"You are too weak. You need to strengthen your defense."
The martial arts instructor said, touching his hands to strengthen his form. Evander groaned in frustration.
"I'm sorry, Alpha."
He looked at him.
"Let's take a break."
Evander said calmly. The other man nodded and exited the plain room, leaving Evander sitting on the floor, his eyes stinging with emotions that ran deeper than the eyes could see, much closer and as associated to a strong, black haired, green eyed delta.
"Evander."
He froze, recognizing the voice to belong to the woman who made his heart strings stretch.
"Why are you here?"
She came in front of him. She was wearing the exact style of clothes she had worn when she had attacked him, except the red cape.
"You're training?"
"Leave. This is none of your business."
She held his arm.
"Let me train you. No one can do it better than me."
He removed his hand from her grip.
"I don't want to. Please leave."
She held him again, this time tighter, her nails digging into his flesh, drawing blood. He sucked in breath and she noticed, then removed her hand and moved a step backwards.
"Why do you always hurt me whenever you come close?"
She looked at the already healed hand and raised a brow.
"It's healed. Don’t make a fuss."
He looked at it and when he looked up at her, a tear was rolling down his right cheek.
"And what of the ones you can't see? How do you heal the scars inside?"
He laughed.
"You didn't even leave a scar. You left a wound, still fresh and scalding"
He was standing in front of her now, looking down at her. "I.."
"Save it."
He turned and left her alone. She watched his back as he walked out, his head dropping.
"Evander,"
he stopped.
"Where do you think you are going? You haven’t trained yet."
He turned his body to her and crossed his arms.
"I am not going to train anymore."
He turned again.
"Oh, you want to remain weak?"
She didn't close her mouth before he was right in front of her, his right hand on her neck. She didn't faze, since he was just holding her, not even applying pressure.
"You are weak, you can't deny that."
She said again and he released her and stepped back.
"I apologize for my inappropriate behavior"
he said, simply and exited the room, before she could say one more thing.
"Evander sent me to escort you to your room."
She glared at Jake, and turned to leave, fuming hard.
"Evander, these papers are concerning the women who are going to be taken to new moon. They are old enough and all of them are still agile wolves."
He nodded absent mindedly.
"I will have it processed, then arrange a means of transportation for them. I was thinking the bus, but anything you say."
Another nod.
"Are you okay?"
Nod.
"Uhmm.. I will leave then."
"Alec."
"Yeah?" 'Tell Delta Isabella to get ready. We are going to train."
Alec raised both brows.
"Are you sure? She could be plotting to kill you."
He nodded.
" it doesn't matter. I can't afford to be weak...especially not in her presence."
"Evander, you have nothing to l.."
"Just call her. For your alpha."
Alec nodded, feeling defeated and left.
"Bella, what are you doing to me?"
He sighed, looking up to the 3d picture of his own wolf on the ceiling. He had made the ceiling that way, with a full moon, his eyes a silvery blue and seeing it comforted him. He looked like his father and somehow, when he looked up to it, he felt like his father's hand was on his shoulder, his voice telling him it would be alright. It would be fine.
"Ready?"
He nodded, his head still low.
"Raise your head."
"Okay."
He raised his head weakly, looking at her.
"Spread your legs, as wide as your shoulders"
she said.
"I will start from basic form, so when you start to learn the art of weapons, whether modern or less that that, you will be able to aim well, hitting the target. Bull's eye."
She smirked to herself. She loved this. She loved fights. He nodded again, not saying a word.
"Now,"
she said, moving closer and tapping his shoulder.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"That's not part of your training."
She sighed.
"You are too stubborn. Something's wrong with you."
He removed her hand from his shoulder.
"Now, you are concerned?"
She flinched. Jake's words.
"Now you care how I feel? Now you care what happens to me?"
He turned to her and held her shoulder, but his grip was weak and fragile.
"You did this to me. I have been questioning where I went wrong since you decided to do that to me.I have been thinking of how hard it was for you to love me. How disgusted you must have felt every time I held you. Whenever I told you I love you, whenever..."
His voice caught in his throat and he released her, his feet wobbling a bit.
"Let's just train. I can't be weak."
"Evander, I didn't mean it that way. I.."
"Let's train, Bella."
His voice was very close to the way it was that day.
"Okay. Stand straight. Level your eyes, to your opponent's. Don't show fear. You're bigger. This is psychological preparation for a fight. Never give in. Never turn back. Never back down."
She turned away from him, and took a gun from the array.
"I thought you guys were peaceful. Inner devil, I see."
"You brought it out."
Came Evander's soft voice, but she breathed and let it go.
"Cool."
She turned away, and fired three bullets, all hitting bull's eye.
"See?"
No answer. She turned to him and he was moving back, his hands tightly clasped over his ears.
"Please...no..."
"Hey, what's wrong?"
He didn't answer, but fell to the ground, hitting his head violently on the mirrored floor, his blond hair flying, making a harsh breaking sound and he passed out.
"Evander!"