74 - Kennedy


    I can''t quite put my finger on what''s changed, but honestly, I''m not about toin. Ever since they found me nearly frozen in the forest, Ryker and Be seem to have reached some kind of unspoken truce. I''m notpletely on my own anymore—not quite. That would be asking too much, I suppose. Still, I''ve started training with Greta again. The biting cold outside is brutal on my thin skin, but at least I get to use the gym at the training center, which is a small mercy.


    It hit me only recently how much weight and muscle I''d lost-Greta didn''t hold back, kicking my ass during workouts and then teasing me about how weak I''d be. But every day I feel myself growing stronger, and that progress is lifting my spirits more than I expected.


    School has taken over my life too. I''m fully caught up now, and I''m gearing up to take on a light load of business sses. I want to follow in the footsteps of my parents and Aunt Beth. Being so far from my mom''s studio and right in the middle of thergest wolf pack I know means I probably won''t be training any humans anytime soon. But since construction and building projects are the pack''s main source of ie, maybe I''ll focus on something that helps me understand that world better. I''ll stick with the basics for now and see where it takes me. After all, Sarah did say I should do what I want and let Ryker handle the bills.


    Every Saturday morning, I have a standing date with Alpha to watch the pups. He sits beside me on the sidelines now, and the kids have finally warmed up to him. I think Emily''s approval had a lot to do with that she was the first to approach him, gently petting his head after giving me a warm hug. No one else dares touch him, though that might be some kind of guy code.


    "Luna, are youing to training today? We''ve been working on this new move that''s super hard, but I was the first to nail it. You shoulde see," one of the boys calls out. I think his name is Brandon. There are so many kids now that I can''t always match names to faces.


    “He just wants to show off for his Luna," someone teases.


    “Alpha, don''t tell me you''re jealous too," another chimes in.


    "I don''t get jealous," Alpha replies firmly. “I just don''t like any guy hitting on my mate. Doesn''t matter how young he is.”


    "That sounds a lot like jealousy to me," I giggle, leaning back against his warm fur. He emits a low rumble, like a contented purr. Late January''s cold still bites through the air.


    "Are you going to finish your run, or are youing back with me? I''m getting hungry. You and Ryker must be starving," I ask.


    "We could always eat," he rumbles, standing up as I do the same.


    “That sounds dangerously close to an innuendo,” Iugh as he pops up beside me. Together, we make our way to the SUV I''ve been allowed to use. No one but Greta ever rides with me; the others just follow when they''re on guard duty. Before I get too far, I turn back to answer the boy''s question. "We''re going to eat first, then head to our own training. I have to check the schedule, but if I can stay, I will."


    His face lights up along with the other kids'', while Alpha grumbles quietly. When we reach the SUV, Alpha moves to the back, and I hear the familiar popping and cracking of his bones as he shifts. Then the gate lifts.


    "Do you really want to stay and watch the pups today?" I ask.


    "If we can. I''m not sure of the schedule, but I''d like to be there, to support. What are you doing?" he replies.


    "I had someone stash some backup clothes in here, just in case." I walk around the side just in time to catch him adjusting the waistband of his athletic shorts, highlighting that irresistible ''V'' muscle. I swear my brain just melted. "Hey, my eyes are up here, Mate."


    "I''m well acquainted with your anatomy, mate. Am I not allowed to admire it openly?" He gives me a once-over, and I''m pretty sure he flexes just for me. I can''t help but smile. He''s the only guy I want to look at like this, so I might as well make it obvious. He growls softly and moves closer, still waiting for me to make the first move. He won''t touch me unless I initiate it. At first, I thought it was him trying to be a gentleman after everything that happened, but it runs deeper than that. The only time he loses control is when I catch him off guard-like now.


    "You could probably get away with almost anything," I tease.


    "How about this?" I step closer, pushing my luck, and trail a finger down the valley between his pecs, following the center of his abs to the dusting of dark hair that starts at his belly button and disappears beneath his shorts. I trace back and forth twice before he suddenly grabs my wrist.


    "Yep," he pants, breathless. "We need to get going before I throw you up against this truck." He shivers and gently pushes me forward toward the passenger side, closing the hatch behind us.