Chapter 19
TALIA & DECLAN
A strong arm reached out and grabbed my wrist, stopping me from continuing to the arena.
"Where do you think you are going little wolf?" he growled.
I turned my head and looked over my shoulder at him and said, "To fight you of course.
I could use another fight to work off this sexual tension, unless you want to give me an orgasm right here that is?" Declan looked as if I had slapped him.
His eyes widened, shock appearing on his face, but quickly fading.
I knew he wouldn't do anything.
He tugged me towards his body and growled, "If a fight is what you want, lets see how your training is going.
Shall we?" I rolled my eyes and ripped my arm out of his grasp.
Good thing I was still in my workout clothes, jeans wouldn't have been an ideal outfit choice for a fight with my mate.
Especially one with an audience of pack members that were currently sizing me up.
I walked over to their weapons pile near the edge of the clearing and looked for a sword I was familiar with.
How many swords did they spar with? Sheesh.
The metal clanged over and over as I moved the swords around, searching for my fit.
They had long swords, short swords, curved swords, claymores, sabres, and backswords, and the one I was looking for.
The Naginata.
This sword was fit for women to used in battle and had become my favorite in training lately.
I really needed to get one with a Celtic hilt to match my dagger.
"You really should leave the fighting to the men, you belong in his bed not in the training arena with him." A hoarse male voice ground out from behind me.
I picked up my sword and spun around so fast, he didn't know what hit him.
I had my blade pressed against his throat, as I stared into his deep black eyes, sweat dripped down his brows, his dark brown hair falling in his face as I growled out, "If I want to fight him, I will and If I want to fuck him I will.
But rest assured, I can end you right here and now.
Just come a little closer." My vision sharpened as I let Sionn to the surface.
The clouds began to thicken in the skies above as my hold on my magic began to slip a little.
His eyes widened briefly before he lowered his gaze, "I apologize, I should not have said something so unkind." A throat cleared from behind me.
I held my blade against this man's throat a minute longer and asked, "What is your name?" He swallowed slowly, careful to not cut his throat on my blade, "They call me Reggie, my lady." My lady, I kind of liked the sound of that.
"Reggie, dont let it happen again." I said while lowering my sword and turning to face Declan.
Who to my surprise was staying silent during this whole exchange.
"May I help you with something?"
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, "Well I think you just earned the respect of all the men in attendance right now, and maybe earned me some competition." I smiled and said, "Mmm I do love a good pool of prospective lovers."
A deep throaty growl tore from his throat as he closed the distance between us, "You.
Are.
Mine" I just smiled and laughed while walking towards the arena, "Am I now?"
She was goading me.
Pushing my buttons, while I was already so close to snapping, I would like to bend her over my knee and show her who she belonged to.
I ground my teeth together to keep from throwing her to the ground and fucking her right here for everyone to see.
Marking her and claiming her as mine right here.
Right now.
The muscles in my jaw were so tight I thought they would snap from the pressure.
"Are you coming?" She shouted, while she swayed those luscious hips of hers on the way to the middle of the clearing.
I was so clearly fucked.
I bent down on one knee to tighten the laces of my dark leather boots, my muscles already strained from fighting every man here.
We were heading out on another patrol of the pack lands tonight, and we needed to be prepared for anything.
Too many women had gone missing, and the warriors camped on the edge of our territory were getting restless.
Guards were portalling in from The Scarlet Vales, mages were coming with them and they had successfully broken through the borders several times now.
They were biding their time with these missing women.
No one knew my mates true appearance, not with the glamour on her, even with it fading.
I had increased patrols to one every morning and evening, with the pack enforcers constantly keeping an eye on the enemy lines.
They were still getting past us somewhere, and I needed to figure out where they were getting in.
I released a deep breath as I looked at my mate standing in the center of the clearing, she needs to be more prepared than she is.
But how do I do that without shattering the small amount of trust she has started having in my pack, and in me.
The women showed up while I was on my last fight and I sure as shit was not expecting to fight my mate today in front of an audience.
They all hardly knew her.
That was my fault.
I didn't want to risk her safety.
I also didn't want her to leave.
I had been selfish with her, and was failing at preparing her.
Knowledge was power and she didn't have much.
Every time she asked me a question about The Scarlet Vales I dodged her and made excuses.
"I dont have all day! It's almost time for my mid day snack, so let's do this already." she yelled while resting her hand on her hip.
The tight purple leggings she wore hugged her perfect curves, leaving hardly anything to the imagination.
