"Again!" Lexi yelled as she leaned forward in an almost crouch like stance. Sweat dripped from her face and body making it glisten in the high noon sun. She swiped the back of her hand across her lower lip, smearing a small splotch of blood as she stared at the massive wolf in front of her.
Tank held up his hands. "Lexi, I think that's enough." He said looking at her tired body.
"I said again!" She yelled at him.
They had been at it for hours already. Tank rushing her in an attempt to wrestle her to the ground, and her fighting off his every advance. She was here to prove that size did not matter when you had the right tactical skills and moves mastered.
He shook his and took a ready stance, his breathing nearly as labored as hers. He had to admit, she was one tough female. Many full-grown male wolves twice her size had never been able to stave off his advances, and yet she'd been doing it all morning.
She nodded signaling him to go.
Faster than one would expect the massive wolf to move, he charged in her direction. Her eyes followed his every movement and she bounced on the balls of her feet, ready to maneuver. Tank barreled in her direction, feet thudding against the dry packed earth, his large arms reaching out in front of him and ready to grab her for a quick takedown.
Lexi bounced to her right and then quickly juked left, faster than the large wolf could redirect. She turned her body toward him as he flew past her, reaching out and grabbing his bicep, using his own momentum against him to swing his body to the ground face first where she quickly dropped on top of him. She snaked her arm under and around his neck, wrenching it tight and pulling upwards and toward her body.
It took less than a second for Tank to know that she'd won that one and he quickly tapped out. He gasped for air when she released him and allowed his body to fall limp in the dirt while he regained his composure.
Lexi slid off his back onto her bottom on the ground next to him, panting for breath. She let out a laugh and slapped him on the back.
"I think that's enough for today."
Tank let his head rest in the dirt and simply raised a thumbs up to her.
She laughed again and leaned back on her hands still trying to catch her breath as the sun beat down on them both. Her hot pink sports bra and black athletic shorts were drenched in sweat and her black ponytail was coated in dust.
Several loud claps rang out across the training field and her eyes immediately snapped up to see Alpha Cole walking toward them with a huge grin across his face.
"That was incredible." He said stopping just a few feet from the wolves on the ground. He flashed Lexi his charming smile and shook his head as he looked down at Tank.
"Come on Tank, I can't believe you let her take you down like that!"
The large wolf raised his head and rolled to sit with his knees bent and elbows resting on them. He squinted against the sun as he looked up at his alpha.
"With all due respect Alpha," he started. "Bite me."
Lexi's hand went to her mouth to cover her snicker, which earned a narrow-eyed glare from them both. She quickly straightened her face and let her hand fall, biting her lip in an attempt to keep from smiling.
"She's no ordinary she-wolf." Tank said nodding in her direction and slowly climbing to his feet. His face and entire front side were covered in a thick layer of dirt and dust. "She's a force to be reckoned with."
Cole turned a look to her that held a sense of pride and fondness. He smirked and offered her his hand to help her up.
"Oh, come on Tank." She said accepting the gesture and dusting herself off. "I just know all your moves." She shrugged. "It's easy to counter when you know what to expect."
The massive body of muscle before her gave her a narrowed glare. "Fine. Next time, I'm coming with new moves."
Lexi laughed. "I look forward to it."
Tank waved her off and left the two of them standing there watching his retreating figure.
"He's right you know."
She was caught slightly off guard by the comment.
"You really are something else." Cole said with a half smile.
Lexi suddenly found the dirt beneath her feet very interesting and stared down at it. She wasn't quite sure how she felt about the statement. On one hand, it was flattering. Especially coming from Cole. But at the same time, it made her uneasy and little awkward.
"It's nothing really." She started. "I've been training for this practically my whole life. You know that." She said smiling at him.
Cole nodded and a hand came up to rub the back of his head. "You are right."
There was a short awkward silence between the two of them with the afternoon sun beating down on them in the middle of the training field. Eventually, Cole cleared his throat.
"Lexi," he began.
She turned her attention to his face and what she saw there, the nervous look he gave, it made her heart stop beating. This was it. He was about to ask her. She knew that it was coming, well, she'd had a pretty good feeling it was coming, but she wasn't ready for this. She wanted to at least get through the games before she had to handle this situation.
"Lexi, I was wondering if you and your parents would like to join me for dinner tonight in my home." He asked almost somewhat cautiously.
The black haired, green eyed wolf thought quickly. There was no legitamate reason she couldn't or shouldn't. In fact, just the opposite. When the alpha of the back extended a personal invitation, one did not simply turn it down. You made sure that you did everything in your power to attend.
But still. She couldn't help the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Lexi put on her best smile and nodded. "Of course Alpha. You know we're always excited to come for a visit."
A look of relief washed over his face and he visibly relaxed. "Just Cole." He said with a half smile.
She forced a smile and nodded. "We'll see you at eight tonight then?" she asked as she began to walk backwards away from him and towards her home.
He nodded.
She gave him another smile and small wave and turned to trot off the training field. Her stomach felt like a lead weight inside her body. She didn't like it.
But she would take things as they come, one at a time.