***
— A L I N E
The sun was scorching and I was sweating like a truck driver in the tracksuit I've bought from that miniature of a shop this morning. I need a spare of clothes and something I could fight in for the training today and the store was just a mile away from our accommodation. Which was entirely remote from the town and the humans living with it. An old packhouse, belonging to some wolves that since moved on the other side of the mountain, as they were scared by a wave of new movers who were starting to build houses closer to their borders. But after the crisis, when inflation skyrocketed and jobs were harder to find in little towns like this one, the building stopped. And now, nearly a decade later, the building is used as a guest house for the shifters coming around the area. A few couples and some families with children are also spending a couple of days in the town. The Alpha's little brother, Delta Adrian and his mate, Sophia, are in charge of the former packhouse and, as expected, were honoured to host the Prince of Lycans for a couple of nights. They even offered us exclusivity on the old training fields for today, which is where I've been spending my day ever since we returned from the little shopping trip.
"Do you want to take a break?" Asks Asher in a giggle and I frown angrily.
"Let me catch my breath and I'll kick your ass in a second," I say, trying not to sound too out of breath even if I was exhausted. Actually, I've been wrecked by the 'mild' warming up which consisted of a run through the whole damn forest at a pace no right-minded person would consider a jogging one. After nearly puking my guts on the field, Asher didn't let me take a break before ushering me to attack him. And even though my punches have been hitting their target single time, I've started getting sloppy when I've become more distracting by the fact that I should better watch out for his punches. Because if mine would only cause a bruise that will heal in a moment, his will knock me out unconscious before I realise what hit me. I know he's aware of it too and is trying his best to go easy on me, but this won't help with his training at all.
"This isn't working," I tell him. "I shouldn't be the one working my ass off. You're the one competing tomorrow, I should be the trainer."
"Isn't it exactly what are we doing?"
"We both know I'm not the perfect boxing partner for a Lycan," I comment and walk to the end of the training fields. "I'll be right back," I tell him when I hear footsteps following me.
I approach the former barn, a bow and arrows strapped on one of its double doors having caught my attention when I walked by it this morning with Asher. I don't really know what are hunters' weapons on werewolf grounds, but I'm not going to ask either way. Maybe some shifter enjoy archery as a hobby?
I grab the bow and the hilt with the blunt arrows and entered the building. It was like an old armoury, not very equipped but enough to train with. I've heard about weak packs that use weapons when their claws and fangs don't suffice against their enemies. By the looks of it, when they moved they took the more important weapons and left the surplus for anyone to loot it. Or maybe they always knew that is going to keep their claim on these grounds and buildings? Doubtful, knowing that they've run to the other side of the mountain from the wrath of human building investors. I gather a pair of twin swords, strapping them to my pack, a few more even blunter arrows and a couple of daggers.
"Did you get angry because I was winning and decide to up your game, love?" Asks Asher when I return, fully armed.
"I've decided to make it fair, love. I've dodged your shifter-fast punches, will you be able to escape some blunt arrows?" I ask with a smirk on my face, admiring the metal arrowhead and preparing my shot.
"You know that they do not permit weapons in the Competition, right?"
"This is exactly why I'll be the only one armed," I explain and a smile beams on my face as I target him and shoot. Of course, he dodges it, but the one I fire a blink of an eye later only near misses his arm and rips through his shirt. "Tell me if you want me to go easy on you."
He only laughs, giving me an arrogant look, before drawing his claws and showing off his fangs.
Game on, then.
***
I jump directly on the soft mattress, letting a moan as my aching body is finally resting. Another weight falls beside me and I raise my head from the covers to see Asher's exhaustion plastered all over his features. A satisfied grin shows on my lips but it leaves as soon as I try to stand on my forearms and I fall back on the bed.
"I'm going to hunt the bastard who let those arrows in the barn and use him as your next training target," whispers Asher with an arm thrown over his eyes like he is trying to will them to close.
"I think I prefer you," I say in a seductive tone I move closer to him. He throws his other arm around me and I lay on his chest. I feel his breathing evening to a calmer pace, the exact moment I lose the battle with the tiredness and I let my eyes close for just a moment. Just a moment...
