I just like the forest, trees, plants, but mainly flowers.”
As we’re standing here, I can’t help but think that I’m doing as Ms. Ebon told me to. I’m introducing myself to him. I’m laying bare the parts I hid from everyone. The ones I held inside knowing that if they never accepted me as a pack member, they wouldn’t like the weird parts of me either—the parts that would rather sit outside with my hands in the dirt than go to pack parties or meetings.
He watches me for the longest time before pulling away. My hands drop to my sides, and my heart squeezes as he puts distance between us. My wolf doesn’t feel it as much. She preens under the huge advancement we’ve made, but I’m not as convinced. All we did was give in to nature.
“If you’re calm now, I can ask Ms. Ebon for a schedule for the gymnasium so we can practice.”
“Are you going to make me a badass?”
I swear his lips quirk, a prelude to a smile. “Why? Do you think I’m a badass?”
It blows me away how proud I am that I almost made him grin. “You certainly look the part, but I haven’t seen you in action.” It’s a taunt. I’m begging to see him sexed up and strong. It makes me quiver just thinking about it.
He gestures toward the academy. “Let’s go find out.”
Walking next to Jonah—my mate—on the way back to Greystone fills me with warring emotions. Nature begs me to be this close to him all the time, but there’s still that little part of me that’s blaring a warning not to let him in.
This slight step forward is nothing in the grand scheme of things. However, plants don’t grow in a day either. It takes a lot of different factors and processes, and the same happens with shifters, too. Well, shifters of the rejected variety. The only thing I can do is hope that we keep taking steps and eventually find ourselves where we always belonged.
12
I lied when I said I didn’t know if Jonah was a badass.
We’re supposed to be stronger and healthier in packs but that doesn’t mean there isn’t infighting or arguments. I witnessed a fight between Jonah and another wolf once. I don’t remember what it was about, but Jonah kicked his ass in spectacular fashion. It was jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring, panty-melting goodness.
So, I’m not surprised that when we get approval from Ms. Ebon to use the gymnasium and lug all of his equipment from his truck to the gym that he blows me away with his agility and skills. He doesn’t even change into more comfortable clothes to do it either. Standing there in the black polo and jeans, he goes through what he calls a short warm-up. I have to watch that I don’t get caught gawking or drooling at his fine ass.
We didn’t realize until too late that the only thing I had to wear was my academy outfit. That didn’t mean I got out of the workout, he just promised to bring me appropriate clothes next time. Today, I’m stretching as he goes through some calisthenics.
Thankfully, when I unroll the skirt to its full length, I’m not showing off my goods while I stretch. Then again, the way I keep watching him, I’m wondering if I should roll it twice like Mia suggested.
I clear my throat. “So, I hear you emailed Ms. Ebon about my transgression the other day. Thank you.”
He stumbles, something I wouldn’t have noticed if I weren’t watching him like a hawk. “It wasn’t your fault. It was pure wolf instinct.”
I’m going to regret what I say next, but I do it anyway. “Still, administration was two seconds from kicking me out. They thought I was with another wolf.”
He stops mid jumping jack, and a growl rips from his chest. It’s so feral that it makes the tips of my toes tingle and arousal pool in my lower belly.
“Of course that would mean—”
“I know what it means,” he snaps, shoulders bunching. His skin starts to ripple as he loses control, and it makes me smile. “What are you smiling for?”
I nod toward the fur sprouting over his arms. “You don’t like the idea of me being with someone else.”
He grinds his teeth together, closes his eyes, and gets himself under control. A few moments later, it’s as if his outburst never happened. “Of course my wolf doesn’t like the idea of it.”
Hmm. My wolf. That sounds like a cop-out,