The Huntress and her Alpha

Chapter Eight

The room Lip had made up for me was beyond beautiful. It wasn’t just a room but more like a hotel room. There was an en-suite that housed a huge bathtub that I couldn't wait to soak in once my bandage was pulled off. The closet was the size of my room back home. The bed was a king size pillow top and felt like an actual cloud.

Then there was the living area where a couch was sat in front of a large screen tv. It felt like an expensive hotel room, all I needed for it to be perfect was a small kitchen and I’d never have to leave. Of course then Lip wouldn’t be too happy I’m sure.

He didn’t asked me to stay here so I could hole up in the pack house.

It didn’t take me long to put my clothes in the closet and realize that it was still half empty. I hung up my leather jackets and then decided to hang up some jeans to make it look like i had more clothes. I didn’t want Lip getting any ideas and sending someone to buy me things to fill up this closet.

Somehow Lip had even managed to make one wall an entire bookshelf to house my beloved books I made him carry up the stairs. I couldn’t help but smile at that, he made me a mini library, complete with a comfy chair and a light to read with.

It was more than sweet and I had to remind myself once again not to get ahead of myself in the feelings department.

The sun was high in the sky by the time I pulled on my normal training attire. Black leggings and a gray tank top. I piled my curls on top of my head and secured them in a bun. I heard people gathering and getting ready to train. So I pushed my feet into my well worn sneakers and ran down to join them.

My stomach was getting better, it was healing at human speed. The doctor came by last night to check on me and told me it had to do with the poison Jack had coated on his nails. I think he fights dirty if he resorts to poisoning his opponent.

Which made me wonder why Lip let his Beta fight that way. Another question I had for him whenever he made his appearance today.

After we had gone to get my things he brought me to my room and told me he’d let me get settled. To my surprise he didn’t find his way back even when the doctor came to pull out my stitches and I yelled loudly from pain. From everything he explained about this mate thing, he had to have felt it.

He was giving me space. Maybe since I agreed to give us a chance he was agreeing to giving me space like humans would when they’re dating.

Or maybe being an alpha met he was very busy.

I sighed as I caught up to the group running towards the warriors building for their warm up. I fell into rhythm with a red head who smiled at me.

“Ah so I see the new girl is joining us. Does alpha know you’re here?”

I shook my head. “I haven’t seen him yet this morning. But I’m not going to slack on training just because I’m waiting for permission I don’t need.”

She laughed. “I like you. I’m Aimee.”

We filled in the empty spots around the training area and she held out her hand. I grabbed it and shook it firmly so she could feel my strength.

“Max.” I returned her smile. “But I’m sure you already knew that.”

“The beta you fought, that’s my mate. He told me what happened and who you are.” She let out a breath and shook her head. “I scolded him for being reckless.”

I wondered if he told her everything. Like why we had been fighting. Like the fact that he had a baby on the way with a human. I liked Aimee and I didn’t usually like people right away. But she was nice and reminded me of Luca. I hated the idea that Jack was lying to her.

“Did he tell you how it started?” I asked quietly as he started stretching.

She nodded. “Well yeah he told me, but that’s after the stupid human Claire came to wait at the apartment. Trust me I know all about them. He was honest with me when we first mated. We met at one of the annual banquets and neither of us were really prepared.”

“Oh good. I just didn't like the idea of him lying to you.”

She laughed. “Trust me, Max. I can take care of myself. Plus I made her take a pregnancy test. She’s not pregnant she was bluffing, thinking it would make him leave me. Typical human.”

I winced. “Sorry it’s not my business. But you’re the first person here who’s been nice and acknowledged me.”

She smiled. “I’m new here too. Not as new or as fascinating as you, the human hunter mated to our Alpha. But I know how it feels to need a friend in a foreign environment.”

“Alright everyone pair up!” A deep voice boomed through the crowd and Aimee raised her eyebrow at me.

“Alright partner. Let’s see what you’ve got.” I said getting in my stance.

We started sparring, going through the motions of attacking each other. Aimee was strong, she could push me down faster than most wolves. She was agile, she could move just as fast as me. We were an even match.

We were both laughing as we came apart, our faces having banged together and blood dripped in my mouth from my spilt lip.

“Ow!” I winced as I touched it.

“So that’s what takes a big bag wolf Hunter down? A head butt and a broken lip?”

I couldn’t stop laughing. “Oh just you wait. I’ll get you back for that.”

We got in our stances again. But just as we got ready to attack, a deep voice boomed across the field. “Max!”

I felt his eyes and the eyes of everyone else who had been training turn towards me. My cheeks heated with my blush as he stalked towards me, his eyes narrowing like he was about to scold me. Like I was nothing more than a disobedient child.

