Page 67 of Shifters' Fated Summer
Chapter 24
Round Two
Anxiety buzzed between the members of the werewolf pack. Cade was deadly serious, glaring at anyone who didn’t act like a military robot. I caught Jem and Finn giving me baleful glances, like it was my fault Cade was being an asshole.
But at least I was allowed to take part in preparations. Cade had everyone out in the training yard going through exercises.
To my irritation, Cade and Luca took Rhett, Archer, Holt, and the serious cousin, Lux, for sparring rounds while Lana directed myself, Jem, and Finn. It definitely felt like the B-team.
She walked us through a simple set of exercises including pull-ups, which I was flat-out unable to do. Dressed in a ridiculously tight sports bra and bike short set that showed a stretch of tanned stomach, Lana crossed her arms and chided me.
“I don't know why you can’t do this. It’s not that hard. It’s like you’ve never worked out in your life.”
Jaw clenched, I tried again, pulling myself a few inches off the ground. “I haven’t.”
She huffed. “Maybe you should just go back and prepare lunch for everyone. At least then you’d be useful. We both know you aren’t going on this mission.”
My gaze strayed to where Cade and Rhett circled each other, shirtless. Sunlight gleamed on Cade’s golden skin, glinting off the sheen of sweat. The silvery scars of his claim mark were unmistakable, and it made my mouth water.
I was done questioning how messed up the fated mate bond was. I just wanted him, and he hated me, and we would torture each other until the end of time. It felt hopeless. If it wasn’t for Luca, I didn’t know what I would have done.
“Summer, focus!” Lana snapped. Her blonde ponytail swished as she shook her head. “Big, mean, and pretty over there isn’t going to be impressed by you right now.”
I tightened my grip on the bar and imagined swinging my legs up, locking around her neck and twisting her head. Violent, but satisfying. As if I would have the core strength to do that.
“At least my tits aren’t falling out of my top,” I growled.
Lana threw her head back and laughed. It was an attractive throaty sound that made me hate her even more. “Honey, you wish you had my rack.”
With a smirk, she sauntered off to pick on Finn andJem.
I let myself hang, enjoying the way it stretched my back, as I watched Cade and Rhett fight. I’d never seen Cade train before, but it seemed to me he was slower than Rhett. My brow furrowed. That didn’t seem right.
My eyes tracked his movements, watching those glorious muscles lengthen and tighten as he swung at the older werewolf. In a quick movement, Rhett grabbed his wrist and twisted him around, shoving his knee and knocking him to the dirt.
A shout of pain echoed across the clearing, and I dropped into a crouch, panic making my heart race. Darting across the space, I dropped to the dirt beside Luca, who was easing Cade up to a seated position. Cade cradled his arm where Rhett had gripped him. He tried to rotate it and winced.
“I’m sorry, man,” Rhett said, scratching at his short silvery hair. “I didn’t mean to.”
“It’s fine. Just a fluke. I’m sure it’ll heal up fine by tomorrow,” Cade said through clenched teeth. Eyes closed, he tipped his head back, and I resisted the urge to lean forward and lick under the sharp edge of his jaw. Fuck this bond.
Luca and Archer each took an elbow and helped Cade stand. He shook them off, insisting he was fine.
Archer crossed his arms. “Alpha, you need to rest. I’ll walk you up to the house. Summer, you’re coming too.”
My eyes widened. Of course I wanted to come andkeep an eye on Cade. I couldn’t help it. But he clearly didn’t want me.
“She should train,” Cade growled.
“Why? You aren’t bringing her on the mission.” Archer wasn’t backing down. His biceps bulged as he crossed his arms.
Cade stomped forward, toward the deck stairs and the pack’s lake house, grumping under his breath. Archer jerked his head at me, and I lurched forward. Arms hugging myself, I trailed after Cade, my stomach a weird jumble of anxiety, rejection, and horniness.
Archer followed us all the way up the stairs in a stiff, awkward silence. Cade turned left, as if he would head for a different bedroom, and Archer growled, “Nope, your room.”
Cade twisted around, but his snarl was cut short with a grimace. Archer raised one eyebrow, and Cade conceded, shuffling into the bedroom and all but collapsing on the bed.
Elowen appeared in the doorway. “Oh, did we have another incident?”
