The Alpha King

Chapter 4

Artemis

After two hours of training and practising my moves against an invisible opponent, I was getting out of breath. Sweat beads rolled down my temple toward my jaw before dropping to the ground. Closing my eyes, I tilted my head back, enjoying the light breeze caressing my skin, coaching a low, satisfied hum from me.

My muscles were aching in a good way and I loved the feeling after a tense training session. It made me feel very much alive. With a sigh, I finally turned, walking to the nearby tree trunk where I had left my jacket and phone. I took my jacket and fished out my phone, glancing at the time, and froze.

“s**t!”

I twirled around on my heels and dashed into a full sprint toward my car, cursing under my breath.

“I´m late, I´m late I´m so f*****g late!! He's going to kill me!”

I had forgotten about the archery session I had this evening, not as a teacher but as a pupil and my teacher wasn´t known for being forgiving if someone in his class was late. I could already hear his scolding and cold tone of voice lazed with deep disappointment while his sharp glare pierced my face with lethal precision with such a deep frown it would scare the s**t out of me.

Our teacher was no other than Kayden Phoenix.

He had won more competitions in archery than anyone else. He was also a ten-time champion in both archery and taekwondo, holding a formidable record of winnings in his name. Everyone knew who he was and every teenager who decided to start learning archery or taekwondo wished to be able to be in his classes.

The man was a legend.

And damn good looking. I admit it, the man was like a f*****g Greek God. I may not want to be involved with men sexually or romantically, but I wasn´t blind. I could appreciate a fine specimen of a male in their prime when I saw one.

But the power that surrounded him made Kayden somewhat intimidating. It was the kind of aura that screamed not to piss him off or someone could lose a life. Kayden didn´t demand respect, everyone simply did that immediately when he walked into a room and it baffled me how he did that. I mean, he controlled the entire space when he entered with just his mere presence, making everyone bow their heads in respect.

I also often wondered if he was a human at all with surreal knowledge and strength, not to mention his eyesight. No matter how far his target was, he always hit the bullseye.

Moving targets like flying disks? He never missed. Not once. I was good at archery, but I wasn´t that good.

I joked with my classmates about it now and then, suggesting maybe he was an alien disguised in a form of a human because no human was that good. My friend Cassie called him a warlock of archery, which made me chuckle.

Running out of the forest panting I reached my car unlocking the doors and jumped in quickly, starting the engine and turned to the car around driving into the highway heading back to the central city. Speeding was my theme for today, apparently. I just hoped cops wouldn't pull me over.

As soon as I parked my car in front of the building where the lessons were held I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt, grab my keys and phone jumping out of the car locking the doors and ran through the front door seeing the secretary behind her desk.

“You´re late, Arty.” She scolded giving me an unimpressed look and I couldn´t help but grimace.

“I´m sorry, I know….”

“You´re never late. Did something happen?” She asked changing her tone a bit softer.

I sigh halting in front of her.

“Some bullshit with my dad. I got angry and went to blow off some steam and forgot to check the time.”

She nodded flashing me a sweet smile. She knew I didn´t get along with my father that well so she understood why I needed some time to calm myself.

“Alright, but don´t make it a habit,” she wiggled her index finger at me making me chuckle.

“Yes mom,” I bowed exaggeratedly waving my hand hearing a chuckle before I straightened my back giving her a wide grin.

Amaya was only a few years older than me but I swear she acted more like my mom than Kayden´s secretary and I wasn´t sure if I should be mad or shake it off.

She wasn´t the typical secretary you might find behind a desk. She was African American, curvy with a mischievous twinkle in her brown honey eyes.

She loved wearing light blue jeans, black high heels, dark grey almost black short-sleeved shirt with a leopard pattern on the hem and collar, big silver leaf earrings, elegant silvery wrist watch and black leather jacket. Yeah, not your typical secretary styled outfit, but she rocked it. The clothes were part of her personality and suited her. I tell you if I wasn´t straight or adamant not to get involved with anyone, I would jump on her bones.

A few clients had whined about her outfit to Kayden how it wasn´t professional until he had stated as long as she did her job, Kayden wasn´t going to tell her how to dress at work.

