Free Web NovelChapter 42: Chapter 42
Christian’s knocking woke me up at an hour that should be illegal.
"Sophie. Training. Now."
I cracked one eye open. It’s still dark outside. "What time is it?"
"Five AM. Get dressed."
"I hate you."
"You can hate me later. Connor agreed to private sessions. We’re not wasting them."
I dragged myself out of bed, my body still sore from yesterday’s regular training. The anonymous note was still under my pillow, burning a hole in my consciousness, but I couldn’t think about that now.
Christian was standing in my doorway when I opened it, and—
Holy shit.
He was in training gear. Tight training gear. The kind that left absolutely nothing to the imagination.
"You good?" His eyebrow arched.
"Yep. Totally. Very good." I was not good. I was having thoughts that were definitely not appropriate for 5 AM.
Maria appeared like some kind of morning fairy, carrying a bundle of leather gear. "Luna training outfit. Sophie, these were Christian’s mother’s."
My hands froze halfway to the clothes. "I can’t—"
"You can." Christian’s voice went soft. "She’d want you to have them."
The leather was worn but perfectly maintained, flexible in all the right places. I changed quickly while Maria and Christian waited outside, my stomach doing weird flips at the significance of wearing his mother’s gear.
When I stepped out, Christian’s expression did something complicated. His jaw clenched. His eyes darkened. His hands were fisted at his sides.
"Christian?"
"You look..." He cleared his throat. "Let’s go."
Maria gave me a knowing look that I absolutely did not appreciate, then practically shoved us both toward the door.
The private training ground was hidden deep in the forest, a natural clearing I’d never seen before.
"My father’s spot," Christian explained, his voice rough. "Where he trained me. Where my mother trained before becoming Luna."
The morning mist made everything look dreamlike and slightly dangerous. I liked it.
"So." Christian pulled off his shirt unexpectedly. Just. Pulled it off. "We’re starting with an assessment."
My brain short-circuited. "Assessment. Right. That’s... yep."
"Sophie."
"I’m listening! Very focused. Super professional."
His lips twitched. "Show me those Northern Pack moves Connor mentioned."
My body moved before my brain caught up, flowing through forms I didn’t remember learning. Christian circled me like a predator, his eyes tracking every movement with laser focus.
"Stop."
I froze mid-form. Christian’s hands settled on my hips, adjusting my stance, and every nerve ending in my body lit up like a Christmas tree.
"Your center of gravity is off." His breath was hot against my ear. "You’re compensating for something. A previous injury, maybe."
"I don’t remember any injury."
"Your body does." His hands slid down slightly, repositioning. "These techniques are advanced, Sophie. Elite warrior level. Someone trained you properly a long time ago."
The frustration hit like a wave. "Why can’t I remember? What else is locked away in my head?"
"We’ll figure it out." His hands lingered a second too long before he stepped back. "Now attack me."
"What?"
"Full force. Don’t hold back."
I hesitated. Christian was an alpha. I could hurt him if I—
"Sophie." His voice dropped to that Alpha rumble. "You’re not strong enough to be Luna. You’re just playing dress-up in my mother’s clothes, pretending you belong here."
My wolf snarled.
I lunged at him.
Christian blocked easily, but his eyes lit up with approval. "Better. Again."
We moved together like a violent dance, Christian pushing me harder with each exchange. His sandalwood scent intensified with exertion and something headier that made my concentration fracture. freёwebnovel.com
I managed one solid hit to his ribs.
Christian grunted, surprised. "Good."
"Did I hurt you?" ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
"I’m fine." He grinned. "But Jake won’t expect that kind of power. Use it."
We shifted to defense training. Christian came at me with controlled aggression, his strikes pulling back at the last second but still forcing me to react.
That’s when it happened.
I felt his intention a split second before he moved. Like my empathic ability was reading his combat instincts.
I blocked perfectly.
Christian’s eyes narrowed. "You sensed that."
"I... yeah. I felt what you were going to do."
"That’s a massive advantage." His tactical mind was clearly racing. "If you can sense your opponent’s intentions, you can counter before they strike. We need to develop this."
For the next hour, Christian pushed me through conditioning that left me gasping. Sprints through the forest at werewolf speed. Climbing trees until my arms screamed. Rapid shifts between human and wolf form that exhausted me completely.
Christian matched me move for move, never making me feel weak even though his Alpha conditioning was obviously superior.
During a water break, he tipped the canteen to my lips, his fingers brushing my mouth in a way that felt way too intimate.
"You’re doing well," he murmured.
"I’m dying."
"You’re thriving." His eyes tracked down my body. "Your wolf is alive in ways she hasn’t been since the rejection."
He wasn’t wrong. I felt powerful. Fierce. Like maybe I could actually do this.
"Now, techniques." Christian moved behind me, his body molding against my back. "I’ll teach you Shadow Ridge’s signature combinations."
His hands guided my arms through the forms. His legs adjusted my stance. His breath was hot against my neck.
I couldn’t concentrate on anything except his proximity, his scent, and his touch burning through the leather.
"Your breathing is off," he murmured directly into my ear.
"I wonder why," I managed.
