Chapter 2: Ayla
I woke up to Theo nuzzling my neck. I groaned as I snuggled closer to him.
“Good morning, love,” he said, kissing my jaw. “We need to get up.”
I scrunched my nose, lifting my head to squint at the clock.
“Um, babe… do you realize it’s only four–thirty,” I croaked, falling back onto the pillow and
pulling his arm around me.
He chuckled. “I’m well aware. That’s why we need to get up.
”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, mate, but I already don’t like it.”
His warmth disappeared from behind me and the covers were pulled off. I pushed onto my
elbow with a growl.
“Theo,” I whined.
He laughed again, climbing up the bed. His teeth grazed my thigh below the hem of his T–
shirt I slept in. I tried to suppress a grin, biting my lip.
“If that’s what this is about, there were nicer ways,” I said.
Suddenly, he grabbed my legs and yanked me down the bed.
“That’s very true,” he said huskily. “And I will make it a goal to perform each one another
time. But today, we start training. So, get that sexy ass up and get moving.”
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He straightened and disappeared into the large master bathroom.
“What?” I said, shooting up on my hands. “Wait. Hang on.”
I jumped up and followed him. He was in the attached walk–in closet, slipping into some
athletic shorts.
“Theo, what training are you talking about? When did we discuss this?”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
He made a face. “I guess we didn’t,” he said. He came up to me, running his hands down
my arms. “Look, baby, I know you’re skilled in self–defense, and that’s fantastic. But I
want to really train fight. As much as I would love to, I can’t be with you twenty–four hours
a day. And unless you want a whole security team foll…..”
“Okay,” I said eagerly.
Theo paused. “Really?”
I nodded. “Yeah,” I replied. “I want to train.”
Theo smiled. “I won’t take it easy on you, babe.”
I c***ed my hip, giving him a look. “Did I ask you to?”
you to
He laughed. “You say that now. Get dressed and meet me in the gym. You’ve got ten
minutes.” He grabbed a shirt and left the bathroom, slapping my ass on the way out.
I shook my head and rolled my eyes. But I was oddly excited.
The last three months had been hard, but the part that had been bothering me the most
was the amount of times I felt helpless. Especially in the hands of Harry. The idea of
combat training had crossed my mind several times, but I hadn’t entertained it much
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because I had so much else on my plate. But if Theo wanted to teach me, I was willing.
‘Me, too,‘ Dasha voiced in support. Her own excitement mirrored mine.
I threw on my workout clothes, brushed my teeth, and put my hair in a ponytail. I knew
there was a private gym for the ranking pack members in the packhouse, but I had to
mind–link Theo to tell me where it was. When I arrived, Theo wasn’t the only one there.
Jimmy and a couple other males were scattered around the weights and weight machines.
Jimmy spotted me quickly, coming up to me with a big smile.
“Alpha said you were a morning person,” he said. “And I just won fifty bucks.”
“Good morning to you, too. And what?” I laughed.
“We had a bet going on how stubborn you were going to be about this,” he said with a
shrug. “I knew you’d be here. Determination isn’t the same as stubbornness.”
“You know my mother is a gambling addict, right?” I said sternly. “You really think it’s a
good idea to be betting around me?”
Jimmy’s face fell and he started to stutter. I couldn’t keep it up, and a broad smile spread
across my face.
“I’m kidding, big guy,” I laughing. “I’m glad I came through for you. Where’s Theo?”
He shook his with a sigh of relief. “He’s back in the mat room.”
“Thanks,” I said, heading toward the door he pointed out. “Oh, and just so you know, I’m
always a safe bet,” I called over my shoulder.
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“Don’t let that get out,” he said. “You’ll thin the pot.”
I found Theo as he was setting up some equipment at one end of the room. He knew the
moment I entered the room and looked back at me.
“Where are we starting?” I asked.
“Strength training,” he replied. “You’re in good shape, babe, but you have almost no upper
body strength. You’ll want that leverage in true combat. Then we’ll work on seeing what
you already know and go from there.”
He handed me a set of weights and we got working.
Two hours later, I was on my back, panting and covered in sweat.
“I guess we’ll add that to the list,” Theo said, straddling me with a smug grin.
I huffed, pushing myself up. “Yeah, yeah,” I said. “I get it. I have noodles for arms.
“”
Theo chuckled. “But you’re still f***ing sexy as hell, baby.”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHe grabbed the nape of my neck as his mouth took mine. We had experienced a few of
these moments of distraction. I guess neither of us considered what this close proximity
activity’s hot and sweaty nature would do to our already heightened libidos.
“That’s not how I do that move,” Jimmy’s teasing voice interrupted. “Briggs said Malcolm
will be here in twenty.”
Theo sighed. “I’ll meet them in my office.”
“Roger that,” Jimmy said. “And you know, Luna, if you actually want to learn something,
instead of being mauled every five minutes, you
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just say the word.”
Theo growled as Jimmy left laughing.
“You know, he may have a point there,” I said, still fully aware of the intimate position we
were still in and what it was doing to both of us.
Theo shook his head. “No,” he stated. “We’ll manage.”
“Diversity is a good thing, babe,” I chided.
“Yeah, but me wanting to rip my friends‘ arms off isn’t,” Theo replied. “None of my men
are f***ing touching you.”
“Okay, fair enough,” I breathed, my eyes falling closed as he kissed down my neck. “What
about low–contact training? You mentioned boxing. Jimmy or Briggs could always help with
strength training, too.”
Theo’s chest rumbled. “If you stop bringing them up while I’m seducing you, I’ll think
about it.”
He pushed me back, pressing my body into the mat.
“Well, you’ll have to finish this later,” I said. “Because you’ve got twenty minutes to
shower, and I have to get cleaned up to meet Mina in the cellar.”
Theo grunted. “You’re killing me, babe.”
“I’ll make it up to you,” I laughed.