Chapter 38: Sparring with the Enemy

A couple of uneventful weeks passed. Holly seemed back to normal, though she remained quieter and paler than usual. Every muscle in my body hurt, and it was an effort to pull myself out of bed in the morning without guzzling a bottle of aspirin.

Evan and Marie had taken Cane's private training directive to extreme…and insane heights. I could almost flip Evan now, though I wondered if he was letting me get closer to him than anyone else would.

We were in the last private session of the week when the doors to the training classroom opened and Cane strolled in. I lost focus immediately, earning a rib punch and a trip straight down to the mat, knocking the air clean out of me. Groaning, I rolled onto my side and panted away the pain.

"It doesn't look like it's going so well," Cane observed as he approached the boundary area.

"Shut it," I growled.

Marie's eyes widened, but Evan laughed. He held a hand out and helped me to my feet.

"Did you need something, Alpha?" he asked.