Chapter 37

I rolled over and the other side of the bed was empty. His scent lingered on the sheets and his side was still warmed. He must not have left so long ago.

I heard the sound of running water and realized he must have been taking a shower.

I looked at my phone.

4:00 a.m.

Fuck.

It is time for me to get up and get ready for training. I showered last night, so I was going to skip one this morning, since I would just need to shower after training.

I walked into my closet and grabbed a fresh training bra and leggings for me to train in.

I am pulling my socks and shoes on when the bathroom door opens and Justin walks out, encompassed in the steam from his shower.

“I am sorry. I did not mean to wake you.”

“You didn’t, not actually anyway. I rolled over and the bed was empty and then I checked the time and realized that I needed to get ready for training anyway. I really doubt the Alpha will allow me to skip training again.”

I walked into the bathroom, brushed my teeth and pulled my hair up and braided it. I always hated fighting and training with just my hair in a ponytail. I learned from fighting females, especially inexperienced ones, that they like to try and pull hair in order to get a “one-up” on their opponent. Really, it just pisses me off. My hair being pulled never bothered me. It is actually quite easier during fights to have my hair braided, since it gets in my way less than in a regular ponytail.

“ Would you be alright if I walked with you to training? I know you are hesitant to let the entire pack know about us being mates…and I think that I am still with you for Alpha training. Your father originally did it to force us to spend time together.”

Wait. What did he just say?!

“What do you mean to force us to spend time together? Why would he want us to spend time together?” I asked Justin suspiciously. I swear if he did what I think he did, he is going to be a dead man.

“Well…on your birthday, after you ran from me, I had no one to talk to. I couldn’t go to my friends for obvious reasons...so I went and talked to your brother and he was with your father when I went to him…I just wanted a way to get you to at least give me a chance. They both assured me they would not tell anyone…I think the Alpha even hid it from the Luna.”

I slowly advanced towards him. “You mean to tell me that my father has known about us being mates this entire time? This entire time I was suffering alone because I felt that I had no one to talk to about my inner turmoil and you had already spilled it to someone?? You mean I could have talked to my brother without worrying about him being too “judgy” over me wanting to reject my fated mate.”

“Love, I am sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I didn’t mean to tell you either, it just sort of slipped out.” I lunged towards him and slapped him upside the head.

“Next time I tell you not to tell anyone, I mean do not say a word to anyone, including my brother and the Alpha.”

“Yes, love. I promise. I will not tell them anything else, unless it directly affects your safety and wellbeing.”

We begin our trek towards the training grounds. When we arrived on the training grounds, I was shocked to see not only was my brother there, but King Lucas, his Luna Everleigh, and his guardian were all present as well.

I walked over to my dad and whispered, “Alpha, what is the King doing here?”

“He wanted to observe your training today. We are going to start with some sparring and then we have some business to attend to. Just a few meetings that need our attention.”

‘We need to have a conversation after training too. Just the two of us.’ He added through our link. I nodded my head at him, acknowledging what he said.

“Good morning, King Lucas. I am surprised to see Luna Everleigh with you this early in the morning.”

“Good morning, Kataleya. You will find that my Luna often does not go many places without me, especially in unfamiliar territory, even if that means joining me for training at 5 a.m. My guardian and I just wanted to observe your training today and then I have a meeting later with your father that I am assuming you are joining before I head back to my territory.”

“Let’s get started, shall we, Kataleya?”

“Yes, Alpha.”

I looked around to see who I would be sparring today. I doubt my father was going to put me against Justin again, especially knowing we are mates. I looked behind me and saw Gael sprinting towards us.

Well, I guess I found my sparring partner.

“Kataleya, since you have grown used to the fighting style of most everyone here, we are going to toss it up. You will be sparring with Gael. You can spar in either wolf or human form. The choice is up to you.”

“Yes, Alpha.” Gael and I responded as one.

Gael and I took positions across from each other and I looked around at everyone. I am not used to being observed with every minuscule movement that I make, which is a scary thought.

“I am ready to get even with you, Kat. I still can’t believe you took me down during that challenge.” Gael said to me as we got into our positions.

I motioned my hand to him in a “bring it on” notion.

We circled each other for a few minutes before Gael made the first move towards me. He lunged towards me, reaching towards my face, as he made a motion to trip me. I dodged his fist, but I didn’t see what he was doing with his feet. I fell, catching myself with my hands.

I jumped up and lunged for him, using the heel of my hand to hit his nose. I felt the crunch of his nose, as his blood spurted onto my hand. He grunted before going at me again.

We continued like that. Both of us made small movements towards the other, neither of us making much headway. I could feel that he broke one of my ribs and my right ankle was sprained. Skye was working diligently to heal me. I had broken his nose, injured his left leg, and left a nasty cut on his left arm, courtesy of me partially shifting. I had to deal with every time he landed a hit, Justin would let a low growl. I don’t know if he will be able to hide what we are from each other much longer. He is going to have all the warriors scared to touch me at this rate.

Gael makes a move to lunge towards my left side, but I do not see in time, so he is able to kick me straight into my chest and then he proceeds to sweep my feet out from under me. He flips me over, pinning my right arm behind my back and pushing it upwards. I felt the bone break and I let out a loud growl. Fuck!

“Stop! We are going to call it right here. Gael, I hope you feel better now that you two are considered even. Kataleya, you need to work on making sure your weak spots are covered, which is how he was able to get you down. Gael, you need to work on protecting your face and yourself from claws. She got you good on your arm. Both of you need to report to the infirmary to have any bones set. Afterwards, Kataleya, I will see you in my office.”

“Yes, Alpha.” Gael and I said simultaneously.

My father and King Lucas and his entourage disappeared to walk back to the packhouse, where the offices of the ranked members were located.

Justin walks to me and inspects my arm. “Gael, was it necessary to break her arm?”

Gael held up his hands and quickly walked away before Justin could attack him, which I would not put it past Justin to do.

“Justin, I was fine. You cannot intervene every time I am training and you cannot threaten any of the warriors when they land a hit on me.”

“I know, Kat, I promise I know. I have a hard time watching anyone put their hands on you. I cannot help it. I know you can handle yourself, but I also wish you would let me protect you too.”

“Justin, as the next Alpha, you know that is not a possibility. I have to be able to do this on my own. After my incident, I promised myself that I would be able to fight. I promised myself that I would never let something like that happen to me ever again and I intend to keep that promise. When I moved up the ranks with the warriors, that was the quickest, with the exception of my grandmother, that anyone in this pack had been able to move through the ranks. I was determined to make sure that I was not weak and would never be forced to submit to a man.”

“I know, love. I know. I promise from now on, if I cannot handle it, I will look away or go somewhere else during your sparring. The instinct to protect you will always be there, even if I know that you do not anyone, let alone a man to protect you, my love.”

We began our trek to the pack hospital. When we got there, I saw one of the nurses applying a salve to Gael’s arm. Shit, I really did a number on his arm. Another came to set my arm, wrapped my ribs, and checked my ankle. My ankle was already pretty much healed, but she had to place my arm in a sling and told me it needed to stay on for the next six hours, until the injury fully healed. She wrapped my ribs and gave me the same instructions.

Once leaving the hospital, Justin left to go meet with Gamma Sean and go over the new training regime that was being implemented for the warriors. We walked together to the packhouse and then Justin went to go find Gamma Sean to go over the new training regime being implemented for the warriors. I watched him walk away until he was out of sight before making my way to my father’s office for these meetings and to meet with King Lucas.