Witch in wolf's clothing - Namaari

Chapter 34: Go With the Flow

Kaynim walks in, stopping dead in his tracks as he takes in the scene before him. His eyes widen in shock, then darken with a hint of possessiveness. Namaari quickly pulls the blanket higher over herself, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. I can’t help but chuckle at the situation.

"What's the matter, brother?" I ask Kaynim with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood.

Kaynim regains his composure. "Glad to see you're feeling better, Princess." Namaari blushes even harder and pulls the blanket over her head, trying to hide.

I look at my brother and shake my head, mind-linking him, “Come on, Kaynim, don’t make her feel embarrassed. Be easy on her. This is all new for her.”

Kaynim sighs, his eyes showing a mixture of frustration and understanding. "I came to tell you that breakfast is ready. You two can come down to eat."

"Thanks, we’ll be there in a minute," I reply, still smirking.

As Kaynim leaves the room, I gently pull the blanket down from Namaari's head, revealing her flushed face. "There's no need to be embarrassed, especially in front of your mates. I'll give you some space to get ready.”

"Okay," she murmurs softly, her voice laced with embarrassment. "Thanks, Tazzym. I'll be down in a bit."

I smile at her, leaning in to brush a kiss against her forehead. "Take your time, sexy. We'll be waiting for you."

With that, I get up from the bed, giving her one last reassuring look before heading out of the room, leaving her to gather herself.

Namaari’s POV

I slip into my sportswear: gray sweatpants and a black sports bra paired with a white crop top that fits snugly and provides just the right amount of coverage. I need to clear my mind and work off some of the confusion and tension from last night.

As I’m adjusting my gear, I hear a rustling sound from under the bed. Zephyr’s head pops out, his eyes half-closed and his expression a mix of amusement and grogginess. He stretches lazily and says, "I knew you'd bring drama from the club, but not this grand of a spectacle. And immediately getting all three of your mates to sleep in your bed? Guess I’ll be claiming the attic room from now on."

His playful tone brings a reluctant smile to my face, and I can't help but chuckle. "You’re too much, Zephyr. But honestly, I have no idea what I’m doing here. I’ve always had an answer for everything, but this… this is different. I don’t fully trust the triplets yet, and I don’t want to fall too hard, only to have my heart broken."

Zephyr yawns and stretches again, but his eyes are sharp as he looks at me. "Go with the flow," he advises, his voice both casual and sincere. "Sometimes the best thing to do is just let things happen. Trust your instincts and take it one step at a time."

I nod, taking a deep breath and letting his words sink in. It’s good advice, and though I’m still apprehensive, it feels like a step in the right direction. I give Zephyr a grateful smile before heading out of the room.

As I head towards the dining room, I mentally prepare myself for the breakfast that awaits. I can't help but think about the upcoming meal and hope that it won't be too awkward.

Noali, ever the optimistic voice in my head, chimes in with cheerful enthusiasm, “We slept like a baby. We should be sleeping with our mates every night! And to wake up like that… that was something else that I could get used to.” Her excitement is infectious, and I can’t help but smile at her eagerness.

I respond with a hint of humor, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Noali. Like Zephyr said, step by step.”

I take a deep breath as I approach the dining table, trying to steady my nerves. The triplets are already seated, engrossed in conversation, but as soon as I take my seat, the room falls silent. All eyes turn toward me, making me acutely aware of my presence.

Zyméo breaks the silence with a warm smile, “So, did you sleep well?” Kaynim chimes in with a teasing tone, “I think it's more about waking up well.” My cheeks flush furiously at his comment.

Tazzym, ever the playful one, smirks and gives me a knowing wink. I try to shake off the embarrassment and respond quickly, “Yes, I slept well, thank you.”

Zyméo nods with a smile. “Glad to hear that. I haven’t slept so well in a long time myself. The mate bond really is as special as they say.” His gaze is warm and sincere, and I can’t help but smile back. “I guess so,” I reply softly.

To break the tension and keep the conversation flowing, I ask, “So, what are your plans for today?”

Kaynim answers first, “I’ll be training this morning and then handling some pack business.” His tone is practical and focused.

Tazzym follows up, “I’m planning to do a tour around the pack, making sure everything’s in order, and then I’ll hit the gym for my own training.” His enthusiasm for the day’s tasks is evident.

Zyméo adds, “I’ll warm up with Kaynim and then do some training sessions with the young warriors. After that, I have plans to meet with Seraphina to, uh, wrap things up properly.” His tone is soft, almost hesitant, and I catch a flicker of something in his eyes before he quickly refocuses.

