Into The Shadows (The Shadows Trilogy Book 1) Page 6

  "He hasn't stopped talking about you" Riley adds nodding his head to his brother smirking.

  "Ava is beautiful. I think she's my mate. She's the one, you understand the picture?" he finishes, grinning. I hear an exclamation of "Ouch, what was that for?"

  Riley wonders at his father. "We don't know they are mates, and mating is a sacred thing don't joke about it, boy."

  Looking guilty he turns to his brother apologizing then to me adds, "Forget I said anything," and smiling, “already forgotten" I answer.

  Mollie comes back with a tray of coffee for everyone and taking one I say between sips,

  "We are mates, but I'm not ready yet. A lot has happened too fast I need time." Everyone beams with happiness and pride congratulating us on finding our mate.

  "Some never find their true mate so it is special and a big celebration when we do" Gabriel explains at my baffled expression. My eyes widen in horror at the words big celebration, I hate being the center of attention. "Don't worry we'll keep it quiet until you’re ready for the Mating Day" Mollie adds, and looking to Kyran for an explanation he tells me it is like a wedding but with rituals that tie your souls together. A wolf only ever has one mate and once officially mated the human term divorce doesn't undo it, we only do forever but with the correct other halves spending your life together isn't long enough so never an issue. I'll explain deeper another time when you’re ready babe.

  They all want to know what I am and what happened and since they are family official or not I tell them everything and Kyran fill them in on why he thinks it took him until today for him to be certain I was his mate by the block with his father being the alpha he confirms he’s correct. They’re all quite stunned of my three mixed genes insisting if the government found out I'm going to be wanted by them to be a new test subject and to start training away.

  I check the time. It is getting late and needing to be home soon for bed with work in the morning I politely explain this, and Kyran stands up so I follow.

  "Come on I'll take you back," he says. I say goodbye to his family receiving hugs from them all and told not to be a stranger. Agreeing, I follow Kyran out the door and into the elevator asking,

  "I'm not complaining but what's with the all the hugs?"

  He laughs. “You caught on, huh? We need physical contact to show many things like love, acceptance, reassurance, and hugs are one way of doing that. You didn't realize it but by them all hugging you goodbye means they've accepted you as my mate and therefore into the pack".

  My eyes shoot to my hair line "I'm what?" I ask panicking a bit.

  "You are my mate, of course, you are a part of the pack and since I'm beta the Alpha's second in command it is crucial you're accepted, which you now are and with the wolf in you getting stronger you need to belong to a pack for your wolf’s and your sanity and now you do". I stare at him and tentatively nod. He’s right.

  "I don't know much about paranormals do I?" I snort in annoyance.

  "And what is it about the age thing I thought we’re supposed to be immortal, but your parents and mine seem to be aging although extremely slow I'll grant that." Kyran snorts in amusement and squeezes my hand. He hasn't let it go once.

  "Well, all paranormals stop aging at about fifty each person slightly different but we age little until then, and when we stop and stay the same forever we look between thirty to forty years old."

  "That makes sense, would be odd to have parents who come across as twenty, how old are yours cause their resemblance is so young still" he laughs.

  "Mom is forty-five and Dad forty-six, so they are going to stay the same." I smile at this knowing the same for my parents, and hopefully, I look just as good when I turn fifty but forever young looking. I don't want to be stuck with wrinkles. The elevator dings and we walk out into the underground parking lot towards his Range Rover. Before we get in Kyran pulls me to him wrapping his arms around me and lowering his head slowly giving me enough time to pull away if I don't want him to but boy I do want him to kiss me. I lean in closer taking that for acceptance he moves in, and our lips meet for the very first time.

  My hands go straight for his hair running them through it, and he growls low in his throat and moaning I open up my mouth, he takes full advantage and inserts himself. Our tongues move together slow at first then faster making it into the hottest dirtiest kiss I’ve ever had, he squeezes me tighter and grows hard between his legs. My panties are damp, and I start to crave movement there needing to be filled by him. He pulls away breathing hard.

  "Ava" he growls.

  "Kyran" I moan back, he lowers his forehead to mine resting them together.

  "I warned you not to tease me unless you're ready to play," he kisses me on the lips then steps back.

