Her response impressed him immediately. Confidence radiated from every word, her posture remaining straight and assured despite whatever she was feeling from their handshake.
Perfect.
His panther preened with satisfaction. She was everything he needed—competent, disciplined, clearly driven. Someone who understood the value of training others, of making people stronger. She would stand beside him as an equal, not behind him as a decoration.
"Do you still compete?"
"Not for the past two years. I focus solely on teaching now, building up other athletes."
Gerri had done masterful work finding his fated mate. Jade possessed every quality he'd unconsciously been seeking—strength without arrogance, discipline earned through effort rather than inherited privilege.
"Impressive accomplishments for someone from a small town."
Something shifted in Jade's expression, vulnerability flickering beneath her controlled exterior. "Lately, I've felt like I've outgrown that place. When Gerri presented this opportunity yesterday, I wanted to come here and push myself. Not just to help you, but to grow as an athlete and instructor by learning whatever training methods you'd share."
The admission seemed to surprise her, as if she hadn't meant to reveal that much. But it sent satisfaction coursing throughhim. She was here by choice, seeking growth and challenge—not running from something.
"My training methods will definitely push you to your limits."
"Good."
The single word carried enough steel to make his panther purr with approval. She wasn't intimidated by the prospect of being tested. If anything, she seemed to relish it.
Gerri glanced between them, then checked her watch with theatrical precision. "I really hate to rush off, but I have another meeting I absolutely must attend." Her eyes glinted with mischief as she stood. "I trust you can handle everything from here, Raikar."
Sudden nervousness crashed over him. Being alone with his mate while his panther demanded he touch her again, claim her properly, felt like standing on the edge of a cliff.
"Thank you for everything," he managed.
Gerri smiled and retrieved a business card from her designer handbag, extending it to Jade. "If you find yourself needing to reach out, don't hesitate."
Then she was gone, leaving him alone with the woman who was supposed to be his everything—and who had no idea what she truly meant to him.
The silence stretched between them, and Raikar found himself caught in the peculiar trap of his own making. His hands remained flat against the desk's polished surface, his fingers spread wide to prevent any unconscious movement toward her. Every instinct screamed at him to close the distance, to touch her again, to claim what his panther recognized as theirs.
But Jade's sharp brown eyes were reading him with the precision of a seasoned fighter assessing an opponent. Her posture remained controlled and professional, yet he could still scent the subtle shift in her pheromones—confusion mixed withsomething deeper, something more primal. She felt the pull too, even if she didn't understand it.
The mate bond hummed between them like electricity in the humid air, making his skin feel too tight and his control increasingly fragile. His panther paced restlessly, demanding action while his rational mind scrambled for a strategy that wouldn't terrify her into bolting back through Gerri's wormhole.
"General?" Jade's voice cut through his internal battle, crisp and direct. "Could you explain my training and my role here? I'd like to understand what's expected of me."
The question jolted him back to reality. Right. She was here for training and missions, not to be claimed by a panther shifter who couldn't keep his beast under control. He needed to think, to create a plan that would keep her close without overwhelming her with truths she wasn't ready to hear.
"Right. Your expectations and training."
His words came out rougher than intended, and he cleared his throat, forcing his voice into the professional tone that had served him well in countless military briefings. The problem was, he hadn't mapped any of this out. His entire night had been consumed with imagining how he'd handle being in the same room with his fated mate without losing control completely, not with creating actual training protocols.
Think, Raikar. She's a warrior. She understands structure and objectives.
"First, we need to get you settled. I understand you're staying with Talia and Brenn, which is perfect. They're two of my finest warriors and will be able to answer any questions you might have about our territory and clan." He paused, his mind racing to construct a reasonable framework. "They'll also be the ones handling your training."
Jade's brow furrowed, confusion flickering across her features. "I thought you would be training me."
The innocent question hit him like a slap. His panther surged with possessive hunger at the thought of spending hours with her, teaching her their fighting techniques, watching her body move with that controlled precision he'd glimpsed in her posture. The beast wanted to show her every secret of panther combat, to mold her into the perfect fighting partner who could stand beside him in battle.
But that path led to disaster. If he trained her personally, his control would shatter within hours. Every correction would become an excuse to touch her, every sparring session would end with her pinned beneath him as his panther demanded he claim her properly. She wasn't ready for that intensity, and he couldn't risk frightening her away.
"Maybe in a few days I'll assist with some training." The lie tasted bitter on his tongue. "Right now my schedule is pretty full, and I have other duties to attend to."
