Chapter 12 Training Again
ZANE'S POV
She was already there when I got there.
It was six twenty-eight, and she stood in the middle of the empty training ground, with her arms crossed, and her breath puffing out in little clouds in the morning air.
Today, she had her hair down, and I couldn’t help but notice it right away. Then I spent way too much energy trying not to think about it.
I handed her the coffee without saying a word.
She took it, wrapping both hands around the warm cup, and peered at me over the rim. “You’re two minutes early.”
“So are you.”
She looked away first, breaking our gaze.
The compound was peaceful around us, no wolves on the fence, and no audience to scrutinize our every move. Just the rustling of trees and the distant sounds of the kitchen coming to life. It felt different without anyone watching us.
Just us and her, Fenris said, with a satisfaction that made me feel a little uneasy. Finally.
We’re training. I reminded him.
Sure.
I set my coffee down on the fence post and turned to face her. “Stance.”
She handed me her coffee, as if she’d already accepted that this was our new morning routine. She reset her feet, and I couldn’t help but notice how much better her stance was compared to three days ago. She’d clearly been practicing on her own, something she hadn’t mentioned, and I hadn’t thought to ask about.
“Good,” I said, genuinely impressed.
She looked a bit taken aback. “Just good?”
“Don’t push it,” I replied with a smirk.
The corner of her mouth twitched, and I could tell she was fighting a smile.
We went through the basic sequence a couple of times before I moved behind her to change her positioning. That’s when Fenris, my ever-sarcastic wolf, decided to pipe up and turn my focus into a bit of a mess.
Her scent hit me like a wave when I got close enough, an intoxicating mix of coffee and crisp morning air, with that warm, indescribable note that was just her. Just Davina. It did something to my entire nervous system that I really didn’t want to think about right now.
I placed my hand on her shoulder to adjust her angle, trying to keep my breathing steady while my mind drifted to border reports.
“Left foot,” I instructed, keeping my voice even.
She adjusted, and her hair brushed against my face and Fenris made a sound in my chest.
She’s right there, he said, unhelpfully.
I know.
You could just…
No, stop it. I cautioned him.
Just kiss her, that’s all. I just want to feel…
Fenris.
He fell silent, reluctantly.
I stepped back to give us both some space, and she turned to face me. I made sure to lock my gaze on her eyes, not her mouth, which was something I had been managing to do with little success for the past four days.
Ohh, how I longed to capture those lips and lose myself in them. They looked so tempting in the morning light, she was absolutely radiant.
I had been trying to hold myself together these past few days that she's been here, but honestly, I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold out.
She’s my mate, and even though I hadn’t found the right moment to tell her yet, it is something I was definitely going to have to find a way to do.
Because even without her knowing, the bond was still tugging at me. My wolf was still restless, every time he caught her scent or laid eyes on her, I could feel his urge to claim her right then and there, and mark her as his.
Hell, I wanted that too, but I didn't want to hurt her. I wanted her to choose me, I didn't want this to be another decision I forced her into, just like I did by bringing her here.
"Again," I said, snapping back to reality.
She reset, and we went through the drill three more times. I could see her getting faster. The movement that had taken her fifteen tries on the first day was finally clicking into place and her body was learning. I felt proud of her in a way that left me wanting to say something, yet I had no idea what that something should be. So, I said nothing.
On the fourth attempt, I came at her harder than before. She got her elbow back, twisted, and was free and upright in under two seconds. She spun around, her chest rising and falling from the effort.
She was so close now.
"That was faster," I said, keeping my voice steady. I was really focused on that.
"I know," she replied, looking up at me, still slightly breathless. She was close enough that if either of us moved even a little… I quickly pushed that thought aside.
The bond pulled me in. I can’t really explain it any better than that.
One moment, I was standing a comfortable distance away, and the next, it felt like something deep in my chest was reaching out to her, and taking control of my feet.
Fenris went completely silent. That’s when I knew things were serious. He never went quiet, he always had something to say. But in that moment, he just froze, as if he understood that whatever was about to happen was important, and he wasn’t going to be the one to interrupt it.
She was looking up at me, her chest still rising and falling from the effort of the last drill. There was a strand of hair falling across her cheek, and I’d been fighting the urge to tuck it behind her ear.
Her eyes dropped just for a second, then they came back up to mine and she pressed her lips together like she was annoyed at herself and I felt that small movement in my entire body.
I knew I should step back, I knew that stepping back was the right thing to do but I stood there and did nothing.
I reached up slowly and tucked the stray strand of hair behind her ear and she went very still. My hand lingered near her jaw just a bit longer than it should have.
"Good session," I murmured, breaking the silence.
Her breath escaped in a sound that was almost a laugh. "You're annoying, you know that?"
"I think you've mentioned it before," I replied with a smirk.
She opened her mouth to respond, but then we were disturbed by the sound of footsteps. We both turned to see Aurelia standing at the edge of the training ground.
Her gaze flicked between us, landing on my hand, which I had quickly dropped. Then she fixed her eyes on Davina.
"Alpha wants you," she said, directing her words at me, completely ignoring Davina. "Now."
With that, she turned and strode back toward the lodge.
I glanced at Davina, who had already stepped back, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Go," she said in a flat tone, as if the last few minutes hadn’t happened at all.
I picked up my coffee from the fence post, feeling the warmth seep into my hands.
"Six thirty tomorrow," I said, trying to keep things casual.
She didn’t respond, but the silence didn’t feel like a no.