Rejected and Regretted (Ashen Wolves #1)

13

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A V R I L

Once I drifted off after the eventful evening, I found myself thinking about Koen even in my sleep.

The dream I had of him wasn’t like any of the ones I’d previously had, where he would visit me on a peaceful flower field and simply talk to me for hours. This time, I dreamt about the alpha’s muscles flexing underneath his delicate clothes right before they were torn into pieces as his powerful beast took control.

Mesmerized, I watched Columbus relentlessly fight the shadows coming for me, his immaculate white fur glistening under the moonlight as if it had been bathed in silver. After defeating the enemies, he turned to me, his gorgeous eyes cleansing my anxious soul like the breeze of the forest. As the wolf took strong, certain steps in my direction, Koen’s voice echoed in my head to whisper, “I’ll destroy everyone who tries to harm you. I’ll protect you, mate.”

I jolted awake. Kea seemed to share my disgust of the fantasy my sleepy mind had created, judging by her shocked state and radio silence. It was obvious the events of last night, combined with what my friends had told me afterward, were troubling me. In an attempt to clear my head, I went for a run around the borders while most pack members were busy with warrior training.

When I finally managed to get rid of my confusing thoughts and feelings, I returned to the main part of the territory to join Theo and Elijah in the cafeteria. They had just come back from training, and I realized I really missed sparring with them - with anyone, actually. Although I had been training by myself in secret for the past few days just to stay in shape, it didn’t match the adrenaline of fighting. I also hadn’t let Kea out since coming here, leaving us both with a lot of accumulated energy.

Yet another reason to locate the artifact as quickly as possible so I could go back to my pack and my routine - and, more importantly, to get away from Koen.

“That the bitch who attacked you yesterday?” Elijah’s voice abruptly pulled me from my thoughts. I blinked a few times before following his gaze, spotting Angelica with her clique sitting at a table in the corner. Almost immediately, I noticed her hand wrapped in bandages. “Damn, Alpha Koen really did mess her up.”

Werewolves healed pretty quickly, especially when it came to fractures. Our bones endured constant breaking, twisting, and reshaping every time we shifted, conditioning our bodies to fix them swiftly. If Angelica’s hand hadn’t returned to normal twelve hours after her injury, it suggested that Koen had inflicted severe damage, likely shattering her bones into countless fragments.

A chill ran down my spine. Amidst the chaos of last night, I hadn’t realized just how violent Koen had been toward the girl. Though I couldn’t really say I felt sorry for her.

“You think that’s the reason he didn’t show up for training today?” Theo guessed, and my ears perked up.

His mate nodded. “It would make sense for him to avoid the attention after having to punish one of his pack members this harshly.”

“Wait,” I chimed in, whispering, “Koen wasn’t at training today?” They shook their heads in unison, making me raise an eyebrow. “Weird. I didn’t find him during my run either.”

I had recently learned that Koen had a habit of training on his own every now and then. However, it was unusual for an alpha to skip a day of training entirely. Could his disappearance really be linked to the events of last night?

I was still trying to put the pieces of this puzzle together when the man himself entered the cafeteria as if he had been summoned. The pack members instantly went silent, and a pinch of satisfaction bloomed within me as I watched Angelica cower in fear in her seat. But it faded the second I realized Koen was marching straight toward my table.

Our gazes intertwined, yet he only broke the silence when he stopped right in front of me. “Avril,” he called, his voice much softer than it had been yesterday. He proceeded to greet my friends before focusing on me again. “How are you feeling? Did you sleep well?”

“Like a pup,” I lied, mustering a smile. If only he hadn’t poisoned my dreams, maybe I could have gotten some rest.

“That’s good to hear,” he replied, palpable relief in his tone.

Again, his visible concern toward me evoked a tornado of emotions, which I quickly suppressed before it could brew into a storm that would leave me disoriented. Not now, Avril! I scolded myself. Don’t let him get to you this easily.

After a brief pause, Koen continued, “Avril, I was wondering…do you have somewhere to be now?”

From the corner of my eye, I noticed my friends exchange glances. I knew exactly what they were thinking, but I chose to ignore them. It wasn’t in my plans to continue the conversation we’d had yesterday, especially after I’d made my point clear.

Clearing my throat, I answered, “No, I don’t.”

“Perfect.” He pulled one of his hands out of the pocket of his trousers, stretching it toward me. “Would you care to come with me?”

Initially, I hesitated. I obviously wasn’t looking forward to spending time with him given how easily he could mess with my mind. Still, for the sake of the mission, I got up from my seat.

