We paired everyone up and went through a series of simple movements. I watched everyone, tracking to see who had finally got it down and who was still struggling. I corrected a few people, but found Jade didn’t need it. Her form was great, and I could see the focus in her eyes.
Although she complained about being here, I could see that she enjoyed it. She had a passion behind her hits and in her eyes. When she did do something wrong, she was quick to correct herself.
I watched her pin her partner to the ground, and a smile bloomed from her lips. I stood a few feet away, and I watched in amazement. She offered her partner a hand up, and they resumed their circle. I watched her move on the balls of her feet, her movement quick and like lightning.
I turned to the two paired in front of me. “Correct your left foot,” I said, nodding my head down, but it was too late. His partner swung their leg underneath his left foot, and he went down.
“If you don’t have good balance at your base, your top will tumble,” I stated, waving a hand at what happened. “Watch your foot placement.”
His partner smirked, smug, and I hoped it was a good lesson for the guy. I continued to move through the group, watching the rest. My eyes wander back to Jade every once in a while. She got pinned, but she was quick to get up. She pinned her partner again. They stopped to catch their breath.
The training went smoothly and concluded a few minutes later. I was just about to head over to Nora and Jade when I heard Asher calling for me.
“Oy, Brandon. Got some questions.”
I paused as he stopped next to me. “The next group is set to start in fifteen minutes. Do you want to lead the class today?
“Yeah. How do you think this group did today? I thought there had been some improvement.”
Asher scanned the crowd, his eyes seeming to think as he looked around. “Honestly, they’ve done well. I’m impressed with how quickly they got into shape.”
“Good enough to handle a hybrid?”
He frowned. “You and I both know that training will only go so far, Brandon,” Asher sighed. “We need to tell them eventually. They need to know the truth.”
I knew that, and I’d been dreading it. I knew that we could only maintain this training for so long before people would start asking more pressing questions or stop coming altogether.
“We can discuss this later at our next meeting.”
Asher raised an eyebrow. “Are you just trying to avoid having that conversation?”
“No, I’m trying to think of how I would gently tell everyone in my hometown, the town I now run, that we have cold-blooded murderers coming to kill them all.”
Asher frowned. “Sorry.”
I looked past him, spotting Nora and Jade walking toward a bike path.
“Jade, hold on,” I said, wanting to speak to her before she left. They kept walking, and I frowned, knowing she probably couldn’t hear me.
I started after them, and Asher yelled. “Where are you going? The group will be here soon.”
“Start it for me, and I’ll take over if I’m not back in time,” I yelled back, continuing after Jade and Nora. I knew I should just let Jade have the space that she seemed to want, but I felt the pull to be near her.
I rounded a tree and froze when I spotted them near a bench. They were talking close together, a smile plastered on Jade’s face. I could see they were relaxed, and I was about to turn back and head to the training area, but I spotted a man walking down the pathway toward them.
He had dark brown hair and deep blue eyes. He walked with purpose and looked attractive enough. He slowed as he got to the bench and turned toward them. Both of the girls stopped talking, and I watched as they both blushed.
“I was just looking for some directions. These pathways lead every which way,” he said, offering them a smile.
“Understandable,” Jade said with a smile in return. “If you just keep following the pathway, you’ll get back to the training grounds, and it’s right next to the parking lot.”
The man nodded his head, his hands deep in his pockets as he stood there. I watched the way he looked the girls over, and it twisted me up inside. I especially didn’t like the look in his eyes as he looked at Jade.
I felt anger as I stared at him, suddenly wanting to punch him into next week. I hated how he stood closer to them and how Jade seemed genuinely interested in what he was saying.
But then I felt the hair on my arm rise. He stood close to the girls, and as he pulled his hand out slightly, I could see how long his nails were. But he shoved his hands back into his pockets.
I moved closer, suddenly not trusting him. I didn’t know him. Couldn’t put a face to the name, so he might not even be from our pack.
