First day

Stacey.

“Calm down, little brother.” Caleb said. “I was just asking Stacey if she'd like me to train her. You abandoned her amidst the worst wolves. I can't imagine what would have happened to her if I hadn't shown up.

“What happened?” I was about to reply, but Caleb spoke for me. “Your ex-girlfriend wanted to tear her into shreds.”

“I'll handle that,” Liam said. He didn't seem surprised; he clearly knew Ashley well. He turned to his twin. “And I'll train her.”

Caleb raised a brow. “Really? When will you get time to do it? Hubert is coming for you, and don't forget the rogue parks targeting this pack. They're one of the reasons I came. I know all their dirty tricks so I can protect the pack, but you'll be the one that has to deal with that unless you want to lose the pack's respect. Let me handle the little things while you tackle the bigger problems.”

“Fine. You can train her, but don't try anything inappropriate.”

“She's my twin's girl. I wouldn't think about it.”

“Good.”

It was interesting. A few days ago, they were more like strangers but were now getting along pretty well. Everyone had been worried when Caleb first returned. They thought he had come back to take over leadership, but it was clear he just wanted to be part of the pack and help his brother.

This made me like him even more. I resisted the urge to glance at him. Instead, I turned to Liam.

“Let's go, please.”

Caleb stepped aside. “See you tomorrow afternoon.”

“Okay,” I nodded and passed by him, feeling my heart beating faster. As I walked away from him with Liam, I felt a sense of loss. For how long was I going to pretend that I didn't want Caleb to jump my bones? How could two people look so alike, and yet I only felt a strong attraction for one? The wrong one.

The next day, I went to the training grounds at noon. It was a cold day and the trees were swaying in the direction of the wind. I pulled my jacket around me as I walked towards Caleb Morell, who was standing at the far end of the field waiting for me.

My body was trembling slightly as I approached him. He was staring at me, as if he knew it made me uncomfortable. I nearly stumbled as I walked towards him. His gaze was so intense, and I was not used to being stared at by such a handsome man. Before Alpha Liam claimed me, no one ever looked at me, or even noticed that I existed.

“You look wonderful,” he said.

“Thanks,” I replied shyly, stopping right in front of me. Why had I agreed to train with him of all people? I could barely get the words out.

“You don't want to look at me,” he said. “Why is that?”

I shrugged. “It's not like that.”

“Why?” he asked, moving forward.

I took a few steps back, my heart pounding like a drum.

“Because I make you uncomfortable?”

I stared at him, trying to keep my face unreadable. It wasn’t a question, but a statement.

I crossed my arms. “I’m mated to your brother. This is inappropriate.”

He tilted his head slightly. “He marked you, Stacey. You're not mated.”

I didn't say anything.

“There’s a difference,” he continued, taking another step closer. “You just haven’t figured it out yet.”

My breath hitched. I could feel my wolf stirring. It was excited.

“Let’s just train,” I pulled my jacket off and tossed it to the side. My tank top clung to my back, already damp from nerves. It was embarrassing, but there was nothing I could do.

He nodded and took a few steps back. “Show me your stance.”

I had received some basic training when I was younger, so that was something I could do. I fell into position, placing my feet shoulder-width apart, and raised my fists raised the way Jonathan had taught me.

Caleb circled me slowly. I could feel his eyes trace the curve of my spine and shoulders. I felt my body tensing from his gaze.

“Loosen your knees,” he said behind me. I could feel the heat radiating from his body and regrets starting to form in my mind. “You’re too stiff. You’ll get knocked down easy like that.”

“I’m not stiff,” I snapped and tried to straighten up.

He chuckled. A pulse of heat went through me. The place in between my legs throbbed.

Suddenly, he moved. He made one quick, fluid sweep of his leg and I lost my balance, landing hard on my back.

“Ow!” I hissed, glaring up at him.

“You were saying?”

I groaned and pushed myself up, brushing dust from my leggings. “You could’ve warned me.”

“I did. I told you you’d get knocked down.”

I opened my mouth to argue but stopped when I saw a smile playing on his lips. It made him look different. Human. Not the dangerous guy I had grown up hearing of.

I hated that my stomach fluttered because of this. Let's try it again,” he said.

We went through forms for the next twenty minutes. We did some punches and parries. He also taught me how to dogde. He corrected me with short, clear instructions. He never touched me, but always hovered just close enough to make my skin burn. I wanted him to touch me so bad.

“You overextend when you jab,” he said after my third sloppy strike.

“I’m used to a different rhythm,” I muttered.

“Let me show you.”

He moved behind me, close enough that I could feel the heat of his chest on my back. I almost forgot how to breathe. He leaned forward, his voice low in my ear.

“Bend your elbow. Tighten your core. Like this.”

I breathed out shakily. “You said you wouldn’t touch me.”

“I didn’t say that,” he murmured.

But I felt every inch of him. His energy seeped into my skin like wildfire. My wolf was practically howling inside me, pawing at the walls and trying to come out.

“I think that’s enough for today,” I said abruptly and stepped away.

“Running again?” he asked. I turned back to face him. “I’m not running. I’m trying to be loyal. To Liam. To the bond.”

He just stared at me. “Loyalty built on lies isn't loyalty at all.”

I clenched my fist. “You keep saying that, but it doesn’t change anything.”

“It changes everything, Stacey,” he said, stepping closer. “I know your wolf reacts when I’m near. You feel something, don’t you? There's something between us, and I can't ignore it. I shook my head.

“I can’t feel this,” I whispered. “Not for you. It’s wrong.”

His expression was gentle. “Then why does it feel more real than anything else?”

I swallowed hard. The ache in my chest increased . I wanted him to pull me into his arms and console me.

“Because it is real,” he continued. “You’ve just been looking the other way.”

I backed away again. I needed air, some space, and for him to stop looking at me like that. It was not helping that I could feel the dampness pooling in my underwear.

“I want to train with someone else,” I said, trying to remain steady. I couldn't go on with this.”

He watched me without saying anything. I didn't know what was going on in his mind, and it was killing me.

“It will not change anything.”

“I can't be close to you.”

“I'll see what I can do,” he said.

Unable to take it anymore, I turned and walked away. My knees were weak and my walk unsteady, but I had to leave. I could feel his eyes on my back the entire time as I forced myself to walk away when all I wanted was to run into his arms.

By the time I reached the other side of the training field, my wolf was screaming inside me. And I knew that no matter how hard I tried to deny it, there was something intense between Caleb and me. But what?

The moon goddess chose me for Liam. Why would I feel attracted to Caleb?

Most importantly, what was I going to do about it?