“Sure,” I agreed, following him outside the cafeteria.

As we trod the town square together, I sensed worry emanating from him again. It made me tense as well. What the hell was he about now?

Once we were far enough from the other pack members roaming around, he finally revealed, “You know, Avril, after what happened yesterday, I think you should learn self-defense.”

Anger surged within me, threatening to escape in a growl I had to suppress. Koen's perception of me as a fragile she-wolf grated on my nerves. Yet, at least it seemed to reinforce the submissive, weak omega fa?ade I was striving to maintain.

“I would like to teach you, if you’d let me,” he added, surprising me.

Private training lessons with Koen sounded like a nightmare, but, on second thought, it was another great opportunity to get his trust.

“It would be an honor, Alpha Koen. Thank you.” I bobbed my head at him. “When should we start?”

“No better time than now!” he promptly replied, his eagerness taking me by surprise. “Since I haven’t trained today, how about you join me?” So, that was why he didn’t spar with his warriors - he was planning on ambushing me.

“Sounds perfect.” I turned to him with a fake smile. “Thank you for your kindness, Alpha Koen.”

“It’s no trouble,” he reassured me. “In fact, it’ll calm me to know you’ll be capable of defending yourself if someone tries to hurt you again while I’m not around.”

What now? I halted, struck by utter confusion. Thankfully, Koen didn’t seem to notice my reaction as he kept walking. Was I supposed to believe that the man who threw me to the wolves five years ago suddenly cared about my safety?

“Are you coming?” the alpha pressed when he finally realized I had stopped. Shaking my head, I quickly rushed to his side, pretending nothing had happened.

Koen led me out of the main square and into the heart of the woods surrounding his territory. I recognized the spot as his private training area where I had met him a few days ago.

Turning to face me, he asked, “How much do you know about combat?”

I grimaced, feigning oblivion. “Not much.”

“Okay. Let’s start with the basics.”

Koen began his lesson by explaining the fundamentals of self-defense, and I listened attentively as if I didn’t already know all of it. Once the concepts had been laid out, he proceeded to demonstrate various techniques, emphasizing agility, speed, and precision. Then, we finally moved to simulated combat.

“Alright, let me see what you can do,” he encouraged me, assuming a defensive stance.

I took a deep breath, pretending to be hesitant. Truth was, I knew exactly what to do to seem like an inexperienced beginner, but I had to appear unsure. Without any assertiveness, I advanced toward Koen, my fist balled up as I prepared to hit him with a punch on his chest. Given how imprecise and predictable my move was, I was certain he would easily block it.

What I didn’t expect was for him to grab my wrist and, in a swift movement, turn me around, capturing me in his arms.

My back pressed against the solid warmth of his body, his proximity sending my heart into a frantic rhythm. I had never been this close to him, and it caused a surge of conflicting emotions to wash over me. Reluctance and apprehension warred with an unsettling sense of comfort; safety. Shocked, I didn’t even try to break free.

Holding me captive against him, Koen’s soft voice echoed next to my ear. “You shouldn’t go straight for the chest. It’s easy to block and, even if you manage to land the hit, the sternum is solid. Chances are you’re just gonna break your hand.”

I could hear him, but the effect he had on me made it hard for me to make sense of his words. All I could feel was his touch, and all I could smell was his scent intoxicating me, leaving me even more numb.

Then, I sensed his hand moving down the side of my body, lighting my skin on fire as it slipped underneath my shirt. I swear I could feel electricity sparking from the tip of his fingers at his direct contact. They came to rest at the pit of my stomach, just below my ribcage. The sensation lit a fire within me, awakening deep desires I never knew existed.

“Right here,” he continued, his voice barely a whisper, capturing my attention. “This is where you wanna strike. It’s soft and causes more damage. A good hit will leave them breathless, giving you an opportunity to escape.”

As he finished his explanation, I thought he would let go of me - I desperately wanted him to, even if part of me prayed he wouldn’t. But he didn’t. Instead, he leaned closer to me, his nose almost touching my neck.

“Avril…” he cooed, sending shivers down my whole body.

Yet, before he could finish his sentence, a loud siren shattered the quiet.

The atmosphere quickly shifted. I felt Koen stiffen against me before he finally released me, though never letting go of my hand. When his eyes met mine, they were filled with a blend of worry and seriousness.

“What’s that?” I asked, startled, still sensitive from the rush of emotion.

“It’s the alarm,” he answered. “Whispering Hills is under attack.”