Malia’s POV
Ronan chuckled as he rose from the floor.
“Now I know exactly how to make you fall madly in love with me. I just have to get you to look into these eyes long enough,” he joked. “Let’s see if you can beat me today,” he said, holding out a hand to me.
I took it and raised myself off of the ground. “I’m quite good with weapons,” I replied. “You should be afraid.”
“Challenge accepted,” he said with a grin and led me to a free spot on the field.
He raced to the centre of the field to retrieve some weapons and returned to my spot.
“Here,” he said, handing me one. “This is one of the best. It gives you great advantage.”
“I don’t need leverage and I certainly don’t want you to go easy on me,” I said with a smirk.
“Are you sure about that?” He asked with a serious look.
“Yes,” I replied, jutting my chin forward. “Don’t try to scare me. It won’t work.”
He nodded. “Very well then. Shall we?”
I gave a small nod and waited for him to make the first move.
I was able to defend myself for most of the fight and I knew Ronan was trying hard not to hurt me.
He knocked me to the ground a few times but not hard enough to cause a concussion.
“Don’t go easy on me,” I groaned out.
It was really sunny and I felt dehydrated.
“Malia, let’s take a break,” he said.
We moved in circles as we spoke. Our eyes on each other watching out for the slightest hint of attack.
“Tired already? I didn’t peg you as a pussy,” I provoked.
“Fine. Have it your way then,” he replied and after a few seconds lunged at me.
I dodged his attack and managed to draw a little blood with my weapon.
He turned his head to inspect the cut on his arm and smirked. “Are you satisfied now?”
I grinned in response and he shook his head.
For the first time, I noticed that it was really quiet which was strange considering that this was a training field and it was still afternoon.
I turned to face the other side of the field and to my surprise, all the trainees and trainers were staring at us.
I felt my face turn beet red and moved closer to Ronan. I even tried to hide behind him.
Derek was the first to break the silence. “Well, that was intense,” he said as he approached us.
“Get back to work everyone,” Ronan barked and after a few seconds, the sound of weapons clashing could be heard again.
Derek turned to face Ronan. “She looked like she wanted to tear you apart when you both were at it,” he commented.
“She must have a lot of repressed rage,” Ronan added.
“Guys, I’m right here,” I reminded, just in case they had forgotten or I had suddenly become invisible.
To my greatest annoyance, they went on as if I hadn’t spoken.
“We would need that kind of rage just in case we have to go to war,” Ronan said.
“You think Alpha Ryder is going to allow her fight with us in a war?” Derek asked and he frowned.
I smacked the back of their heads hard and they burst out laughing.
That was it. I had had enough training for the day. With one last dirty look at both of them, I turned on my heels and stomped out of the training field.
After a few minutes, I heard footsteps behind me. “Slow down, will you?” I heard Ronan say.
“I’m very sure you can catch up because you have longer legs and besides I don’t remember asking for company,” I replied.
He chuckled as he fell into step beside me. “It’s ungentlemanly to allow a lady walk home alone herself”
I snorted. “Like I didn’t walk down to the training field all by myself.”
“I would have come walk you but I thought you didn’t want anything to do with me after what happened yesterday.”
“And what makes you think I want anything to do with you now?” I asked and he burst out laughing.
“You agreed to fight me,” he replied.
“That was because I needed an opportunity to cut off your head,” I said.
“You shouldn’t be thinking ’bout beheading the beta. The pack wouldn’t like that. You’d be hung,” he replied with a smirk.
“If dying is the price I have to pay for killing you, then so be it,” I joked.
Ronan clutched his heart theatrically. “You hurt me with your words, Lia.”
“I’m glad you’re hurt,” I said with a smile.
“Oh, you’re going to pay for this,” he said with a gleam in his eyes.
“Are you threatening me, Ronan?” I asked.
“You’ll see,” he replied.
After a few seconds, I was suddenly lifted off the ground. I shrieked as Ronan flung me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing.
“Put me down this instant,” I ordered and he chuckled.
“I told you you were going to pay,” he said and started running at the speed of a cheetah.
I closed my eyes and hung on for dear life.
He didn’t stop until he got to the front of my room. He opened the door and set me gently on my bed.
For a moment I was speechless and tried to calm my racing heart.
“I’m really going to kill you,” I threatened.
“No you won’t,” he said.
We both stared at each other in silence for a moment and then suddenly burst out laughing.
“Why are you laughing?” He asked.
“I don’t know. Why are you laughing?” I asked slightly out of breath.
“I don’t know either,” he replied.
“I’m sure I look a mess right now,” I said.
He nodded in agreement. “You need to take your bath and do something about your hair”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “It’s all your fault.”
“Don’t blame me. You were the one who wanted to beat a beta,” he said. “Let me make it up to you”
“Food?” I asked.
He chuckled. “Oh, Malia.”