Her hair was shaved shorter on the sides while the top was styled forward. It was ebony black, dyed with few dark red stripes and I sometimes caught myself dreaming of running my hands through that silky looking hair. All business in the front, party at the back.

Damn. She was gorgeous. And her attitude? Sassy and funny, not afraid of taking on someone who started arguing some s**t. She would show their places in a flash. You do not mess with this girl.

No wonder Kayden hired her.

“Lucky for you Kayden is in good mood today, so get that perky ass moving and show him you mean business.” Amaya winked shooing me toward the dressing rooms and sprinted through the lobby giggling the whole way.

I quickly got into the dressing room and changed into my training clothes that were always there, as every trainee had their own clothes, measured specifically for them and we were not allowed to take them home. The school´s private laundry washed our training clothes and made sure we always had fresh ones. Yes, our archery school had its very own laundrette.

Fancy, I know.

As I hurried to the backyard where the target field was located I could hear Kayden´s commanding voice travelling across the field, making me slightly nervous.

“Come on Arty, keep it together,” I muttered to myself taking a deep breath before sliding the door open and as soon as my foot touched the ground I heard his growl.

“You´re late.”

I froze immediately looking for the man in question and found him standing four feet away from me, his back facing me, his hands behind his back. How did he know I was here? I was sure I was as quiet as a mouse.

I closed the door and stood in place back straight and head low keeping my gaze slightly downward.

“I apologize Sensei. It won´t happen again.”

I could hear him turning around walking toward me but I kept my eyes fixed on the wooden dock silently waiting for the lecture that I was bound to hear.

His white sneakers entered my view of sight and a small shiver ran down my spine as I could feel his authority and intense glare fixed on my face.

“I let it slide this once. Only because you have never before come late so I assume you had a damn good reason for this slip-up.”

“Yes, Sensei.”

“Take your place and show me your stance.”

I hurried to get my bow and arrows at the rack and then walked in my spot at the end of the row. Looking at the target 80 yards away from me. Knocking the arrow on the bow, I took a calming breath and took a stance, feeling Kayden´s judging gaze on me the whole time.

“Good. Now aim.”

His voice was low, leaving no room for arguing. So I did as instructed. I aimed, taking another calming breath as everything around me seized to exist. It was just me, the bow and arrow, and the target.

“Release.”

The second that command reached my ears I released the arrow letting it fly toward the target. It took only a second to hit its mark, but for me, it felt longer.

We both stared at the target where the arrow had hit and I heard his low hum as he noted how I did.

“You seem to lack concentration today. Otherwise, you would have no issues hitting the bullseye.”

Fuck!

I grimaced at my poor demonstration. The arrow had hit on the blue ring, nowhere near the yellow ring. Usually, I had no trouble hitting the red or yellow rings but today; I wasn´t at my best. Thanks, dad.

“Again.” Kayden walked closer halting two feet away from me analyzing every movement I made to figure out why one of his best students was acting like a rookie all of the sudden.

He made me shoot arrow after arrow at the target, and not once did I hit the yellow ring. I was getting frustrated. Even Kayden was frowning at this point.

“Take a break.” he offered after thirty minutes and turned toward the other students, leaving me to sit in the shade feeling disappointed and angry at myself. Running my fingers through my hair, I let out a quiet groan before leaning on my knees, resting my head on my hands.

Why I let my father screw my head like this? Well, threatened to be sent to another f*****g country for a job I really don´t want, the job I didn't even apply for and leave the familiar life behind can do that to you.

Then, out of the blue, the image of that hot-looking guy from earlier flashed behind my eyes. Seriously, who was that guy? I shake my head when that question popped into my mind. Why do I even care? Just some random male all hot and sexy looking at me like I was the only person in that lobby and he wanted to devour.… Stop right there! I let out another groan. Stop thinking about him!

“Something is really troubling you, that´s two groans in a matter of minutes.”

Kayden´s voice interrupted my inner monologue and I snapped my head up seeing him standing in front of me looking a little baffled like I was a jigsaw puzzle he tried to solve.

“You could say that.” I chuckled, wetting my lips while leaning back against the wall behind me.

“Hmmm. Is this something to do with your being late today?”

I glanced at him briefly before looking away, debating if I should tell him anything. But then again, if my father was going to have his way, I would have to tell Kayden since I wouldn´t be able to continue my lessons and he would have to find another teacher. I owed him an explanation. I have known the man for 15 years as I started learning archer when I was10.

