Is it okay?" I asked nervously. "I know this is probably weird—"
"It's fine." He studied us both. "Though I'll admit, I never expected an Alpha's daughter to want warrior training."
"Yeah, well, I'm full of surprises."
"Apparently." He gestured to the center of the yard. "Alright, let's start with basics. Stretching first. Can't fight if you pull a muscle."
We spent the next twenty minutes doing stretches. My muscles were screaming by the end of it.
"How are you not dying?" I gasped at Ryan, who looked perfectly fine.
"I'm used to it."
"Show-off."
He almost smiled.
"Alright," Nolan said. "Now we're gonna work on stances. Miss Ophelia, you first."
He showed me how to stand—feet apart, knees bent, weight balanced.
I tried to copy him. Failed miserably.
"No, no," Nolan said. "Your back foot needs to be—here, let me show you."
He adjusted my position manually, moving my feet and shoulders.
I wobbled. "This feels weird."
"It's supposed to. You're building muscle memory." He stepped back. "Hold that position for thirty seconds."
Thirty seconds felt like thirty years. My legs were shaking by the end.
"Good. Now you, Ryan."
Ryan moved into position perfectly on the first try.
Of course he did.
"Excellent," Nolan said, nodding. "You've done this before."
"Some."
"More than some, I'd guess." Nolan walked around him, checking his form. "Your father teach you?"
Ryan's jaw tightened. "Yes."
Something about his tone made Nolan pause. But he didn't push it.
"Alright. We're gonna practice moving in that stance. Follow me."
We spent the next hour doing drills. Moving forward, backward, side to side. All while maintaining the correct stance.
I was terrible at it. I kept losing my balance or forgetting to keep my knees bent.
Ryan, naturally, was perfect.
"I hate you," I muttered during a water break.
He raised an eyebrow. "What did I do?"
"You're too good at this! It's annoying!"
"You're doing fine."
"I'm doing terribly and you know it."
"You're doing fine," he repeated. "It's your first day."
"Yeah, but—"
"Miss Ophelia!" Nolan called. "Ryan! Let's move on to defensive blocks."
The next drill involved blocking attacks. Nolan would swing at us with a padded staff, and we had to block it.
I got hit. A lot.
"Ow!"
"Anticipate the strike," Nolan instructed. "Watch my shoulders. They'll telegraph the movement."
I tried. I really did.
Still got hit.
"This sucks," I complained after the tenth time.
"You're improving," Ryan said from beside me.
"How? I'm literally getting worse!"
"No, you're not. Look—" He moved closer, demonstrating. "When he pulls back like this, the strike's coming from the right. Shift your weight and raise your arm."
He showed me the movement in slow motion.
"Try it."
Nolan swung again. I followed Ryan's advice.
And actually blocked it.
"Yes!" I shouted, pumping my fist. "Did you see that?!"
Ryan's lips curved up. "I saw."
"That was amazing! I'm amazing! I'm a warrior goddess!"
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Nolan said dryly. "Again."
We kept training until mid-morning. By the end, I was covered in sweat and bruises and absolutely exhausted.
But I'd successfully blocked maybe a third of Nolan's strikes.
Progress.
"Good work today," Nolan said as we finished. "Miss Ophelia, you've got potential. Just need to build up your stamina and reflexes."
"Thanks. I think."
"Ryan—" Nolan turned to him. "You're skilled. More than I expected. Keep it up."
Ryan nodded once.
After Nolan left, I collapsed onto the ground dramatically.
"I'm dying," I announced. "This is it. This is how I go. Death by training."
"You're not dying."
"I am. Tell my family I loved them. Tell my dad I'm sorry for all the times I snuck cookies before dinner."
Ryan sat down next to me. "You did good."
"Liar."
"I'm serious. For your first day, that was impressive."
I turned my head to look at him. He was staring straight ahead, but his ears were pink.
"Thanks," I said softly. "You were pretty impressive too. With the whole teaching thing. That was nice."
"It's nothing."
"It's not nothing." I sat up, wincing at how sore I already was. "You didn't have to help me. But you did. So... thanks."
He glanced at me. "You're welcome."
We sat there in comfortable silence, watching the sun climb higher in the sky.
"Same time tomorrow?" I asked.
"Same time tomorrow," he confirmed.
