3-Training

Nic’s POV

If anyone doubts my feelings for my sweet Princess, they can kiss my ass. She is perfect and she is going to make an amazing Luna.

After school we have training, Grace joins us. What the hell is she wearing? Damn, that ass.

The five of us walk to the training yard in our workout gear and a number of girls who aren’t old enough to train are huddled around the window.

“Y’all okay,” Claire asked, tapping one on the shoulder.

“Liam is home,” one of the girls answered giggling.

We walked in and Claire and Grace had to catch their breath. Liam had shaved and had his hair cut. He no longer looked like a swamp monster, but his hair falls in perfect ringlets all over his head.

“You okay babe?” I ask her, pulling her right to me.

“I’m in love, not blind, Nic,” she says, kissing my cheek. “You, still, are sexier.”

“Huh,” I look at her. She rolls her eyes and joins the ladies.

“Lookin' good bro,” Cullen says, with a smirk.

“Dad made me. Used Alpha tone and all.” Liam says, smiling.

“Got Claire to look,” Luke teased. “Nic got jealous.”

“Jealous little brother, worried I might steal your mate?” He joked and hit me.

I hit him back and we start sparing.

“Make it interesting boys,” I hear my dad say, coming through the crowd. He likes me and Liam to spar, ever since I got my wolf. “Come on, make it a good fight.”

Liam's got a devil’s grin. “I got it, if I win, you spend a weekend with me in the city clubs, bars, we’ll even go to Green Creek and get totally zotted. If you win, I go with you to werewolf speed-dating this summer.”

“Bet” I say, we shake on it.

“Fight!” Dad calls.

****************************

Claire’s POV.

Liam vs Nic, this is going to end bloody. Especially, with the bet they made. A weekend away from me, Nic will kill to make that not happen.

“Oh, sweet goddess, Liam looks hot,” Grace was right beside me.

“Nic is hotter,” I say automatically.

“Girl, you got it bad,” she teases.

Liam lands a right to the face. Nic swirls and gives an elbow to the ribs. Liam tries a hook to the face, but Nic blocks and sweeps Liam’s feet. Now, Liam is on the ground.

“Stop,” Dad says. “Fight to Nic.”

Nic winks at me, with a smirk and a fat lip. I blow him a kiss and get back to my workout.

Dad rolls his eyes at us. I get it, he doesn’t like us dating. But would he like anyone I date?

“Okay, Grace, focus, counter me,” I come at her, and she freezes, so I toss her on her butt.

“Geez, what if Liam saw that?” She asked, jumping up.

“Don’t freeze,” we go again, and she does better.

“Not bad, pumpkin,” Liam says behind me.

“Liam, do you remember Grace?” I ask, knowing he wasn’t watching me.

“Looking good, Grace. Keep your hands up, go again.” He says.

I attack again and now Grace has an audience, so of course she really gives it her all. She blocks me, but comes back to attack. I counter and she keeps coming. I don’t want to embarrass her, so I let her take me down.

Nic growls when he hears me say umph. He starts coming over, both Liam and I, jump on him to calm him.

“I’m okay, it’s sparing, it’s sparing, calm down,” I wrap myself around him fully. He hugs me and his breathing returns to normal.

“You okay, bro?” Liam asks. “You need to learn control.”

Nic nods, as I uncoil so I can go back to training.

“Dang, was he going to hurt me?” Grace asked.

“Hell no! He’s mostly bark,” Liam said. “You have a lot of spunk. Clearly, my little sister made a good choice in her best friend.”

Liam leaves us alone. Grace is floating.

“Yes, you can spend the weekend. I’ll deal with Nic,” I say. She is almost squealing.

After training, I know Nic is going to want to steal away to my bedroom, but Grace really wants to see Liam.

“Hey, babe,” he smiles at me, pulling me in for a sweaty kiss.

“Hey, so Grace is talking Liam into a movie night. She is staying over.”

Nic looks offended. “She would have to stay in your room.”