  "Let's bring you home we've got a busy day tomorrow."

  "We do?" I ask getting my seatbelt in place while he clicks his on and begins driving out the lot, resting one hand on my knee.

  "We both have work then I'm starting your training lessons at the gym in your house or mine whoever's."

  "We're starting already? Wait where do you work?" He briefly looks at me before turning back to the road.

  "Yes Ava, it will be all basic stuff but enough to protect yourself till you’re more advanced over time and at Fitness House I'm a fitness instructor, but I also help dad train new werewolves in combat too."

  Driving into my parking lot we exit, and he walks me to the elevator. "See you tomorrow baby," he says pulling me in for a kiss which leads to another hot make-out, pulling away, his mouth looks fully ravished. "Bye" I say smiling and head straight for bed when I enter the house.

  Chapter Six:

  Training Begins

  * * *

  I walk into Blue Starr with a bright smile, and Una is there ready to pounce in. Her work clothes and hair in a pony.

  "Tell me everything, where did he take you, what was he wearing I bet he looked hot, did you sleep together or at least kiss?" I stare at her then burst out laughing at her antics, removing my sweater putting it and my purse into my locker clocking in.

  "Well let's see," I say, taking a second to pause to draw the suspense out to wind her up she's so impatient which can be either endearing or a nightmare.

  "Kyran took me to Hudson River restaurant. He wore a suit, and he looked like he belonged on a GQ mag cover let's say he got my motor revving but no I didn't sleep with him, what do you take me for? Never on the first date. But yes we kissed" I say walking to the coffee machines turning them on getting ready for customers.

  The door opens, and Paul walks in stopping Una from saying whatever she was about to say.

  "Hi Paul" I call over to him while he starts to take down the chairs off the tables.

  "Hey, Ava how are you?" I'm taking the cups out of the dishwasher.

  "Great, thanks," I reply, and Una pulls me aside.

  "Want to help me collect some more napkins? We’re all out." I snort and follow her into the stock room she's trying to grab my attention for more deets on last night.

  "How was the kiss?" she gushes in excitement for me.

  "It was…" I pause thinking of a word to even describe this sensation too early for love, but my thought is interrupted when Una chimes in saying.

  "Aww, that good?" I’m brought out of my reverie by this I ask confused,

  "What? I didn't say anything." She smiles.

  "Ava, you didn't need to, the dreamy expression on your face and the doe eyes explains it for you."

  "I met his family" I blurt out, her eyes widen in shock.

  "Already?" She wonders, I explain how he started to drive home on autopilot lost in our conversation, and I said it was ok, so we went to his house.

  "And how was it?" She replies. I rehash all that happened in every word knowing she wouldn't leave me alone until I did, by the end of it finishing with the kiss her eyes are bugged out.

  "You’re mates? Wow kinda explains a lot, like the obsession with the wolf and all the little thing
s." Realizing we've left Paul to do all the work, we exit the stock room.

  Later after my lunch, the doorbell chimes a new customer, I turn to greet them but stopped short by Kyran walking over to a table and sitting down, taking a menu in his hand. I move from my spot going over to him getting out my docket pad and pen.

  "What are you doing here?" I asked, not mad but surprised. He watches me smiling, looking gorgeous in a white t-shirt, gray sweatpants and sweaty, and apparently training with his clients at work.

  "What? Can I not visit my girlfriend while she's working and eat some food as a bonus?" He questions teasingly. I'm stupefied.

  "Girlfriend? Is that what I am?" Kyran puts down his menu, and he reaches out for my hand I put my pen back in my apron to allow him to take it.

  "You are, at least I thought you were?” He asks looking lost, I rush to clarify, “no, I do want to be but figured since you're my mate…" I trail off a little confused.

  Relaxing he responds, "well you are that too, but girlfriend is more subtle until we announce our mating when you're ready and is a human term people are more familiar with." That makes sense, so I smile hugely.

  "So you are my boyfriend?"

  He chuckles. "Yeah, babe."

  "Well, I better feed you uh, what will it be?" I ask grabbing my pen back out and clicking it to write.

