Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and she’d swapped her workout clothes for a tight tank top and shorts that left little to the imagination. Her top hugged her curves, and she gave Leonardo a knowing, intimate grin as she placed her manicured hand on his bicep.
“I saw you watching us train,” she squealed, leaning in close. “I’m so glad you came.”
I walked away, letting Bianca’s flirtatious tone and proximity to Leonardo fade behind me. Despite the large size of the training building, it suddenly felt stifling. The way Bianca looked at him reminded me too much of Francesca’s gaze when she looked at Leonardo. That sight only reinforced my purpose here, even if it meant burying emotions I didn’t want to confront.
Later that evening, Dante stopped by to tell us about an event planned for the weekend-a small gathering arranged by some of the townspeople to ease tension after the rogue attack. Much like Alpha Carlo, Leonardo knew his people needed a moment to relax and not live in constant fear. Chiara was immediately insistent that we attend.
Leonardo was noticeably absent for the next three days of training, as was Dante. They both had responsibilities, but I couldn’t help thinking Leonardo would want an answer to his question. Every time I remembered Bianca’s flirtatious smile, it steeled my resolve, reminding me exactly why I was here.
Throughout the week, I went over defensive and offensive basics, shifting between different fighting techniques. Enrico and Chiara remained supportive, helping evaluate the trainees’ strengths and weaknesses. But as Friday arrived, I hadn’t seen Leonardo at all, and my frustration grew. If he wasn’t around, how was I supposed to accept his rejection?
Since Friday was our day off from training, I spent the morning sparring with Chiara and Enrico in the backyard. Sweat dripped down my back as I dodged Enrico’s powerful kicks. For his size, his speed was surprising, but he had weaknesses I could exploit. His left side was weaker, and a simple sweep to his legs sent him tumbling to the ground.
“Damn, Ella,” he huffed, grinning as he picked himself up and brushed dirt off his shirt.
“Get him, Ella!” Chiara cheered from the sidelines, enjoying the show.
I turned to her with a grin. “Alright, your turn. I hope you were paying attention.”
“Wait, my turn?” Chiara gulped, rubbing the back of her neck.
“Impressive.” A familiar voice made my pulse spike, and I looked over to see Leonardo stepping through the gate. His dark eyebrow arched as he took in the scene. “Alpha Carlo must’ve had a hard time parting with you.”
“Carlo knows she’ll come back home,” Enrico responded casually, smirking at Leonardo.
Leonardo’s intense gaze settled on me. “Mind if I speak with you privately, Isabella?”
I couldn’t suppress the dry laugh that escaped me, catching Leonardo by surprise. “Really? You’ve had all week.”
“I had to leave town to help a nearby pack,” he said, his eyes dancing with a smirk. “But if you missed me, you could’ve just said so.”
He took a step forward, and I felt my heart stammer. The early morning sun cast a glow across his features, highlighting every sharp line and soft curve, making him look almost unreal. My irritation flared, and I steeled myself, refusing to be swayed.
“We’ll give you five minutes,” Chiara said, nodding at me before grabbing Enrico’s arm to drag him inside. “Let’s go.”
“Miss you?” I scoffed, feeling my blood simmering. “There’s no way I’ll ever miss your presence.”
Leonardo’s smirk deepened as he came closer, his voice dropping. “You seem pretty upset we didn’t finish our conversation. I know I was.”
He was now only a foot away, close enough that I could feel the warmth of his body, smell the familiar mix of his scent that muddled my mind. His gaze was intense, locked on mine as though no one else existed. His words, while aggravating, made me shiver.
“I’ve got more important things to be upset about than a pointless conversation,” I retorted, clenching my fists. “If you cared that much, you could’ve sent Bianca away.”
“Pointless?” he repeated with a raised brow. He leaned in, his breath brushing over my skin, scented with cool mint and something sweet. “You want to know what I think?”
“No,” I replied through gritted teeth, trying to ignore the flush rising up my cheeks.
His face inched closer, his eyes burning with interest that only stoked my fury. He looked at me as if I were the last piece to a puzzle he was dying to complete. This was no longer the indifferent Leonardo who had rejected me without a thought.
“I think you didn’t come here just to train my people. You came for me,” he murmured, his hand reaching up to cup my cheek. “I know you feel the mate-bond, kitten. It’s powerful, isn’t it?”
His touch was electric, sending shocks over my skin that made my chest tighten and my blood sing. For a second, his hand against my cheek felt like home. But anger quickly swallowed that fleeting moment, drowning it in flames. I reminded myself that he’d rejected me without a second thought. I was here to prove something-to him, to myself.
Without thinking, I tore away from his grasp. Fury clouded my vision as I took a step back, breathing heavily. The satisfied smirk in his eyes infuriated me even more. My instincts kicked in, and I jerked my knee up, landing it squarely in his stomach. He grunted, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. I felt something primal take over, and I threw a punch that connected with his jaw, the impact sending a jolt of satisfaction through my bones.
Before I could land another, Enrico’s arms wrapped around me, pulling me back. I snarled in frustration, watching as Leonardo recovered from the blow, his expression unreadable. He wasn’t angry, though; instead, his gaze was consuming, as if I was finally giving him something he’d wanted all along.
“Alright, let’s go, tough stuff,” Enrico grunted, his tone somewhere between amused and cautious. “You can’t just go around punching Alphas, no matter how much they deserve it.”
Enrico glanced at Leonardo, giving him a knowing nod. “Five minutes is up! Thanks for stopping by,” he called, steering me toward the house as Leonardo watched, that maddening look still in his eyes.