Wrapped in My Enemy’s Arms

Chapter Eighteen

Ayla’s POV

“It’s not a big deal for now,” Lydia said, watching me patiently. “Let’s train in the morning, and later in the evening we try shifting”

“Okay?”

“Why are you helping me?” I asked, searching her face for some reaction.

Lydia just smiled. It might not be a pitying sound but it sure did feel like one.

“You’re not the only one without friends here, Ayla. I just felt— look, it’s fine if you want to be alone, I won’t bother you.”

“Do you know about Alex?” I asked.

“I don’t believe what others say.”

“I did it,” I snapped, “I killed her. I wasn’t there when she needed me, Lydia. And I can’t afford another.” My eyes began welling up.

“You didn’t kill—“

“Stop Lydia, you don’t know that so just leave me alone!” I barked. “I don’t need your pity, I don’t want a friendship built on it”

“I’m sorry this is how you feel,” Lydia said, her voice dropping low. The warmth in her face died. “I thought you were a cool person despite the rumors. But I promise not to bother you any longer.”

She turned and walked off.

You finally get a chance at a friend and you burn it down? My wolf snarled before retreating and shutting me out completely.

I walked into the training room for the pack’s warriors, it was nothing like the normal training rooms, from the stoned arch entrance, to the tall walls and rows of weapons lined inside of the room. Ranging from long spears, to arrows, daggers.. and many more sharp and dangerous looking objects.

I spotted Riian in the corner with another guy, both of them sharpening knives. To my right, a tall lady with a buzz cut was jabbing out strong, heavy punches at a bag.

“You’re the first here,” Riian said, approaching. I snapped my face away from the woman and looked at him.

“Figured I should take a look around before the training begins.”

“Good.” The lady said. The first three get to pick their own special weapon. You can call me Tatiana. Tati for short.”

“Thanks,” I said, my eyes drifting to a double-edged dagger at the far end

“It suits you,” Tatiana nodded.

The door slid open. Lydia stepped in, followed by three others. She didn't look at me. Not even a glance.

“You and you, step forward,” Tatiana pointed towards Lydia and a guy with a spiky mohawk. “Pick a weapon each.”

The guy went for a single-ball flail. Lydia picked the longest spear on the row— I wouldn’t be surprised it was meant to keep me at a distance.

“Don’t we get to pick too?” One guy asked.

“Next time, be the first wolf to step in here,” Tati countered.

I like her already.

Others joined us soon.

“Pick a partner,” the other trainer spoke, his voice rough and low. “That’s your partner for the next two weeks. Then, your trial.”

I turned, looking for Lydia, but she was already speaking to someone else. She was avoiding me like a plague and I absolutely deserved that.

“Partners?” Mohawk was grinning at me.

“Sure,” I forced my lips into a tight, stiff smile.

All through that training session, my chest felt like it was being crushed. Every time I glanced at Lydia, she moved away. By the time we were done, my joints ached and my skin was slick with sweat.

Then the air changed. The unmistakable woody and spicy scent filled my nostrils before the door even swung open. Kael.

The other trainees filed out, bowing slightly as they left. I remained in the room. I wanted to train more, but being in the same space as him was suffocating. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me run, though.

I walked up to Tatiana. “Hey, could you teach me how you finesse that?” I pointed at her dagger.

“Sure,” she said, but her eyes flicked to the door. “But the Alpha is the best teacher when it comes to close range. I do bigger weapons.”

After about two minutes, she left with Riian, the heavy door thudding shut behind them, startling me.

Then it was just us.

“You’re not leaving now,” he muttered. He was strapping on gloves, his eyes fixed on mine. “I want to see what you’ve got.”

“I don’t want preferential treatment because we’re mated,” I said, folding my arms.

“I’m not giving you that. Spar with me.”

“You don’t get it,” I said, my pulse jumping. “They don’t like me here. I don’t know how it got out that we had... s*x. I don’t want my success to depend on you.”

“You could have been accused of espionage the moment you eavesdropped on a council meeting,” he said, his voice dangerously low. He closed the distance between us, his heat radiating off him in waves. “Do you know the punishment for that?”

I exhaled loud, my heart hammering.

“Answer me when I speak to you. Do you?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“Whenever you’re around me,” he murmured, his face inches from mine, “I do everything I shouldn't be doing.”

“I told you, I don’t need your saving, Kael. You did that for yourself. Because you still need to use me.” My lips were shivering and I was losing the battle with my eyes.

“I can’t take it,” I snapped, tears finally streaming down. “You think you’re the only one affected? I went to the Eidolon Realm for you, Kael.”

He froze, his look softening as the hard alpha shell came off. “What?”

“It doesn’t matter if I hate you,” I choked out. “I’m tethered to you through this stupid bond and I just couldn't watch you die.”

“Fuck.” I turned my head, embarrassed by the tears.

Kael ran a hand through his hair, looking genuinely shaken. “I’m sorry for everything I’ve put you through. I wouldn’t want you to suffer for my sake.”

He looked at me, his gaze heavy. “I’m highly indebted to you, Ayla. I’ll give you time to think it through. If you want to sever this bond... I’ll make it happen.”

My chest dropped. It was what I had been begging for.

So why did it feel like he had just handed me a death sentence?