Terms of Training

Chapter 14

Terms of Training

Devin couldn't stop thinking about two things.

The first was the body.

The second was Jade Sullivan.

Only one of those facts irritated him.

Three days had passed since the festival ended.

Three days of patrol reports.

Three days of meetings with Blackthorn.

Three days without meaningful progress in the investigation.

Whoever had crossed their border had vanished.

The scent trail remained cold.

The unidentified wolf remained exactly that.

Unidentified.

And every report seemed to raise more questions than answers.

At least the new patrol schedules were working.

Silverwood and Blackthorn wolves now conducted coordinated sweeps across the eastern border.

Regular meetings had already been established.

Alpha Rowan, Alpha Gideon, Garrett, and Knox were determined not to let the situation escalate.

Unfortunately, another concern had emerged.

Jade.

Specifically, Jade continuing to train alone in the forest.

Near the border.

The same border currently under investigation.

The fact bothered him far more than it should have.

"You've been staring at that report for ten minutes."

Devin looked up.

Todd was lounging across from him.

"I've been reading."

"No."

Todd shook his head.

"You've been brooding."

"Apparently everyone thinks I brood."

"Because you do."

Devin ignored him.

"We need to speak with Jade."

Todd immediately grinned.

"There it is."

"What?"

"The real reason."

Devin stared.

Todd laughed.

"Relax. I agree."

The humor faded.

"She shouldn't be out there alone."

Exactly.

Someone finally understood.

---

Finding Jade wasn't difficult.

Finding her before she disappeared into the forest for training was another matter.

Fortunately, Devin knew exactly where to look.

The training grounds.

Several wolves were already sparring when he arrived.

Including Sabrina.

The Gamma's daughter immediately straightened when she saw him.

Devin noticed.

He simply chose not to acknowledge it.

Across the field stood Jade.

Her dark hair was tied back.

She wore training clothes instead of her usual work attire.

Something about the sight surprised him.

Then again, perhaps it shouldn't.

Everyone else seemed aware she trained regularly.

Everyone except him.

"Jade."

She turned.

The moment she saw him, suspicion appeared in her expression.

A reasonable reaction.

"Alpha."

Straight to formality.

Interesting.

"We need to talk."

Her eyes narrowed.

"That sounds ominous."

Todd appeared beside him.

"It usually is."

Jade looked significantly less reassured.

---

A few minutes later they stood at the edge of the training field.

After Devin explained his concerns, Jade looked thoroughly unimpressed.

"No."

He blinked.

"No?"

"No."

Her expression remained calm.

"I'm not stopping my morning training."

"The eastern border isn't safe right now."

"I've spent years in those woods."

"That's not the point."

"It feels like the point."

Devin resisted the urge to groan.

Todd looked entirely too entertained.

"The investigation is ongoing," Devin continued.

"We don't know who's moving through that territory."

"And avoiding the forest won't magically make me safer."

"It absolutely will."

Jade folded her arms.

"No. It'll make me dependent."

The stubbornness was incredible.

Frustrating.

Unexpectedly admirable.

Mostly frustrating.

Before either could continue, Sabrina appeared.

"What's going on?"

Neither Jade nor Devin looked particularly happy about her arrival.

Unfortunately, Sabrina didn't seem to notice.

Or care.

Devin made a quick decision.

"If Jade insists she's capable of protecting herself, she can prove it."

Jade immediately looked interested.

Dangerous.

"How?"

A terrible idea occurred to him.

Then an even worse one.

"Sparring."

Todd immediately started laughing.

"Oh this is going to end badly."

"Probably."

Devin looked at Sabrina.

"Would you help?"

Sabrina smiled instantly.

"Of course."

Jade's eyebrow rose.

That was never a good sign.

---

The news spread quickly.

Within minutes, wolves surrounded the sparring ring.

Apparently public humiliation was popular entertainment.

Devin wasn't entirely certain whose humiliation they expected.

Sabrina stepped into the ring confidently.

Jade followed.

The difference in size wasn't significant.

The difference in confidence was.

Sabrina looked certain she'd win.

Jade looked annoyed.

The match began.

It ended much faster than Devin expected.

Sabrina attacked aggressively.

Jade sidestepped.

Countered.

Swept her feet.

And deposited her directly onto the ground.

The entire field fell silent.

For approximately three seconds.

Then Todd completely lost control.

"Oh my Goddess."

Jade stepped back.

Sabrina stared at her from the dirt.

Shock spread throughout the crowd.

Including Devin.

That was not what he'd expected.

Not because he thought Jade was weak.

Because she'd been efficient.

Very efficient.

Sabrina climbed back to her feet.

Red-faced.

Embarrassed.

The second round went worse.

Jade won again.

When the match ended, Sabrina stalked from the field looking furious.

Todd wisely followed his sister.

Probably to prevent property damage.

The crowd buzzed with conversation.