  "A cheeseburger with fries and a Diet Coke." I take his food order into the kitchen to Ben our chef giving him the docket. Ben has a few pounds on him but isn't large and wears glasses with his short blonde hair slicked back.

  Going back out to the bar I pick up Kyran's drink mentioning his order would be ready soon, I’m busy serving other people, so I leave him too. Ten minutes later his order is up, collecting it I thank Ben then carry the food over to Kyran who's been watching me. I set his burger down and rush to the next customers.

  "Thanks, babe," he says knowing I'm unable to talk. When he’s leaving he mouths, six o'clock to me and I groan inwardly.

  At six, I'm on the couch playing with Axel and catching up with my family after telling them about meeting Kyran's family yesterday and was accepted into the pack. They are happy for me so when the clerk calls up informing us Kyran is here dad buzzes him up as he adds to me, "We should add him to the invited list with his print so he can come over as he pleases."

  "Isn't that too soon dad?" I ask while Axel jumps onto my skin running up and down my arm, I must say I'm getting used to it and he’s always with me now, a little odd having a moving dog on my body though.

  "No, he's your boyfriend, he isn't some guy either, he's your mate, your forever, and we've known him and his family for many years." Dad responds. Twenty minutes later after changing and a hot make-out session I'm down in the gym with Kyran in a black tank, shorts, and sneakers with my hair in a messy bun, he’s wearing the same but in all white and pony tied hair. He's got a no-nonsense attitude and starts immediately.

  "First thing is when we're in training I'm not your mate or boyfriend I'm your trainer only. I'm going to work you hard, push you to your limit daily from now on and most probably hate me at times but remember it is because I care and you are strong enough now to take it". I nod listening as we’re standing on the mats he laid out.

  "These are what I'm gonna train you in over the course of the next few weeks so listen carefully. The first seven techniques are against an attack close in, the other five against strikes and kicks. There are three attacks with a knife, three with a stick and three with guns, ok?"

  "We'll start with Ryote Dori or two hand hold, and I'll show you how to defend yourself in slow easy steps, and gradually you'll be faster till you do it without thinking." I nod taking it all in, I’m excited now.

  Kyran is playing the attacker and me defender and we’re acting his instructions using slow motion.

  "If an attacker, me, grabs both your wrists and attempts right knee kick to the stomach or anywhere else you avoid it by stepping back with the left foot. It will force his or her right hand towards you and to become weak releasing the grip, and continues his or her motion into a knife edge strike to the temple. You'll use your right hand to grab the attacker's right wrist from the top and twist it to the right, ending in an arm and wrist lock forcing the attacker to submit or the arm is broken".

  This time when we run through it the sexual chemistry between us ignites when I use my right hand to grab his right wrist from the top and twist it to the right and end in an arm lock forcing him to submit, the position makes it hard to breathe with the want of him. The sweat sliding down his neck and arms isn't helping for reasons I can't explain. I find it sexy and he’s breathing heavy as we stare at each other, his eyes move down to my heaving chest where my tank is drenched in sweat outlining my breasts bringing attention to them, and he lengthens in his shorts. Kyran jumps up fast backing away as he tells me, "Ok now let's try it again without wanting to rip each other's clothes off." He growls at me his voice like gravel with desire.

  Kyran gives out commands like arm higher, lower, hold tighter, be quicker, kick harder, and keep your head up straight. Kyran's hands are on my waist instructing my balance and speaking into my ear.

  "Move your hips back now spin and grab my wrist," I turn grabbing him into the arm lock kiss him quickly before getting back up and repeating the steps. I stumble, do a lot of grumbling at first, I snark at him, but we laugh, having fun.

  "Who are you to make me do all of this?" I mutter but with Kyran's animal hearing he sure heard.

  "Your boyfriend that's who", I smile wide.

  "I thought you weren't in this room?" shaking his head in amusement at me he says, “Ava, make the move."

  We run through this scenario about thirty times till we’re sweating and I'm exhausted but finally getting the hang of it. I fall onto the mat pleading for a break, and he throws me a bottle of water. I catch it with my hands and down it in a few gulps. He walks over helping me up and kisses me on the lips.

