Third Person’s POV
<b>61 </b>
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Ellen totally agreed with Ulrik’s n. Ate–night visit was discreet and gave Ulrik enough time <b>to </b>clear out any snooping guards.
Adide was anxious to <b>see </b>her grandfather, but she was more worried about his health.
The trip had been brutal; if Zander could get two solid days of sleep, she was willing to stand outside the front gate for forty–eight hours straight if that’s what it took.
Alfred, on the other hand, was a man of action. That very night, he showed up at the ckthorn packhouse with gifts in hand, ready for the apprenticeship ceremony.
Having served as a guard for Lycan Erasmus for so long, he knew exactly how much Lycan Erasmus feared Alpha Lance and the ckthorns.
But he didn’t care. To secure his long–term future, he showed up at their front door with his elderly parents and his mate, Hazel, to show how serious he was.
Paisley had been nning to be a total nightmare–she was looking for any excuse to make him suffer during the ceremony.
But when she saw Alfred standing there with his sweet parents and his kind–hearted mate, she couldn’t find a reason to be a jerk.
It was obvious that Alfred’s parents were good, honest people. They looked at Paisley with a mix of awe and deep gratitude.
Alfred’s father, though much older than Paisley, insisted on addressing her as “Instructor Paisley” with total
<b>respect</b>.
“Instructor,” his father said with a slight tremble in his voice, “it is an honor for our family that Alfred can learn from you. If he ever cks off or steps out of line, you punish him however you see fit. We won’t say
a word.”
Alfred dropped to one knee on the heavy bearskin rug, punching his right fist against his heart in a traditional salute.
“Don’t worry, Father. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. I’m going to give Instructor Paisley everything I’ve got. I won’t bezy, and I definitely won’t do anything.. questionable.”
He had attended two of Paisley’s public tactical seminars before. Even as an observer, the way she fought— no shy moves<b>, </b>just pure, lethal efficiency–had blown his mind.
He’d missed her other sses because of his shifts at the Pce, and he’d been gutted when he heard she wasn’t taking private students.
He’d talked his parents‘ ears off about how much he wanted lvl training with her.
<b>19 </b>
KIKA
O
<b>Feb 19 </b>
?.<b>61 </b>
He knew using Alpha Zander as leverage was a low move, but he also knew this was his <bst </b>shot.
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The Obsidian Guard was about to gopletely independent, cutting ties with the Ironthorn Legion’s training system.
Paisley only taught the guards because of her friendship with Adide.
Once the split was official, even if Lycan Erasmus allowed them to attend, Paisley wouldn’t be teaching the “secret sauce” to outsiders anymore.
Alfred’s mate, Hazel, knelt beside him.
Paisley sat in a high–backed chair and pulled a bottle of stiff Hignd scotch from the cab. She poured half a ss into a heavy crystal tumbler, the amber liquid shimmering in the light.
“Drink it,” Paisley said, handing the ss to Alfred. “Once you down this, you’re my student. If you ever betray us, I’ll pull your fangs out one by one with my bare hands.“\
Alfred took the ss with both hands and downed it in one go. The spicy liquid burned all the way down his throat like he’d just swallowed a fireball.
“Good man,” Paisley said, a small, satisfied smirk appearing on her face.
She reached into a jewelry box and pulled out a silver protective bracelet, handing it to Hazel as a weing gift.
Hazel could tell immediately that the piece was etched with high–level defensive runes; it was worth a fortune on the ck market. She tried to decline, saying it was too much.
“Take it,” Paisley said tly. “I don’t give out cheap junk.”
Hazel blinked and looked at Alfred for help.
When he nodded, she finally epted it with a grateful bow. “Thank you, Instructor.”
Once the ceremony was over, Alfred sent his family home.
His father took the hint, said his goodbyes to Lance, Adide, and Paisley, and led the family out.
The second the door clicked shut, the warm atmosphere evaporated.
Alfred didn’t wait to be told. He dropped back down to one knee, suppressed his aurapletely, and lowered his head to expose the back of his neck in total submission.
“I’m ready for my punishment for what I did earlier, Instructor.”
Paisley toyed with the empty crystal ss, her fingernail tracing the rim with a sharp, grating sound.
Looking at Alfred kneeling there, she suddenly thought of Klein’s cold, hard face.
Every time Adide had messed up back in the day, that old psycho would ask the same thing in that
<b>.. </b>
<b>19 </b>
KIKA
<b>LOD </b>
O
<b>16:01 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Feb </b><b>19 </b>
deadpan voice, “What did you do wrong?”
So, Paisley channeled her inner Klein and asked coldly.
“So you know you messed up? Tell me–where did you go wrong?”
Alfred kept his head down, his voice tight.
??;,<b>6</b>)
<b>61 </b>
<b>+10 </b>Free Coins
“I shouldn’t have used Cole’sment to threaten you into taking me on. It was a cheap, cowardly move.”
“d you noticed,” Paisley said, mming the crystal ss onto the table with a heavy thud.
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<strong>Olivia Harris</strong> is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.