CHAPTER 10

Alpha Blake

I was hitting the weights in the gym when Aspen mind-linked me to say my beta was getting his ass kicked on the training field. What the hell was going on? I grabbed my shirt and headed over, greeting pack members along the way. With everything else going on, I'd wanted a few minutes alone to work off some tension.

"Yeah, 'cause jerking it in the shower for an hour didn't help," Gunner snickered. I ignored him. He'd been feeding me nothing but filthy images since we met Ryley the day before.

He started purring like a kitten the second we reached the field and I saw her taking my beta down again and again with technique that was flawless, almost lazy in its precision. Everyone who was supposed to be training had stopped to watch instead. I stepped up beside her son, Channing, as Ryley helped Luca up off the ground. She'd flipped him hard enough to knock the wind clean out of him. He was gasping for breath, drenched in sweat. Ryley didn't even look winded.

"What's going on here?" I demanded. They both looked over, and Aspen jogged up beside me.

"She was awesome, Dad. I think she might be better than you," he said, and I pressed my lips into a flat line.

"It's my fault, Alpha Blake. I asked Beta Luca if I could train, and since my mom's the one who trained me, he wanted to see her skills first," Channing explained.

"Mom? She's your mom?" Aspen said, staring, clearly checking Ryley out without any subtlety whatsoever.

"Aspen, take Channing to your group," I ordered.

"Yes, sir." Channing glanced at his mother for permission.

"It's okay, sweetie, go train," she told him. He kissed her cheek before jogging off with Aspen.

"You alright?" I asked Luca, who was still trying to catch his breath.

"She's fast," he panted, and Ryley laughed.

"You were a decent warm-up," she shrugged, and I couldn't help but laugh too. How the hell was my beta a warm-up for a lone wolf?

I glanced over and found her smiling, watching Aspen and Channing goof off in the distance. She looked even more striking with a real smile on her face.

"So going to tell me who trained you?"

"My father," she said, nonchalant. "And no, I'm not telling you who he was." Who he was. Past tense. Did he die? I let it go for now and changed the subject instead.

"Channing wants to train with the pack?"

She sighed, glancing between me and Luca. "Yes. I told him we'd talk to you about a schedule before he decides between a summer job and online classes."

I thought it over, then turned to my beta. "Don't we need another trainer for the younger kids this summer?"

"We do. Aspen's been trying to recruit, but everyone already has plans," Luca said.

"What if Channing trains with the pack and works as a trainer for the summer?" I asked her. She stared at me, biting her lower lip, and I wanted nothing more than to be the one doing that instead. She finally sighed and crossed her arms, which did absolutely nothing to help my concentration.

"And what do you want out of that?" she asked.

"Just to fuck you until you can't walk," Gunner purred. Thankfully, she couldn't hear him.

"Why would you assume I want something?" I asked. Wasn't this what she'd come here wanting?

"So you're just going to take on my lone-wolf son, no strings?" she pushed, doubt heavy in her voice.

We stared each other down even after Luca made his exit. Neither of us backed off, though I wasn't entirely sure what she thought I wanted. I cleared my throat and looked away just as Aspen and Channing jogged back over.

"Mom?" Channing asked, sensing the tension. She grabbed his arm and smiled.

"So you want to train, and I hear you're also looking for summer work?" I asked him.

"Yes, sir. I was also planning on a couple of online classes."

"And we'll need to find you an ice rink, or at least a summer league," Ryley added.

"Wait, you play hockey?" Aspen asked, smacking his arm.

"Yeah. Hoping for a scholarship makes college a lot more affordable," Channing shrugged.

"What are you studying? Or is hockey the plan long-term?"

"Pediatric surgeon. I'll only have time to play through pre-med," he said, and I was impressed despite myself.

"Come by my office this afternoon. I'll get you a training schedule and a work schedule," I told him, and his whole face lit up.

"Thank you, sir." I nodded.

"Mom, I'm gonna go hang out with Aspen," he said, turning to her.

"Sure. Shower first, though. And grab your card, and—"

"And no speeding," he finished for her, and she rolled her eyes.

"Fine, I'll slow down. But phone, house key, and stop by Mr. Blake's office first."

He gave her a side hug and a kiss on the temple before jogging off with Aspen. Watching the two of them together sent an unexpected ache through my chest. I wished Aspen had gotten to have that a mother who looked at him the way Ryley looked at her son.

"Dude, I think my dad likes you more than me," I heard Aspen say as the two of them headed for the pack house.

"You must be proud," I said, still watching the field.

"If you treat him any differently than the rest, there won't be anywhere on this land you can hide from me." Her voice dropped low, a warning wrapped in a growl.

"I'll see you Monday, Mr. Blake." She turned and jogged off down the path toward the house.

"She's fearlessly protective. I'll give her that," Gunner said.

"I think she believes she could actually take me," I told him as we headed back toward the pack house.

"After what she just did to our beta? I believe her too.”