Adrian cleaned his eyes with his fingers blinking rapidly. Was he dreaming?
“Sure… come in.” What else could he have said? Stay outside because I’m insanely attracted to you and I am home alone?
She entered the house and looked around.”Your dad?”
Adrian waved away her question and went to the kitchen to hunt for coffee. Everything made sense after coffee. “He’s practically been living at his office in the pack house since the attack.”
“Right.” Ava tucked her hands into the back of her jeans bringing Adrian’s attention to her extremely luscious curves.
“You came here for something.” Adrian said gruffly. The coffee wasn’t coming along as quickly as he would have liked. He wanted her to state her business quickly and leave before the mate bond made him do something exceedingly stupid.
“Yeah, I uh… wanted to thank you for Cynthia. My parents told me all about it.” Ava tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
“It was nothing. She deserved what she got. Besides, I did it for us, not just for you. The last thing the pack needs right now is for the Alpha and the Beta to be at loggerheads.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” Ava turned as if to leave then paused. “You are going to the training grounds this morning, right?”
Adrian’s eyebrows drew together in confusion. What was she going on about? “Yes? Why do you ask?”
“Yeah, I was just wondering if we could go together.”
Now Adrian knew he was dreaming. Ava was at his house this early to ask him to accompany her to the training grounds and she hadn’t insulted him once or told him ‘Shut up, Adrian’.
He had to ask. “Are you real?”
Ava scrunched up her face. “What sort of stupid question is that? Are you still asleep?”
“Oh, you are real.” He sighed in relief, at least he hadn’t started hallucinating about Ava. “Why would you want me to follow you to the training grounds?” Adrian asked, then gave a sly smile. “Have you started liking me, Ava Connor?”
Ava rolled her eyes. “In your dreams.” Then her cheeks reddened lightly. Adrian knew why as he too suddenly remembered the last time their conversation had taken that turn and he’d touched her in the woods, she’d– no he wouldn’t think about it. The atmosphere in the house felt charged enough and his dad wasn’t in to keep him in check.
“Ava, why exactly are you here?” All the humour had fled from Adrian’s voice. “You know we shouldn’t be alone together for an extended period because of the bond, so why are you here?”
“I’m here because of the bond, okay? Liana isn’t doing too well and she seems better whenever we are interacting. I don’t like you, Adrian and I am very happy you and Gabrielle are finally getting your relationship issues sorted out. I just thought maybe if we hung out casually, I could get Liana to feel better and talk to me like before.” Ava said not meeting his gaze.
Adrian considered it. Ryan, his wolf, also seemed calmer and less combative whenever Ava was around. If they could be friends and hang out without letting the mate bond make them act out then Adrian could see the benefits of such an interaction.
“You have a point. Give me some minutes to get ready. You can help yourself to the coffee.”
*****
“Your footwork is sloppy. You need to move faster and lighter. You give too many tells, when you want to throw a punch or a kick, you look in that direction before you do so. Try that move again.”
Adrian was a brutal trainer and Ava was getting to find that out the hard way. She had been doing a particular move for what felt like hours now. Nelson couldn’t come in today and Adrian had volunteered himself for his position as her trainer.
Ava moved, to throw her punches and kicks, and then she suddenly found herself on the floor flat on the training mat. Adrian had literally grabbed her midair and thrown her down.
“Aww. This isn’t fair. Shouldn’t I be fighting with people on my level? You aren’t even trying to go easy on me.”
Adrian lifted an eyebrow. “In a real fight, no one will go easy on you. I’m trying to prepare you for that.”
They went on like that for hours and when evening came, Ava didn’t just have bruises, her entire body felt like a huge bruise. Because of werewolf superior healing, the bruises had healed but she still felt the pain in her bones.
Despite that Ava felt better than she had felt in a very long time. Ava would never have thought that after everything that had gone down between them, she and Adrian would be able to carry on conversations and train together without jumping each other or getting into an argument. Yet somehow they had done just that.
Tomorrow we will beat him. Liana said.
Yeah, I don’t think that is possible. You saw how fast he moves. I’m glad he’s going to be our Alpha. Ava said.
Yes, our mate is very strong and capable. He’ll make a good Alpha for our pack. Liana sounded beyond proud.
Ava ignored the entire mate talk. She was glad Liana was talking again but she wasn’t going to feed her delusions that she and Adrian were ever going to be something.
“Remind me to never allow you to train me again. You are way too strict.” Ava rubbed the back of her neck as she and Adrian walked towards the training grounds exit.
“Why Ava did you just compliment me?”
“It wasn’t a compliment you big-headed doofus. My bones want to run off and leave me behind. I think you broke me.”
“The pain will be worse tomorrow morning so make sure to do some stretches before going to bed today.”
“Aye, aye, Captain.” Ava mock saluted and they broke into a laughing bout. Then there was a comfortable silence between them.
“Do you think we could have been friends assuming this entire mating bond thing never happened?” Ava asked.
It was a question that ate at her sometimes. Could they have learnt to put aside their petty differences if sexual tension hadn’t been introduced into their relationship dynamics? Would they have eventually become friends?
Adrian was silent for a second. “Maybe. I don’t know. I guess we’ll never know for sure.” He looked at her and she looked up at him in response. The wind toyed with Adrian’s black hair and his green eyes looked darker than normal.
“Ava!”
The moment of connection was gone as Ava heard someone call out to her and she turned to see the person. It was Tyler. But everyone called him Ty. At least everybody apart from Ava who had never spoken to him but merely watched his fights and admired some of his moves.
“Hey.”
“Hi.” Tyler flashed a beautiful smile at her and Ava smiled back. “I’ve been meaning to speak with you, Ava. I’m Tyler.” He outstretched his hand and Ava took it.
“I know. I watched a couple of your fights a while back. You’re really good.”
“Thank you for your kind comment. Would you mind if I walked with you?” Tyler asked tentatively.
Ava wasn’t sure if she should agree. She had so much going on to have the time for an admirer with a heartbreaker’s smile.
“Actually I’m…” Ava turned around to look at Adrian, he would be the perfect excuse, but he was gone. “Alone apparently. You can walk with me.”
*******
“They look cute together.” Gabrielle said as she linked her arm with Adrian. After he’d heard Tyler call out to Avaaa, he had beat a hasty retreat. The last thing he wanted to see or hear was Ava with someone else. They’d been getting along so well and his wolf was pacified.
The last thing he wanted to do was to have a repeat of the incident at the hospital when he’d gotten jealous and hit Ava’s friend because he had kissed her. If Adrian could stay with Gabrielle then Ava should be free to choose a partner to be with.
Gabrielle had been waiting for him outside the training grounds when he got out. Adrian looked at Tyler and Ava walking together. Her brown hair swished in her ponytail down her back. Ava’s training clothes were form-fitting but flexible to allow movement and all Adrian could see were her curves in those clothes. Her bright blue eyes sparkled as she smiled at whatever it was Tyler said.
Adrian looked away. “I guess so.” He refused to be jealous.
Gabrielle laughed. “You don’t have to make that face just because you don’t like Ava. A lot of other people find her attractive.”
“Whatever, Gabby. I just want to get a shower, not discuss your sister’s prospects with you.”
“Alright. A shower sounds amazing. Can I join you?” Gabrielle’s voice went lower and she brushed her body against his.
“We’ll see.” Adrian said casually. His body didn’t even react to Gabrielle’s touch. She was pushing for intimacy again and Adrian didn’t know how to tell her that she no longer aroused him.