Regardless, staying at the Enchanted Packhouse meant rules had to be followed, and if Jackson said they needed to train that’s what she’d do. It was respectful to the Alpha of the Pack, something heavily pushed in Shifter culture.
That being said, the whole 'push-ups, running, burpees, and defense training' was kicking Flora’s whole ass. Being sore was an understatement and a hot shower was in orderASAP. Exhaling, Flora stood up wiping her sweaty hands along her black shorts.
“Dylan —”
“Flora, don’t ‘Dylan’ me. Just do five more. It's the bare fucking minimum, how the hell do you expect to protect yourself if you can’t even do 10 inversion push-ups, Flora?” Dylan snapped, the frustration busting out of his words as he moved along the mats, getting closer and closer to her. Towering over her with his tall frame and being loud as hell. This was it.
“Who the hell are you yelling at?” Flora asked, trying to keep her own voice soft and cool. She was hurt, emotionally and physically. Yelling was not only rude in her book but brought up unwarranted intense fear. A need to run, to escape, go somewhere safe. Yelling from the one person she was supposed to feel safe with was a fucking joke.
“You, Flora. How have you survived this long not knowing how to fight?” Still, he was yelling.
“I’m done.” Turning on her heel, she strode to the door. Ready to pack her shit and leave. This wasn’t going to work. If continuing to yell, bitch, and moan was all the communication he was going to give her then why the hell was she still there? “If you’re going to be a cold-hearted asshole the whole time I’m here, then I’m done. I’m leaving. Consider yourself fired because I’m not doing this.”
“There you go again, not thinking of your own goddamn safety, Flora. That’s the fucking problem.”
“Stop cursing at me!”
“You stop first.”
“How mature, Dylan.”
Flora let out a sharp laugh, turning back around to face him. Stomping forward she met him face to face. Anger coursed through her body. She could take care of herself — she had been for six years. She'd been on her own, moved out of her parent's place, fed, shifted, and clothed herself for six years, and just because she couldn’t throw a punch, all of it is taken away?
No, it wasn’t. She knew deep down that wasn’t what he meant. But Flora was on a roll. She pulled her hand back and swung. Of course, trying to hit a trained assassin was stupid. He caught her wrist before kicking his leg under hers, bringing them both to the floor. Heavy breathing and a whole bunch of physical contact brought Flora to an angry flush. Looking away, she slowed her breathing down.
“What if I’m not there to protect you?” Dylan spoke softly. No more stress lines across his tanned forehead, only little amounts of frustration left in his posture.
“Dylan, I’ve never had to physically defend myself before. You can’t expect me to be even a little good on day one.”
“I know, I’m sorry. There’s no excuse for yelling at you or getting angry.”
“All I get is a sorry?” Flora asked. Sweat was sitting at the top of her eyebrows but that didn’t stop her from raising them up in question. She needed more than aI’m sorry.
“Flora, I’m apologizing for acting like an asshole. I’m honestly scared. I’m scared I can’t always protect you and when that happens, I need you to be prepared. I need you to survive this. I just can’t see you get hurt any damn more.”
“That’s all you had to say Dylan. But know the next time you yell at me I’ll let my panther take a nasty bite outta your ass. She hates that shit more than I do.”
“Let’s do those push-ups,” Flora conceded, pushing his shoulder back with a small smile. He stood up as she flipped over. She wasn’t sure if the apology was for the last couple of days or just this moment, but it didn’t matter. It was time to get shit done.
He squatted down, ready to count her reps as she got into the push-up position. Huffing, she sat back on her knees, her arms already shaking at the thought of having to do another damn push-up.
“Ready?”
With a nod of her head, Flora began the hardest workout move of all time. Bending at the elbows, she lowered her body to the ground. Slowly dropping her body to the ground, she used the last of her energy to bring her body back up. Okay, so she was only doing girl push-ups, or whatever Dylan had called them. But an actual push-up for someone who hadn’t worked out a day in her life was too much. Her panther always fought for her when she needed her to. Which wasn’t often. Flora didn't find herself in very many positions where she needed to defend herself. But Dylan was right, depending on her panther at all times was unreasonable, her panther needed to be able to depend on her as much as she depended on her panther. They were equals in their body after all.
“One.”
“Oh my God, please help me through this,” Flora prayed, guiding her body back down.
“Four more.”
After four more, Flora left without a word to take a shower, caked in sweat.
25
DYLAN
“There you go again, not thinking of your own goddamn safety, Flora. That’s the fucking problem.”
