26 Our Wolves Don’t Like Each Other

326 Our Wolves Don’t Like Each Other

Meredithb. /b

A few hourster, I tugged at the hem of my training shirt as I strode beside Draven.

My palms were damp, and my steps sensed heavier the closer we got to the training ground.

“You don’t look like someone about to be beaten up badly,” Draven said in that calm, matter–of–fact voice of his.

I shot him a doubtful nce. I sensed this was his way of trying to ignite my confidence. “You think I won’t be beaten up?”

He smiled faintly. “Jeffery’s strength is brutal. But if you keep your eyes on his shoulders and not his fists, you will isee /ievery moveing. You just have to anticipate. Don’t try to block everything–just move. Don’t lose focus, Meredith. Not even for a second.”

I inhaled slowly, trying to quiet the pounding in my chest.

“Draven…” My voice came out softer than I intended. “Will others be at the training ground to watch me?”

Before he could answer, another voice, deep, calm, and steady filled my head.

“No.”

I froze mid–step, blinking. That must be Draven’s wolf.

i“/iiI /iihave /iilonged /ifor ithis /iiconnection /iiwith /iiyou/ii, /iiand /iifinally /iithe /iiday /iihas /iie/ii,/i” he said, his tone even, almost warm. “I iam /iiRhovan/i, iyour /iimate’s /i

wolf.”

“Hi, iRhovan/i,” I greeted.

“iThere /iiwill /iibe /iino /iioutsiders /iion /iithe /iitraining /iigrounds/ii, /iiespecially /iiyour /iisiblings/ii. /iiThey /iicannot /iiknow /iof iyour /iiprogress/i. iWhen /iithey /iireturn /ito

iStormveil/ii, /iievery /iiear /iiwill /iihear /iiof /iit. iThat /iiis /iinot /iiwhat /iiyou /iiwant/i. It iis /itoo isoon /ito iintensify /iiyour /iienemies/i‘ ihatred/ii./ii” /i

My stomach dropped instantly, but he was right. The thought of Mabel or Gary whispering my every move to the wrong people made my

skin crawl.

“iYou /iiare /iiright/ii, /iithank /iiyou/ii, /i” I whispered back.

Then Wanda’s smirking face shed in my mind. Immediately, I asked, “iBut/i… iwhat /iiabout /iiWanda/i? iShe saw /ime traini. /iiShe /iifought /iime /iiherself/i.

Won’t ishe-/i”

Valmora’s voice cut through, sharp and firm. “iRemember/ii, /iishe /iibeat /iiyou /iiso /iibadly /iiyou /iiwon’t /iiforget /iithat /iiday /iiin /iia /iihurry/i. iWanda /iiunderestimates /i

youi. /iiShe /iidoesn’t /iithink /iiyou /iihave it /iiin /iiyou /ito igrow/i, so ishe /iiwon’t /iitell /iof ithis /iitale/i.”

Her bluntness stung for a moment, though I was used to her being mean once in a while.

Rhovan’s voice followed, clipped but firm. “iThat /iiwas /iiunnecessary/i. iYou /iididn’t /iineed /ito ispeak /iiso /iiharshly /iito /iiher/i.”

The silence that fell after was thick and charged. Then Valmora’s reply came, cold as ice and edged like a de.

“Don’t ispeak /ito ime /iiunless /iiyou /iihave /iia /iideath /iiwish/ii.” /i

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326 Our Wolves Don’t Like Each Other

I stumbled, choking on my own saliva. My eyes immediately flew to Draven’s at the same time he nced at me.

His brows were drawn tight, his eyes full of the same surprise curling through me.

Then, Rhovan’s tone shifted, softer now. “Are you angry with me because I did not formally introduce myself sooner?”

Valmora’s reply remained cold and cutting, “I don’t need your introductions. Birds of different feathers do not flock together”

“Birds?” Rhovan scoffed, an edge creeping into his usually steady voice. “I would never see myself as a ibird/ii.” /i

“Exactly,” Valmora darted back, each wordced with disdain. “That’s why iyou /iare daft. iYou /iithink /iione/i–sidedly, iblind /ito iwhat /iiyou /itruly iare/i.”

The tension between them spiked like a storm brewing. My heart lurched.

If I let this go on, they would tear into each other, and thest thing I needed right now was our wolves dragging me into their spat.

“Enough,” I uttered firmly, my voice steady inside our shared space. “iKeep /iiyour /iidifferences /ito iyourselves/i. iDon’t /iiruin /iimy /imood. I have ian /iimportant iduel /iin a few minutes, and iI /iwon’t ilet /iiyou both /iidivert /iime/i.”

Without giving either of them the chance to reply, I mmed the door shut on the mind–link, cutting off their voices. The silence that ensued was jarring but a relief.

I exhaled sharply, only then realizing how tense my shoulders were.

Beside me, Draven’s gaze slid my way. “So, our wolves don’t seem to like each other.”

“That’s an understatement,” I muttered, still shaken.

But Draven’s voice was thoughtful, not rmed. “I don’t think it’s that simple. It feels like something more. Well, we will find out in time.”

His calm steadied me, though a part of me couldn’t shake the unease that lingered after what I had just witnessed.

Valmora was the one who convinced me to seal the matebond with Draven, but she never informed me that she hated his wolf, Rhovan.

Pushing the thoughts aside, I forced myself to take a deep breath, then another, trying to steady the nervous rhythm of my heart.

When we arrived at the training grounds, Jeffery stood in the centre of the area. His stance was rxed yet sharp enough to remind me

he wasn’t here to y.

“Don’t let your nerves control you,” Draven said to me. “Focus. Remember what I told you earlier–avoid Jeffery’s hits. His strength is

brutal.”

I swallowed and nodded, though my pulse didn’t slow, so much for suggesting that I fight with Jeffery.

Just then, Jeffery’s voice carried across the grounds, crisp and steady, after he had acknowledged our presence. “I’m ready when the

Luna is.”

Draven gave me onest look, full of quiet certainty. “Go,” he said. “Show me how much you have learned.

I straightened my shoulders, inhaled sharply, and walked forward to meet Jeffery in the centre of the field.

15:55

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326 Our Wolves Don’t Like Each Other

His arms hung loosely at his sides, and his posture was straight. Then his gaze met mine–calm, steady, and unreadable just like Draven

sometimes.

But then, I saw the reluctance in his eyes. He must be feeling like I wasn’t a worthy opponent to contend with.

And as if Draven noticed it, he stepped closer to him. “Pretend I’m not here,” he told Jeffery with an even tone. “Fight as you would in any

other training session.”

Jeffery gave a single nod, but his face did not change.

Then Draven turned back to me. His eyes were sharp, yet warm at the same time. “You will be fine,” he murmured. “Don’t let his calm fool

you. He is quick and precise, but you can hold your own if you focus.”

I took a slow breath, rolled my shoulders back.

The distance between Jeffery and I felt like a line I couldn’t uncross.

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