Emily’s POV
“Seriously, Willow!” I growled under my breath, pissed at her.
“What?” She asked innocently. She was wagging her tail excitedly to give Alex a go. “I will help; you know I will.”
“I know you will, but I don’t want to humiliate Alex!” I said. “He lacks the skill and experience to take me down, and you know that!”
I knew I could easily give Alex a run for his money, and it might even be as easy as taking candy from a baby.
How does Willow expect me to be nice if I have the most experience around here? I have protected packs from rogue attacks and have killed hundreds of rogues in my life. I have even gained the reputation of being ruthless.
“I know,” she replied. “I will let you go easy on him.”
I sighed, chuckling as I shook my head.
Willow just wanted to toy with Alex. She wanted him to get a taste of our strength and abilities; I, on the other hand, just wanted to get this over and done without breaking a sweat or giving much away.
Xavier personally trained me, and he helped me unlock and understand how to use my abilities.
Alex doesn’t need to know all my secrets now; he will eventually find out, but this wasn’t the time or place.
I quickly pulled my shirt over my head and threw it on the bench, leaving me in my sports bra and jeans. That earned me a couple of whistles and howls from the warriors standing around watching us.
Alex’s face turned red in anger, and he released a fierce roar, silencing the training area around us.
“Respect!” He yelled, extending his aura and giving the warriors a warning glare.
One by one, the wolves dropped their heads, submitting to the higher power.
“You are being a spoilsport,” I said, trying to lift the mood. I flicked my hair over my shoulder, swayed my hips as I walked past him, and took my position on the training mat.
Luke got closer but stopped when he saw Alex’s face.
“They can’t have what’s mine!” Alex growled, his silver eyes turning dark gray.
“Are you afraid that you will end up having some competitors for my hand?” I asked, taunting him with a raised eyebrow.
“No!” Alex huffed, annoyed. “They wouldn’t dare challenge me! I will rip them apart if they dare look at you!”
Alex’s eyes turned stone-cold, and I shivered seeing it. He was livid and out of control. I have never seen him like this.
His face turned even redder and harder, and he was clenching his jaw.
I could see the muscles jumping around my jaw.
My gaze moved to Alex’s hands; he had already extended his claws.
“Our mate is possessive,” Willow purred. She liked this side of Alex.
I ignored her, keeping my focus on Alex. I had already lit the fire, and I was about to add some oil to the fire.
“You are going to get burned,” Willow warned, listening in on my thoughts.
“I am going to show you the reason why we shouldn’t stay!” I warned her.
“What are you going to do?” Willow asked, paying attention.
“Watch and learn,” I said.
I started to slowly move clockwise, keeping my eyes on Alex.
“Temper, temper,” I mused, gesturing to his claws. “No one here is claiming or looking at me. Why are you acting so insecure?”
“I am not!” He growled, getting angrier.
“Then you must be jealous!” I said, licking my lips seductively.
Alex flinched at my boldness and shifted his weight. He didn’t expect me to flirt with him so openly.
“I am not jealous!” Alex said, seriously. “I am just-”
“Possessive!” I said, cutting him off.
“I am not,” he growled.
I was now shaking the boat hard, and a small smile played at the corner of my lips.
“You are angering our mate,” Willow said, upset. She didn’t like seeing Alex angry.
The chances that Alex would hurt me were slim; the mate bond would keep him from doing that, but there was a chance that he might lose control of his anger and give the warriors a hiding.
Yet again, I was certain that it wouldn’t go that far. Alex could always control his temper; it was just because of me that he was acting out.
“I am not,” I argued. “I am just distracting him.”
Luke watched both of us from the sideline. He had folded his arms around his waist, and something like a smirk was playing on his lips.
He was enjoying the show.
My gaze traveled over all the warriors standing around and watching us. Some had placed a bet on who would win.
“There is no way she could win,” someone said. “Alpha would run circles around her.”
“I wouldn’t hold my breath,” someone else argued. “I heard she sneaked into the pack undetected.”
“Are you ready?” I asked, ignoring the rest of the gossip. “I hope you are not too fond of your ego!”
“Ready for what?” Alex asked, looking at me all confused.
Did he already forget why we were here?
“To get a beating from your future Luna,” I taunted.
My words took Alex by surprise, and he flinched.
I took the opportunity, knowing I had distracted him just long enough to put him on his ass and call it a day. I pounced forward, shouldering Alex in the stomach hard enough to knock him off his feet.
That did the trick, and Alex came tumbling down, landing outside the training ring on his ass.
The pack members gasped and then went silent; they couldn’t believe what they had just seen and how their Alpha was going to react.
“That was a low blow,” Willow said, disappointed. “You are playing unfairly.”
“I am not!” I growled. “I did warn Alex not to get distracted. He must stay focused at all times. He is a bloody Alpha, for goddess’s sake. I just proved to him that I shouldn’t stay. I am just a distraction for him, and someone is about to get hurt!”
“Yeah,” Willow huffed. “Alex’s ego got smashed!”
“The hell with his ego!” I growled. “If he can’t focus on the training mat while I am here, how will he keep his focus if the pack is under attack?”
“That is something different!” Willow argued.
“It’s not!” I hissed. “Think about it! If we were under attack now, Alex would have been taken down in mere seconds. He lacks focus. The pack and its members’ safety come first.”
Willow rolled her eyes, pissed at me. She turned on her heels and started off to the depths of my mind.
“Where are you going?” I hissed, and she stopped in her tracks, turning her gaze toward me.
“You are on your own for now,” Willow said, flipping her tail in the air. “I have things to attend to!”
“What kind of things?” I growled, feeling anger fill my veins.
“Oh, you know,” she said, shaking out her silver fur as if she were preparing herself to go on a date. “I’m going to go and meet someone important and special. I need to connect with other wolves!”
“Willow,” I growled, knowing what she was hinting at. “Don’t you dare open that link!”
“I’ll be in the depths of your mind if you need me,” she said.
“Again!” Alex’s voice filled the air, and I shivered at the intensity of the sound. He sounded extremely pissed, and I was afraid to turn around and face him.
I never expected Alex to request a second round that soon.
“Have fun!” Willow said, chuckling, and ran off.
Will I be able to bring Alex down without the help of Willow?
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