I nod, processing his plans, and then turn to the triplets with a hopeful look. “I could use a good workout myself. Would it be alright if I join you at the training field?”

I watch as the triplets exchange glances, their expressions thoughtful. Kaynim is the first to speak, a hint of concern in his voice. “It’s mostly men at the training field.”

I raise an eyebrow, unbothered. “And so?”

Tazzym adds with a smirk, “What Kaynim is trying to say is that we don’t like the idea of other men getting too close to our mate. Especially during sparring sessions.”

I chuckle at their protectiveness. “Seriously? Why is that a problem? It’s not like I’m planning to kiss anyone while I’m fighting. Besides, I don’t have to spar with anyone. I just want to work on my skills with knives and archery.”

The triplets look at each other again, and Kaynim finally relents. “Alright, you can join us, but you stay out of the warriors' training sessions.”

“No problem,” I reply with a nod.

Zyméo then asks, “By the way, why weapons? Isn’t it better to focus on physical conditioning or training in wolf form?”

I consider his question before answering. “Well, from what we’ve seen during rogue and dark witch attacks on our pack, the witches need time to cast their spells, and they often target those in wolf form. The rogues protect the witches, so our wolves can’t always reach the witches in time. The best way to deal with witches before they cast their spells is to hit them from a distance, using knives or archery. I’m actually quite skilled in both.”

The triplets look at me in astonishment, their mouths slightly agape. Kaynim breaks the silence, his tone a mix of awe and curiosity. “Have you fought against rogues and witches before?”

I take a calm bite of my buttered roll, savoring the warmth and softness. “Yes, a few times,” I say casually, the words almost nonchalant despite their gravity. Tazzym’s eyes widen, and he lets out an impressed whistle. “Damn, that’s hot.”

I’m so surprised by his reaction that I end up choking on a crumb. I stand abruptly, my cheeks flushed, and quickly say, “Uh, can we maybe head out now? I’m not that hungry after all.”

Zyméo chuckles, clearly amused by the exchange. “Yep, let’s go. Tazzym, see you later.”

Tazzym leans back, a playful smirk on his face. “Catch you later, bros. See you soon, beautiful.” He blows a kiss towards me.

I can’t help but laugh at his antics, shaking my head. His flirty behavior is starting to grow on me, becoming less awkward and more endearing. Deep down, I realize he’s genuinely sweet and caring towards me.

We walk for about twenty minutes to reach the training field. The field is alive with activity: groups are scattered across the expansive area. Some are warming up with stretches and light exercises, others are engaged in sparring matches, their movements fluid and precise. A few pairs are practicing combat techniques, exchanging tips and demonstrating moves with focused intensity.

Off to one side, I spot a smaller building adjacent to the field — it houses a fitness room, a clear indication of the pack's commitment to physical training. Kaynim and Zyméo exchange glances, and Kaynim nods towards the building. “We’ll hit the gym for a bit first,” he says.

I nod in understanding and then notice an archery range on the far side of the field. Two men are currently shooting arrows, their form precise and their focus unwavering. I feel a surge of excitement; archery is my specialty. “Alright, I’m going to head over and practice with the bow,” I announce, making my way toward the range.

Kaynim and Zyméo glance at the archery range, their expressions shifting. I catch the subtle glint in Kaynim's eyes as he mind-links someone. The two archers at the range begin to pack up their equipment. I roll my eyes, knowing exactly why.

I reach the archery range, the familiar sense of calm washing over me. In my peripheral vision, I see Kaynim and Zyméo entering the building across the field. I pick up a bow, feeling its weight and testing its tension, before nocking an arrow and aiming at a target close by. The arrow hits the mark with a satisfying thud.

Switching between a few bows, I warm up with the closer targets, gradually finding the one that feels just right in my hands. As I prepare to challenge myself with the farther and more difficult targets, a warrior in training approaches, leaning casually against the fence of the archery range.

"It's strange to see the Alphas letting a girl on the training field," he says, his tone dripping with disdain. "What did you have to do for that? Or did the Princess cry to her brothers and daddy to get her way, leaving the Alphas no choice?"

I roll my eyes, unfazed by his comments. If the triplets heard him talking like this, his head would be rolling on the ground. A small smile tugs at my lips at the thought.

The warrior steps closer, his eyes gleaming with arrogance. "Cat got your tongue? I wouldn’t mind examining that pretty little mouth of yours."

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. "I'd like to continue my practice," I reply coldly, hoping to end the conversation.

He smirks, undeterred. "Archery isn’t for girls. Let me show you how it’s really done."

Ignoring the urge to put him in his place right there, I step back and hand him the bow. "By all means, show me," I say, my voice laced with sarcasm.