AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Seth chuckles. “She makes us all proud.” He comes to a stop as we move into the living room. “You’re even stronger, Rory,” he says, placing his hands on my shoulders. “And you make us prouder.”
My eyes widen at his words.
“You’re fighting your demons every single moment and becoming stronger by the day,” he says, noticing my surprise.
“I plan on getting stronger,” I say in a determined voice. “Both Iris and Julian told me to start exercising. They said if I trained consistently, I’d be able to build up my strength.”
“They were telling the truth,” he says in a grim tone. “You might not become as strong as an alpha but when a challenging situation arises, you’d be able to figure out a way to fight through it.”
“Will you help me train?”
A warm smile comes onto his lips. “Of course. I’d love to help. And, Simon can teach you to use a gun. He’s an excellent teacher when it comes to target shooting.”
For the first time in a long time, I see a glimmer of hope. Learning to fight and shoot would help me fight the constant anxiety I feel inside me. If I can be strong enough, I might just be able to protect myself and my mates.
15
Seth
My daily habit of waking up at six stirs me from my sleep even though my alarm hasn’t gone off yet. Opening my eyes in the partially darkened room, I look toward the digital clock on my bedside table.
“It’s not even five-thirty yet,” I mumble, deciding to cuddle with Rory until it’s time to get up.
Just as I reach for her, I find the space beside me empty.
“Rory?”
She doesn’t answer.
A familiar panic flares inside me.
Moving the blanket aside, I move toward the bathroom and knock lightly on the door. “Rory?” I call out loudly. “Are you in there?” When no sound comes out, I push open the door.
My anxiety heightens when I don’t find her inside the bathroom.
Grabbing my robe, I hurry out of the room and head downstairs. That’s when I notice the stream of light flooding out of the kitchen’s open doorway.
Reaching the kitchen, I find Rory pouring coffee into a mug.
My breath rushes out of me as relief floods my body. Rory’s not missing. She’s right here in our home.
“Hey,” I say gently.
Her body jerks as she whirls around.
“Sorry,” I apologize immediately. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“What’re you doing up?” she asks, coming over to me. “Are you having trouble sleeping?”
“I want to ask you the same question,” I say with a chuckle. “Why are you up so early?”
Rory’s already dressed for the day in track pants, a cropped sweatshirt, and sneakers. She usually prefers more feminine dresses, so her choice of clothing makes me curious.
“I want to start exercising,” she says, looking away. A flush spreads on her cheeks as she continues to avoid my gaze. “I thought I’d jog around a little before doing anything complicated.”
Reaching out, I gently turn her face toward me. “That’s a great idea,” I tell her, wishing she wouldn’t feel embarrassed with me. “Jogging is a great way to warm up. How about I join you?”
“Are you sure? Wouldn’t it be nicer to catch some more sleep?”
