Chapter Seven
The morning air wascrisp, the faint hint of pine mixing with the scent of magic that lingered around the clearing.Hunter stood with his arms folded as Lennox paced beside him, watching the wolves stretch and spar across the open field.Their movements were fast, efficient, but rough around the edges—too used to working only with their own kind.
“Do you think they’ll ever get this thing started?”Lennox muttered.“I’ve got energy to burn off.”
Hunter smirked.“Only if you stop growling every time one of them gets close to Brielle.”
Lennox rolled his eyes.“Can’t help it.My bear’s still adjusting to all this wolf energy and despite knowing that their mates are right here, too, I don’t like them being so close to our mate.”
Hunter sighed.“Me neither, brother, but your jealousy is showing, and you gotta push that bastard down.”
Brielle’s laugh carried from where she stood near Willow, Saffie, and Ursula, all of them preparing a warding circle.Her curls gleamed in the morning light, her brown skin glowing like bronze.Every time she lifted her hands, the air shimmered faintly with power.Even without touching her, Hunter could feel the pulse of her magic through the earth beneath his boots.It made his bear stir, restless and protective.
“All right,” Brielle called, her tone playful but commanding.“Let’s see if you boys can work together without breaking anything—or anyone.”
“Define ‘breaking,’” Lennox called back.
Willow snorted.“Anything that bleeds unnecessarily.”
Lennox grinned.“No promises.”
Hunter shook his head with a laugh and stepped forward as Nolan approached, both of them in loose workout gear.“Ready?”Nolan asked.
“As we’ll ever be,” Hunter replied.“Let’s see what you’ve got, wolf.”
Nolan’s answering grin was all teeth.“Don’t cry when I make you eat dirt, bear.”
The spar started slowly—circling, testing, two predators measuring each other’s weight and timing.Hunter lunged first, but Nolan ducked under his swing, sweeping his leg and forcing Hunter to shift his balance.They exchanged quick strikes—Hunter’s strength meeting Nolan’s speed—and both laughed as they reset.The tension wasn’t hostile.It was challenge, understanding, the give and take of warriors learning each other’s rhythm.
The witches cheered them on, and even Lennox barked a laugh as Nolan managed to slip a punch through Hunter’s guard.“You’re slow, old man!”Nolan taunted.
Hunter grinned, blocking the next hit and using his weight to send Nolan rolling through the dirt.“Not bad,” he said, helping him up.“For a wolf.”
“Not bad yourself,” Nolan replied, brushing dust off his arm.“Guess we can work with that.”
Brielle stepped between them before round two could begin, her eyes dancing.“Boys, you’re supposed to be learning cooperation, not destruction.”
Lennox sauntered closer, grinning.“You sure?I thought this was the fun part.”
“Focus,” Brielle said, trying to sound stern but failing when Lennox winked.
The next hour turned into a rhythm of drills—wolves and bears learning how to anticipate each other’s movements, alternating between mock fights and defensive formations.Hunter discovered the wolves’ speed made them perfect distractions, while his and Lennox’s raw strength could finish what they started.When Saffie joined in, casting barriers mid-battle, the coordination took on an almost dance-like precision.
By midday, the group was sprawled across the clearing, exhausted but laughing.Nolan tossed Hunter a water bottle.“You two might be stubborn as hell, but you fight like a storm.”
“Coming from a wolf, I’ll take that as a compliment,” Hunter said, grinning.
Lennox was lying on his back, one arm over his eyes.“I think my bear’s gonna sleep for a week.”
Brielle knelt beside him, brushing her fingers across his stomach.“Poor baby.Maybe I’ll give you a massage later.”
Hunter chuckled.“You offering that to both of us?”