Page 22 of Brutal Alpha's Sold Mate
I shrug. “We had a decent spar last time. If you want to improve, maybe I can help. If not, keep punching trees.”
“Fine,” she relents with a huff. “Show me something.”
I step into the clearing and drop into a fighting stance. “Let’s start with footwork.”
She matches my stance and eyes me from head to toe. “Make it quick. I don’t have all day.”
“I’ll try.”
I show her how to shift weight, pivot, and launch a counterstrike. She picks it up fast, and we circle each other, exchanging light blows. She’s quick, especially with her feet, but I can’t shake the sense that she’s holding back.
She tries a sweeping kick. I block, then tap her side in a soft strike. She grimaces. “You waiting for me to rip your head off?”
“Just helping you see the openings,” I reply.
She exhales and comes at me again. This time, she lands a blow on my shoulder, which I feel more than I expect. I grunt, pivot, and catch her around the waist. Before she can pull free, I shift my balance and pin her against a nearby trunk, though I’m careful not to slam her.
She struggles, trying to elbow me in the ribs. I grab her arm and hold it firm. My wolf rumbles with approval, and satisfaction brims in my chest.
She glares. “Get off.”
I let her go and step back. “You did well until the last second.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m a little out of shape.”
“Out of shape, or something else?” She looks away, almost like she’s ashamed. “You seem frustrated,” I add, gentling my tone.
She crosses her arms, but something in her eyes betrays her. “I told you Malcolm and Wiley didn’t just bind me to you. When they first captured me, they poisoned me. Whatever concoction they used messed with my wolf. I can’t shift when I want, and my strength is half what it used to be.”
I stare as shock ties my thoughts in knots. “They weakened you permanently?”
She shrugs. “I’m hoping it’s not permanent. But I’m nowhere near my full power. It was a defensive measure meant to protect them and whoever was stupid enough to pay for me. I hate it.”
Anger churns in me, aimed at those two slavers. “You never said how bad it was.”
She tugs at a stray thread on her sleeve. “Why would I? I barely trust you as it is.”
My wolf roars inside me, demanding I protect her. I reach for her arm but stop. “I’m sorry. I had no idea they did that. If I’d known, I never would have gone through with their deal.”
She gives a tired laugh. “You keep saying that, but you still bought me.”
“I’ll make it right,” I insist.
She plants her hands on her hips. “Why do you even care?”
“Because this is partly my fault. If I can fix it, I will.”
Her gaze dips, and she exhales slowly. “Fine. Let’s keep training. I need to compensate for whatever they took from me.”
I nod, ignoring the twinge in my chest. We work on grappling drills. She’s agile but can’t match my strength, which I doubt she could do even without that poison in her system. I show her how to use an opponent’s momentum against them, which she picks up after a few tries. A flash of determination glints in her eyes every time she lunges. I admire it more than I should.
She scores a small victory by locking my arm behind my back. I grit my teeth through the pressure and shift my hips, slipping free. She curses as I grin.
“You’re strong,” I comment. “Even if you don’t feel at your peak.”
She doesn’t reply; she just circles me, panting. We exchange more strikes. Eventually, I catch her by the waist and spin her to the ground, careful to cushion her landing so she won’t be hurt. She thrashes, trying to dislodge me, but I brace my knees on either side of her thighs and grab her wrists.
Her breathing spikes. My pulse kicks up. Memories of that kiss flood my mind, stirring a rush of heat. Her face is inchesfrom mine, and her eyes are blazing with a cocktail of anger and something else. My wolf clenches in my chest, urging me to taste her again.
