Mated To The Ruthless Female Alpha

3

CADEN

I liked to think I was very good at being discreet.

I’d spent the next day observing her as best as I could. Being the heir of Black Moon, I’d been groomed from a young age to be very observant. And that came in handy in this case.

Thunder Boxing Club.

That was the name of the boxing club she always frequented after classes. Knowing she was the president only made it all the more interesting.

I liked the way she tied her hair before training. And how she’d occasionally blow off the few strands that would fall on her face.

“You hit like a girl,” she chuckled, guard up before she swung at another opponent.

The guy swung at her with less precision. She ducked easily, swinging at his midsection before giving one clean uppercut. The guy crumpled to the ground like a pretzel.

“You hit like a girl.”

She turned, her expression softening as she stood before some other guy. “I am a girl, dumbass.”

“You’re the dumbass,” he retorted, unable to hold back his own smile.

“Liam, you are insufferable I swear.” She punched at his arm lightly. “You’re lucky I’m in a good mood.”

Liam huffed. “You don’t scare me.”

Liam Knight. Always, her expression softened whenever she was around him. I found that interesting as well.

And then the fact that she liked to wear sleeves. It had barely been noticeable one afternoon, but I’d spotted a dark shade of blue peek from underneath it. It looked like bruises.

Was she being abused? That fact was more disturbing than anything I’d observed about her. From the little digging I’d done, I knew her mother had died when she was very young. She had a step-mother and a step-sister, Sarah, who was at their school as well.

By luck, I’d been fortunate to pass by her once during assembly. She was with Elizabeth King, incredibly popular and self-acclaimed Queen Bee of the school.

“She’s so aggressive,” Elizabeth noted.

“Tell me about it,” Sarah scoffed. “Which girl have you seen beating other guys at boxing? Give me a break. I find that unfeminine. It’s gross and unbecoming of a lady.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “You’d think she’d have realized it by now. Must need you to spell it out for her.”

“Like hell I will,” Sarah retorted. “She’s a lost cause. Obsolete and utter trash.”

I didn’t bother to hear more. Hearing all this from Ella’s own step-sister meant she was completely isolated by the family. But she was also strong. And this strength had put her on the spot to be unfairly judged by others.

Just like me.

And all this gave me an idea. It was crazy, borderline insane to even think about. But this was the only way I’d get what I wanted.

Lucky for me, I’d spotted those bullies the next day by the corner of the stairwell. Their leader from before had his signature frown as always.

I spoke first. “Looking for someone else to pick on?”

The leader turned, eyeing me with pure disdain. “Piss off. I don’t have time for small fry.”

“Or the call’s from inside the house,” I retorted coldly. “Take away your lackeys and what are you?”

This seemed to do the trick. The prick looked livid. I turned away and began heading for the stairwell I knew Ella would always pass after club duties. She should be done with club any minute now.

“Hey!” the boy growled. “The hell do you think you’re going to? Don’t just talk s**t and walk away. Come say it to my face again.”

I ignored him, walking forward with a certain calm that contrasted the fast beating of my heart. Sure enough, the bullies followed me all the way to the stairwell.

“Say it again,” the boy glared. “What you said back then. Say it, you f*****g coward.”

“That you’re nothing without your lackeys? Okay.”

That did the trick.

The boy slammed me hard against the wall. I held back a wince, staring back in defiance. The other guys weren’t idle either, shoving and even kicking at me everywhere.

I continued to endure. I’d known what I was getting into when I decided to put myself in danger. Worst case, Ella would stay back at the club for some reason or the other, and I’d get beaten to a pulp.

Their leader, who I’d learned went by Big Kaz, reeled his fist for another punch. He barely had time to swing before a hard kick connected with his face, sending him flying back.

I held my breath when I saw her. It was Ella. And she looked livid.

“Seems I didn’t make myself super clear last time,” she dropped her bag, cracking her knuckles a bit. “Time for a mini class on respecting authority.”

Each of Ella’s moves was nothing short of precise. She blocked, swung, and punched with the ease of someone with a boxing background. By the time the last boy dropped to the ground, there was no one left. She didn’t spare any of them another glance before heading to me.

“You again.” She sighed. “Follow me.”

She took me back to the empty club room. No one was there, which meant we were afforded the comfort of privacy.

“This is going to sting a little,” she mumbled, dabbing a bit of alcohol on the cotton wool before pressing it to my bruised hands.

I flinched away at first. She mumbled a quick apology and tried to dab at it more carefully. In all honesty, I hadn’t flinched from the pain. It was more the fact that she was being so careful with me. No one was ever that careful with me. No one ever apologized for hurting me either.

“You should learn how to fight.” She spoke up after a while. “Doesn’t have to be anything flashy but basic self-defence should do. You can’t keep getting pushed around like that.”

I understood the implication of what she meant. She was right. I did need to learn how to defend myself. But this offered up another opportunity.

“Would you…teach me?”

Ella blinked at first, a bit taken aback. Then she felt a bit of curiosity flutter in her chest. “Be here after the bell goes. I’ll see you then.”

I cracked a smile. “Deal.”

Step Two Complete. She cares now.