Bound By Moonlight to My Mates (by Sofange Daye) novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10

I follow Lucian out of the pack house. He walks several steps ahead of me, making it clear he doesn’t want to be here any more than I do.

Southpaw Pack members eye me suspiciously as I walk by, but they nod pleasantly to Lucian. It makes me wonder if I had misjudged him. No one would dare to smile at Alpha Ronan. Only those who are in his inner circle are permitted to approach him, but Lucian seems to be at ease with his pack members. Maybe not all Alphas are the same.

Lucian opens the door to the large training facility, and I reluctantly step inside. Despite being the daughter of a Delta, I have never been athletic. My talents were always best outside of the gym. When I was still allowed to go to school, I enjoyed history, but I quickly learned to hide that fact. No one wanted to hang out with the history nerd, but by the time I figured that out, the damage had already been done. Even before my father died, I was a loner, and I grew to prefer it that way.

I look around the gym as I inch my way inside. I was never permitted to enter the training arena at Blackthorn, but this one looks impressive. It also looks daunting. I don’t know how any of this works.

“I think this is a bad idea,” I blurt out.

Lucian either doesn’t hear me or doesn’t care. He rips off his shirt and tosses it onto the ground. He looks me up and down before scoffing when he sees my worn–out shoes. I would hide them if I could. I have had them for too many years,

and they are at least a size too small. I never let myself buy another pair when it was my job to make sure the house was paid for.

“I thought the Blackthorn pack was wealthy.”

My eyes dart to the ground, and I hate myself for showing any moment of weakness. “The pack might be, but I am not.”

I can’t stop the swell of embarrassment that fills my chest, even though I know this isn’t my fault. Lucian seems to catch on, but doesn’t drop the subject.

“Can you run in those?”

I meet his steely gaze, “Do I have a choice?”

His rough exterior softens for a moment. “There is always a choice.”

My jaw ticks with irritation. If there is truly a choice, I would like to turn around and leave. I don’t fully understand why I am even here.

‘Let him train you,‘ Tala grumbles.

I grit my teeth together. “I can run.”

Lucian looks me up and down one more time before gesturing to the track that surrounds the gym. I run at a steady pace, just like my father taught me, and Lucian runs beside me.

The only sound in the empty gym is our feet thumping on the ground. Lucian keeps glancing at me, but doesn’t speak. After the fifth lap, my leg muscles are beginning to burn, and I am sure my toes are bleeding in my shoes. I let myself look over at Lucian, and he has barely broken a sweat. I am determined to run for as long as he wants me to, but each breath I take feels like razors in my chest.

“I need to stop,” I breathe out.

I don’t wait for his permission. My feet drag as I cross the empty gym in search of water. Lucian follows me to the water fountain and watches me as I gulp down water.

Chapter 10

“I’m not looking for a mate.”

I freeze, forgetting to take my hand off the button. The water flies up my nose, and I try to cough to keep from drowning.

“What?” I sputter.

“I am not looking for a mate,” he repeats slowly.

“Neither am I,” I reply, wiping the water from my face.

Lucian’s shoulders sag. “My father… he’s going to push us together. He seems to think you are special, but I don’t. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea.”

I bristle at his words. Here is another Alpha telling me that I am not good enough for him. “You don’t have to worry,” I assure him. “I am not interested. I have done the whole Alpha mate thing before, and I don’t wish to repeat the past.”

He watches me for a moment and thankfully changes the subject. “You are in horrible shape, and you need new shoes.”

“Really?” I pretend to be shocked. “How could you tell?”

Lucian crosses his arms over his chest and snarls. “And you are a smart ass.”

Laughter bubbles in my chest. “Thank you.”

He groans, rubbing his hand down his face. “That wasn’t meant to be a compliment.”

“Really?” I joke.

Lucian rolls his eyes so hard, I think he might have caught a glimpse of his brain. “You will meet me here every morning at 6:00 am for training. You will find some new fucking shoes, and you won’t waste my time.”

I tilt my head to the side. “Why are you bothering to train me? I am not a member of your pack, or any pack for that matter.”

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