Lip came to stop in front of me, his glare gone when he saw my broken lip that was already healing. I felt the dry blood pull as I glared back at him.

“Max. You shouldn’t be out here training.”

I sighed loudly as I folded my arms across my chest and glanced back at Aimee who had immediately stopped sparing with me when Lip showed up.

“And why the hell not?” I turned toward him, glaring even harder than before.

“Well for one thing you just got your stitches out. Second you are human and a Hunter.”

“Okay?” I let the word fall like a question between us.

“You’re my mate. If you want to train I’ll train you.”

I stood up straighter and laughed. I no longer cared about the fact that everyone was staring at us, watching this wolf scold me. Because I wasn’t a child, he wouldn’t treat me like one. The girl who had coward yesterday was gone.

“First things first, Philip. I might be your mate but you do not own me.” I heard a few people murmur as I pushed my finger hard against his chest. “Second. I have been training my whole life, I won’t stop now just because some wolfy bond took me away from my society. The way I see it I've been training to beat your kind for so long maybe we could learn some things from each other.”

The corner of Lip’s mouth curled as he attempted to keep his smile from forming. I met his stare with my own. “And third. I might be human, but I heal just as quickly as you. My ribs are fine. So now if you happen to have any constructive criticism I will listen. If not go find some other alpha business to attend to.”

I turned back to Aimee who could no longer stop her own laughter. “Damn. You do know that what alpha says goes around here right?”

I shrugged. “If we’re mates, we’re equals. And I haven’t totally bought into this whole thing, so no he doesn’t control me. Now if you’re all done staring,” I raised my voice, “I’d like to keep going.”

Lip stood there with his arms folded as Aimee and I went back to work. Of course she was going way easier on me now that Lip was watching. I sighed, putting my body into the whole movement of a punch that landed on her stomach.

Aimee faltered, letting me get a hard hit on her chest. I held up my fists and sighed. “I’d like to stop living in an episode of Buffy and get back to actually fighting. Not whatever this is.”

“An episode of what?” She was breathing heavily as she took a drink of water.

I rolled my eyes. “Buffy the vampire slayer. Don’t tell me you wolves don’t watch TV. Slayer falls in love with with vampire. You know the one creature she’s supposed to be fighting. Seems fitting since you know.” I glanced at Lip who stood watching disapprovingly.

He has his arms folded across his chest. I was pretty sure he was talking to Aimee, the way they mind talked or whatever.

Aimee laughed. “I’ve never seen Buffy, but your mate has. He thinks while your attempt at humor is cute, he really wants me to go easy on you.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Yeah? Well before Jack sliced my stomach I was this close to stabbing him in the heart.” I held up my hand and displayed a tiny space between my pointer and middle finger, letting her know how close it had been.

Aimee growled when I mentioned her mate. I knew that would do it. These mated wolves were very predictable. If only we could’ve used that during a real fight. She bared her teeth at me and lunged, putting her entire body into it. She knocked me down, the air leaving my lungs as we fell onto the grass together.

Her leg came between mine, hitting me hard in the groin as she flipped us over, landing on top of me. Her normally green eyes were black, her teeth still front and center as she landed a blow to my face. I gasped, her body pressing down on mine.

“Aimee!” Lip sounded worried as I waited for the opening I knew would come. I took in a breath and looked right into her eyes.

“You’re a pretty good fighter.” I gasped as she punched my good side. “But so was your mate. I’d say I’m better.”

I grabbed her neck and pushed against her pressure point. As she started to flail I wrapped my legs around her waist, a whine escaped her throat as I flipped us over. Aimee was on her back, her eyes rolling closed, as I straddled her.

Blood dripped out my nose as she passed out. I stood up, coughing as I regained a normal breathing pattern. A few people stood staring with wide eyes, someone was clapping. Someone else was holding Jack back.

His eyes were black, they were glaring at me.

I spit out blood. “She’s fine. I just made her pass out. You wolves are way too territorial.”

Jack growled and Lip stepped between us. “Max.”

He reached out to touch my cheek but I pushed his hand away. “Contrary to whatever you think we are, I am more than capable of protecting myself. So next time you want to tell your best female warrior to go easy on me, maybe you’ll rethink it.”

I limped back towards the pack building, realizing how tender my ankle was. I must have rolled it when Aimee jumped on me. I hissed as I took the first step slowly, eyes still burning holes into the back of my head.

Once I was safely inside the bedroom Lip had declared as mine, the damn broke and tears started to fall. Because in that moment I realized just how out of my comfort zone I truly was.

No bond could change the fact that I didn’t belong here. Nothing could change the fact that I couldn’t go home again either.