Kade's Challenge

Kade was quick to react, but Helena was faster.

She shifted directions as soon as she noticed Kade's attempt to dodge. While she didn't take him down in one motion, she was strong enough to put him off balance.

He tumbled across the mat, barely managing to find his footing, while Helena landed gracefully nearby.

Maximizing her advantage, Helena threw a punch, one that she managed to land, sending Kade to the ground.

She didn't relent and sent her knee to his chest. This time, Kade was more prepared and used her own weight to shove her to the side.

Helena growled as she tumbled across the mat.

"Damn, Alpha for some reason the fact that you can kick my ass makes me feel hot all over," Kade said as he eyed Helena from head to toe.

"Do you have a death wish, Kade?" Neil called out from the side.

"No, but if I had a woman like her, I know I'm never letting go," Kade chuckled.

'It's not like Romeo or Ryder ever did,' Hera commented in Helena's mind.

Helena pushed her wolf's opinions aside as she returned her attention back to the fight.

Kade was on the offensive this time, he threw a punch that she sidestepped and countered with an elbow to his gut.

He quickly twisted and took her down with him.

Helena knew she couldn't let him put her into a hold, so she put as much distance between them.

When she thought she managed to get away, she felt a wrist grab her ankle and yank her back.

"Fuck," she cursed as she was dragged across the mat.

"Told ya I wasn't gonna let go, Alpha," Kade teased.

"You're lucky Alpha Romeo isn't here," Neil called out, to which Kade simply chuckled.

"If he were here, he'd agree with me," Kade shouted back. "She's a woman you don't let go of—"

Kade was cut midsentence as Helena twisted her body, kicking him squarely on the jaw and knocking him out.

"Shit," Neil cursed as several paramedics ran to the mat.

"He's just knocked out," Helena sighed as she straightened herself.

Kade was a tough opponent, and rightfully so. He was part of the elite team. He was one of their best, even back in Stonehill, that's why he knew Helena, he was good enough to be placed in the same training group as her.

As expected, Kade slowly regains consciousness.

He looks up and blinks at Helena.

"I wouldn't mind getting knocked out by you again, Alpha Helena," Kade said as he slowly got up. "Would you mind giving me private sparring sessions?"

"If that's your way of asking me out, Kade, you should try harder," Helena chuckled as she patted him on the back.

"Not to mention you can't handle her," the booming voice of Helena's stepfather came from the entrance of the sparring area.

"Alphas," everyone greeted before bowing in submission.

"She'll get bored of you within a week," Raul teased. "You're too easy."

"Dad," Helena grumbled. "If you'd have your way, I'd never be mated."

Raul laughed as Romeo stared intensely at Helena.

"No, Helena," Raul chuckled as he and Romeo walked up to Helena at the mat. "I would love to see you mated and for you to find the same kind of love your mother and I have found."

Helena gave him a small smile and sighed.

Her stepfather didn't know that she didn't want a mate, and she assumed that, like everyone, he was hoping that she and Romeo would be mates.

"Plus, sparring against Kade was way too easy for you," Raul chuckled.

Helena raised an eyebrow as the Alpha circled the mat.

Everyone had turned their attention to the Alpha, listening to his every word.

"He was quite a challenge, Dad," Helena said as she gave Kade a kind smile.

"Don't patronize him, Helena," Raul said, shaking his head.

"Then who should I challenge, Dad?" Helena asked with a raised eyebrow.

'I don't think you want to hear the answer to that question,' Hera was laughing in her head.

'I already know we're going to regret this,' Helena groaned.

'We? What we?' Hera questioned. 'We didn't ask, you did.'

"Romeo," Raul said.

Romeo's head snapped up, and his gaze met his father's.

Around the room, everyone's expressions were filled with shock.

"Dad! I won't— I can't—" Romeo didn't seem to know what to say.

"Think I can't handle you, Rome?" Helena teased.

'Oh baby, you handle me just fine,' Romeo said through their mindlink with a smirk on his lips.

"She's strong," Raul assured Romeo. "I'm sure Helena can defend herself against you."

Romeo frowned as he looked between his father and Helena.

"Worried I'm too weak for you?" Helena asked as she placed a hand on her hip.

Romeo chuckled and walked up to Helena. He pinched her chin and lifted it so she was looking at him directly in the eyes.

"I don't think you're weak. You're one of the strongest people I know," Romeo declared in front of everyone.

'I can't focus around you, babe,' Romeo confessed through the link again.

"Let's do this Blackmoon," Helena said as she gave Romeo her back and walked to the center of the mat, her heart beating quickly as every eye was trained on her.

"Your call, Blackmoon," Romeo chuckled.

"Never took your Dad's last name," Helena reminded him.

'Who said anything about his last name?' Romeo asked through the link. 'I'm giving you mine.'