chapter 12
848 Words
Chapter 12 — The Alpha’s Jealousy
The training grounds were bustling with activity. Boots hit earth, steel smashed against steel, and the air was heavy with the pungent smell of wolf and perspiration.
Standing in the middle of it all, Rylan Wolfe corrected stances, gave commands, and exerted more effort than normal on his troops. more difficult than is necessary.
"Again," he angrily said.
With deadly efficiency, Rylan disarmed the pack warrior across from him, sending the sword spiraling onto the ground before he could even raise his guard. The warrior gasped,
"Alpha," "I..."
"Another." The sound of the word was a growl.
Before the man could reply, Rylan glanced away, his eyes naturally darting to the field's edge. Ella just stood.
She was talking to Lucas while maintaining a casual stance and an active expression that Rylan had never seen on his face.
He felt a fundamental reaction to what he saw. Too close. In response to anything she said, Lucas chuckled softly and made the familiar, informal gesture of stroking a lock of her hair back behind her ear.
Rylan saw red in his eyes. Before he could stop it, a deep growl emerged from his chest. The warriors stopped. With clinched teeth,
Rylan spoke the word "dismissed."
They dispersed at once. Long strides eating away at the gap between them, he was already on the move before reason caught up.
Ella was the first to notice him, and as his shadow passed over her, her smile dimmed.
"Is there anything you require?" she inquired calmly.
Lucas rigidified. "My brother." Rylan gave the order, "Go."
After a moment of hesitation, Lucas gave Ella a worried look before nodding once and turning to go.
Heavy and piercing silence fell.
"You seem at ease," Rylan remarked in a remarkably composed tone.
Ella put her arms together.
"Should I say I'm sorry for saying that?"
"Alongside him? He flashed his eyes.
"It is." Her eyebrows raised.
"Rylan, I'm not incarcerated."
He moved closer and replied, "No."
"You're Luna to me."
Her laugh was short and dubious. "Amusing. You keep repeating that, yet each time I attempt to live as one, you shut me down.
His wolf erupted, challenging his authority. He could feel it growling, snarling, and scratching at his chest. Myself. "You're inciting the pack," he remarked.
"They don't trust you yet."
"You as well?" Ella asked in a low voice.
"Yes?" He wasn't prepared for the question's depth.
"I don't trust anyone," he remarked.
"So why do you care who I talk to?"
Rylan was silent for a while. Since acknowledging the truth would entail acknowledging one's vulnerability. Because it made him feel uncomfortable to imagine Lucas standing next to her, soft, compassionate, and secure. Instead,
"I dislike distractions," he stated.
Ella approached fearlessly. "Or competition?"
He lost control of himself. He took hold of her wrist, firm enough to make his point but not painful.
At the contact, the bond erupted forcefully, sending a wave of heat through him that was unpleasant and dizzying. Instead of being afraid,
Ella gasped in shock.
"Let go," she murmured.
Then Rylan sensed it.
Her heart.
Her smell.
The way the mate bond ignited beneath his skin.
In his head, his wolf howled. Mate. Mate.
He suddenly let off of her, retreating as though he were scorched. Ella raised and lowered her chest as she gazed at him.
She remarked, "You don't get to touch me like that."
"Not while you continue to act as though this bond doesn't exist."
"Avoid," he cautioned.
"What?" She confronted me.
"Afraid of its implications?" His jaw tight, he turned aside. "You have no idea what you're asking for." She remarked, "I know exactly what I'm asking for."
"Honesty." Rylan whirled back to her.
"Want to be honest?" His voice fell.
"Well. This bond is incorrect.
Ella recoiled.
"It impairs judgment," he added angrily.
"It impairs leadership." And my pack won't be destroyed by it.
"By turning me down?" she inquired.
"Or by acting as though you don't experience it?" His quiet response was sufficient.
He could smell her again as the breeze changed. Fire, moonlight something old. Furious at his denial, his wolf pushed hard against his restraints.
"Avoid my brother," he murmured at last.
Ella's eyes became hard. "Who I trust is not up to you to decide."
"You'll comply..."
"No," she snapped.
"I won't change to please you."
Anger and unspoken desire swirled between them as they stood inches apart.
For a heartbeat, Rylan almost caved.
Drew her almost into his arms.
almost demanded what fate had already decided. Rather, he retreated.
"This is over," he stated icily.
"You'll keep your location in mind."
Ella had a firm voice, but her eyes were burning.
"Already, I have." With her shoulders set, she turned and left, not wanting him to see the fissure in her determination.
With an unidentified ache in his chest, Rylan watched her leave.
The wolf gave a furious snarl.
She's disappearing.
He balled his fists. Well, no.
He was losing his composure.
And that frightened him even more.
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