If it hadn't been for Blake grabbing my arm and throwing me down with his shoulder, I wouldn't have ended up on the ground.
I lay there with a sharp pain in my back. I couldn't help but groan in pain.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to put so much force into it," Blake said as he helped me up, with a hint of panic in his tone, "Your speed... it's slower than I thought."
I rubbed my hip. "It's fine. Let's try again."
Blake nodded, a look of approval on his face. "Alright, try attacking me again, but this time, you need to learn to read your opponent's moves."
He showed me a move, then added, "Like this…"
"Ah!" I screamed as his fist hit my nose.
He had held back a lot, but it still hurt, and tears welled up in my eyes.
"Again." Something inside me was triggered, pushing me to fight back. I didn't want to just lie there, taking hit after hit.
It was part of being a werewolf. Even though I was weak, I didn't give up.
For some reason, every time Blake knocked me down, my instincts seemed to sharpen.
When his punch—God knows which one—was about to hit my stomach, I finally managed to block it.
For a moment, I froze, my eyes wide in surprise. Just as I was about to speak, Blake dodged and, in a flash, pinned me down again.
I glared at him. "You took advantage of me when I wasn't paying attention!"
He chuckled. "Little girl, in a real fight, no ones going to wait for you."
He pinched my nose, his tone unexpectedly playful, catching me off guard and leaving me with a strange feeling.
Blake quickly let go of me. "Alright, that's enough for today's training."
He reached out his hand to help me up.
I rubbed my arms before taking his hand. With a firm tug, he pulled me up from the ground.
Was it just my imagination? I thought I felt his fingers brushed against my palm.
Before I could react, Blake had already released my hand. "You did great today," he said, patting me gently on the head like I was a kitten.
"If you need more training, I'm free Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons or evenings," he added.
"Thank you, Professor Blake," I said, keeping my voice steady despite how strange I felt.
Eileen sidled up to me with a naughty smile like she knew something. "I think he likes you."
"Huh?" I frowned, giving her a sharp look.
"Flirting with your teacher when you're married? How bold," Eileen said.
"Will you stop it?" I whispered harshly. "If Blake's admirers overhear you, they'll eat me alive."
"Besides," I added, lowering my voice, "he's the alpha of the Moonshadow Pack. There's no way someone like him would be interested in me."
I shook my head. Blake was nice to everyone—there was no reason to overthink it.
After school, I saw the driver waiting for me at the gate. As he opened the car door, my heart skipped a beat—Raymond was inside.
For a moment, I felt like running to him, but I stopped myself.
"Are you busy today?" I asked politely as I got into the car.
"Not really," Raymond said. "I finished early and thought I'd come pick you up."
He looked at me and frowned. "What happened to your face?
"Nothing serious," I replied, "I had some training with my professor today."
"Don't push yourself too hard," he said. "Sometimes, it's okay to take it slow."
I nodded. "Mm."
As the car started, Raymond asked, "What do you want for dinner?"
I thought for a moment. "Fish."
"I'll have the chef prepare it," he said with a smile.
His smile made me flush. Inside, my wolf, Lily, seemed happy. She liked him—a little too much.
It was strange. We'd only known each other for a short time—not even half a month—and yet, this feeling of connection felt so familiar.
And then…
I caught a faint scent in the air, warm and oddly soothing.
I tilted my head slightly, realizing it was coming from Raymond.
Hesitating for a moment, I leaned in just enough to confirm. The scent was comforting, almost irresistible, and I had to fight the urge to get closer.
I don't know how to describe that scent. It wasn't like strawberries, pine, or soil—things can be described with words.
But when it comes to Raymond, it's different. How do I explain this feeling? It's like shedding everything, shifting into my wolf form, and running through the grass under the afternoon sun—my fur warm, the breeze against my skin. That freedom, that connection to something primal and pure—that's the feeling I get when I'm near him.
"What's wrong?" Raymond's voice pulled me back.
I froze, realizing I had leaned too close, almost pressing against his chest. Embarrassed, I straightened up. "Nothing!"
I felt my face burning. A glance in the rearview mirror confirmed it—my cheeks, and even the tips of my ears, were burning red.
Thankfully, we arrived at the villa soon enough.
Shay greeted us at the door, her brows frowned with concern when she saw me, "Miss Caitlyn, are you alright? Should I call the doctor or get you some medicine?"
"I'm okay," I said. The bruises were already starting to fade, thanks to my werewolf healing.
"I think I need to shower first," I added, looking at Raymond.
He seemed to read my mind. "No rush," he said with a reassuring smile. "I'm not hungry yet. Take your time."
Relieved, I headed upstairs. There was no way I could sit at the table all sweaty like this.
After a refreshing shower, I joined Raymond at the dining table, where Shay had laid out the meal: cold-smoked salmon with a creamy sauce, a bisque, and seafood rice. Everything was perfect.
"Do you like it?" Raymond asked.
"Mhm!" I nodded. "I always enjoy Shay's cooking—it's amazing!"
"There's more if you'd like it," he said with a smile.
I felt my heart race and quickly lowered my head, focusing on the food in front of me.
Just as I started to calm down, Shay came over with a gold-embossed envelope.