Page 74 of Claimed By My Fiancé's Brother

He was asking me to land a hit on him. Just one.

I could do that.

“I want an apology as well.” I folded my arms, ready to milk the opportunity for all it was worth. “You’ll say, ‘I’m so sorry, Eleanor, for being a controlling prick with a stick shoved so far up my?—’”

Alexander lifted an eyebrow incredulously, as if to say we both knew he wasn’t going to do that.

I huffed. Fine, I could temper justice with mercy.

“‘I’m sorry for being a controlling prick’ will do,” I sighed.

The corner of Alexander’s lips twitched like he was holding in a smile, but that was impossible. The controlling prick didn’t have a single humorous bone in him.

“We have a deal.”

Dismissing Gerard, Alexander led me away from the cluster of trees to an open area where we could be alone and move freely.

Then the fight commenced.

Calling it a fight might have been a bit of a stretch, seeing as all Alexander did was stand in one place with his arms crossed over his chest, the cockiest expression known to man on his face as he waited for me to attack him.

During our training, West had always emphasized the importance of being calm and rational, attacking only after noting the weaknesses of an enemy, but I was impossibly far from calm right now. Anger bubbled up inside of me at Alexander’s blatant disregard for the fighting skills I’d worked so hard to build.

One hit. I could do this.

I went after him, ignoring the twinge in my side.

One moment, I was closing the distance between us, leaning into Lara’s speed to land a hit before Alexander could dodge; the next, Alexander closed the gap between us, reaching me faster than I could blink.

Already committed to my attack, I couldn’t backtrack as Alexander wrapped his arms around me—one around my neckin a loose but binding chokehold, while his hand held both of my hands captive behind my back.

I felt his cool breath on the side of my neck, sending shivers running through me as he leaned in to whisper,

“This is how easily you can be overpowered when you ignore my advice and rush into situations you are unprepared for, Eleanor.”

His voice was a thick rumble that had absolutely no business sounding so dark and sensual.

My core clenched reflexively, and I inwardly cursed my traitorous body and my wolf, who was egging me on.

A low growl left Alexander as if he could sense the shift in me. His grasp on my wrist loosened slightly, his thumb stroking across the skin on the inside of my wrist.

It was such a small touch that shouldn’t have made my breath catch. It definitely shouldn’t have made me lean back slightly into Alexander’s touch.

His grip on my neck became less of a chokehold and more possessive, his thumb dangerously close to my mating mark, sending sparks racing through me.

That was when I moved, my head jerking back to headbutt Alexander. Reeling back in surprise, his hands fell away from me, bringing back a modicum of my much-needed sanity.

I didn’t let myself think about it. Moving instinctively, I hooked my foot behind his, taking advantage of Alexander’s imbalance to trip him.

Then I was straddling him, my bared claws at his throat.

“I agree that I still have a lot to learn,” I admitted, my voice coming out stronger than I’d anticipated. “But I’m not a damsel in distress who needs you to control my life. I’m responsible for myself, not you.”

Alexander stared at me as though he’d never seen me before, setting my cheeks aflame in embarrassment.

“I’m sorry for being a controlling prick,” Alexander said without an ounce of sarcasm, his eyes still steady on mine. “I’ll speak with West about your training.”

He was just following the terms of our deal, so why on earth did the candor in his voice make my heart skip a beat?

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