Luna's Outcast

Chapter14

Madeline’s pov

I let out a groan as I twisted my upper body to the right with my legs spread apart and then I repeated the same by my left.

I let out a sigh as I completed my stretches and my body felt a little sore.

Would I ever get used to this?

I made my way to the other side of the training ground where I knew Hunter would be and my eyes sought him out.

My lips parted as I found him by the corner. He was shirtless and bent over a stone where he sharpened a sword. My eyes greedily trailed his toned body and I couldn’t help but imagine what running my fingers along his packs would feel like.

“Madeline, focus!” I chided myself as I tried to tear my gaze away from the sight but failed miserably.

I watched as sweat dripped down his body as he worked and something stirred within me.

“Madeline?” Someone called out behind me and I turned to Lucas.

“Hey, I wanted to apologize for last night. I was an ass, and you didn’t deserve any of that,” Lucas announced and my lips stretched into a grin.

“It’s alright. I know you were only trying to look out for me,” I responded, and Lucas hummed in agreement as he took a step closer to me, invading my personal space.

“I’ve come to care for you a lot, Madeline. I don’t want to see you hurt…ever.” He told me softly as his hand reached out and brushed a stray strand of hair out of my face, and he tucked it behind my ear.

“I’m not going to-”

“Shh,” He cut me off as his hand pressed against my lips for a second before they slowly trailed down and dropped to his side.

“Just promise me you’ll be careful, alright? I’m only trusting him because you trust him, but that doesn’t mean I’m not watching his every move.” He told me pointedly and I nodded.

“Madeline! Get over here, let's begin training.” Hunter called out to me.

“Bye,” I offered Lucas an apologetic smile before I turned to Hunter, who was staring at me with fire blazing in his eyes.

“Are you done chatting with your boyfriend?” he asked sarcastically with his hands on his waist before he turned away from me.

What was his problem?

I followed behind him and watched as he picked up one of the swords he had sharpened.

“Today we are going to be learning how to use weapons,” Hunter and my eyes widened as he held out the sword to me.

“I don’t think I want my first lesson with weapons to be with a sharpened sword. I could hurt myself or worse, I could hurt you,” I admitted, but Hunter kept the sword stretched out in front of me.

I slowly took it from him with great care.

“Now, we'll start with your grip on the weapon,” Hunter announced and proceeded to demonstrate exactly how I was supposed to hold the sword.

Hunter seemed to be in an irritable mood, and he had a short temper all through our training.

I could barely understand what it was he wanted me to do.

“I don’t think this is working out. Maybe we should call it a day and try again tomorrow,” I muttered as I breathed heavily.

My palms were sweaty, my arms ached, and I could barely feel my fingers anymore.

“No. We continue until you get it right,” Hunter announced, and my heart dropped.

I was afraid he would say that….

We kept at it for a few more hours until I realized Hunter had no intention of teaching me, he was taking out his frustration on me.

“I’m out!” I growled as I threw the sword onto the floor and turned away from him.

“Madeline!” Hunter called out to me, but I ignored him.

“Madeline, we aren’t finished yet,” he gritted out, and I heard his footsteps right behind me.

“When will we be done?” I asked as I abruptly turned to him.

“When I drop dead? When you are satisfied that I have done my penance for a sin I was unaware of?” I asked, and Hunter fell silent.

“I thought you wanted to help me but I guess I was wrong. If you have no interest in training me, then you might as well leave,” I told him, and Hunter rubbed a hand over his face.

“Madeline, I'm sorry. I got a little carried away but—”

“A little?” I interjected.

“I pushed you too hard, too fast. I’m sorry, why don’t we try again? Just the basics?” Hunter suggested, and I stared him in the eyes for several seconds as I tried to determine if he was being sincere or not.

“Fine,” I eventually conceded.

I followed Hunter back to our spot where we had been training, and he picked up the sword I had carelessly discarded and handed it over to me.

“If you are able to get a strong grip of the sword today, I just might teach you how to cut off all the fingers with one s***h of the blade tomorrow.” Hunter muttered more to himself than to me and my brows furrowed as I wondered what exactly he meant.

He showed me how to hold the blade once more, more calmly, this time and when I still did not get it, he dropped his sword against the wall and stood behind me.

Hunter encased me between his hands as he gripped my hands on the handle of the sword and slowly showed me how I was meant to hold it.

My heart beat picked up as I felt his warmth around me and his thick masculine scent wafted between us.

“You should never have a loose grip, even for a second, it might be fatal.” He whispered into my ear and a shiver shot through me.

Someone cleared their throat and I sprang away from Hunter as though I had been caught doing something illegal.