CHAPTER 4: MY WAY
2110 Words
VALENTINA
I attack the punching back as sweat pours down my back and in between my chest, and a familiar burn in my muscles begins. Sebastian’s Beta, Lucius, has been training me and some others from our coven two times a week at the Packhouse. He can’t train us this week because when the Alpha and Luna are gone, the Beta male and female are left to run the pack. Anessa and I are still able to use the gym though. Sebastian’s gym has impressive equipment, much better than any place I’ve ever been to. There are some perks to being related to the Luna.
I’ve trained with magic my whole life, but I was never taught to fight and defend myself. There wasn’t really a need. As witches who use light magic, my coven members live normal and quiet lives. Most of our time is spent making potions and casting spells to help with minor ailments or fix issues that make our lives easier. We try to blend in as much as possible amongst humans, and we generally don’t have enemies.
All of that changed this summer when Giada was taken, and we found ourselves fighting a vicious pack of werewolves and a Syphon who used powerful grave magic. Despite how powerful and capable our coven and Sebastian’s pack is, we barely won that fight. It was the day we found Anessa after five years of thinking she was dead, and we finally united our magic by forming our Circle. We’ve been learning how to navigate our new powers ever since, but it’s not enough. At least, I don’t think it is. That’s why I had asked if the pack could train us. All of my Circle trains, including Giada. She also trains with her pack, which must be grueling for her with no werewolf abilities, but I know how seriously she takes her role as Luna.
Mind. Body. Soul.
I continue to strike and kick the bag and repeat my grandmother’s mantra. To be truly strong, she used to tell us to work on all three and strive to find a balance. I take care of myself. I run daily. I do hot yoga and pilates. I eat very well and I don’t smoke or drink aside from the occasional glass of wine. Now that Lucius has been teaching us Muay Thai, my body is undeniably stronger and more capable than ever before, and I like it.
Anessa taps me on my shoulder, and it brings me out of my thoughts.
“Don’t get upset, but Amadeo is coming this way.” She bites her lip and looks away.
I take a deep breath and try to steady my heartbeat and somehow prepare for the onslaught of heat that follows whenever he’s near, but I could never have prepared for the sight in front of me.
For the love of all things holy!
He’s shirtless. I’m not exaggerating when I say his biceps are almost the size of my head, and his chest and abs look like the Goddess herself handcrafted them.
“Anessa, it’s wonderful to see you again,” He kisses her on both cheeks, and she smiles brightly. He moves in to do the same to me, and I wish he wouldn’t. I cannot possibly smell great, and there’s the fact that my body seems to have such volatile reactions when he touches me. His warm hand circles my hip, causing butterflies. “Valentina, it’s always a pleasure.” He steps back and places his hands in his pockets, inadvertently stretching the material at the center of his grey sweatpants.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, trying to keep my eyes locked on his face.
“I’m leading a special training session for the junior warriors since they’re home for the holidays. I mentioned it to Anessa.”
“I didn’t get the chance to tell her,” she blushes.
“That’s quite alright. You two should join us. We’ll be doing some sparring.” He gestures to the teenagers making their way towards the mats.
“We’re heading out now,” I respond, removing my gloves.
“But-” Anessa begins.
“We just came in for a short workout since Lucius is busy.”
His smile falters, and for the first time since we’ve met, I see a bit of annoyance flash over his features. Good. Be annoyed. I can tell he doesn’t quite know how to handle me, and I assume it’s because he’s used to always getting what he wants.
“Very well. Enjoy your day, ladies.”
I walk past him to the change room. I cannot stay and watch his muscles rippling and flexing. It would no doubt give me an aneurysm. Every part of him screams dominant species. And this is his human form. I can’t imagine what his dragon looks like.
An image of a magnificent black dragon in flight fills my vision. The underside of its wings and its abdomen have hints of red. I blink a few times and almost shake my head. I stare back at Amadeo, but he isn't paying attention. He’s already engaging the group. Did he send that image to me? Did he read my mind?
“What was that!” Anessa raises her voice.
When did they meet up? Is he into her now? I shouldn’t be upset. They’re adults and free to do whatever they want. It just rubs me wrong, and I hate to admit it. I turn on the faucet and wash my face.
“I wasn’t interested in sticking around and training with teenagers.”
“Bullshit! Do you know how knowledgeable he is in combat? He has fought in the majority of the Tribunal battles and wars for the last several centuries, and he would have had the two of us sparring against each other, not the kids.”
“Seems like you know a lot about him and his plans. If you want to stay, go ahead. I’m sure he’ll bring you home.” I grab a towel out of my bag and wipe my face and neck.