I shook my head. Why would I even think about not telling him? Of course, I had to tell him for so many reasons.

Sighing in defeat, I closed my eyes hearing Kayden sitting next to me waiting for me to say something.

“You know my father…” I started hearing a low chuckle from him in return.

“Obviously.”

I gave him a look, and Kayden grinned at me.

“I meant what kind of man he is.”

“Yes, unfortunately.” Kayden huffed. He didn´t get along with my father either.

A few times my father came into the school when I was starting my training lessons, he tried every damn time to control how Kayden taught me and Kayden didn´t take kindly to my father´s blunt, arrogant, and downright rude attempts to control what was happening in the training sessions. It ended in a shouting match which Kayden won every single time and, if I´m being honest; It surprised me because no one, and I mean no one challenged my father the way Kayden did or dared to yell at his face. Kayden was totally unfazed by my father´s attempts to intimidate him.

I still remembered what Kayden told my father the last time he brought me here. “This is my territory. I teach my students how I see fit, if you have a problem with that get out and don´t come back. You don´t see me coming to your workplace and try to tell you how to do your job.” After that, I had to learn how to come here all by myself, and frankly, I loved it. I didn´t have to listen to my father´s nagging about how he hated Kayden and his methods or how he expected me to be the number one student because I was a Griffin.

Yeah, that´s his motto:” Griffins are supposed to be the best at everything they do.”

I hated it. Still do.

I just wanted to learn archery because I loved it, it was fun and my way to get away from my hectic real life where I had to every step the way prove to my parents what I was made of like I had to prove I was a Griffin.

Well, I got sick of it when I turned 16 and my parents got divorced. The big bad Mr Perfection, Alaric Cillian Griffin wasn´t the best at everything. He sucked at being a husband and father. And I sure as hell made sure he knew it. I reminded him about it every damn day when I was living under his roof.

My mom, Wyetta Isabella Griffin, or as she wanted to be called nowadays McKenna because she didn´t want to keep my father´s surname moved out of the city the next day after the papers were signed.

Scratch that. She moved out the f*****g continent. Can´t really blame her, Mr. All-High-and-Mighty was getting on her last nerve. The man was an asshole. That role he played perfectly.

We kept in touch every week though, still do. My relationship with my mom was better, not perfect but better. She understood my frustration with my dad and showed support when I told her I was moving out of my father´s home when I turned 18. She was actually proud I wanted to make my own living and not being dependent on my parents' money.

My brother helped me to get through it. He had moved out when he had turned 18, which was ironically the same year my parents divorced. He bought himself a nice flat in the central city and started his own business with martial arts with his buddy Jaxon. So, it was natural for him to offer me a place to stay until I had found my own perfect home. Although he was only two years older than me, he was overly protective of me, always making sure I was alright and sometimes it irritated me but at the same time, I loved that side of him. I could always count on him when I needed help or a shoulder to cry on. He was always there for me, no matter what.

Everyone in the city knew my brother, the famous Chase Kieran Griffin. The badass big brother, who had mastered the art of ninjutsu and aikido, almost surpassing his teachers but also kicked his opponents to the ground in the boxing ring. The guy was a four-time champion. No one wanted to mess with him or make him angry by messing with me.

I snapped from my thought regarding my family and shook my head and wetting my lips I glanced at Kayden, who was still sitting next to me waiting for me to continue whatever I was going to say.

“My father called me yesterday to go meeting him today. He told me he had gone behind my back applying for a job in Austria and I got accepted and was expecting me to move to Austria in a month.”

Kayden jerked his head, shifting his gaze at me, staring at me with wide eyes, looking shocked. But that was quickly replaced with anger, as his eyes narrowed and jaw clenched. His lips formed a thin line and nostrils flaring he tried to control his growing anger balling his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.

He wasn´t happy. Far from it.

“What?” he snarled, turning his body so he was facing me properly and his demeanour was starting to scare me a little. I flinched, leaning slightly away from him, taken back by his reaction. The level of anger that rolled out of his tensed body was something I have never seen or felt before. I have seen Kayden pissed many times, but this, this was a whole new level and I wasn't sure if I was the target of the rage or my father. And honestly, I didn´t understand fully why he got so angry. Irritated, sure that I would have understood and expected even, maybe pissed but full-blown rage? No, I wasn´t prepared for that.

