Andre’s POV
The first guard made the first move. It was an attack from the back, and I surprised myself with how quickly I whipped around and countered the right hook coming to the side of my head.
I held the guard’s fist in my open palm, and we were stuck in a deadlock for a while until I overpowered him and hurled him across the room.
The other guards gasped and they hesitated for a while. Then suddenly, as if they all spoke to each other at once, they all came rushing towards me, closing in on me and shrinking the circle rapidly by the seconds. I blocked a barrage of hits, kicks, and punches. I could tell that my men were putting in their best efforts but I was faster and stronger.
I was stunned by how effortlessly I dodged and the strength in my punches and kicks was frightening. I took all of them to the ground in barely a few seconds.
Some strong and determined ones didn’t stay on the ground for too long and got back to their feet to continue fighting me.
As the fight first went on, I could see Pierre grinning on the sidelines, cheering the guards on. I could see him, the shine in his eyes, apparently wishing one of the guards could land at least a hit on me and win the prize.
The resilience of the guards was heartwarming as they fought to land at least one punch in me.
My fists struck someone in the stomach, and I heard a female groan fill the room.
A woman? There was a woman among my guards?
I wasn’t surprised to have a few female guards, but I didn’t expect that any of them would be there to take up the challenge.
I sent her flying across the room so fast that I was unable to catch a glimpse of her face. Suddenly, a fist cut the air towards my nose and nearly touched me.
I blocked and deflected it and grabbed the guard’s arm.
Just as I was about to throw him, I felt the wind swish behind me. Someone was about to kick me and I had no time to dodge.
I thought fast and turned in a split second with the guard that I was holding by the arm, using him to block the kick. The kick landed straight on his face, and I threw him aside and dealt with the daring kicker.
In a few minutes, nineteen of my men were on the ground, and I was left standing alone, facing the last guard who had apparently refused to give up.
I stole a glimpse at the face; it was the lady I had punched earlier. She was gripping her stomach, breathing hard, and staring down at me with anger and determination.
It didn’t take me too long to figure out who she was. Sephora, Olivia’s trainer. I had forgotten that she was part of my guard.
It was a faceoff at first and then she charged towards me. I stood my ground and waited for her. I expected a punch, but I misread her movements, and she came with a sweep to her leg.
She nearly touched me, but I was quick to avoid it, and I jumped over her sweeping leg and was able to regain my balance just in time to avoid another kick.
She grunted in anger and unleashed a flurry of jabs and hooks to my head. I dodged all of them and admired her moxie and determination to hit me. She was definitely not holding back.
She surprised me with a feint, and I fell for it as she proceeded to go for another kick to my midsection, but I caught her leg, grabbed her, and flung her across the room.
I was surprised that she managed to catch herself in mid-air. Her strength and agility were truly surprising and it wasn’t difficult to say she was better than most of my men.
I charged at her and released my punches and kicks.
She tried her best to block and deflect them but they were too fast and hard for her.
She caught my punch, but I heard something crack and break, and she fell to the ground, gripping her arm painfully.
“Ahhhhh!”
She groaned in pain, and in a flash, Pierre rushed to her side. Before he could even touch her, she stretched out her hand to stop him.
“I… I am fine. It is just a broken arm. It will heal on its own.”
She stood up and faced me, clutching her broken left arm, and gave me a deep bow.
“It was an honour fighting the Alpha in hand-to-hand combat, and I’d rather forfeit a match with my own Alpha.”
I gave her a respectful nod as she went to sit down to attend to her arm.
Pierre and I watched as she walked away and finally, he turned it to me.
“You really have gotten stronger, Alpha. I timed the match with the men and you used less than five minutes.”
I looked at him in shock.
“Five minutes? Sephora and I’s fight felt longer than that.”
“It was. I timed your fight with her separately and she lasted a whole seven minutes with you. But I could tell that you’re holding back initially and allowing her to give you her best punches.”
A knowing smile crept over my face.
Pierre was right; I was holding back. I was certain that if I had gone all out in the beginning, the match would have been over much quicker.
“Well, you have gotten stronger faster, alpha. When last did you let out your wolf?”
I looked up and thought for a while.
“I can’t really remember. Probably during that full moon party that I had with Nicole. I think that was the last time.”
“Maybe your wolf is agitated? You probably need to let him out. The pent-up energy inside him is boosting your strength and ability.”
I was silent. It’s highly unlikely that Ragnar, my wolf, was agitated. He had been relatively calm ever since Olivia and I marked each other as our mates.
I could feel him prowling around in my mind and he didn’t seem agitated or anxious at all.
“Maybe,” I finally replied to Pierre.
I asked him to get the men something for breakfast and watch them as they train. After that. I left and decided to head into the forest.
It has been a while since I shifted into my wolf.
I found a spot in the forest surrounded by beautiful trees and flowers. I stood right in the centre and closed my eyes. I could feel nature speaking to me, and its gentle whispers and the breeze howling around me were calm and soothing.
I let myself go and shifted into my wolf, a tall, large black wolf that stood a staggering eight feet tall.
I looked around and I just did myself to my heightened senses. I could smell everything for miles. My ears could pick up the slightest of sounds.
Crick!
I whipped my head around. I heard a twig snap. My eyes stared around the greenery and my nose was sharp and ready.
I could feel an ominous presence, and eyes were watching me from hidden places; I wasn’t alone, and whoever was watching me wasn’t alone either.
All was stillthe calm before the stormthen I heard a howl and soon, a pair of glowing eyes, bared teeth, and outstretched claws pounced towards me.
I got out of the way and stared down at my opponent, snarling and flexing my claws, ready to fight. As if on signal, one by one, his comrades began to appear. There were four of them and they encircled me, snarling and sizing me up.
I snarled back and took them all in.
As if on cue, the wolf pounced at me from the side. I evaded and clawed his flank, drawing blood and fur as I did so. The wolf yelped and fell to the ground in pain.
His comrades were agitated and three of them pounced towards me at once. I dodged a potential dog pile and created some space for myself.
Four snarling wolvesBlack, grey, and two brown had their glowing eyes fixed on me and the intention to kill oozed around them.
I took a sniff of the air; none of them smelled familiar. I couldn’t recognize them as a member of my pack.
The grey wolf charged towards me, reared itself on its hind legs with its front claws in the air, ready to come down on me with a devastating blow.
However, I was faster and I took advantage of the tiny opening he left unprotected on his stomach and clawed him there. He fell to the ground and I faced the two in front of me.
Two?
I heard a snarl behind me. One of the brown wolves had snuck up behind me while I was busy with the grey one and I tried to get a cheap shot at me from the back.
I spun around fast and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and slammed him into his other two comrades.
They were all on the floor and I stood fiercely above them, waiting for one of them to dare make a move. However, they didn’t, and as soon as they got to their feet, they ran away with their tails between their legs, whimpering in pain and fright as they trailed blood behind them.
I left the forest, just in case there were more of them waiting for me. I did feel stronger but it wasn’t worth the risk of an ambush.
I shifted back into my human form and walked back to the hotel. The events of the day played in my mind like a stereo. Once again, I stole a glance at my muscles and body. I had not worked out in a long time, and I felt stronger and faster.
Something was definitely wrong with me but I couldn’t tell what.