“Val, when you go all ice queen on me, I want to shake you. He stopped by Mystique for some drinks like he said he would, and all he did was talk about you. He’s obviously into you, and he doesn’t have a mate. I asked.” She stops, but I don’t say anything. I grab some clean clothes to change into, and she sighs. “I can’t understand why you’re giving him the cold shoulder. Did you see him out there? He’s jacked as f**k! With all those big muscles, I bet he could toss you around like a rag doll.” She smirks.
She’s not wrong, but I don’t want to entertain her. “What did he ask about?” I cross my arms over my chest, but I can’t get the explicit image of him pinning me up against the wall at the wedding out of my head.
“Nothing too personal. I told him how you were working towards your PhD, and I may have also mentioned that you’re single.”
I take a deep breath. “I’m not interested.”
“Why not? Is it because of my brother?”
“What? No. Amadeo’s just too much. I don’t hook up with shifters for this exact reason. They get all up in your space and your business. I’ll stick with humans.”
“It’s hard to believe anyone wouldn’t enjoy that dragon up in their space.” She winks. “Noone’s telling you to marry the guy. Plus, it’s not like he lives here, so you wouldn’t have to see him around for much longer or get too attached. It’s perfect.”
“There’s something he’s hiding. And as much as I’m attracted to him, my gut tells me to stay away. I have to trust my gut.”
AMADEO
Valentina is curled up on a couch highlighting something in a book. I envision her like this in her home with her oversized hoodie, as people call it here, and leggings. I like it.
I sit down on a one-seater beside her and slide her coffee on the small table. She catches my hand movement and looks up with a deep frown on her face.
“This is stalking,” she says through clenched teeth. She closes the laptop in front of her.
“This is me trying to get to know you.” Her eyes shoot daggers my way. I don’t know why her anger turns me on, but it does. I think it’s because she hasn’t shown much emotion since I’ve met her, and anger and passion are so closely linked. She has so much fire inside her even though she tries to hide it. My dragon recognizes it each time we’re together. “It’s black, the way you like it.”
“Is that supposed to make this better?” She starts putting the books in her bag.
This isn’t going well. I don't understand her.
“Stay. Please. Let’s talk.” My voice is calm but firm as I place my hand over her bag to stop her.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m trying to talk to you.”
“Before that,” she pauses. Her eyes stare deeply into mine, searching for answers. “Why are you really here?”
“I like you. I thought I was being obvious.” I smile at her, but the intensity in her gaze remains. She doesn’t believe me.
“You don’t know me.”
“I’m trying to, though, hence the coffee.” I gesture to the cup.
“You mean the stalking,” she scoffs.
“I thought you might enjoy me putting in some effort. You seemed to enjoy my efforts at the wedding.”
She looks up at the ceiling in annoyance and takes a deep breath. “That was a one-time thing. A lapse in judgment because I was drinking.”
“You weren’t.”
“What?” Her lips part slightly.
“You weren’t drinking. Aside from the champagne from the toast you made during your speech, you didn’t drink anything alcoholic.” I smile at her, enjoying the way the heat lightly stains her cheeks.
“Now this is turning creepy. Were you watching me all night? Why?”
“Why not? You’re a stunning woman.”
“Is this a dragon thing?” She doesn’t acknowledge my compliment; she doesn’t even gush or act coy like most women do with me. “Is this a game to you where you enjoy the chase or something?”
Is that what’s so appealing about her? That she’s not fawning over me? I continue to smile at her because she’s not entirely wrong. Dragons love a good chase. “Something like that.”
“I see,” she mumbles, nodding her head slowly several times. She picks up her coat and puts it on. “Are you still at the Fairmont?”
“Yes.”
She picks up the coffee and her bag next, but I haven’t moved, and I can tell she’s annoyed. She can't possibly mean she wants to go back to my place, can she?
“Are you coming? Or am I going to your hotel alone?”
I jump up quickly and move towards the car I’ve rented.
“I’m taking my own.” She walks in the opposite direction.
“I’ll drive you back later.”
“No. We’re doing this my way.”
We’ll see about that.
I open the door of her vehicle, and she steps in, placing her bag down and her coffee in the cupholder. She turns on the heat, and I bend down to buckle her in.
“What do you think you’re doing?” She raises her hands and puts them on my chest, trying to push me away.“I’m not a child!”
“Definitely not.” The seat belt clicks, and I kiss her nose playfully. She gasps, so I quickly peck her parted lips to hide my amusement.
“Just so we’re clear, I may have compromised here, but we will always do things my way. Always.”
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A/N
Are you loving the pushy dragon? I know Valentina isn't, but maybe she's changed her mind about him. We'll see what happens next. Share your thoughts in the comments, please! The next update will be Monday.
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