“Yeah, so tonight...” I give him an apologetic look.

“I'm not sure I know how to sleep without my snuggle toy.” He whispers in my ear.

“I’ll send you a teddy bear.” I tried to walk away, but he grabbed my hand and placed it over his heart.

“Feel this?” I give him a smile. “It belongs to you. Be gentle.”

“You’ll survive.” I kiss his cheek once more and go back to Grace and Liam.

Liam is amused. He won’t sleep with her, I don’t think, but Grace doesn’t want that. She just wants Liam close. I smile at him.

“Sounds fun, let me shower and I’ll meet y’all in the theater. I’ll order pizza for us,” Liam smiles at us. I mouth ‘thank you’ as he walks away. He gives me the ‘you owe me' eyebrows.

“Oh, sweet goddess,” Grace was so excited. We head for the showers.

As we make our way to the couches, Nic pulls me close to his chest and holds me tight. We are like two puzzle pieces, we just fit together.

“So, I guess you are home all summer?” Nic teases Liam.

“Yeah, I guess, and I blame you!” Liam passes us a pizza. “Speed-dating, so exciting.” He opens the box for Grace, who grabs a slice and sits beside him.

“Hey, if mom and dad would just accept, I’ve found my mate, then we are both off the hook.”

“You two are completely sure?” We nod. “No doubt, whatsoever? Think really hard. Any doubt?” Grace was the one asking, and she was asking because of me.

I’m only 16 and I feel a pull to Nic, but is it the mate bond? I love Nic, but do I KNOW that in 372 days, I'm going to feel he is my mate? Of course not. That’s crazy. I don’t want to be anyone else’s mate, but I’m not the moon goddess.

“Yes,” Nic answers for both of us. I feel his heart start to race, he is getting angry. I reach up and cup his cheek. His breathing slows and he calms down.

Liam watches and gives an impressed nod.

We watch three movies. By the end of the third, Grace is asleep on Liam’s arm.

“You know you could take her to your room and just cuddle,” Nic tells him, I slap Nic’s arm and lead Liam to my room, so he can lay her down.

“Night, pumpkin,” Liam kisses my head.

“Come here,” Nic orders me. I grab a teddy bear and rub it on my neck.

“Yes, Alpha?” I say sweetly, Liam scoffs, as he closes his door.

“I miss you already,” Nic nuzzles my neck.

“It’s two nights, you’ll live.” I give him a deep passionate kiss. I hand him the bear, close and lock my door. Horny Alpha. Can I keep this beast at bay?

**********

Nic’s POV

I don’t think I will live. I keep reminding myself 371 days.

I know Liam is not going to bed, so I knock on his door.

“Wrong door, bro. I'm not screwing you,” he answers, letting me in.

“Nice jackass,” I follow him to his sitting area, and he pours me a whiskey.

“You got it bad,” he tells me. “So, how often are you plowing my pumpkin?”

He takes possession and I don’t like it.

“I haven’t yet. She wants to wait. I just like having her close. Grace has such a crush on you, with you home all summer, I’m going to have to get creative.”

A smirk played at Liam’s lips. “You’re that sure?”

“Yes,” I answer, without hesitation.

“Mom wants me to take you out tomorrow, to a club. Somewhere Claire is too young for,” Liam scratches his head and looks at me.

“No thanks, I’ve never enjoyed clubs. Even before Claire. It’s just not my scene.”

“Yeah, well, we can take Claire and Grace on a date. Maybe putt-putt and dinner.”

“You’d take Grace on a date, so that I can take Claire on a date?”

“Yeah, why not. I’ll make it clear, between me and Grace, before we leave.” He finishes his drink and sees the bear. “What’s with the bear?”

“Oh,” I roll my eyes, “her scent, so I can sleep. Since Grace is here for two nights.”

“Whatever will you do?” His eyes show fake concern.

“Shut up,” I finish my drink, grab my bear and head back to my cold, lonely bed.