Chapter 123

Ella POV

Alexander continued lifting weights, but every time I glanced his way, I found him looking at me. I couldn’t exactly complain, considering I was staring at him just as much.

Still, it made me uneasy. We were supposed to be keeping our distance, not giving in to our mutual attraction. It was difficult to stick to that plan when I let myself indulge in moments like this.

Feeling flustered, I stepped off the treadmill and made my way to the other side of the gym, putting as much distance between us as I could without actually leaving.

“How’s your workout going?” a cheerful female voice called, pulling my attention away from Alexander.

I turned to see Stephanie, the petite, pale blonde trainer I had met during my first visit. We hadn’t worked much together yet, but she was always friendly and encouraging whenever I saw her.

“It’s going okay,” I said, catching my breath. “I started with a warm-up on the treadmill and sort of lost track of time. I’ve been running for a while now.”

“I can see that—you’ve worked up quite a sweat,” she commented with a smile. “Maybe it’d be a good idea to go for a dip in the pool. You could get an extra workout by swimming laps. That’s my favorite way to end a cardio session.”

"That sounds nice," I said, "but I’m not really ready to finish my workout just yet."

"Of course not," she replied with an easy smile. "But maybe I can teach you some lap drills? We haven’t really had a chance to work together yet, and this is my specialty."

I laughed softly, catching the real reason behind her approach. "Of course," I said, feigning innocence. "I haven’t been avoiding you. I’ve just been—"

"Focused," she finished for me with a knowing look. "Don’t worry, I’m not offended. So, shall we head to the pool?"

"Sure," I said, glancing toward the locker room. "Let me just get changed, and I’ll meet you there."

She nodded, looking genuinely excited, before heading off toward the pool. As I walked to the locker room, I couldn’t shake the feeling of Alexander’s gaze following me. I resisted the urge to look back, knowing all he’d see was my blush giving me away.

Once inside, I showered quickly and changed into my swimsuit. When I stepped into the pool room, the sharp scent of chlorine greeted me.

To my relief, the space was mostly empty, save for Stephanie, already in the water and waving at me with enthusiastic energy.

I waved back and approached the edge of the pool.

"Jump right in," she called, grinning. "The water’s heated."

I obeyed, slipping in as she instructed. Warmth enveloped me immediately, the tension in my muscles melting away. A sigh of relief escaped me, and I couldn’t help but smile as the water soothed my body.

"This is incredible," I said, meeting her gaze, my grin mirrored in hers.

Stephanie grinned, treading water effortlessly. “Told you! There’s nothing better after a long run. Ready for some drills?”

“Absolutely,” I replied, already feeling more relaxed.

She demonstrated the first drill, showing me how to alternate strokes for a full-body workout. I followed her lead, starting with freestyle and transitioning into backstroke. The rhythm of the movements and the soothing warmth of the water made it easy to lose myself in the exercise.

“Nice form!” Stephanie called after a few laps. “You’re a natural.”

“Thanks,” I said, pausing at the edge of the pool to catch my breath. “This is definitely a change from my usual workout.”

"Variation in your exercises is important," she said as she adjusted her goggles. "You want to make sure you’re working all your muscle groups—your heart, your lungs. Your overall health is what really matters."

"That’s true," I agreed. "I want to become stronger overall so I can reconnect with my wolf."

Stephanie nodded thoughtfully. "And this is the best way to do it, I think. Though I know there are other techniques as well."

"Yes," I said, dipping my fingers into the warm water. "I’m also doing some occupational therapy, and I’m hoping the combination will help me recover my wolf more quickly."

Her eyes softened with genuine curiosity. "Do you feel it’s making a difference? Have you noticed anything yet?"

I hesitated, my face heating as I remembered the way I had growled at Alexander the other day—an unintentional slip I hadn’t quite managed to explain. I shrugged, attempting to downplay my frustration.

"I’ve noticed a few small things," I admitted, "but I still don’t feel like I’ve truly reconnected with my wolf yet. It’s... frustrating."

"All progress is good progress," she said gently, her voice steady and encouraging. "Keep doing what you’re doing, and I’m confident you’ll get there."

Her reassurance hit a soft spot, and I offered a small smile. "Thank you," I said sincerely, the words carrying more weight than I expected.

"Oh, it seems we have company," Stephanie said, glancing over my shoulder.

I had been so absorbed in our conversation that I hadn’t noticed the faint creak of the locker room door. Turning to look, I felt my eyes widen as Alexander strode toward the pool, dressed in nothing but a pair of swim shorts.

My pulse quickened, and I suddenly became acutely aware of just how much skin my own swimsuit revealed. It took every ounce of self-control not to fold my arms across my chest in a futile attempt at modesty.

He smirked as he approached, his eyes sweeping over me with a slow, deliberate intensity that sent a flush creeping up my neck. That knowing look only made me more self-conscious, though I tried to hold my ground.

Still, I couldn’t stop my gaze from wandering, taking in the sharp lines of his torso and the effortless strength in his stride. How did he manage to look like that? I wondered, half annoyed and half mesmerized.

He hardly ever left his office—so where on earth did he find the time to maintain such an impressive physique?

"You’ve had quite a workout today," Stephanie said, her tone light and cheerful. "I think we can call it for this session. I look forward to swimming with you again."

"Already?" I asked, surprised. But before I could say more, Stephanie was already gliding toward the steps to exit the pool.

She must have noticed the obvious tension crackling between Alexander and me and decided to make a graceful escape. I couldn’t blame her, though a flicker of frustration rose at being left alone with him—something I’d been trying to avoid all day.

Alexander strode past me toward the deep end of the pool, his movements unhurried but purposeful. Without a word, he dove in with perfect form, cutting through the water like he belonged to it.

I couldn’t help but watch as he glided beneath the surface, his body a blur of strength and precision. When he resurfaced, droplets of water sprayed from his hair as he shook his head, leaving him looking impossibly smug and effortlessly handsome.

He swam toward me, and as he got closer, that infuriating smirk was still firmly in place. My pulse quickened, and before I could stop myself, I plunged my hands into the water and splashed him.

Alexander surfaced, sputtering in surprise before bursting into laughter, the sound warm and rich.

"Stop teasing me!" I demanded, unable to suppress the mix of amusement and exasperation in my voice.

His grin widened as he tilted his head. "How am I teasing you?" he asked, feigning innocence. "I haven’t even said a word to you yet."

"You know exactly what you’re doing," I shot back, crossing my arms and trying to ignore the heat rising to my cheeks.

“Do I?” he asked, leaning close to me. My breath caught as he looked down at me, our bodies nearly touching. “And what am I doing to you, Ella?”