“I thought you were giving me a real gun?”
“We’ll get there eventually. First, I want you to master your shooting stance and learn how to focus your aim using something lightweight.”
“Alright,” I sigh. I return my attention to the weapon in my grasp. “Well? Care to give a demonstration?”
“Nah. Today isn’t about me. Besides, I think you’d be far more impressed with how fast I can take this baby apart and put it back together.”
I raise the pellet gun to my shoulder, resting the butt against the soft nook of my upper breast. Instinctively, my non-dominant eye closes.
Axe comes to spot me, hovering over my shoulder. Close enough that all thoughts are smothered by the rich, masculine scent of his skin. A tremor courses through my stiff body as he snakes his arms around, resting at my waist. “May I?”
Sheepishly, I nod. It’s all I can do to resist stealing a look at him. Axe raises my right elbow, balancing out the weight of the barrel. Then, he rotates my hip so that my weight is evenly distributed on both legs.
“Beautiful,” he says.
I blush, even though he’s only referring to my posture. I wiggle my toes in my sneakers, anchoring myself on the soggy soil, trying to concentrate on the terrain in front of me, not the salacious heat rushing to my core. Inhaling deeply, I think of Tesni’s sharpness. Her intention that steadies her in every minute of training and combat. As the weight dissolves into my arms, I try to visualize what my own intention could be.
“Vessa,” the deep voice murmurs from above. “You see that little red dot in the rear sight indicator?”
“Yes.”
“Before you ever think about pulling the trigger, that dot needs to be centered on your target. Hold that position steady, and it’ll launch that pellet exactly where you’re aiming.”
Axe and I practice the proper stance, steadying breathing, cocking, and lining up the shot until it becomes muscle memory. Finally, he flicks the safety latch and walks me up to the target stapled to the post, stopping me just behind the ten-yardmarker. In my periphery, Qinnu and a handful of warriors file out of the barracks, snickering.
“Pretend they aren't here,” he says. “It’s just the two of us and that bullseye.”
I balance my weight and inhale deeply, once again allowing my left eye to close.Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.I repeat this until the red dot becomes my sole focus. Then, slowly, my index finger curls around the trigger.
On my first shot, I knick the outermost edge of the red circle. I swear under my breath. For a skinny barrel, the kickback is stronger than I’d anticipated.
Axe whoops. “Hell yeah! C’mon, let’s see another one.”
I fall back into position. Axe steps in again to adjust my posture gently, moving my hand further down the wooden forestock. As I monitor my breathing, I hear Wyatt’s voice echo in the back of my mind. By now, the gun feels like a natural extension of my arm.
On the next exhale, I vanquish all hesitation and fire. This time, my pellet strikes dead center. A grin spreads along my cheeks as I let two more fly, creating a perfect triangle within the bullseye.
Whistles and clapping applaud my aim, the Sentinel barking louder than the rest.
"What was that?"
Slowly, I lower the gun to the ground and fling my braid over my shoulder.
Axe doesn't appreciate my smirk. “Clearly, you aren’t new at this.”
“Nope. But it was cute watching you think I was. Being such a thorough instructor and all.”
When you’re on lockdown for three years, hiding from rogue lycans and other demons, learning to shoot is essential to your survival. Back at Glacier Meadow, when I wasn’t helpingMaurleen with the baby or wandering aimlessly through the pack village, I was out back with Wyatt, honing my aim. Until Axe and I crossed paths with the vampire in Silverback territory, I had never truly had a reason to utilize my training.
Axe shakes his head, still astounded. “I misread you the other day. You were under the vampire’s influence.”
“I wish I could’ve found a way to help you. To break out of it somehow.”
He claps my shoulder and struts over to the post, tearing off the paper target. “Got any other surprises up your sleeve?”
It takes everything to stop my stomach from lurching.If only you knew, Commander.
Next, Axe directs me towards the beer can target display, marking seventeen meters away. Then, second guessing himself, he orders another meter. On a controlled exhale, I blast the first can off the stump. When the aluminum flips over onto the ground, I look over my shoulder to see the lycan’s eyes glistening.
