He stumbled closer, his arms flung in the air- he fell like a cut-down tree and fumbled with his feet. His heel got caught behind his other foot when he tried to shift to the side and he grabbed around her waist when he realized he wouldn't be able to stop himself.
Ash shifted to the side throwing himself around her as they landed on the ground. The mat softened the fall, as Ash's body did for her and Ash pressed Lola against him to make sure she didn't sustain any injuries as they collided on the mat.
"Ouch," Lola whimpered. Her chin slammed against Ash's shoulder, and dots formed in her vision when her brain took a tumble in her skull from the impact.
She lifted her head, her hands were stuck under Ash's arms and she did not attempt to free them.
They lay there, watching each other, and disappeared into one another's gazes.
Ash lifted his arm and put some stray hairs behind Lola's ear. His thumb graced her jaw and moved down to grab her chin.
A knife was thrown against the wooden markers where the warriors practiced aim. It hit in the middle, in the smallest hole, but it was the sound of the knife slashing through the air and the blade stopping into the wood that pulled Lola back and reminded her of where they were.
She pulled her arms free and sat back, pulling her knees underneath her and patting her pants.
She was suddenly very aware of the eyes that could be on them, the people who would see her lying on top of the Alpha's cousin. Her husband's cousin.
"You're fine." He said and leaned up on his arms.
He saw the discomfort on Lola's face, her cheeks heated and her eyes wouldn't look further away than at her hands.
Ash got up and helped Lola onto her feet.
He looked around. Nobody was watching them because everyone here knew to keep focus on the task at hand.
Everyone handled their own business unless it was a pack matter, something that would affect everyone- that was the only time that it was acceptable to speak on things that other members had done.
But you never spoke on the leaders, that was handled among the ranked members.
Ash knew all of this but Lola didn't. She had no idea how their culture worked and was still acclimating to things as she went.
"Let's head back. I think you've trained enough for one day." He said trying to lighten the mood.
The smile on her face, however small, spread warmth through his chest and he helped her down from the mat.
As they walked past the facilities and the many warriors that were training, Lola noticed a different group in different uniforms on a part of the concrete grounds away from the others.
They moved in perfect unison. Every step and punch- every duck and swing was impeccable as if they were programmed to do so.
"Who are they?" Lola asked.
Ash looked to where the warriors trained.
"That's the Alphas guard. They are specialized warriors meant to protect the Alpha and his family from any threat. They are the last line of defense that an enemy has to get through, their sole purpose is to keep the Alpha alive."
"Sounds scary,"
Ash nodded in agreement, "They are." He said, looking at the men taking formation.
They walked back to the house. Lola pulled the sweater around herself and gawked with jealousy as Ash strode about wearing his t-shirt.
"How are you not freezing?" She asked. A shiver in her voice exposed how cold she truly was.
He laughed and reached his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in against his side.
"I'm not human, remember?" He grinned.
"Neither am I apparently but I still-" her words were cut short when Ash's hand came up to silence her.
He blocked her path, his palm pressed against her lips and he stared with intent burning in his eyes.
"Don't. Don't speak of it, ever," he leaned down and whispered, "You never know who's listening."
Her eyes closed when he lingered by her ear. The air fanned her cheek sending a chill that was warmed by his breath.
A simple sensation that made her toes curl in her shoes and her lips part for a breath to be released.
His fingers rested on her waist, pressing just a little harder but enough for Lola to lean into his touch.
"Lola," he whispered.
"Stop," her palm came up to rest on his chest. She pulled away and stepped back to create a distance.
Those few centimeters were enough, the wind blew in between them, and the chill in her bones returned.
"You can't do that." She said.
"What did I do?" He asked. His arms hung by his sides.
"I'm married to Jax."
"I know. I was there when his mother threatened you to sign the papers."
Lola swallowed the bad-tasting truth that Ash showed down her throat with his words and shook her head. She managed a forced smile and looked towards the mansion a bit away.
"I'm married."
"But are you in love?" He asked, catching her off guard.
Lola paused for a beat, to think or to remember, perhaps both. It had been a while since she stopped to live in her emotions and to answer these questions that she so rarely asked herself; once she answered them they would be too real to ignore.
Jax was the only man who had ever gotten all of her. She had been with a man before, once, but it was nothing compared to how it had been with Jax.
They shared more than a bed or their bodies, their souls were entwined in a wonderful string and she felt his heart- or at least she used to.
She shrugged her shoulders, "I do." She whispered.
Shame washed over her when she uttered those words because somehow, despite all the pain and the loneliness he had caused her as of late, Lola still loved him with her whole heart.
Something that Ash could see.
He clenched his jaw, his eyes shifted color and his emotions were visibly suppressed. He turned around and calmly walked back to the mansion.
Lola stood still and waited, she watched him disappear around the hedges and after a while, she saw his back when he walked up the stairs to the house.
"He can be a hardhead sometimes."
She jerked around, almost falling over on her feet when she heard the girl behind her.
Lavina watched the door to the mansion where Ash had walked in.
"How long have you been standing there?" Lola asked with her hand pressed over her chest to ease the panic.
"Not long," Lavina answered and was quick to add, "and I wasn't spying on you. I went to practice to see a few friends and heard your voices on my way back."
Lola eyed her warily.
"I don't know what you heard but-"
Lavina rolled her eyes and smiled.
"I could be blind and deaf and still I would know that Ash is in love with you. A man with his power becomes a master at hiding most emotions but being in love, especially for the first time, he hasn't quite learned how to mask that one yet."
Lola choked on a breath, her cheeks felt frozen in the cold and her fingers were numb as she held the hem of her sweater.
She wanted to ask, to see if she heard Lavina correctly or maybe it was a misunderstanding but before she got the chance to set things straight a loud snarl sounded viscously behind them.
Lavina turned, her eyes glowed yellow and she moved back towards Lola.
"Get behind me." She ordered as she scanned their surroundings.