Midnight

I almost didn’t go.

That should be said first.

Because standing in the dark training yard at midnight waiting for Kael Delaine was possibly the dumbest decision I’ve made since joining this pack.

And that’s saying a lot.

The yard looked different at night. Smaller. Quieter. Like it was holding its breath.

Moonlight stretched across the dirt, silver and pale. The balance beams cast long shadows that looked like bones sticking out of the ground.

I hugged my arms around myself.

What if he doesn’t come?

What if this was a joke?

What if—

“You’re early.”

I jumped so hard my heart slammed into my ribs.

Kael stepped out from the darker side of the yard like he’d been there the whole time.

Watching.

Which… honestly wouldn’t surprise me.

“Don’t do that,” I muttered, pressing a hand against my chest.

He tilted his head slightly.

“Do what?”

“Appear out of nowhere like some creepy forest spirit.”

A small smile touched the corner of his mouth.

“That’s a new one.”

My heart was still racing. Not entirely from the scare.

Moonlight hit his face just enough to show the line of his jaw and the messy fall of his hair. He looked… different at night. Softer somehow. Less like the Alpha’s intimidating brother and more like—

No.

Nope.

Stop that thought right now.

“You came,” he said.

“You told me to.”

“That doesn’t mean you would.”

I shrugged. “Curiosity.”

That wasn’t the full truth.

But it was close enough.

Kael stepped closer and tossed something toward me.

I caught it awkwardly.

A padded training stick.

“Let’s start simple,” he said.

Right.

Training.

Good.

Normal.

We moved to the center of the yard.

“Balance beam,” he said, nodding toward it.

I groaned.

“You’re joking.”

“Nope.”

“I hate that thing.”

“That’s why we’re starting there.”

Fantastic.

I climbed onto the beam slowly. The wood creaked under my boots.

“Relax your shoulders,” Kael said.

“I am relaxed.”

“You look like you’re preparing for execution.”

I huffed.

“Encouraging.”

He stepped closer, watching my feet carefully.

“Take a step.”

I did.

The beam wobbled slightly.

My arms lifted instinctively for balance.

“Good,” he murmured.

Good?

That was new.

I took another step.

Then another.

I glanced down at him. “You’re not even trying to knock me down.”

“That’s not the point tonight.”

“What is the point?”

“To see what you do when someone isn’t sabotaging you.”

I blinked.

That… felt strangely nice.

Dangerous thought.

I reached the end of the beam without falling and jumped down.

Kael nodded once.

“Again.”

I groaned but climbed back up.

Halfway across, my foot slipped slightly.

A hand shot out.

Strong fingers closed around my wrist.

My breath caught.

Kael steadied me instantly, his grip firm but careful.

“You okay?”

His voice sounded closer than it should.

I looked down.

He was standing right beside the beam now.

Still holding my wrist.

Warm.

Very warm.

“I’m fine,” I said quickly.

He didn’t let go immediately.

His thumb shifted slightly against my skin.

Just a tiny movement.

But it sent a weird little spark up my arm.

What the hell was that.

Kael finally released my wrist.

“Focus,” he said.

Right.

Focus.

Training.

Not… whatever that moment was.

I finished the beam and jumped down again.

He tossed the stick toward me this time.

“Your turn.”

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes.”

Kael hopped onto the beam with easy confidence.

Of course he did.

Show-off.

“Try to knock me off,” he said.

I lifted the stick.

“You realize I have terrible aim.”

“We’ll see.”

I swung.

Missed completely.

He didn’t even wobble.

I tried again.

Still nothing.

Kael moved lightly along the beam like gravity didn’t apply to him.

“You’re hesitating,” he said.

“I’m trying not to accidentally murder the Alpha’s brother.”

“You won’t.”

“How comforting.”

I swung again.

This time the stick actually clipped his side.

Kael lost balance for half a second.

Then jumped down smoothly.

I stared at him.

“Wait… that worked?”

He looked mildly impressed.

“Better.”

My chest warmed a little.

Ridiculous reaction.

It was one tiny success.

Still.

Nice.

We practiced for a while after that.

Dodging.

Footwork.

Quick turns.

The kind of training where you move fast enough that thinking becomes impossible.

At one point Kael stepped behind me to adjust my stance.

“Your feet,” he said quietly. “Too narrow.”

His hands settled on my hips.

Just to shift my position.

Nothing weird.

Nothing inappropriate.

Totally normal training contact.

Except—

My brain short-circuited.

Because his hands were warm.

And steady.

And way too close.

“Like this,” he murmured.

His voice was right near my ear now.

I swallowed.

Hard.

“Amara.”

“Hm?”

“You stopped breathing.”

“Oh.”

Right.

Breathing.

Important.

I inhaled quickly.

Big mistake.

Because his scent hit me all at once.

Wood smoke.

Leather.

Something warm and sharp underneath.

My brain immediately forgot how words worked.

Kael’s hands stayed on my hips for another second.

Then two.

Then he seemed to realize how close we were and stepped back quickly.

“Sorry,” he said.

I shook my head too fast.

“No, it’s— it’s fine.”

Why am I suddenly nervous?

This is ridiculous.

We’re just training.

Just training.

Except neither of us moved for a second.

The space between us felt… different now.

Charged.

Like the air before lightning hits.

Kael cleared his throat.

“Again,” he said.

I nodded.

But when we started moving again, everything felt slightly off.

Not bad.

Just… aware.

Too aware.

Every time our arms brushed during a dodge, my skin tingled.

Every time he stepped close to correct something, my heart sped up.

At one point I stumbled during a turn and crashed straight into his chest.

His arms came up automatically to steady me.

For a second we just… stood there.

Really close.

Like.

Really close.

My face was maybe inches from his.

His eyes looked darker in the moonlight.

My heartbeat was doing something very dramatic.

Kael didn’t move.

Neither did I.

This is a bad idea.

Definitely a bad idea.

But also…

I didn’t step away.

Finally Kael exhaled slowly.

“You’re improving,” he said quietly.

His voice was different now.

Lower.

Rougher.

I forced a small laugh.

“Wow. High praise.”

He smiled slightly.

And for a second I forgot completely about Derek.

About being weak.

About being invisible.

Because Kael was looking at me like I wasn’t any of those things.

Which might actually be more dangerous than Derek ever was.