CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY EIGHT


    +25 Bonus


    CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY EIGHT


    Talia’s POV


    De and I trained on the south practice grounds after breakfast. We started with simplebinations to warm up and then moved into defensive drills. I focused on my footing and kept my guard up. Without my wolf, I had to rely on technique.


    “Good,” she said, circling me. “Again. Elbow higher on the block. You drop it when you pivot.”


    I adjusted and repeated the move. The strikended square on the padded post. De nodded with approval.


    “You’re still a strong fighter,” she said. “You just have to work harder until your wolf returns.”


    I caught my breath and rolled my wrists. “Harder is fine. I just need to get used to this being my new normal.”


    “Don’t get toofortable with it. Your wolf will be back in no time. If not before, then after the ceremony. Once you find your mate andplete the bond, she’lle back. You know that,” De said.


    “I know, I know. That’s what the doctor keeps saying,” I said.


    “We have records and elders who have lived through this,” De added. “The bond restores bnce. Your body knows it. Your wolf knows it too.”


    I nodded, but I still felt uneasy about it. I wanted the mate given to me by the Moon Goddess, but perhaps having father choose for me was for the best. I returned to guard and signaled that I was ready to continue.


    We moved through another series. De feinted, and I countered. She grinned and said, “That’s it. You’re getting better at reading me.”


    Footsteps approached from the path that led down from the armory. I looked over De’s shoulder and saw Marco and Nn crossing the edge of the field. Marco lifted a hand in greeting. Nn wore a patrol jacket over a green shirt. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. I felt my heart flutter, and I looked away.


    “Good morning,” Marco called. “Did we interrupt?”


    “No, we were just finishing up,” De said as she passed me a bottle of water.


    “What are you two doing?” I asked.


    “I was just exining to Alpha Nn where he’ll be stationed for the next three nights,” Marco exined.


    “Ah. How do you like being a subordinate?” De teased.


    Nn frowned and said, “That Silverfang needs to do better with their defenses.”


    “So, it is perfect that you will be patrolling. We can use your expertise,” I said sarcastically.


    Marco nced at Nn and I, feeling our tension and quickly changing the subject. “So, you train every day now?”


    “Trying to keep her from outpacing me,” De said, bumping my shoulder. “She makes me lookzy.”


    I rolled my eyes at her and said, “As if. You’re still running circles around me.”


    Marco’s attention moved to De and asked, “Weren’t you supposed to check stock?” De gave Marco a confused expression before her eyes widened. She quickly looped arms with Marco and began walking away from us.


    “You’re absolutely right,” De said. “Come on, I’ll walk you back. Talia, I’ll see youter?”


    “Later,” I said.


    They left together toward the path behind the sheds. I bent to coil the practice wrap and slung it over my shoulder. I noticed that Nn hadn’t left.


    CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY EIGHT


    +25 Bonus


    “I thought you had patrol assignments to review,” I said without looking at Nn.


    “I do,” he said.


    “Border duty suits you,” I said.


    Nn snorted. “Sure.”


    I turned to leave. “I was being serious earlier about using your expertise. If you see where we can improve, let Beta Logan know. Goodbye, Alpha Nn.”


    “Wait,” he said. “Before you go.


    I stopped and faced him. He held my eyes, then looked past me for a second, as if he was working out what he wanted to say. I couldn’t help but feel a little anxious.


    “Why did you help me?” Nn asked.


    “Technically, I didn’t. You were still punished,” I replied.


    “This isn’t a punishment. It’s a p on the wrist,” Nn stated.


    I kept my tone t. “It was not because of our bond, if that is what you want to ask.” For a brief second, I thought I saw a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.


    “Then why did you do it?” Nn asked.


    “I am the Princess. It is my job to protect Silverfang,” I answered. “I will not let Silverfang be dragged into turmoil over a false usation. I was protecting my pack, not you.”


    “Then Marco has a bigger mouth than I thought,” he said under his breath.


    “You should be d that he did. If I had not intervened, would you have really brought your warriors to destroy my pack, my home?”


    “If the Alpha King chose to listen to false usations, he does not deserve the throne he sits on.”


    “So that is a yes,” I said.


    “Does it matter? It didn’t happen. There’s no point in discussing it,” Nn responded.


    “You don’t get to decide when the situation is over! You gave my father a reason to doubt you by dosing his wine. And now you say he does not deserve the throne if he believes the wrong man?” I snapped.


    “I meant what I said, Princess,” he replied. “If the Alpha King cannot tell the truth from a trap, he does not deserve the power he holds.”


    Something in me snapped. I saw him for what he had always been, He wasn’t the man holding my hand while Iy in the hospital bed. This was him. Nn was an Alpha who would do anything to get what he wanted.


    “The rumors were right about you,” I said. “You are ruthless and without morals.”


    Nn didn’t argue.


    I took a breath and said, “After the ritual, we will reject each other. And I expect you’ll leave Silverfang and nevere back.”