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“Why?”

The lock clicks, popping open, and I let out an involuntary squeal of delight at the surprise. Peeling the metal carefully from his throat exposes a red, inflamed band of chafed flesh beneath that’s torn at the edges. He tips his head forward, sucking in a deep breath as he runs his palm over his neck.

I hold the band with my fingertips and toss it onto the table with a smile. “Now you’re truly free.”

Lowering his gaze is a humble gesture, I’ve learned in the last few days. It’s reserved for the times I’ve found him to be exceptionally grateful. For a strong and powerful man, he has one hell of a time expressing his emotions. “Thank you,” he says, yet when my eyes meet his again, there’s something darker, hungrier than a thank you burning in them.

I run my fingertips over his hairline and down his temple, catching the long blink of his eyes. “It’s my pleasure.”

“Thalia.” The warning in his voice belies the gentle grip of his hands at either side of me. “Let’s get to your lesson. You wanted me to teach you to fight?”

If I hadn’t seen him the night before, heard my name on his lips, I’d likely be mortified by his apparent lack of interest. Alphas take without asking. That’s what I’ve been told my whole life. That they’re violent, mindless rapists who kill indiscriminately. They plunder hives in search of women to breed. That’s what young and curious girls are told in Szolen, to endear them to the Legion soldiers who hunt the monsters.

Unless last night was nothing but a figment of my imagination, he wants me, and I’ve practically thrown myself at his feet. Whatever it is that holds him back now must be something serious, something beyond my imagination, so I don’t push. Instead, I nod and take a step back, out of respect for his boundaries. “Of course.”

He rises to his feet, towering over me, and draws the hair from my face to place a kiss on my temple. Before I have an opportunity to react, he strides off, putting some distance between us before he turns to face me again.

“So, what’s the lesson today?”

“Hand to hand.” He flicks his fingers and points to a spot just a few feet away. With the feel of his lips still burning my temples, I take my place in front of him.

“Hand to hand. Sounds like a violent waltz.”

“In some ways, it is.”

“And you told me last night you never danced before.”

“You remember the events of last night?”

“I remember more than you think, Titus.”

His brow crinkles, eyes undoubtedly searching mine for the possibility that they might’ve seen something they shouldn’t have. “Make a fist,” he commands, holding up his own in demonstration. The moment I do, he strides toward me, shaking his head. “No. Not like that.” A fine thread of irritation colors his tone, far less patient than the day before, and he smacks the underside of my fist. “Move your thumb to the side. You’ll break it if you clutch it like that.” When I do as he says, he holds his own fist up again. “Now squeeze.”

I do.

“Harder.”

With an ungracious snort, I smile. “Typical male, always harder.”

He gives a push to my shoulder that knocks me backwards, and I stumble over myself, nearly tumbling onto my ass. “Hey.”

“You need a firm stance. Straighten yourself.” The noticeable impatience in his voice leaves me frowning as I step toward him again. “Bend your legs and put one foot slightly in front of the other.”

Following his command again, I take the stance he’s described and hold my fists up, the way he showed me.

Another hard push knocks me backward, and this time, the ground hits the back of my ass.

“Your stance is weak. I’m not even pushing that hard.”

Glaring up at him, I get to my feet again, one leg in front of the other, and bend low, fists up. “If you wanted me on my back so badly, you had a golden opportunity last night.”

A third, hard push knocks me back down to my ass, and if I’m not mistaken, he growled that time.

“What the hell?” Pain throbs across my tailbone, which is probably bruising at this point.

“Did you think I’d go easy on you? Do you think the Ragers will go easy on you because you’re a female? Or Remus?”

Teeth gritted, I jump to my feet again, getting into position, and double-down on my resistance by tensing my muscles.