Page 26 of In Plain Sight

“Ruby, you’re the daughter of an Alpha, and now that we’re mated, anyone could issue a challenge against you. I need you to take this seriously.”

She gave me a comical look. “No, they can’t.”

“What? Of course they can. For the next four months you are vulnerable to challenges. Thomas will be making a Pack announcement any day now about our mating.”

“That’s archaic, Bran. There’s a push back to the Grand Council about challenges regarding true mates. We’re true mates. Thomas petitioned them to change the rules, along with several other Packs. Until the Grand Council formally addresses their appeal, no announcement, no accepted challenges for true mates. Period. If that’s what this is all about, then you can stop worrying. I’m safe.”

“I’ve never heard of such a thing,” I said aloud, but more to myself.

“Ask Thomas about it if you don’t believe me.”

“You’re my mate, I will always believe you above all else, but that changes nothing. I will rest more comfortably when I know you can protect yourself from any situation, so we train.”

For the next hour I put her through a grueling workout to test her endurance, her strength, and her weaknesses. She was in excellent shape and her motor skills were solid, but she was easily distracted, and her combat movements were slow. I needed her to commit them to muscle memory. Using a Japanese karate technique, I gave her a pattern of movements to practice, similar to a kata but representing those motions I needed her to memorize.

We went over the movements slowly as I demonstrated the blocks, strikes, and even a roundhouse kick. She duplicated my motions as we repeated the pattern over and over until at last Ruby collapsed onto the couch, flushed and sweaty and begging for a break.

I looked at the time and knew our dinner would be ready soon.

“That’s enough for today. You can go shower and I’ll listen for the buzzer on the oven,” I told her.

As she left with a groan, I searched around until I found a piece of paper and a pen. I quickly jotted down notes of what I’d had her do, how she’d responded, what I’d assessed, and the kata I had put together for her to practice.

She was back just as the oven sounded, but looking exhausted, so I tended to the remainder of our meal and served her. There was something very satisfying about meeting my mate’s needs in this way.

When dinner was done, I shooed her away and cleaned up. After dishes were done, I showered, not even bothering to put on the pajamas I had borrowed from Gage. I knew my first paycheck would come the next week and I planned to take whatever money I made and invest in new clothes so I could return the loaned ones.

Ruby watched me as I walked towards the bed and she groaned, sounding completely miserable. “Every muscle in my body is already aching,” she whined.

I knew she thought I expected sex. I climbed into my side of the bed and pulled the covers over me, then I reached out to her. “I only wish to hold my mate tonight,” I assured her.

She turned wondrous eyes my way like she was trying to assess if I was being serious. I almost chuckled. True, we’d gone at it like rabbits for days and I doubted I would ever get enough of her, but there was more to being mated than just the sex.

“I can go an entire day without sex, you know,” I said with a laugh. “Come here.” I pulled her to me and she sighed contentedly as she rested her head on my chest. I kissed the top of her curls. “Sweet dreams.”

Ruby

Chapter 10

I got up the next morning feeling a little sore. It had been the best sleep I’d had in ages though, and I was running a little behind. Bran was already up and making breakfast. He had been so attentive after my training the night before and I felt spoiled.I can definitely get used to this,I thought.

I noticed immediately there were no clothes on the floor next to the hamper. I brushed away that little voice that reminded me it was probably because he hadn’t bothered to put on pajamas the night before and didn’t have any clothes to leave on the floor.

Bran was at the stove cooking bacon. There was a plate full of eggs on the counter and a heaping pile of sausage and ham, too. The smells made my stomach rumble, but the sight of my gorgeous mate in the kitchen made my mouth water.

I wrapped my arms around his waist from behind. "Good morning."

I could hear the smile in his voice when he said, "Good morning to you, too. Grab some breakfast before you go. I'm almost done here.

I let him go, to get a plate and help myself. He tossed on a couple of extra pieces of bacon on top, then turned off the stove and filled his own plate full.

We ate in comfortable silence, then I gave him a quick kiss before running out of the house. I was a few minutes late, which wasn't like me at all. Even knowing no one would care, it bothered me to be late.

"Ruby girl, I was just about to come and find you. Doc was by this morning to check on the animals and looks like Mellie is showing signs of labor. I knew you would want to be with her, so I went ahead and changed the schedule around some to free you up,” Mr. Draper said.

"You really think today's the day?"

"It's looking promising, but could be tomorrow," he said excitedly.

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