“And the Prince?” Caine asked.
“Greene is back tomorrow and we will talk. I will find a way.”
Chapter thirteen
Alpha and Legate
Forward.Forward.Parry.
The wooden practice sword spun in Lycan’s hands, then was knocked out by Briar.
Lycan grinned, taking a classic Krav Maga stance in response to the loss of his weapon. Briar still had her sword, but as had been proven in these exercises, that didn’t always matter.
Sweat dripped from his gold hair, darker now from the dampness. So was his shirt, clinging to him, and the shorts he wore, too.
He watched Briar—focused on both her feet and the sword in her hands. His feet were bare, sliding across the training room floor with ease as he waited on the balls of his feet to move.
They grappled, Lycan feeling the pull in his muscles as he moved seamlessly across the floor. Lycan’s body knew what to do with a sword in his hand, and what to do when the sword was gone, but his opponent still carried one. If he pushed himself, he could block out the memories, the pain a reminder for his mind not to wander there. Instead, he leaned into the moment, to how his body knew to be present, and he justmoved.
Not memories, but knowledge of how to do a thing.
Back and forth they went, down to the mats and back up, across the floor, with soft grunts and the slap of skin as they moved together, evenly matched.
Greene and Seath looked on with the group of others who had gathered. Greene, when he came back to the pack, liked to observe the Pack House first and foremost. He had come alone, not with his usual assistant and bodyguard, signaling a quick stay.
“He is agile. Quick on his feet.”
Seath nodded, watching Lycan move. Maybe he should be focused on Alpha, but Lycan wore simple athletic shorts and a tee shirt that clung to his sweating body. Seath could see every muscle. Every move he made.
Watching, it was clear he could never spar with Lycan. Not openly. He couldn’t be that close, smell and touch so much and not let his feelings show.
And not if Lycan smiled at him with the bright smile that hadn’t left his face since he and Briar began.
He and Greene had talked at length already, and there wouldn’t be much time left for more talking before the Council called Greene back. But at least Greene knew what Seath had come to know, and Seath felt better having his Alpha completely looped into what was happening.
Greene, to his credit, hadn’t declared his thoughts on the subject. He had listened, as Seath had expected him to, but he hadn’t said anything—no empty platitudes at least about Seath knowing his own mind or his own wolf. Greene had just listened, asked questions, and then somehow ended the conversation by moving around the Pack House to the gym.
“I don’t want to add to your load here, Seath,” Greene started, his bear nature on display in his loping walk as they left the gym and by silent agreement, headed to the hot springs that were an easy walk from the Pack House. Once they cleared the expansive back deck and patio of the Pack House, Greene slipped off his shoes, taking a moment to let his feet hit the dirt of the Pack lands.
They walked like that, swinging shoes until Greene finally worked out what he wanted to say.
“There is no way to cushion it,” he finally decided upon, as they neared the grotto, close enough to hear the echo of the ocean off the stone. They started stripping their clothing for the hot springs.
“Cushion what?” Seath asked, stepping in first and finding a spot on the edge close to the emergence of the water that fed the pool. It always seemed hotter.
Greene sighed. “I have to go back to the Council tomorrow.”
Seath wrinkled his forehead. “You know I love it when you are here, but that’s fine Greene. I think I can manage it.”
Greene chuckled, his broad, muscular form stepping into the hot water. Greene had a wife who had passed and a child that was already part of a different pack, but still looked young. Late thirties by human standards, probably.
He groaned as he eased himself across the pool from Seath. They could both sense the Enforcers around, not willing to let both of the leaders alone. But, they stayed out of even wolf hearing range and let them finish their conversations.
“You do more than manage it, as you well know. I can feel it in the dirt, and in the water. If things weren’t so well cared for here, I would send someone else to the Council.”
“You are the best to represent us, you know that. If I can do this job, and you that one, there is no reason to change on my account. Unless there is something you wish to change, Alpha.”
“No. Nothing like that. Although, before things kicked up at the Council, I had intended for us to talk about all I have been putting on you here. But, I do need to tell you some things that are happening at the Council before I go back.”
