Chapter 32
AXE
Tesni and I push through the doors of the training barracks, nodding to her cadets sparring in the boxing sector as we pass.
The atmosphere has been chafingly tense following Sunday’s banquet.
Elders who were first skeptical at Vessa’s arrival aren’t being shy about their dissent now.
The warriors, who typically refrain from engaging in political matters, simmer in their tempers, ready to lash out to defend Vessa’s honor.
I trust my pack with my life and would lay mine down for any of them in an instant, but I’d be an idiot to assume the secret will be contained here for long.
If word gets out that the Blood Master’s bride has allied with us, it’s just a matter of time before vampire legions mobilize.
Against the far back wall, Vessa navigates a rock-climbing structure.
The familiar cadence of her heart fills my ears, steady in concentration as she plots her next move.
Tesni clears her throat, walking me through her agenda for expediting the Luna’s training.
Mind-centering, weightlifting, sparring, and climbing.
Today, they’re moving on to the second module: building muscular intuition.
I watch as Vessa reaches for the next rock, sweat beading her forehead.
Under her cut-off top, her ribcage expands, testing the muscles of her abdomen and shoulders.
It’s impossible not to notice her toned deltoids and triceps, refined in the last few weeks of aerobics and sharpshooting.
My wolf rumbles, scenting the salt that aerates through her skin. Damn, it’s arousing.
Screw your head back on, Alpha.
Tesni continues her brief. “Qinnu and I went over routines targeting balance and mobility, which she’s been told to implement daily in addition to upper body conditioning. After two weeks, we’ll see if she’s ready to test these skills in the forest freehand.”
Qinnu watches Vessa from the ground level, assisted by Tripp, this year’s top recruit. Impressed by his display of leadership in the Circle recovery op, I recommended he receive Bleeding Sun’s sacramental warrior flames one year early. Just like I did at seventeen.
Raising the freshly inked arm, Tripp directs her to move diagonally to the left. Two maneuvers later, and she’s reached the top. Vessa gives me a friendly wave as she pants heavily, relishing the accomplishment.
Another scent piques the air, pulling my nose in the cadet’s direction.
The male watches intently, throat bobbing as the human swings her legs and squats, preparing to descend.
By the sheer breadth of his stench, there might as well be a string of drool dangling from his mouth.
Surely enough, his beady eyes are glued to her—fuck this.
Rage scorches my veins.
Qinnu catches on at the last possible moment. “Shit.”
I detonate, shoving the boy to the ground. Instantly, he rolls away from my grasp, springing back onto his feet and squaring up.
“Seriously?” Tesni steps forward to position herself between us, but I’m too fast, sweeping Tripp’s feet out beneath him and slamming my fist into his jaw. He counters by kneeing me in the shoulder. Little bastard.
Qinnu yanks her backwards. “Kid’s had the flames for three days and he’s already acting like his balls doubled in size. Let ‘em hash it out.”
Vessa pushes off the wall. “What the hell is going on?”
My head jerks up momentarily to ensure that she’s far enough away, but then I look back down, only to have the cadet pummel me in the eye.
With a roar, I grab him by his shoulders and throw him into the wall, where the back of his head meets a protruding stone.
I land a heavy punch to his unblocked ribs.
His eyes roll back into his head, knees buckling.
Vessa’s harness clatters to the floor. “Don’t hurt him!” she cries.
My fingers cinch around the boy’s throat.
As my vision tunnels, my canines elongate, ready to tear him open.
Tripp’s eyes flare with a warning glow in response, his own fangs coming forth.
Hair raises on my arms, itching with the urge to let my pelt take over.
To give into the beast and soak my claws with the grunt’s blood.
“Take this outside,” Tesni orders. “Before you break my equipment.”
Tripp writhes beneath me, begging for oxygen. The flare in his eyes dims. Staring back through a blood-red lens, I hear my mate’s voice.
“Axe, please. He’s just a kid.”
Qinnu tries to diffuse the tension with a chuckle. “Exactly. Can you really blame him?”
Vessa caresses my forearm. A tingle travels beneath my skin. “Stop this,” she pleads. “This isn’t you.”
Heaving a growl, I release the boy’s neck, slamming him on the mat. I turn to shield her from him. Sweat gleams along her face and breasts. My cock goes hard as granite at the sight.
Tripp chokes. “I-I’m sorry, Alpha, honestly, I didn’t—”
I lunge at him again. “Don’t direct that apology at me.”
He wipes his mouth, shifting his gaze. “Apologies for my disrespect, Vessa. I accept whatever consequence—”
“It’s fine,” she interrupts. “But the two of you need to stop acting like barbarians.”
“You’ll be sitting out of training for a week,” I bark at the cadet. “I want you back on patrol. Any leisure time you have, you’ll tend to the locker rooms.”
Tesni scowls. I may as well have just issued a restraining order.
“Find her a different training partner. Preferably one that thinks with their head.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Vessa hisses.
My hands seize her waist, pinning her against the rock wall.
Settling in its deepest timbre, my voice finds her ear.
“You listen here, Moonshine. The second I caught him lusting for your tight little body, I could have gutted him right then. But I didn’t.
Because you’re right. He’s a kid. And he’ll have this one chance to learn to control his instincts.
The next time I catch a male waging a dangerous game like that with my woman, I won’t hesitate to sever his jugular. ”
Vessa raises her chin. “I might be your mate, but I am not your possession. Don’t diminish me when you speak.”
My nose lowers to her damp neck, drawing in the maddening pheromones. “Do you have any idea where all the blood rushes to when you challenge me? Would you like me to show you?”
“You’re an animal.”
Smirking, I press my full weight against her. “Don’t you forget it.”
Vessa’s heart skips a little beat when my thigh slips between her legs. “We still have an audience.”
“Good,” I rasp.
I’ve got half a mind to peel these clothes off and take her right here against this wall.
Lick every inch of skin. Fist my fingers around her silk ponytail.
Kick these legs open and thrust inside of her until she’s hoarse from screaming that she’s spoken for.
Maybe then this horny little cadet will take the fucking hint.
Brown eyes are vexed as they address me. “You need to calm down.”
Slender fingers splay along my chest, pushing me away. With my next exhale, the furious beast inside yields to her. Without any objections.
Qinnu helps Tripp up to his feet. “The next full moon is going to be the death of you, brother,” he huffs at me.
Tesni shakes her head. “I doubt he’s gonna make it to Saturday.”
I watch the young recruit drag his feet off the mat, the two of them making for the exit.
Across the room, Roman, a burly warrior who is concentrating on his bench press, lays the bar down in defeat. “Silverfire, Axe. You’re contaminating the gym with that foul stench.”
Vessa whips her head, clearly confused. In my pocket, my phone rings. It’s Solmuk calling from the shop.
“I’m done for the day,” Vessa chirps. She storms off, making for the showers.
Deciding not to follow her goes against my every instinct, but I take the call and curtly give my apprentice instructions for ordering a part we need.
“Everything okay, boss?”
“Everything’s fine,” I grumble, watching those gorgeous hips swivel away. “I’ll be in later this afternoon.”
I snap the phone shut. My chest is still heaving as I glance over at Tesni, whose smirk I am hardly amused by.
“After the induction, I’m sending you on a mission to hunt the oracle down. I want her ass back here before the Council summoning. Whatever means necessary.”