Chapter 20- Training Ground

After lunch we all changed into some good training clothes. I watched as Grace got changed into her tight workout pants and a sports bra. I was still amazed by her natural beauty. Without even trying she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.

“Hey handsome. Do you need a picture?” Grace laughed as she threw a towel at my head.

She was now lacing up her running shoes. Rose had told me that Grace had taken some martial arts classes and that she was fast. I believed that she was fast after watching her wolf run. I was curious to see if she was now faster because she had her wolf now.

“Oh, a picture would never be as good as the real thing!” I said back leaning down to kiss her forehead.

“Alright, the smooth taking is not going to get you out of this training. If the book says I must than I will.” I had seen that when Grace had a goal it was not productive to get in her way.

“And why would I not want to train?” Just now realizing what she said. She laughed.

“Because I will beat you. And you will have to fight me.” She stood up on her tip toes and kissed my lips.

“How are you gonna to beat me?” I questioned.

This girl who had never fought before. She simply shrugged and ran out of the room. I raced to catch up with her. When I finally did I was breathing slightly heavy. It answered my question on whether she was faster now or not. She certainly was quite fast, and she would have to use that on the training grounds.

“Gracie there is something you must know. Training for wolves. It isn’t like martial arts classes. We beat one another up. We hit and cut and bruise. We heal quickly and the best method to train is hands-on.” I heard Grace take a deep breath and then a long release.

“Rose was telling me about that. I think I can handle myself. Wolf form is what I am most worried about.” I was left wondering when Rose had shared that information but also glad that she was already prepped and had a good idea of what she was about to get into.

“Well, Hello there lovebirds!” I heard Ian call out. I waved and we jogged over to meet him over on the field. “Are you ready Grace?”

“As ready as I can be. I think I just need to start.” Grace was bouncing alive with energy and nervousness on what to expect.

“Alright. Well, we are going to begin in human form, to get you comfortable. I am pairing you up with Rose.” I was a bit worried about this. Rose was one of our strongest females and had proven her strength more than once.

“You sure Ian?” Ian and Grace both looked at me as if I had no idea what I was talking about.

“Sounds great Ian!” Grace said and she headed over to the middle of the field where Rose was standing.

“Why are you worried Clay?” Ian leaned in to tell me.

“She just isn’t used to fighting this way and Rose is tough.” Ian laughed when I said this, as if he knew a secret that I didn’t.

“She didn’t tell you huh?” Ian laughed again and ended with, “Watch.”

I turned my eyes to the girls. My mate and my sister had shaken hands as if they were in a boxing match and had begun circling one another. They both bounced back and forth and the energy they brought to the match was evident.

Rose moved first, she punched aiming for Grace’s face. Grace turned to the side missing the blow easily. Grace than slide her foot out and knocked Rose’s feet out from under her. Rose did a somersault and landed on her feet. Grace then launched herself towards Rose and Rose missed the blow by folding backwards in half. She flipped backwards and again landed on her feet. Rose aimed again to Graces face and then hit her stomach. Some air flew out of Grace, but she recovered quickly and hit a one- two punch at Rose’s face. Rose was not able to miss them as they were too quick.

Grace used the moments and leapt onto Rose’s back swinging down and taking Rose to the ground. She had her pinned for five counts and then let her up. Both girls shook hands and started giggling. I couldn’t help but stare at the two of them dumbfounded.

Ian leaned in and whispered, “Your sister told me that her a Grace have spared for as long as she had imagined. This wasn’t the first time for Grace.” I laughed as the reality came to me that my mate was badass. I had been so concerned, no wonder she thought she could beat me.

The girls walked over both laughing and talking about their match.

“Why did you not tell me?” I said looking at both girls. They started to laugh even harder.

“You kept thinking I was so soft; I didn’t know how to tell you that I had been fighting my whole life.” Grace said kissing me in a sweet quick kiss on the cheek.

“I just wanted to see your face after.” Rose laughed again. “Did you see the shock?” She was bent over laughing.

“I don’t think it was that funny.” I stated flatly.

“It was pretty funny. I did not know your jaw was the big Clay.” Ian replied and everyone started laughing all over again.

“Ok. I get it. Joke is on me.” I joined in on the laughter. Knowing that my mate could handle herself even without shifting was a comfort that I could not begin to explain.

“Are you ready?” Grace said to me with a sly grin on her face.

“Ready for what?” I replied with an anxious look. Part of me hoped she wanted to fight in a match but at the same time the thought of punching my mate seemed like something I could not bring myself to do.

“A match. Only wrestling no punches. I do not think I could punch you.” She looked so excited about it and how could I say no to the idea of wrestling my mate. Just then I caught a whiff of something very intriguing and realized she seemed to be thinking the same way as I did.

“Sure, a wrestling match.” I answered out loud but then leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “with or without clothes?” She laughed and smacked my arms.
“Clothes now. Without later.” Was the reply Grace gave, and my heart beat faster knowing how my day was going to end.

We got to the middle of the field and shook hands. She was again bouncing the energy surging off her. I do not know if she actually knew how energy just came off her in waves, but it was electrifying to me.

I aimed for her legs, but she simply jumped over me. She jumped higher than I had ever seen anyone not in wolf form jump and landed on her feet. She looked shocked for a moment, and I realized she did not know she could do that.

She came from behind me and hugged me around the middle. I let myself fall on top of her and heard her back hit the ground in a thud on the dirt. The air came out of her lungs, I rolled off her quickly, I knew she was ok. I sat in a squat as she rolled into one as well. I lunged at her, again she jumped over me. She slid back my way, as a baseball player sliding to home and took my legs out from under me. She jumped on top of me as my back landed on the ground and placed my hands above my head. Her legs pinched around my middle, and I knew there was no hope of getting out of the entanglement she had gotten me into. After five counts she released me. I started to laugh.

“No wonder Rose was not worried about the whole training thing. You are excellent.” I was so very proud of my mate. She certainly was fit to be the golden wolf. I was not worried about Grace but I was a bit concerned about Grace and Lilliana together.

“Well Thank you sir.” She said bowing in front of me, “why do you look so worried?”

“I am not worried. We just need to get you in wolf form to see you fight.” I heard her take in a deep breath. This is where her confidence was lacking and that she was unsure and scared about.

“Remember what the book said. It is important for you to fight together. To become one together.” I reassured Grace and drew her in for a long kiss. I momentarily forgot we were in the middle of the training field until I heard a voice.

“Well well, looks like our golden wolf has some talent that she did not share with us.” I heard my father say. I broke away from the kiss and heard Grace moan from missing my lips. I felt the same way she did and could hardly wait till I truly had her all to myself again.

“Yes Dad. She is quite good. Now we are going to begin wolf training.” I looked at her and she nodded. I knew we needed to do this and that it was the most important way for her to truly feel one with Lilliana.