ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE

Taking my decision into my hands

Chapter 014

SEBASTIAN

Darius gave me this look—one that said he did not believe a single word I had just said about exploring each other slowly.

His dark eyes were skeptical, almost amused, like he could see right through my attempt at taking control of the situation.

But he was the Alpha, and he respected himself too much to argue with me about it. He did not drag the point or try to prove me wrong. And more importantly, he did not chase me away.

"You can spend the night here if you want," Darius said, his voice neutral.

I nodded, relief flooding through me. "Thank you."

We settled into a strange sort of silence, both of us lying on the bed but not quite touching. My mind was racing, thinking about everything that had happened, everything that could still happen.

Then I suddenly remembered what I had wanted to discuss with him earlier.

I sat up, turning to look at him. "I have something important to tell you."

Darius did not move from his position, but his eyes opened to look at me. "Say whatever you want to say."

"The training," I said, folding my legs beneath me. "You said you would think about it. Have you? Made a decision, I mean?"

Darius was quiet for a moment, and I could see him choosing his words carefully. "I cannot do one-on-one training with you."

My stomach dropped. "Why not?"

"Because you would not be able to control yourself in public," Darius said bluntly.

I stared at him, not understanding. "What do you mean by that?"

"You are obsessed with me, Sebastian," Darius said, sitting up now to face me properly. "So obsessed that you cannot help drawing me at every chance you get. How do you think that would look during training? With everyone watching?"

Heat flooded my face—part embarrassment, part anger. "That has nothing to do with training you. I can control myself perfectly fine."

"Can you?" Darius asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," I said firmly. "My sketching is private. It is something I do on my own time. It would not interfere with training."

Darius shook his head. "It is not just about the sketching. It is about how you look at me. How you act around me. People would notice."

"So what?" I demanded, my voice rising slightly. "What does it matter if people notice?"

"It matters because I do not want to be seen with you in public like that," Darius said, and his words hit me like a physical blow.

I felt my chest tighten painfully. "You do not want to be seen with me."

"Not in that way," Darius clarified, but it did not make it any better.

"You are talking now," I said, my voice shaking slightly with hurt and anger. "You should have said this early on instead of telling me your reason is my obsession. Just be honest, you are embarrassed to be associated with me."

"That is not what I said," Darius replied, his jaw tightening.

"It is exactly what you said," I shot back. "You do not want people to see us together. To see you training me. Because what? I am an omega? Because I am not good enough to be seen with the great Alpha Darius?"

"Sebastian—"

"No," I interrupted, my hands clenching into fists on my lap. "You made an arrangement with me. You said we could do this. But apparently, that only applies when no one else can see. When it is just the two of us, hidden away where it does not matter."

Darius ran his hand through his hair, looking frustrated. "You are twisting my words. And besides I told you all these before you agreed to it."

"Am I?" I asked. "Because it sounds pretty clear to me. You want me in your bed, but you do not want anyone to know. You want me as your guard, but you do not want to actually train me properly. What exactly do you want from me, Darius?"

"I am tired," Darius said abruptly, cutting off the conversation. "I have had a long day, and I have a meeting with the elders tomorrow. We both need to sleep."

Just like that, he dismissed everything I had said. Every concern, every hurt feeling—all of it pushed aside because he was tired.

Before I could protest, Darius wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer to him, forcing me to lie back down. His body was warm and solid against my back, his breath stirring my hair.

"Sleep," he said quietly.

But I could not sleep.

My thoughts would not let me rest. They spun round and round in my head, analyzing every word Darius had said, every implication behind his refusal to train me.

I weighed my options carefully.

I could listen to the Alpha and accept his decision. Just let it go and hope that maybe, eventually, he would change his mind.

Or I could take matters into my own hands.

I could join the pack training myself. Prove that I was capable, that I could handle it. Show Darius that I did not need his permission or his approval to become stronger.

The more I thought about it, the more the second option appealed to me.

"Yes, Darius might be angry. He might see it as defiance or disrespect."

But at least I would be doing something. At least I would be taking control of my own development instead of waiting around for him to decide I was worthy of his time.

I felt Darius's breathing even out behind me, his arm heavy across my waist. He had fallen asleep quickly, exhausted from his day.

But I stayed awake for hours, planning.

The following morning, I had made my decision.

I was going to join the training ground, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop me.

The training ground was a large open area behind the pack house, with dirt floors and various equipment scattered around. Several guards were already there, warming up or sparring with each other.

As soon as I stepped into the space, conversations stopped.

Everyone turned to look at me.

"What is the omega doing here?" one guard asked loudly, his tone mocking.

"Lost, are you?" another called out, and several others laughed.

I kept my chin up, refusing to be intimidated. "I am here to train."

That caused an even bigger reaction. More laughter, some disbelieving shakes of heads.

"Train?" a burly guard with a scar across his cheek stepped forward. "Omegas do not train. They serve."

"I am the Alpha's personal guard," I said firmly. "And I have every right to be here."

"Personal guard," someone scoffed. "Is that what they are calling it now?"

More laughter. My face burned with embarrassment and anger, but I did not move.

"Come on, omega," the scarred guard said, gesturing mockingly. "If you want to train so badly, step into the ring. Let us see what you are made of."

I knew it was a trap. They wanted me to fail, to embarrass myself so they could laugh and prove their point about omegas not belonging here.

But I stepped into the ring anyway.

The scarred guard followed me, cracking his knuckles. "This will be quick."

"We will see," I said, raising my hands in what I hoped was a proper fighting stance.

The guard lunged at me almost immediately, and I barely managed to dodge. He was fast... much faster than I had expected and strong. Every punch he threw felt like it could break bones.

I tried to remember what little self-defence I knew, tried to protect myself, but it was not enough.

Within minutes, I was on the ground, dust in my mouth, my body aching from several hits I had not been able to avoid.

"Had enough?" the guard asked, standing over me.

I pushed myself up on shaking arms. "No."

"Stubborn little thing, are you not?" he said, "Come on, omega! Get up!"

I got to my feet, ignoring the pain. "Again."

We went at it again. And again. And again.

Each time, I ended up on the ground. Each time, I got back up.

The other guards wouldn't stop laughing. "Is that all you have got? Pathetic!"

"Maybe you should stick to cleaning chambers instead of pretending to be a warrior!" another chipped in.

I was preparing for another round, my vision slightly blurred from exhaustion, when I felt a presence that made every wolf in the training ground go still.

Alpha presence.

I turned slowly, my heart dropping into my stomach.

Darius stood at the edge of the training ground, still dressed in his training clothes. His face was absolutely unreadable, but I could feel the anger radiating off him in waves.

Everyone became quiet.

The scarred guard who had been sparring with me immediately bowed his head and stepped back.

Darius walked forward, his eyes never leaving mine. The crowd parted for him like water, no one daring to stand in his path.

And stepped into the ring with me.