Page 80 of My Fated Mate

This sparring is our way of letting loose, a release from the emotions that still simmer beneath the surface.

"Easy for you to say. You practically teleport around the clearing."

He lunges again, this time incorporating a feint that almost catches me off guard. I twist away just in time, a burst of laughter escaping my lips.

Sparring with Thorne is exhilarating, a dance of strength and agility that pushes me to my limits.

Suddenly, the playful atmosphere shatters.

A low growl ripples through the pack members, observing from the sidelines. Thorne and I exchange a confused glance, the training session momentarily forgotten.

"Enough with the disrespect, woman!" A burly wolf named Garek snarls, stepping forward from the throng. His fur bristles with aggression, and his eyes gleam with a dangerous glint.

"Disrespect?" I scoff, my playful smirk fading. "What are you talking abou—"

"Don't lie to us, trickster!" Nadia, a female wolf with sharp features, cuts me off. "We've all seen your arrogance, your constant need to belittle our Alpha."

I’ve been subjected to bullying like this ever since I came here. They all feel I’m treating Thorne with disrespect after he helpedme when I was rejected. Many of them don’t realize I was rejected by their Alpha.

My jaw clenches in anger.

And why is everyone so invested in my business with him?!

These wolves clearly haven't grasped the nature of our interactions. The playful barbs, the feigned insults—it's our way of connecting, a private joke built on the foundation of our turbulent past.

But before I can explain, Thorne steps forward, his voice low and dangerous. "That's enough."

His words have a forceful impact, silencing the disgruntled pack members.

They may not understand the dynamic between us, but they respect their Alpha's authority.

"Elowen and I were training," Thorne continues, his gaze sweeping over the pack. "A little playful sparring to sharpen our skills."

Garek lets out a disbelieving snort. "Sharpening skills? Or sharpening your tongue on the Alpha?"

Thorne stares at the gathered wolves. "Listen well," his voice booms with authority. "Elowen is more than just a rude woman in our midst. She's my fated mate. Which I’m sure we all know."

I watch their faces, their expressions morphing from suspicion to curiosity.

"And," Thorne continues, his voice hardening, "those of you who disrespect her disrespect me." He pauses, his gaze settling on Garek and Nadia. "Do I make myself clear?"

Garek shrinks under the Alpha's imposing stare, his bravado evaporating like morning mist. Nadia, however, holds his gaze for a moment before grudgingly bowing her head.

Relief washes over me, mingled with a surge of unexpected warmth. Thorne, for the first time, publicly acknowledged our bond. And despite the initial shock, the pack seems to grudgingly accept it.

Just as the tension dissipates, a voice slices through the newfound calm. "But Alpha," a young wolf named Jakob whispers, stepping forward hesitantly, "why does she disrespect you so? She’s your fated mate but she’s rejected and you still accepted her."

A chorus of murmurs rises in agreement.

Thorne takes a deep breath, his gaze meeting mine for a fleeting moment. Then, he turns back towards the pack.

"Elowen is not just any mate," he begins, his voice rough with unspoken feelings. "She's the prophesied mate, the one who holds the key to our survival."

A gasp ripples through the pack. Whispers erupt, a mixture of shock and disbelief.

"She doesn't disrespect me," Thorne declares, his voice laced with a raw vulnerability that silences the pack. "If anything, I deserve every ounce of anger she harbors."

A stunned silence descends upon the clearing. Eyes flit between Thorne and me, searching for clues in our expressions.

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