Cursed with Two Mates

Not What I Expected

Katie and Toby agree to train with me on the weekends as they need their evenings for homework and mornings for sleep. I figure I’ll work in the mornings and evenings myself on drills and techniques.

I decide to work outside with Ruby come Monday morning - it’s chilly but in wolf form it’s refreshing. We’re sprinting when I see those familiar blue eyes watching me.

*Jade we have company. Want to shift?* Ruby asks. I sense her excitement to go see him now that he’s standing alone.

I reluctantly agree and she ducks into the forest where my clothes are and I change quickly.

I come back out and he’s still there. “You’re out here early.” Xander says as I approach.

Sounds like a lame line to me but I bite, “yeah.. I have a lot of work to do so Ms. Powell doesn’t flunk me. I figured I’d start putting in the extra hours. What are you doing out here?” I ask.

He smiles approvingly of my answer, “I always train in the mornings. Helps me clear my head for the day to spend some time outside.” He takes a deep breath and I see he does look more at peace.

He pauses and his eyes flash to my neck - I realize I’m in a low cut tank that’s showing a fair amount of skin. I planned to change before school so I didn’t expect anyone to see me. “No mate for you either?” He asks noticing I’m not marked.

“I’m still 17,” I shift my weight uncomfortably feeling his gaze travel down me. His eyes snap back to mine.

“When’s your birthday?” He demands.

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” I muse. He’s so bossy even asking about birthdays - I figure I should try to lighten the mood.

“I could always make you tell me,” his voice lowers and he gives me a c*cky smirk.

“You could try you mean,” I step forward not backing down.

He breaks eye contact thinking for a second. I count that as a small victory and exhale a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

“I’ll tell you what. I’ll train you in the mornings if you answer questions about yourself. Call it a deal.” I’m surprised by his suggestion.

“Why do you want to know about me?” I blurt out.

“There’s something about you Jade. It’s not just that I can’t mind link you since you’re not in my pack, I find you interesting,” he answered honestly.

“Ok how about this - we train together in the mornings -“

“I train you,” he barks out.

“Ok ok you train me,” I concede, “and we BOTH get to ask and answer questions about ourselves. But we have to promise to be honest - no lies.”

“Deal” he grins. “Tomorrow 530am out here. I’m looking forward to it.” He smiles and brushes a hand against my cheek.

I feel electricity run down my spine at his touch and jolt a little.

He inhales sharply and turns and walks away.

*Ruby is he our mate? I’ve never reacted to someone’s touch like that before..*

*Almost never.* Ruby whispers quickly as I remember my mystery man from the lake.

I shake my head and get back to work.

The next morning I clamber out of bed excited to work with alpha - jeeze did I just call him that? I mean Xander. What is with me?

I throw on my nicest work out clothes, down my coffee and head out. It’s crisp out this early but the sunrise is just finishing and it’s beautiful out.

I see him sitting on the edge of the forest with his eyes shut. I approach him and he motions for me to sit with him.

After a minute I speak up “so what’s the plan for today? Drills?” I ask eagerly to get going.

He pauses. “We’re starting with some meditation.”

“What?? But I need to train - how will sitting help me pass?” I ask standing up.

“You shouldn’t doubt me Jade.” I get a familiar jolt hearing him say my name and sit back down next to him.

“Meditation helps you learn to focus fully. It helps with memory, controlling your emotions, and staying present in the moment - all things that can save you in a fight. I saw what happened with Molly, you got distracted and she took advantage of that. If you want to train with me then we’re not only going to work your body out,” he opens his eyes for the first time and catches my gaze. I flush at his comment and he closes his eyes again satisfied with my involuntary reaction to him.

“From 530 to 6 we’ll meditate, and then we’ll begin the physical portion of the training. For now sit and try to focus on your breath and this moment. Inhale what do you hear, exhale feel the ground beneath you. Inhale what’s the scent, exhale empty your lungs completely.”

At first it felt impossible to sit so close to him and stay still. After a while and after many l distractions, I fell into the rhythm of my breath. Before I knew it his watch beeped indicating it was 6. He led me through a short stretching sequence that I think was from a yoga class. This is definitely not what I expected from him.

“Where did you learn this?” I ask remembering our pact to ask eachother things.

He smiles “my mother. She teaches yoga at the pack house sometimes. It’s usually only the women who go but I can’t tell you how many injuries I avoided because I work on flexibility with my strength training.” He smiles genuinely as he talks about his mom. Nice to see the love there.

“Is it your dad who’s the wolf?” He asks me back.

“Yep but he definitely isn’t the yoga type,” I laugh.

“Did he train you at all?”

“He enrolled me in mixed martial arts when I was younger so I got some basic training, but I pleaded with him to let me stop when I became a teen. I didn’t know how necessary it would be here or I probably would have stuck with it. He tried to tell me but I’d never met another wolf so what did I know.”

“Wolf or not it’s important to be able to protect yourself,” he says seriously, obviously disapproving.

“It’s a different world living exclusively with humans. Can you imagine a human trying to attack me? Ruby would make quick work of them. There was never much of a risk for me.” I smile. It feels like forever ago even though it hasn’t been that long.

“Ruby. Nice name - Ray liked running with her on the first day. Most other wolves can’t keep up.”

Ruby started going nuts in my head at the mention of his wolf. I laugh. “Should we have them do some drills next?” I ask not knowing I could stop her from coming out.

Xander nodded, “great idea - let’s shift.”