Kayden´s stare was so intense it caused blood to run up to my cheeks, and I was sure my face was flaring like a bloody beacon in the middle of the night.

“If this a joke I don´t find it funny,” Kayden said, rumble vibrating from the depths of his chest making me swallow hard.

“Do you see me laughing?” I dared asking looking at him.

He gazed at me as if searching for something in my eyes before taking a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Rubbing his face Kayden leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, muttering something under his breath.

“Sorry, I didn´t mean to snap at you. You took me off guard and…” he apologized dropping his hands lazing his fingers while staring at the ground for a good minute. This wasn´t the Kayden I knew. I raised my brows, baffled, as I waited for him to continue.

“You are one of my best students here and a hell of a teacher for the junior teams. I never thought I would have to find someone else in your place. Hell, I didn´t think you would be ever leaving this place.”

I jerked my head back, staring at him.

“Who says I am leaving?” I huffed, making him turn his gaze back at my face, one of his brows raised in question.

“Isn´t your father the kind of man who doesn´t take kindly to a refusal?” he asked lowly followed by a bitter chuckle.

I rolled my eyes, leaning forward.

“Yeah, he is that kind of man, but I´m not going to just roll over and let him control my life anymore. I love my job. My life is here. My friends are here. I am not moving to Austria and if I have to fight against my father on this, I f*****g will.”

Kayden gave me one of his rare smiles, nodding seemingly pleased by my answer.

“There´s the feisty girl I know.” he chuckled, earning me to chuckle as well. He may be my Sensei, but I also wanted to consider him as one of my big brothers too. He looked after me in his own special way and I didn´t want it any other way, he had taken care of me and my brother all these years.

Kayden and Chase knew each other thanks to me when I had dragged my brother´s grieving ass to Kayden´s martial art sessions when his relationship ended, because my training buddy was out of town and they kind of bonded over the few times my brother was there. I was relatively certain they had made some sort of pack of keeping an eye on me. Not that I needed it in my opinion, but it felt nice to know at least two people in my life cared about me so deeply.

But I also was grateful for Kayden because he was there for Chase when he found about his girlfriend Allyson. They went to have a couple of drinks every weekend and Chase poured his feelings to Kayden who was there to listen. Unlike our father.

So yes, although Kayden Phoenix was the man, the legend and reeked of danger, terrifyingly good looking and even I drooled after him first when I saw him but he became a family in a way over the years. Not that I would ever tell him that, or anyone for that matter.

We were smiling at each other when out of the corner of my eye I saw someone walking toward us and I turned my head just in time to see Amaya approaching us with a scowl on her face. That wasn´t good.

Kayden followed my gaze and straightened himself when he saw his secretary walking toward us.

“What is it?” he asked furrowing his brows.

Amaya halted a couple of feet away her gaze shifting from me to Kayden and back to me before she licked her lips. She looked a little nervous.

“The landlord is here to see you Kayden.”

I frowned. Landlord?

But the way Kayden stiffened and his fists clenched, I figured they were someone Kayden wasn´t expecting. I shifted my gaze to Kayden, who gave me a side-glance.

“He owns this building.” He answered my unspoken question.

“But I thought you own this school…” I couldn´t help but feel confused.

“Yes, I own the business of this school but he owns the building where my school is.”

“Ah…” I nodded. No wonder he stiffened. It rarely was a good thing a landlord who you pay rent to, comes to visit without announcement.

As we both stood as I thought I could give another try to hit the bullseye, a deep baritone voice came from the doorway and we both turned to look at the man standing there.

“What a small world this is….”

My eyes widened as big a saucers as I locked my gaze with the man in question.

Fucking hell it's him!

Crystal blue eyes stared right at me in such an intense way my whole body started shivering and my skin rose to goosebumps.

The corner of his lips curled up in a one-sided smirk as his eyes lingered on my body before they lifted back at my dark red face.

“What a surprise, Mr Barrett,” Kayden nodded, glancing between the two of us, noticing my reaction and the man's knowing smirk.

“Indeed, Mr Phoenix. Indeed. Surprise is the exact word for it.”