Chapter 248

I snooze my alarm and roll over, yet when it sounds a second time ten minutes later, I resolve myself and pull myself out of bed. Wearing my pajamas, with my hair up in a messy bun, I shuffle into the kitchen for coffee. While the maker works its magic, I go into the living room and click on the news.

The newscaster is talking about the weather, and it looks like another sunny day. I walk into the kitchen, pour myself my coffee, and head back into the living room. By the time I sit down on the couch, the coverage has switched to talking about yesterday’s sudden power outage.

I grab the remote and crank up the volume.

A local resident is being interviewed, “We had no warning. One minute I was working, and in the next my computer went out. Now my pay is being docked for the day, and my kids had to come home early from school.”

The cameras cut away from the interview and to the main newscaster back in the studio.

“My residences and businesses were disrupted by the outage,” the newscaster said, “including the local hospital. Fortunately, the hospital has a backup generator and only went without power for a few brief minutes.”

Someone must say something to the newscaster through her earpiece. She pauses speaking and places her fingers to the ear, as if pressing it down will help her hear better.

“We have breaking news,” she says after a second or two. “Alpha King Hayes has released a pre-recorded statement addressing the issue.” She makes a hand gesture and immediately the screen switches to the Alpha King himself, sitting behind a large wooden desk.

I can immediately see the resemblance between him and his sons, though he is obviously older. His hair is graying. He carries a bit more weight. But there’s no questioning the relation, especially with eyes so stern and features that handsome.

His hands are clasped on top of the desk. He’s wearing three different golden rings, each more expensive-looking than the last. His dark suit has the kind of sheen and fit that only pricey tailored suits have. There’s a pin with our nation’s crest on his lapel.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must speak with you this morning,” he said, and I force down a fearful shiver, recognizing his voice from the phone yesterday. “Last night’s power outage was major cause for concern and I have put my top men into investigating the incident.”

His lies come so easily that if I didn’t know the villain he truly is, I might believe him. He seems so earnest. It’s scary how well he sells it. No wonder he has such a dedicated following, that have helped him be elected again and again.

“Our investigations uncovered an act of sabotage by an employee who, unfortunately, was having troubles at home. I’m not sure why this caused him to lash out against the city itself, but I can assure you that, in collaboration with the local police department, this man has been taken into custody and will be dealt with.”

An image of an unassuming man flashes onto the screen.

Was he part of this scheme from the start? Or is he an unfortunate scapegoat for the Alpha King to pin everything on?

It wouldn’t surprise me that the Alpha King would be cruel enough to pin this on an innocent person, ruining their life to save face. The act of cutting power to part of the city that includes a hospital was selfish enough, that this cruelty seems just one more instance in a long line of cruel instances.

And all my terrible little heart can think is, thank Gods he didn’t try to pin it on the brothers.

Disgusted with myself, I turn off the television. Yet even with it off, I stare at the screen a moment, still seeing the Alpha King’s face.

What a vile man, the worst sort of person.

I need to train harder. I need to really give it my all, push myself to my limits, so people like him can never make me feel as scared as I was last night.

Determined, I hop to my feet and look around the room. As a woman training to be a warrior, I’m not welcome in most public gyms. But this living room should be big enough for me to make into my own personal studio.

I consider the space for a minute, then start pushing furniture. With the couch pushed back, the coffee table turned sideways, and the television moved into the kitchen area, I have a wide space to stretch and train to my heart’s content.

Pleased with myself, I immediately start my stretches. When I’m limber, I begin my training exercises.

I spend hours pushing my body to the limits. Thanks to my slowly manifesting wolf, my muscles heal quicker than before, allowing me to really dig deep inside of myself and test my limits.

By lunchtime, I don’t even feel all that tired.

What I do feel though, is frustrated. I can exercise fine on my own, but if I want to actually train for combat scenarios, I need someone to grapple with. Since not many people agree with women warriors, I can’t imagine just going up to someone and asking them.

The Hayes brothers would help me. Well, they would be begrudging about it since they still didn’t agree with my dream, but I’m sure I could persuade even the most stubborn of them.

But…

I sigh. It’s not that easy, is it?

Before the phone call and the scare, the brothers had been fighting over not wanting to share me. They’d been overly aggressive, nearly fighting each other. For whatever the reason, having actual penetrative sex seemed to set off some kind of primal possessive urge.

If I call one brother over here, and not the others, those feelings would likely only amplify.

Archer would otherwise be the easy choice to train with, as he is the most muscled and the one the most dedicated to fighting. But his possessiveness is perhaps the worst of the bunch. If I invite him, he’ll likely rub it into the others’ faces.

But if I invite Beau or Neil without him, he would likely be so enraged he might just show up anyway.

No, I need someone neutral. Someone none of the others see as a threat.

Because he’s not a threat. Because he wants to wait to have sex until he finds love.

Steven.

Steven is such a perfect choice, I should have thought of him first. He may not be as dedicated to becoming a warrior as the other brothers, but he is still fit and athletic. I’ve spared with him before. He can hold his own okay, so long as I can convince him not to go too easy on me.

I go to the kitchen and get my phone off the charger. Undoubtedly the brothers are still working hard to counter their father. They’ve probably seen the news.

I really shouldn’t bother them with my own needs. But the only way I’ll be able to help is if I am strong enough. And I can only get strong enough with someone to train with.

I call Steven.

He picks up right away. “You okay, Chloe?”

“I’m okay,” I confirm. I take a breath. “Are you really busy right now?”

“It’s not too bad right now. You need something?”

“I’m looking for a sparring partner,” I say.

He pauses a minute. “Did you mean to call Archer?”

“No, Steven,” I say. “I was hoping you would help me.”

He pauses another, longer minute. “I’ll be right over.”