Chapter 18
18
TALIA
S weat dripped down by brow as Jaxon yelled, “Push harder! You need to clear the top today.”
We had been training rigorously for the past few weeks.
Jaxon and Declan were determined to help me become the strongest fighter I could be.
There had been wolves going missing on the borders of Declan’s pack territory, warriors camping out on the other side of the barrier that Sasha had put up.
All of them in danger because of me… I increased my speed, arms pumping harder, my strides becoming longer as my gaze narrowed on my target.
That damn wall.
I hadn’t been able to make it to the top once, and time was running out.
The warriors camped outside the borders had mages with them.
Masters of magic in earth, wind, fire, and water.
They had been attacking our shields daily, trying to weaken it.
If I could just make it to the top then I will have proven how much stronger I have become since Declan brought me here.
Stole me.
Brought me.
Rage filled me as I thought of my mate.
The man who the moon goddess had decided was the other half of my soul.
He trained me.
He gave advice on how to fight, how to widen my stance when doing hand to hand, but he was not trying to pursue me or convince me to seal the mate bond as much as he did those first couple days and weeks.
I am not quite sure what changed, or why it bothered me so much.
Using my rage to fuel me I pushed with every fiber of my being jumping, my arms reaching for the top of the wall.
I was going to make it.
I was so close I could feel it.
Until I couldn’t anymore.
Fuck.
Fuck. Fuck.
Stretching my arm out as I began to fall, the top of the wall slowly fading from my field of vision.
Wind lifted my hair from my shoulders as I fell.
My arms flailing at my side as I tried to grab onto anything.
I reached for the ledge on the side of the wall, my hand gripping the rock as my body hit the side.
The impact jolting me to the core as I felt the bones in my nose crunch as blood began to trail down my face.
The taste of iron slipping into my mouth as I took a deep breath.
“Damnit Tals Grab on! Pull yourself up.”
Jaxon growled from the floor below.
I could hear the worry in his voice as I started to slip.
My palms were covered in sweat and causing my grip to loosen.
I reached for my wolf, my core tightened as I felt our power fill me.
My heart rate slowed as the world around me came into focus.
I pulled on the air surrounding me bending it to my will and launched myself to the top.
The air was pushed from my lungs as I landed, my back hitting the surface, jarring me.
Gods Damnit
Throwing my head backwards I groaned as I felt my body begin to stitch itself back together.
I had surely broken my nose, and a rib or two from the landing.
If the pain shooting through my rib cage was any indication.
Closing my eyes I tried to focus my breathing.
“You really know how to stick a landing don’t you?”
Jaxon laughed from above me.
His presence filled the air surrounding me.
“Shut up.”
I groaned “Next time try to use to ledges to your advantage.
You don’t need to just jump straight from the ground.
Climbing the wall is just as effective.”
I slowly peeled my eyes open and was met with the smirk of my friend.
Why did all these males have fucking dimples? Jaxon bent down and offered me his hand, “Would you like some help to stand?”
A chuckle left him as I gripped his hand allowing him to pull me up.
“Why don’t we call it quits for the moment and go grab a bite to eat okay?”
Resolve filled me as I said, “No, I may not be able to make it to the top yet, but that doesn’t mean I am done trying.”
“Talia, you just broke your nose, and I’m guessing some ribs as well from the bruise on your side.
You need to rest, eat, and allow your body to finish healing." Jaxon said while shaking his head at me.
“He isn’t wrong you know.”
Sionn chuffed.
“I cannot stop.
We need to be able to handle anything thrown our way.”
I told her.
She replied with, “We will handle it.
We always have.
Right now, we need to rest.
And maybe find our mate?”
I growled, “Our mate is being a bit prickly as of late.”
She laughed, “Well, let’s just show him what he is missing out on then.
shall we?”
I looked at Jaxon and said, “Fine, but after we eat, we work on my aim.
I can’t let myself get rusty.”
“Deal.”
He said while he began to lead us down the stairs that were attached at the top of the obstacle course wall.
I stared out the kitchen window as I thought about how much of a turn my life had taken.
Three weeks had gone by since we started training.
Over a month since I met my fated mate, and he stole me away to his pack lands.
I had been working hard to get myself ready for whatever fate had in store for me, and I had been using muscles I did not know existed until now.
Declan was a brutal teacher, and Jaxon was just as bad, if not worse.
A routine had been established.
Before sunrise every morning, I would meet one of them in the training room.
We would stretch, work out and go for a run in the different terrains throughout the pack lands to build my stamina.
Trystan insisted that I began training outside in different weather and terrains, in both human and wolf form.
If we ever made it back to the Scarlet Vales I needed to be prepared for their rougher landscapes, and the high cliffs surrounding the castles.
We’d go through the motions of building up my strength and muscles in hand-to-hand combat, followed by sword work, then I would attempt the obstacle course.
That fucking wall would be the end of me.
We would end with target practice.
I would throw daggers over and over until my wrist began to hurt.
Soft feminine laughter met my ears, "I cannot believe how easily you get Trystan all riled up!" Isla said.
" He has always been so stoic around the women of the pack.
All big and broody until you came along Celeste." The corner of my lip turned up at that, Celeste always knew how to break down a person's walls.
If she wanted to make them squirm it would become her mission in life.
"He is just so fun to mess with, someone needs to fuck that man and make him a little happier in life." She laughed.
"Are you volunteering yourself? Because the way that man looks at you I bet he would do anything to have you underneath his hot, sweaty, and ruggedly handsome tattooed body.
Oh, do you think his dick is tattooed? I've never been allowed to shift around him, Declan is always so concerned about me getting prayed on by these "older men." Isla said back to her.
I laughed so hard at that, a snort escaped.
She had a major squirrel moment right there.
My hand shot up, covering my mouth.
