Chapter 8

My brows crossed until I saw the time on his gold wristwatch. It was almost ten a.m. I just shrugged at him before running down the long stairs again until I reached the garden.

I stood in front of Fenris, sitting on the cemented chair beside the fountain. He looked at his phone as he shrugged. "Just on time; nearly good."

My stomach felt like an earthquake. "I'm hungry. Can we eat first?"

"No. That's the consequence of waking up late and not showing up right on time. You'll eat after the training."

I glared at him and ended up pouting. He had been really cruel for the past few days; a lot stricter and more serious when it was about training.

"What kind of werewolf are you?" I crossed my arms. "You're gonna allow your mate to die in hunger just because." My head remained high, looking up at him. Why didn't I grow taller? His height was making me look small.

His thick right brow raised as he clenched his jaw. He was in his short-tempered, strict mood again. I managed to just stare at his deep scrutinizing eyes.

"You're not gonna die in hunger. Die during a fight, that's the big possibility." He stepped closer to me, making me look like small meat in front of him.

"I'm not gonna die. I don't wanna die." My brows crossed with the hair on my wrist freezing.

"Then prove it." He positioned his arms and knees like he was ready to fight.

I just stared at him for a moment, getting inspiration to prove something. Glaring at his gorgeous face inspired me to somehow impress him even if I wasn't really good at this.

I examined his body, wondering where to hit him first. I shouldn't be distracted right now. I should focus not on his messy, good-looking brown hair but on how could I possibly defeat him.

"You're getting distracted again," he groaned. "Am I really that eye-catching to you?" 

I looked away as I gulped. I pinched my waist, waking up to my senses.

I was about to speak when his fist landed on my stomach; I almost lost my balance as I stepped back, holding the aching part of my tummy. He threw another punch but I managed to bow down, landing his fist in the air alone. As I stood properly, his fist was about to land again when I held the gravity to push me backwards, so his fist failed to reach me.

I puffed a breath, remembering all the moves he taught me. I was already mastering it. I just needed to stop myself from drooling over his heavenly existence.

He was ready to throw a fist again but I moved sidewards before rolling down beside his leg and finally placing myself at his back. I extended my leg, putting it in between his and with all the gravity, my ankle pushed his ankle sidewards making him lose his balance. I pushed him to the floor as I positioned myself on top of him, but he was quick to move and rotated me until my back reached the floor and he was then the one sitting on top of me.

"Fuck." I hissed. Why can't I fucking catch him for once?

He caged my wrists with his hands while he put all his heaviness on top of my thighs so my body just froze feeling the warmness of his chest right on top of mine. Our sweat joined forces, forming electricity inside me that electrified my thumping heart.

I just glared at him, thinking of a way to escape.

The side of his lips rose while he was examining my eyes until his fist flew into the air again and was about to land on my face when I used my free hand to catch his knuckle. 

His other hand flew into the air to punch my chest and that gave my free hand the opportunity to push him with all the force I had, making his back land on the lawn as I stood.

He quickly gathered his body to stand without any signs of tiredness or pain while my back was kinda aching and my stomach still tingles.

"You're learning, Kira," he said before started trying to throw a continuous punch on my head and body which I managed to avoid all, thankfully. 

My breath was running away from me so I had to take deep breaths. He was so fast and I was doing my best to outsmart his hits.

"You're getting faster." He threw a punch at my shoulder which I managed to avoid.

I smirked. I have dodged every punch he threw. My face was starting to get proud until I winced when his heavy knuckle landed on my leg. I almost curled into pain but my reflex continued dodging his every hit. Until I got a chance to punch him in the chest but it wasn't even enough to hurt him. It just looks like I punched a wall.

I rested my hands on my knees as I blew a loud breath then continuously inhaled and exhaled, calming my tired and heavy chest while my sweat was dripping on my head. Every training, my entire body would feel like it has been fractured. My leg and stomach plus my back were the most aching part of me.

"All in all, you got tons of opportunity to die in that battle," Fenris informed without even a hint of tiredness in his voice. "I saw more than twenty chances that I could kill you."

I just rolled my eyes, gathering the strengths I lost from our training.

"Can I eat now?" I asked, feeling like there was an earthquake inside my stomach.

"Only if you absorb all your experiences today and make it better tomorrow." He crossed his arms against his chest, emphasising his sweaty muscular arms.

"Yeah, that's what I've been doing." I blew out. "But can you make yourself a little weaker sometimes? Just let me win even for once."

"It wouldn't be a genuine win if I fake it." He wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "Come on, let's eat. I can hear your stomach growling." He laughed before pulling my body towards the entrance door of the mansion.

I just let him pull me, feeling our waist touch together while his arm tightened the grip on my shoulders. He was back to his sweet, caring side now and it made me feel like I was smiling with my person after a long tiring day.

When we arrived at the dining area, there was already food on the table. I glanced at the old woman who bowed her head after seeing Fenris before she leave us alone.

The good-smelling soup on the table woke me up. I sat on the chair, relaxing my aching body for a moment.

"Who's that lady?" I asked when Fenris sat parallel to mine.

"No one. I just hired her to cook food for us. I feel lazy cooking today." He shrugged while putting food on his plate.

I didn't ask more questions as my stomach kept on punching itself. We started eating while laughing with our silly stories. We both learned how to act like friends on a daily basis so we often have stories to share every time we were relaxing.

"Wait, I see that Vilka is studying at the same university as I'm in; fourth-year college. Do werewolves really study in a usual school?" I asked before sipping on my soup.

"It's not necessary. It's our choice if we want to. In my case, I never really attended school. I don't have time for it."

I pouted. "How old are you anyway?" The side of my lips rose. "Let me guess."

"Good luck with that." He chuckled.

"If I guess it right, we will not have a training tomorrow, deal?" 

He shook his head, laughing. "You can't skip training, Kira. Come on!"

"Fine." I rolled my eyes as my shoulders dropped. "But you will let me win in our training tomorrow if I guess your age right."

He smirked, looking so confident with his chocolate eyes glittering. "Deal." He crossed his arms as he waited for my guess.

I looked up, thinking deeply. I read in books that werewolves usually age longer than humans, probably a hundred or thousand years. 

I closed my eyes and suddenly a lightning numbers flash in my vision; number two, then, three, and seven. 

"You are two hundred thirty-seven years old as of the moment." I raised my chin; I felt confident.

His lips parted as his brows crossed until he laughed. "You're cheating. Vilka told you my age, didn't she?"

I picked a piece of meat and threw it at him. He caught it with his hand. My jaw dropped in amusement. 

"Good catch." I smiled sarcastically.

"Good cheat," he mocked.

"Duh! I didn't cheat. It's a fair guess! So I'm right? You're that old?" I sarcastically covered my mouth, acting shocked with teasing wide eyes.

He glared at me. "In werewolves, my age is still young."

I laughed, teasing him more about how old he was in the human world. But I couldn't lie to myself, he was still charming, considering he was so old. He just looked like he was in his mid-twenties or thirties; a hunk man indeed with strong adrenaline. My ideal man, but I can't let myself fall; I'm nothing to him. 

I puffed a breath with my thoughts giving me a heavy chest. My brows crossed when I remembered that I bumped into someone unfamiliar a while ago. I finished chewing the steak in my mouth before I cleared my throat. 

"By the way, did you have a visitor early this morning?" I asked, reminiscing the silver eyes of a man almost as tall as Fenris.