Chapter 13 – Training in the Shadows
Kate's POV
The morning air was crisp, carrying the earthy scent of dew-covered grass as I stepped out onto the secluded training grounds Ryker had chosen. This wasn't the main pack arena; this was a hidden clearing deep within the forest, shielded by towering pines and thick undergrowth. No prying eyes, no whispered gossip — just him and me.
Ryker was already there, standing shirtless in the middle of the clearing, the early light catching the hard lines of muscle along his chest and arms. He looked... sexy dangerous and Focused. The kind of man you didn't challenge unless you wanted to lose.
He turned when he sensed me. "You're late."
I rolled my eyes, adjusting the fitted training gear he'd insisted I wear. "It's two minutes past dawn, not a war crime."
The corner of his mouth twitched, but his expression remained mostly unreadable. "Out here, every second matters. In a fight, two seconds can be the difference between standing and bleeding out."
He stepped closer, his gaze scanning me from head to toe, not in the way most men looked at women, but like a predator sizing up a weapon. "We'll start with speed. Then strength. Then…" His voice dipped into something darker. "Control."
I swallowed, not entirely sure if he meant control over my body or over the fire I felt building inside me since my wolf emerged.
The training began brutally fast. Ryker didn't go easy on me — not even for a second. He moved like a shadow, his strikes and grabs coming so quickly that half the time, I didn't even see them until they were already at my throat or waist. He wasn't hurting me, but he wasn't coddling me either.
By the time the sun had climbed higher, my lungs burned, my legs ached, and my pride was bruised. "You're… impossible," I panted after narrowly dodging one of his feints.
"You're improving," he countered, tossing me a flask of water. His gaze softened for the first time that morning. "But you're holding back."
I froze mid-drink. "I'm not."
"Yes, you are," he said firmly. "Your wolf is there, Kate. I can feel her. She's pacing inside you like she wants out." He stepped toward me, lowering his voice so it felt like a secret only the trees could hear. "Don't cage her. Not with me."
Something in my chest shifted — a blend of longing, fear, and the electric bond that hummed between us since he marked me.
---
Ryker's POV
I could smell her hesitation as clearly as I could smell the pine in the air. Kate had strength — raw, untrained strength — but she was afraid of it. Not fear of losing control, no… she was afraid of what would happen if others saw her for what she truly was.
I circled her slowly, watching the way she tracked me, the tension in her shoulders, the fire in those green eyes. Even tired, she was breathtaking — beautiful not because she was delicate, but because she was fierce and didn't even know it yet.
"You're thinking too much," I said, deliberately lunging toward her to force her into motion. She reacted faster this time, her body twisting away before I could catch her wrist. Good.
She came at me next, her fists landing a few solid hits against my forearms before I hooked my arm around her waist and brought her down into the grass. She landed hard, glaring up at me.
"That wasn't fair," she hissed.
I smirked, bracing my weight over her. "Neither is your opponent trying to kill you. Get up."
She shoved me back, her cheeks flushed — not just from exertion. When she stood, I could smell her determination sharpen. Good. She was learning.
---
Kate's POV
By the time Ryker finally called for a break, I was drenched in sweat, my hair sticking to my skin, but there was a rush in my veins that made me feel alive. He handed me another flask, his fingers brushing mine — a simple touch, yet my pulse jumped.
"You're better than you think," he said, watching me drink. "By the time the duel comes, she won't stand a chance."
I tilted my head at him. "You sound sure."
His lips curved into something that was almost a smile. "I don't sound sure. I am sure."
The intensity in his gaze made it hard to breathe for a moment. The forest around us felt quieter, the air thicker. He stepped closer, closing the small space between us, his hand lifting to rest against the back of my neck
"You're mine, Kate. In every way," he murmured. "And I don't lose what's mine."
Before I could respond, his mouth was on mine — fierce, claiming, like he was sealing his words with the taste of him. The kiss stole my breath and gave it back in the same heartbeat, until I was gripping his shoulders to stay steady.
When he finally pulled back, his voice was rough. "Tomorrow, we go harder."
I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. "Good. I'm ready."
---
That night, as I lay in bed, my wolf's voice came softly in my mind. We're getting stronger. He's teaching you well.
I smiled faintly into the darkness. We'll win.
And I believed it.