Chapter 17
DECLAN
I gripped the sword so hard my knuckles were white as I stepped onto the sparring mat.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to clear my mind, but the frustration of wondering if I was going to be able to protect my mate with what was ahead kept creeping back in… closing my eyes I steadied myself, taking in the noises around me as Jaxon shifted his position.
He always was one to attack first and not wait for his opponent to signal the start.
I took one more deep breath and my eyes flew open.
Jaxon ran at me, arching his sword up high and swinging down hard.
I swung to block his blade with my own , causing a vibration to move through the metal, down my arms and throughout my muscles.
The clinking of metal echoed throughout the room as we circled each other, pacing around the mats.
I pivoted, barely missing his next strike and continued to circle the mat while preparing for my attack.
Biding my time and assessing his movements, I tapped into my other senses, focusing on the movements around me.
My wolf came to the surface lending me his strength and increased the sensitivity of my reflexes.
Jaxon’s body tensed and he stepped with his left foot forward, a tell that he was about to strike.
I lunged with my sword aimed at his side, my blade nicking him as he spun to evade the full blow.
“You drew first blood, looks like you might deserve her after all alpha.”
Jaxon chided me.
A small droplet of blood trailed down his abdomen.
He smiled and continued to goad me.
“Hey Talia!”
he yelled across the mats .
“Do you like it gentle or rough? I feel like you’re the type to want to be dominated in the bedroom.”
I growled at him as I lunged.
Raising my sword above my head, I slashed my blade down hard.
He spun to the left and our blades clashed, bringing our bodies close together.
Sweat dripped down my forehead, and Jaxon’s chest glistened with perspiration.
Speaking through the pack link I said to him, “Are you trying to get yourself killed Jax? Speak about her in that way and you will be getting a blade stuck in you today.”
“Ah come on, it’s all in good fun, plus I think she’s enjoying the show.”
He smirked.
I glanced over my shoulder to where Talia stood next to her friend with a giant grin on her face.
Her cheeks were flushed with heat, and as our eyes connected, her arousal slammed into me.
Yeah, she was enjoying this alright.
I needed to end this so I could get my hands on her now.
My shoulder jerked forward as Jaxon’s fist connected with my body.
Fuck.
That asshole! I stumbled forward my arm catching on the ground beneath me.
I pushed up while turning back around and kicking my right leg out, sweeping Jaxon’s legs out from under him.
His body hit the mat with an echoing thud.
Before he could get his bearing to block my blade, I had it at his throat.
Putting slight pressure on the weapon, I growled, “Do you tap out?”
Jaxon tapped the mat with his free hand twice.
I released my blade and reaching down to help him stand up.
“Always fun fighting with you Dec.”
I picked up our swords and walked both blades back over to the rack and hung them up.
I felt her approach before I heard her.
“Want to fight me next? I may be better with daggers and a bow, but I could use some lessons with swords." She wrapped her hand around my wrist, turning me to face her.
She was still aroused, and it made me want to shove her against this wall of weapons and fuck her right here.
Reaching up, I brushed the hair that had come loose from her hair tie out of her face and tucked in behind her ear.
She stepped into my body using her knee to spread my legs apart and pushed us back up against the wall.
Fuck was she reading my thoughts? Trailing her fingertips up the ridges of my stomach muscles I clenched my jaw tight.
She was initiating the physical contact… I didn’t want to scare her off.
I didn’t get the sense she scared easily but I couldn’t risk it.
I needed her to stay.
“Watching you fight made me extremely turned on...
and it’s making me question what I want to happen between us.” I said.
She continued her perusal and made it up to where my tattoo started just above my heart.
She rested her hand there and closed her eyes resting her forehead on my chest.
I rested my hand on her waist and gently ran my thumb up and down her side waiting for her to make her next move.
Lifting her head, she tipped it up towards my face and when she opened her eyes they were glowing.
I could feel her wolf coming to the surface.
She smiled, her canines increasing in length, “Does your wolf want to come out and play?”
I asked her.
Feeling a prick of a nail on my skin I looked down; her nails had lengthened into claws and she was dragging her nail down my chest leaving a trail of my blood as she went.
I reached my arm around her and flipped her.
Shoving her against the wall I growled, “Do you enjoy making me bleed, mate?”
Returning the favor , I shoved my knee between her legs and pushed it just high enough to rub on her clit.
She moaned and ground against me.
“Fuck, you are making it hard for me to be a gentleman right now, little wolf.”
Opening her eyes, she looked me in the eye and growled, “Do I look like I want you to be a gentleman right now?”
“We are not alone Talia, and I don’t want an audience for the things I’m going to do to you.
“If you’d look around, you’d notice everyone left.
I asked for a moment alone with my mate.”
She was acknowledging our mate bond.
If I’d known all I had to do was fight in front of her for her I would done that first thing last night.
“So, you are calling me your mate now”
I gently grazed the side of her neck with my teeth, scraping them along her pulse. “Yes.”
she moaned.
“What was that, little wolf?”
I asked her, my voice a deep grumble.
“Mark me now, then fuck me against this wall.
I want you to make me forget every man I’ve even been with.”
I licked the skin on the side of her neck gently and said, “I want my cock to be buried inside of that pussy of yours when I mark you as mine.”
“Yes, Declan, just fuck me now.”
she demanded.
I moved to rip her pants off her when my vision blurred, and someone tapped me on the shoulder.
Shaking my head, I turned and blinked to clear my vision.
Trystan stood before me.
“Hey man, is everything okay? You’ve been staring at this wall for like five minutes.”
he asked, concern in his voice.
What was he talking about? I turned around to face my mate but she wasn’t there.
What.
The.
Fuck.
My stomach began to twist as my eyes widened in disbelief.
My breathing increased as a sharp jolt of electricity coursed through my veins leaving me stunned and frozen where I stood.
What was happening?
Once the shock wore off anger began to fill me.
My fists clenched tightly as I held my breath, spinning around to find where she went, I saw her still standing across the room with Celeste.
No one had moved from the spots where they were when I came to put the swords back.
I looked closer, narrowing my eyes on my mate.
She was breathing heavy, biting her lip as arousal flowed from her in waves.
What was happening right now? Did she just suck me into her thoughts? Or was this all a figment of my imagination? Turning back to Trystan I said, “Yeah sorry, just a lot on my mind.
Let’s get her on the mats and work on some hand to hand.”
“Alright, if you are really okay.”
he said with trepidation in his gaze.
“I’ll be fine, let’s just get her prepared for the war we both know she is about to be thrown in the middle of.”
I needed to keep my distance… If she was able to send her thoughts down our bond so vividly that I thought it was real.
This bond was much stronger than I thought it was.
She wasn’t ready for this.