“Don’t stop on my account.”
I whirl around, startled. Ethan is standing near the entrance to the training grounds. He’s shirtless, his top draped over his arm, his well-defined chest covered in bruises. Some old and faded, some new with deepening redness.
In the light of the moon above us, I can still tell how tan his skin has gotten from all the training he’s been doing outdoors. Somehow, the combination of the moon on his skin almost makes him look ethereal, as though he’s stepped out of some heavenly place.
He smiles at me in that way that always strikes a chord inside me. Its vibration lasts like an echo in my bones. I look away quickly, acutely aware of the water in my eyes.
“What are you doing out here?” I say, wiping the tears away.
He doesn’t respond.
I look at him. His smile is gone, and his eyes are studying my face.
“I couldn’t sleep,” he finally says. “Thought I’d get a little practice in.”
I try to laugh, try to make myself seem disarming. “Same here. It’s been a long week.”
He just nods and starts toward me. He hasn’t said anything yet about my crying, but his brow is wrinkled with concern. I’m not in the mood to be questioned right now.
“Want to drill me on what we learned today?” he asks instead.
I tilt my head. Surely he can see . . .Of course he can.Now he’s just playing games with me. “You’re not going to ask me what’s wrong? I know you can tell. There’s no point in pretending.”
He shrugs. “A woman who comes out here alone in the middle of the night to cry doesn’t exactly read like someone who wants to talk.”
I can’t believe he’s not willing to show off his little party trick right now. He’s been so arrogant about it before. I’m sure it gives him pleasure to see me so unraveled. I roll my eyes at him, and he sighs.
“Just because I’m perceptive,” he says, “doesn’t mean I have to pry. Besides, maybe I’ve got shit going on too, you know? Maybe you’re not the only one who needs to blow off some steam.”
“All right.” I take a step back from him. “I’ll leave you to it, then.”
I start to walk away, but he says, “You really gonna leave me out here all by myself?”
I look over my shoulder at him just in time to see his languid smile. There’s that chord ringing within me again. “Okay, I’ll stay,” I say. “But only for a few minutes. You really should be resting.”
He tosses his shirt to the side. “Yes, Commander.”
I watch his muscles flex as he takes his stance. They’ve begun to adapt, developing new definition from the constant training. My wolf practically purrs deep within me.
Stop it, Rhiannon. Focus.
And so we begin. I start showing him one of the new forms that I introduced earlier that morning, beginning with a wide stance, my body turned sideways to him. The goal, or so I’ve been trying to teach him, isn’t to strike me first, but to defend once he’s on the ground. Ethan’s been having a hard time with it, given the degree of strength the other wolves have over him.
“Remember,” I say as I put my hands up defensively. “Once I take you down, use the momentum to pull me down with you.”
He nods and steps into his opening stance. He throws a punch. I weave, deflecting and countering by stepping toward him and using his forward momentum to toss him over my hip and into the dirt. He lands with a hard thump, and for a second, I think that I might’ve hurt him. But he gets right back up, and we try it again.
His recovery is quicker than it was just a week ago. His stance is tighter, his weight distributed more effectively. He’s making progress that shouldn’t stir this strange flutter of pride in my chest.
He’s just another trainee, and most likely a temporary one at that. I shouldn’t be getting wrapped up in his personal growth.Just keep him alive. That’s the assignment.
The second time I flip him, he stays on the ground for a few seconds.
Shit.I’ve definitely hurt him this time.
Closing the distance between us, a surge of concern rushes through me, stronger than it should be for a simple training exercise. My wolf stirs, unhappy at the thought of him injured.
Don’t be ridiculous,I scold her. He’s fine. He’s been thrown harder than this countless times.