I grinned. "Cool. Try not to make me look too bad, okay?"
"No promises."
I shoved his shoulder. He shoved back, gentle enough not to actually hurt.
And for just a moment, everything felt normal.
Like we were just two teenagers training together. Not a dead girl trying to save the timeline and a future tyrant fighting his dark destiny.
"You're smiling again," Hex said.
"Shut up," I thought back.








Ophelia's POV
It had been one whole month since Ryan had joined Ironcliff Pack.
And honestly? Things were going way better than I had expected.
Like, scary good.
We had reached this weird harmony that I didn't think was possible. Ryan actually talked to me now—not just one-word answers, but actual conversations. He helped around the pack without being asked. He didn't look like he wanted to murder everyone anymore.
It was kind of amazing.
"You look pleased with yourself," Hex said in my head.
"I am! This is progress! Real, actual progress!"
"Don't get too comfortable."
"Why not? Everything's going great!"
I was sitting in the courtyard, watching Ryan across the way. He was helping unload supplies from a wagon.
But I got what Hex meant. Because here was the thing—Ryan wasn't what I had thought he was.
He was sharp and sarcastic. He had this dry sense of humor that caught me off guard. And he definitely knew how to use words like weapons when he wanted to.
Five days ago, Tom had tried to start something in the dining hall. Something about Ryan taking "his" seat.
Ryan had looked at him, totally calm, and said, "Your seat? Weird. I don't see your name carved into it. Unless you're admitting you vandalized pack property, in which case I'm sure Miss Ophelia would love to hear about it."
Tom's face had gone bright red and he had stormed off.
I just sat there with my mouth open.
The real Ryan was coming out. And the real Ryan was kind of a smartass.
And I had thought Dad would be way more difficult about Ryan staying here.
I had had a whole strategy prepared. Arguments. Backup plans. I was ready to defend Ryan staying here with everything I had.
But then... nothing happened.
Dad just went about his business like Ryan wasn't even here. No more lectures. No suspicious looks. No attempts to kick him out.
It was so weird I couldn't even process it.
"You're staring at him again," Hex said in my head.
"I'm not staring. I'm observing."
"That's what stalkers say."
I was sitting in the courtyard, pretending to read some boring pack reports while actually watching Ryan across the way. He was helping unload supplies from a wagon, moving boxes like it was no big deal.
Which was weird.
Super weird.
Because nobody had asked him to help. He just... did stuff now.
"This is so strange," I muttered.
"What's strange?" Jovie plopped down next to me, making me jump.
"Nothing! Everything's fine! Super normal!"
She raised an eyebrow. "You're acting weird."
"I'm always weird."
"Fair point." She followed my gaze to Ryan. "He's really settled in, huh?"
"Yeah. Too well."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
I waved my hand vaguely. "I don't know. I just thought there'd be more... incidents. Drama. Explosions. Something."
"You sound disappointed."
"I'm not disappointed! I'm just..." I trailed off, trying to find the right word. "Confused?"
Jovie snorted. "He's a good worker. Nolan says he's one of the best scouts we've had in years. Always on time, takes orders well, never complains."
"Exactly. It's suspicious."
"Miss Ophelia, you literally brought him here. You wanted him to do well."
"I know! And he is! Which is great! But also weird!"
"You're overthinking this."
Maybe I was. But something about this whole situation felt too easy.
Ryan finished with the supplies and headed toward the training yard. As he passed us, he gave me this little nod.
Just a quick acknowledgment. My heart did a weird flip thing.
Later that afternoon, I was in my room trying to organize some papers when there was a knock on my door.
"Come in!"
Ryan walked in carrying a tray with food.
I blinked at him. "What's that?"
"Lunch." He set it on my desk. "You missed the midday meal."
"I did?"
"Yeah. You've been in here for four hours."
I looked at the window. When had the sun gotten so high?
"Oh. Wow. Thanks."
He nodded and turned to leave.
"Wait," I called out. "You didn't have to do that."
"I know."
"So why did you?"
He shrugged. "You're always doing stuff for me. Figured I'd return the favor."
Then he was gone, door closing softly behind him.
I stared at the tray. There was bread, cheese, some kind of meat, and fruit.
"Hex," I thought. "What just happened?"
"The future tyrant brought you lunch."