474- Claws and Confessions
POV Thalyndra Moonclaw:
Capturing life, the sound each of them made, and knowing exactly where they were located.
I rubbed my sweaty nape, wiping away the moisture.
The day was so muggy that even the wind felt too hot.
I gathered my hair, twisting it into a bun on top of my head.
I was ready to get up when I caught the familiar scent that had the power to make my heart race. Fresh pine and wild jasmine. I remained still.
He was silent, even treacherous—he knew how to slink around without being noticed.
I focused on the scent, ignoring my racing heart. He should make some sound, even if just his breathing, the rustle of his clothes, or the crack of his feet on the ground.
Attentive, I stopped breathing and began to isolate any noise around me. I managed to hear the low, slow, almost nonexistent sound of his breathing. A leaf was crushed—the crack was so subtle it could easily go unnoticed. Anton used the wind to his advantage; his steps were timed with the breeze that blew the high branches of the treetops, moving the leaves and making noise, thus isolating the alpha.
He was clever, a born predator.
"Will you ever explain to me what your fetish is for lurking in the shadows, Anton? Or is that part of your dubious charm?" I asked, without turning to face him.
His husky laugh echoed.
"And here I thought you liked having an exclusive audience. Who knows, maybe one day you'll give in and invite me to join you more closely?"
He circled around and appeared in my field of vision, stopping right in front of me. By some divine miracle, he was properly dressed in a green cotton shirt and jean shorts. With his arms crossed, he looked down at me with a malicious smile on his face.
"I doubt you can keep up with the pace." I lifted my face, fixing my gaze on him, and arched an eyebrow.
"You'd be surprised, Little Beast." His eyes gleamed with provocation. "By the way, seems like someone's been training."
I crossed my arms in disdain.
"Someone has to learn to detect parasites before they get too close."
"Parasites, huh? Interesting... I prefer to think I'm just keeping you safe. After all, you never know what might be lurking."
"I don't need a babysitter. Much less one so obvious."
He laughed softly.
"Obvious, me? Now I'm curious... what else have you noticed about me, besides my inability to resist your presence?"
I huffed, getting to my feet.
"You're incredibly annoying! Good thing I trained and now I can identify problems from a distance!" I pointed my finger at him.
"Problems? People usually call it attraction." He winked quickly.
His hair swayed in the wind, making a lock fall across his forehead. He uncrossed his arms and pushed it back over his head, seeming annoyed by the rebellious strand. His eyes were lighter, the blue reminding me of a clear sky. I noticed they changed according to his mood and condemned myself for that—for paying too much attention to him.
"What do you want? Besides, of course, annoying me?" I asked. I stretched my body, preparing for my daily training, all under his scrutiny.
"I came to keep you company."
"Thank you, but I'll pass."
"You haven't even heard what I have to offer yet."
"And who said I want to?"
He pressed a hand over his heart.
"I did, of course!"
I rolled my eyes.
"Your ability to inflate your own ego never ceases to amaze me, Anton. Truly, you outdo yourself."
He bowed.
"Good, I'm very happy to hear that."
"Of course you are."
"Anyway, despite what you say, I have a proposal for you."
I finished stretching and stopped in front of him, facing him. I placed my hands on my hips.
"What proposal?"
He scratched the stubble on his jaw.
"I heard you train alone every day. I came to keep you company. We can train together."
"Why?"
He gestured, as if it were obvious.
"Because you'll learn a lot more and the training will be much more productive. What's the advantage of fighting a stationary tree? You're strengthening your muscles, but you're not improving your reflexes."
He had a very relevant point.
My conditioning was great, but my reflexes weren't. It wasn't as if the tree would turn against me and strike back at the blows I threw at it. Having a training partner would be perfect—it would help me improve in many aspects. I just didn't want him to be my partner.
"Isn't there a second option?"
He arched an eyebrow and pursed his lips in a grimace.
"No."
He certainly wasn't going to give in and made that very clear. I let out an exasperated sigh.
"Fine! It'll be fun to throw some punches at you." I opened a sharp smile.
He blew out a laugh.
"And who said it's going to be that easy?"
"I know it will be—I've drawn blood before, without even trying too hard." I blinked slowly.
He smiled derisively and shot me a sharp look.
"Let's make a deal."
"Hmm... depends, what kind of deal?"
"If I manage to disarm you, I win a kiss from you."
I laughed out loud.
"And what do I get out of it?"
He ran his tongue over his lips and narrowed his eyes.
"Didn't you figure it out? Besides being able to take advantage of me..."
"Heavens!" I cut in, throwing my arms up.
"Besides that..." he continued, "if you manage to draw blood from me, you can ask for anything you want."
I crossed my arms and pondered.
I wasn't sure what to ask or what to request. But the bet made things even more exciting.
"You'll tell me a curiosity about yourself. You're a supreme wolf—I want to know something few people know."
"That's all?" He pulled his hair back with his hand.
"What did you think I would want?"
He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
"I don't know, maybe bet a piece of clothing?"
My look in his direction was filled with disdain, incredulous, as if he had just told the most absurd joke in the world.
"And for what reason would I want to get naked with you?"
He stared at me with a smug smile, batting his eyelashes in an exaggerated manner, as if enjoying his own arrogance.
"I could cite several, countless reasons, but the most obvious is: are you going to say you have no interest in finding out how I came into the world?"
Surprised and embarrassed, my body stiffened. I was stunned, speechless, as a flush rose up my neck. It was as if every word of his hit me, leaving me without reaction.
"No, Anton, I have no interest whatsoever." I managed to react.
He pouted.