Jade crossed her arms.

"Still think I can't take care of myself?"

The challenge in her voice drew several amused looks.

Devin folded his arms.

"Against Sabrina?"

Jade's eyes narrowed.

"Oh, I don't like that answer."

A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Good."

---

Ten minutes later they stood opposite each other in the ring.

The crowd had doubled.

Wonderful.

Jade rolled her shoulders.

"You know I don't actually have to do this."

"You challenged my conclusion."

"You challenged my lifestyle."

"That's dramatic."

"So are you."

A few nearby wolves laughed.

Devin ignored them.

For reasons he couldn't explain, his focus narrowed entirely to the woman standing across from him.

The horn sounded.

Jade moved first.

Fast.

Much faster than he expected.

Her strike came toward his shoulder.

Devin blocked.

Immediately she shifted directions.

Attacking from the opposite side.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

The crowd faded into the background.

Attack.

Counter.

Recover.

Again.

Jade fought differently from most wolves in Silverwood.

She wasn't trying to overpower him.

She was adapting.

Watching.

Learning.

Every time he anticipated a move, she changed it.

Every time he gained an advantage, she found another opening.

Several minutes passed.

Devin landed a light strike against her shoulder.

Jade immediately retaliated by sweeping his leg.

The crowd erupted.

More from shock than anything else.

Devin recovered before he hit the ground completely.

A close call.

Too close.

Across from him, Jade smirked.

Actually smirked.

His wolf stirred.

Challenge.

The thought appeared unexpectedly.

The realization was annoying.

His wolf rarely paid this much attention to training matches.

Yet every movement she made seemed to demand notice.

Jade circled him carefully.

A strand of dark hair had escaped her braid.

Her breathing was slightly heavier now.

But her eyes remained focused.

Determined.

Stubborn.

When she attacked again, Devin caught her wrist.

Only to discover she'd expected it.

She twisted free.

Spinning behind him.

The crowd roared.

Todd was laughing somewhere.

The sound was extremely unhelpful.

Devin finally managed to drive her backward several steps.

Jade's boots dug into the dirt.

Neither spoke.

There was no room for conversation anymore.

Only concentration.

Only movement.

Only the growing realization that she was far better than anyone had given her credit for.

Including him.

Especially him.

For years he'd assumed she was simply the disgraced Beta's daughter.

An isolated wolf surviving on the edge of pack life.

Now he was discovering things he should've noticed long ago.

Strength.

Intelligence.

Discipline.

All of it hidden in plain sight.

Jade lunged.

Devin blocked.

For one brief moment their hands locked.

Too close.

Close enough to see the determination burning in her eyes.

Close enough to see the frustration.

The refusal to yield.

Something in his chest tightened unexpectedly.

Then she shoved free and the moment disappeared.

Several more exchanges followed.

Then Devin saw it.

A hesitation.

Tiny.

Barely noticeable.

But it appeared every time Jade committed fully to an attack.

One opening.

One mistake.

Experience took over.

The next time she made it, Devin moved.

He redirected her momentum.

Caught her wrist.

Stepped behind her.

And pinned her.

The match ended.

Silence spread across the field.

Jade's breathing was hard.

So was his.

Neither moved immediately.

For a strange second, they simply stood there.

Aware of how close they were.

Aware of every eye watching.

"Yield?" Devin asked quietly.

Jade glared at him.

The look promised violence.

Then she sighed dramatically.

"I hate you."

The crowd burst out laughing.

Devin finally released her.

His own grin surprised him.

"You'll survive."

"I haven't ruled out murder."

"Good to know."

Jade dusted dirt from her clothes.

Still visibly annoyed.

Still proud.

Still refusing to be embarrassed by losing.

Oddly, that made him respect her more.

"So?" she asked.

Her tone suggested she'd already decided she was right.

Devin folded his arms.

"So you're good."

Her expression shifted.

Surprise.

Real surprise.

"You mean that?"

"I do."

The honesty hung between them.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Jade recovered.

Unfortunately.

"There it is."

"There it is," Devin agreed.

The temporary truce vanished.

Just like that.

"The forest is still dangerous."

Her groan was immediate.

And loud.

Several nearby warriors laughed again.

"You were being reasonable for almost five seconds."

"It was exhausting."

Jade rolled her eyes.

Yet after a moment, she sighed.

The fight leaving her shoulders.

"Fine."

Victory.

Mostly.

"I won't train alone near the eastern border."

A pause.

"But only because there may be a few things I could learn."

Devin raised an eyebrow.

"A few?"

"Don't get used to this."

"Too late."

Another eye roll.

Yet as Jade turned to leave, Devin found himself watching her go.

Not because of the investigation.

Not because of the argument.

Not even because of the training arrangement they'd just made.

But because for the first time, he'd truly seen her.

And he couldn't stop wondering how he'd managed to miss her for so long.