So much for quietly eavesdropping.
"Are you going to come outside and join us Tals? Or are you going to stay in the kitchen creeping on the pack again?" Celeste said, while moving closer to the kitchen window I was still currently peering out of.
I really should go and socialize with the pack, outside of Isla, Athena, and Jaxon I didn't know many members of the pack.
I wasn't quite sure how to interact with them.
Declan hadn't formally introduced me as his mate, and with everyone so on edge already I didn't know how to talk to them.
"I guess a little fresh air would do me some good.
Jaxon kicked my ass in training this morning." I replied.
They both smiled as I hopped up and headed towards the back door in the kitchen that led out to the yard.
I flipped the light switches off as I passed them.
Old habits and all.
When you are a poor college kid, you don't want to use any more power than necessary.
It drove Declan up a wall.
" We are powered by the lands energy, not traditional power lines.
You can leave the lights on all day for all I care." he would tell me.
Well mother nature deserved a break too.
The land gives us so much, we should respect her and give back.
I grabbed my light gray jacket off of the counter and headed out the door.
The fresh crisp air immediately opening up my lungs as I breathed it in.
There was just something about the air here in Scotland, especially on Declans pack territory.
It was just fresher, richer somehow.
I wonder if it had to do with how close his pack lands bordered The Scarlet Vales.
Footsteps sounded behind me as Isla and Celeste turned the corner of the house, a smile crossed my face as they stepped into view.
I really had grown so close to Isla over these past few weeks.
She was a fucking delight to be around.
"So what are we doing?" I asked, my eyebrows raised as their grins only widened.
Isla laughed quietly before saying, "Well… the men are training out by the old courtyard.
We thought we could go and watch them get all sweaty." Celeste stepped closer to her, wrapped and arm around Islas shoulders and said, "Don't let her fool you.
She just wants to stare at that pack enforcer Larsen." Celeste laughed while gazing up at Isla. "Oh shut up!" Isla squealed. Her face instantly reddening while she began biting her lip. She most definitely had a thing for this male. I couldn't blame her either. Larsen had short blonde hair, bright blue eyes and was as fit as they come. He was well over six foot and thick. I laughed, "Is that so? Well I am all for that. It's not like I am getting any these days anyways. Why not look at some ripped males trying to stab each other with sharp swords?"
"See! I told you she would be on board, my douchebag brother has his head so far up his ass right now.
We need to make him jealous." A sinister grin appeared on Islas face, all evidence of her embarrassment replaced with excitement.
She truly loved to make her brother squirm, and right now I was her way of achieving that.
Do I want to make him jealous though… Yeah I think I do.
Also maybe stab him once…or twice.
"Lead the way you beautifully evil mastermind!" I stepped forward, linked my arm with Celeste, and Celeste linked hers with Isla and we began walking towards the outdoor training fields.
The past couple of weeks had been strange between Declan and me.
He was distant after what happened in the training room a few weeks ago.
I wasn’t sure if he felt what I was feeling or decided he didn’t want to finish our bond or what, but he had been more like an acquaintance than anything.
After finishing training every day, I normally did something with the girls, followed by lunch with Jaxon and Declan’s mom.
Declan had been gone during the days after training with Trystan looking for the missing wolves.
They sent out search parties through a portal Sasha had erected on the back end of his territory so the mages wouldn’t notice, but no one had found where the missing wolves were.
At night, we slept in the same bed but he kept his hands to himself.
I was about over the distance he was keeping.
The smell of blood and sweat hit my nose as we made our way through the clearing.
Loud shouting and grunts met my ears as we approached the training arena.
The sounds of swords clashing caused my heart rate to pick up, I had already trained this morning, but after thinking about Declan, I was itching for another one.
Speaking of the man himself.
In the center of the arena Declan fought another male, one I hadn't met yet, but that wasn't saying much.
I was still pretty reclusive here just as I was at home.
All I was missing was my books, I really should have someone go fetch them for me… I needed to finish that reverse harem where she gets seven mates.
A vampire, A wolf, and five male casters.
Just thinking about it was getting me all worked up.
I bit my lip to keep from moaning out loud.
I really needed to get laid.
"Um Tals?" Isla leaned in, and whispered into my ear.
I turned my head towards her and said, "Whats up?" That was such a lame response.
"You are drawing a bit of a crowd, your um arousal is quite potent." She chuckled.
My eyes widened in horror as I took in my surroundings.
The fighting has stopped completely and everyone was looking my way.
I had over a dozen pairs of hungry eyes staring as me.
Including a pair of bright blue ones.
Fuck.
I gritted my teeth as his long strides took up the distance between us in just a few moments.
Sweat dripped down his chest, rolling over the ridges of him deeply tanned abdominal muscles.
His muscles tightened as he reached behind him and resheathed his swords into the leather holsters strapped across him back.
I held my breath as he approached.
"What are you doing this far from the safety of the house?" he ground out.
Isla stepped closer to me and got in her brothers face, "We came to enjoy the show.
Why else would be be here? Big.
Brother." She punctuated the last two words while poking his chest.
Her fiery attitude made up for what she lacked in height.
A chuckle left me as I pulled her back.
"Thanks girl, but I can handle him."
"Handle me? Is that right?" A deep throaty chuckle left him as he stepped closer to me.
His scent surrounded me as he rested his forehead on mine, his hair dampened with sweat.
"I'd like to see you try." he said, his chest rumbling against mine.
"Fuck, did it just the temperature just raise like fifty degrees out here? Because I think I'm going to end up pregnant from all this sexual tension." Celeste whined from behind me, while she shamelessly rubbing her thighs together.
I cracked a smile and leaned forward, the sweat on his neck too tempting to resist.
I traced my tongue up the side of his neck and growled, "Meet me in the arena, Alpha."