KAIA’S POV
I'm bored out of my mind, tossing around the bed like a caged animal. He disappeared early this morning without saying where he was going, and I've been alone for hours.
"This is ridiculous," I mutter to myself. "I need some fresh air."
I walk out of the pack house and decide to take a stroll around the grounds. Maybe I'll find something interesting to occupy my time.
The morning sun feels good on my skin as I wander through the pack territory. I can hear sounds of activity coming from somewhere nearby - voices shouting, the clash of metal on metal.
Curious, I follow the sounds until I reach what looks like a training ground. There's a large open space surrounded by weapon racks, with several pack members engaged in various forms of combat practice.
But one person catches my attention more than the others.
Ronan.
He's in the center of the ring, shirtless and sweating, fighting against two opponents at once. His movements are fluid and powerful, each strike precise and controlled.
"He's incredible," I whisper to myself, unable to look away.
I watch as he disarms one opponent with a quick twist of his wrist, then spins to block an attack from the second. His muscles ripple with each movement, and there's something almost artistic about the way he fights.
He's not just strong - he's graceful. Deadly. Beautiful.
I can't help but smile as I watch him dominate the sparring match.
Suddenly, his eyes find mine across the training ground. Even in the middle of combat, he notices me watching him.
He signals for me to come over, but I shake my head quickly. I don't want to interrupt his training.
But Ronan being Ronan, he doesn't take no for an answer.
"That's enough for now," he calls out to his sparring partners. "Take a break."
The other pack members nod respectfully and move away, giving us space as I reluctantly walk onto the training ground.
"I told you I didn't want to interrupt," I say when I reach him.
"You're not interrupting," he replies, picking up a sword from a nearby rack. "You're joining."
Before I can protest, he throws the sword at me. I catch it instinctively, the weight familiar in my hands.
"Let's do some sparring," he says with a grin.
"Ronan, I don't think—"
"Come on," he interrupts, picking up his own weapon. "Show me what you've got."
I sigh, knowing there's no point in arguing with him when he gets that determined look in his eyes.
"Fine," I say, falling into a fighting stance. "But don't blame me when I embarrass you in front of your pack."
He laughs. "We'll see about that."
We circle each other slowly, both looking for an opening. Then Ronan makes the first move, a quick thrust that I barely manage to parry.
"Good reflexes," he comments as we continue to exchange blows.
"I had a good teacher," I reply, ducking under his next swing.
"Who taught you to fight?"
"My father," I say, pressing my attack. "He said every woman should know how to defend herself."
"Smart man," Ronan agrees, blocking my strike with ease.
We spar for several minutes, and I have to admit it feels good to be active again. My muscles remember the movements, even though it's been years since I've had a proper sword fight.
"You're good," Ronan says as we break apart, both breathing hard. "Really good. A little more training would make you superb."
"Are you offering to train me?" I ask, wiping sweat from my forehead.
"Maybe," he says with that cocky grin I'm starting to recognize.
We resume our sparring, but after a few more exchanges, Ronan suddenly speaks again.
"The Seer was at the house earlier this morning," he says casually, as if he's commenting on the weather.
"The Seer?" I ask, momentarily distracted. His sword nearly catches me off guard.
"She had some interesting things to say about us," he continues, pressing his advantage.
"What kind of things?" I demand, parrying his next attack.
"She said your virginity is the key to our bond," he says, and I nearly drop my sword in shock.
"What?!" I gasp, stumbling backward.
Ronan halts his attack, smiling at my reaction. "She said that when you choose to give yourself to me, it will complete a bond unlike anything she's ever seen before."
"That's... that's ridiculous," I stammer.
"It’s not. It means I have even more reason to wait until you choose to give it to me," he says simply. "If your virginity is truly the key to our bond, then it needs to be your choice. Completely and totally your choice."
I stare at him in amazement. "You're serious."
"Dead serious," he confirms. "I won't take something that precious from you. It has to be freely given."
The sincerity in his voice takes my breath away.
I look at this man standing in front of me, sweaty and powerful and completely genuine, and I feel something shift inside my chest.
This isn't the arrogant Alpha I expected. This isn't a man who takes what he wants without caring about consequences. This is someone who respects me. Someone who sees my virginity not as an obstacle to overcome, but as a gift to be treasured.
"You're not what I thought you'd be," I admit quietly.
"What did you think I'd be?"
"Selfish," I say. "Controlling. Someone who would take what he wanted regardless of how I felt about it."
"And now?"
I study his face, seeing the vulnerability there, the genuine care in his dark eyes.
"Now I don't know what to think," I confess.
"Is that good or bad?"
"I don't know," I admit.
For five years, my anger has been the only thing keeping me going. My need for revenge, my hatred for your family - it's been my purpose, and now I'm wondering if holding onto that anger is worth losing my chance at happiness.
The admission scares me more than I want to admit.
Because if I let go of my revenge, if I stop seeing Ronan as the enemy, what happens then?
What happens if I actually fall for him?
What happens if I'm already falling?