At least she wore a jacket, it would be hard to focus if she- Fuck. Natalia unzipped her jacket and tossed it over to Celeste and Isla. The men began to whistle loudly as she adjusted her breasts in her tight white workout shirt. I let loose a deep growl, my alpha power lacing my tone, and it immediately quieted. "Don't be such a prude! She is hot as fuck big bro!" Isla Shouted from the side lines. I closed my eyes, inhaled deeply while centering myself. Once I felt calm my eyes shot open, focused and sharp. I strode towards my mate while staring into her eyes. The purple ring around her iris shining so bright, captivating my whole being.
Declan drew his long swords from the sheathes on his back.
Fuck, I should have grabbed a second sword.
"Two against one? Kind of unfair don't you think?" I said with a mocking tone in my voice.
"Not at all, It will just better prepare you for future opponents." He smiled just before he lunged my way.
I arched my right arm up blocking his blow, the metal vibrating down my arms as the swords connected.
I grabbed my hilt and pushed myself backwards, using the force of our connection to help me.
We began circling each other, the shouts and cheers getting louder around us.
I pulled deep from within myself and blocked out the noise.
Focusing only on my opponent.
I had been zeroing in on the tells of how every single one of my trainers fought, and Declan well he shifted his weight to his left foot before he attacked.
The air was cold and crisp, making my breath visible as I exhaled, my fingers tightened around the hilt of my sword as Declan shifted his weight and lunged.
I was ready for him.
I spun to the left, dodging his blade and kicked my leg out.
My foot connected with the back of his knee, causing a grunt to leave him as it gave out making him stumble forward.
He recovered quickly and arched his swords high in the air while spinning back around, his blades cutting the air in front of my face, barely missing me.
A smirk appeared on his face as he ground out, "It seems your training is proving to be quite effective."
That was too fucking close!
"Are your trying to mark up my face?" I growled while charging him, slashing my sword towards his abdomen.
The blade connected with his hip right as he moved to avoid my hit.
The smell of iron filled the air around us, "First blood.
Looks like I am learning plenty." I smirked while staring at the droplets of blood trailing down his leather trousers.
"Hell yeah! Show him who wears the pants in this relationship Tals!" Isla shouted from the sidelines.
A huge grin took over her expression while she clapped her hands.
Declan turned towards his sister and yelled back, "You are supposed to cheer for your big brother you traitor!" First lesson in battle, never take your eyes off your opponent.
I ran at Declan, slid down to the ground, and swept his legs out from under him.
A loud thud echoed throughout the clearing as his body hit the ground, I threw my legs over his waist as I straddled him.
Leaning forward I pressed my blade against his throat, and growled so quietly I doubt anyone else heard, " Yield." My breathing was heavy, my chest rising and falling at a rapid pace, sweat dripped down my brow, my hair was wind swept and falling in my face as I stared into the bright blue eyes of my mate.
The corners of his lips turned up as a small smile formed.
His body vibrated beneath me as he let loose a laugh, a deep rich laugh that made me hold my breath.
It was such a beautiful sound.
I hadn't heard him laugh like that before.
His eyes sparkled as he reached up, and brushed my hair out of my eyes and growled, "Only for you would I ever yield."
My heart stopped in my chest as I stared into his eyes, a feeling of warmth overtaking me.
He gently ran his thumb over my cheek and whispered, "I like the sight of you blushing while straddling my waist little wolf." The wind began to howl around us, the sounds of the tree branches rustling met my ears, as the ground shook beneath me.
"Little wolf, look at me." I hadn't realized I was staring at the sky above, deep gray clouds moved in around us.
My vision blurred at the edges as my heart began to race, my arms fell to the sides, the clanging of my blade hitting the hard ground like a lightning strike shattering glass.
"Talia!" Celeste shouted my name, her voice pulling me from this trance.
I turned my head towards her voice, my eyes met her wide blue stare as a look of terror overtook her face.
She began running towards me, the wind blowing her hair across her face and she pushed against it to get to me.
Something is happening to me.
A sharp pain on my hip caused me to quickly turn my gaze downwards.
Declan had partially shifted and dug his claws into my hip bone.
His worried gaze met mine as I heard a loud crack echo around me, my vision cleared as my heart rate slowed.
The wind around us began to slow down as the skies cleared.
I felt so cold.
Goosebumps covered my body as my teeth began chattering.
My limbs felt heavy at my sides as I began falling off of Declan.
Strong arms wrapped around my waist as I fell.
"Hold on little wolf.
I've got you."