***
I hear movement in the room and I open my eyes, bolting from the covers and falling back on the bed, very disorientated. I figure out that it's night and I try to get up and find the lights switch. But someone beats me to it and I cover my eyes for a moment before they're able to adapt to the light. My gaze falls directly on Asher, who was standing by the door, a food trolley in tail. "Dinner in bed?" He asks and I laugh, before grabbing my phone and realising I've been sleeping for three hours straight.
"Why didn't you wake me up sooner?" I ask him, moving to the end of the bed and letting my legs hang over it. It has one of these oldfashioned beds that you have to literally climb into if you're under average height.
"I've fallen asleep too. I've just woken up, took and shower and grabbed some food because I've figured you'd be as starved as I am when you woke up."
At the mention of the shower, I realise I was still wearing my training clothes and that I must smell like a raccoon. So I tell Asher to go ahead and eat, before grabbing a towel and heading to the shower. While waiting for the water to warm up in the bloody, antique boiler this place uses, I check my messages and realise that my mother has been looking for me. Which is quite out of the ordinary, but I put it on the fact that there's a mission approaching and she's a Head Hunter who needs to report the activity of her family members involved in it.
> Where on hell have you disappeared to, Adeline?
I'm out of town with Asher.
✔✔
Did anything happen?
✔✔
> Where did you and Silveira go to, a day before the competition?
It's none of your business. We'll be back before the trial.
✔✔
The bubble keeps appearing and disappearing for a few good minutes before my mother decides to reply.
> Fine, but stay alert. Don't do anything stupid, Adeline!
I roll my eyes at the message and dump the phone on the counter. Like she would care in any given day about my wellbeing, expecting the times she is forced to make sure I'm not dead in a sewer. I try to get on the shower before the hot water runs out, but my phone keeps buzzing non-stop. I groan and grab it, seeing that it's still my mother who is bothering me.
"What do you want, for God's sake?" I shout at her in exasperation and I hear clutter at the other end of the call before it all quiets down as they all hear my shouting through my mother's phone.
"You didn't reply to my last text," I hear my mother's even tone and I'm tempted to giggle before I frown and turn off the faucet.
"What did happen, mother?" I ask her, but when I get no reply, I further from the door and whisper, "We both know you don't necessarily care about me so much that you call me if I don't answer your texts, so it's clear something bad did happen. Tell me what is it."
"Nothing," she replies with the same tutored, calm voice she uses when there are other people around. "Make sure to not be late at the trial tomorrow morning."
"Oh, trust me, I won't. I can't wait for your little charade to be over."
I hung before she has the chance to reply because I knew she isn't going to tell me whatever happened and I'm not going to waste my time in an argument with her. I left a message to Will, asking him if things are alright in Boulder, then finally step into the shower.
Half an hour later I find Asher in bed, remote in hand and watching something on TV. I walk to my side of the bed and let my phone to charge on the bedtable. I then walk to the trolley and take the untouched bowl of chicken risotto and walk to the bed. The news reporter was talking about the higher crime rate registered in Boulder the past few weeks. I do a little math and figure that it overlaps with my unfortunate rendezvous with the vampires. The woman continues talking about a number of disappearances in the poorer districts, of an unknown criminal attacking young, redhead girls near the campus and of a weird series of break-ins at Foothills Hospital's blook bank. I drop the fork on the bowl and whip my head to Asher.
He was already watching me, concern visibly in his eyes. "When were you going to tell me about this?" I ask him and he sighs.
"I've known about the attacks, but they were one-timers and didn't think much of it."
"They're not one-timers now. These vampires are hunting me and hurting innocent people in their ways. I have to do something about it."
"We will, after the competition tomorrow. I'll get the Lycans and pay them a visit to make sure they're not going to consider messing with us ever again."
"Your relationships with the vampires are already strained. I don't want to be the reason for a war between you. It'd be better if I get the hunter from Yeti and deal with the problem ourselves."
"They haven't targeted you as a hunter, Aline, but as my mate. They knew who you are and that you are entitled to Heir's mate immunity. But they still attacked you that day with Thalia and are looking to hurt you even now. I have to put an end to this." The seriousness in his eyes makes me nod in agreement.
Well, I'll make sure to be the one to end it, but I'll accept his help nonetheless.