  "Sorry I pushed so hard but one day you might thank me, and right now that is all I care about I want you safe." Nodding cause I do understand if it were me and he needed training with possible threats looming I'd be wanting to kick his ass into shape too, skinny I may be, but I'm not fit with any muscles. Axel has been in the corner watching making sure I'm ok, and Kyran doesn't go too hard on me.

  "I'm heading home, you need to rest, and I'll pick you up after work and take you to my place cause tomorrow I'll push you even harder. And after training, I'll take care of you, run a cold bath for your aching muscles and apply soothing balm for the bruises, ok?" I nod kissing and hugging him before walking upstairs limping a bit as he helps to support me, his arm around my waist.

  My family is on the couch watching TV when they see us coming in and take stock of the shape I'm in, with a mix of anger and worry no doubt wanting me to train and be good fast but not liking witnessing me hurt either. I stride with Kyran to the door and ask if he would want to be in our print file on the HES. He gets the cutest expression of pride on his face like he's won something. I tell him this, and he says, "Well I did, I won you," he kisses me, I hear Aaliyah’s “aww”, but my brothers make gagging sounds. I register the HES with him, and now he can use the elevator without needing the clerk to buzz up.

  "You're finished at five right?" I nod.

  "I'll be there," he reminds me, our lips are touching one last time and leaves. My parents ask what's happening tomorrow, and explain letting them know I'll be at Kyran's house training and not home for dinner.

  At five the next day Kyran meets me as I'm walking out the door and kisses my lips wrapping his arms around me.

  "Hey babe, I missed you, how's our body doing? He asks winking.

  "I can inspect it for you" he adds teasing. I light punch him.

  "I missed you too although your name was thought of with a few choice curse words" I admit, and he winces.

  "I'm sorry." We climb into his Rover heading to the house.

  "Mom has made dinner for us
we'll need to wait awhile before we train and Avery can mind speak, I’ve asked her to help out with training I hope that is ok?"

  "Yeah of course but how is she helping?" I ask.

  "When we're fighting she's going to train you to keep your mind open to telepathic communications but also to protect yourself against anyone trying to invade your thoughts to the point where your head is free and able to read others while receiving messages. But with a built-in firewall, so your mind isn't completely shut off not using your power correctly. You would be capable of doing it while we’re training like second nature until it is natural to you, what better way to learn how to fend off intrusions while under pressure?"

  My eyes are on him, as we leave the elevator walking into his house, I say, "Ok sounds like fun, can't wait" he chuckles.

  "Hi Ava" Mollie greets me with open arms, “I’ve made lamb casserole, hope you like it?" I hug her back.

  "Yeah, thank you," I say following Kyran to the table while Mollie dishes up the dinner.

  "Nice to see you again Ava, Kyran told us you’re training hard?" Gabriel asks me and nodding I answer him.

  "He’s kicking my ass, but fun seeing him all bossy," he smirks and gives me a knowing expression which indicates he knows it isn't the only reason I enjoy it, and I blush turning my face away smiling a little.

  I ask after Riley noticing he’s not here to which Avery explains he’s out on a date rolling her eyes on the word date, and Kyran snorts, his laughter next to me adding, "A date? More like tail" and I understand all too well, in other words he’s out to getting some, and that's not a thought I want to have, so removed that image out of mind. I ask Avery if she works or what she does, and she tells me all about being at New York University but hasn't picked out a major yet, we talk for some time bonding as soon to be sisters-in-law.

  Down in the gym with Kyran and we’re standing on the mats as I'm drinking a bottle of water I listen as he says, “Today we're going to run through yesterday's Ryote Dori then try a new strategy called Hidari Eri Dori, left lapel hold and Mini Eri Dori, right lapel hold. Using my right hand the attacker, me, grabs the left lapel, the part on each side of a coat or jacket below the collar which is folded back on either side of the front opening, and pushes defender, you, back while stepping forward with the right foot. You hold attacker's left hand as he steps back with his left foot pulling the attacker off balance and strikes his or her eyes with the back of his or her right hand. You then grab his or her right wrist from the top with your right hand, placing your left hand on his or her right elbow and stepping back with your right foot. You end the attack by forcing the attacker to the ground with a wrist and elbow joint lock, controlling his or her body with your left knee".