Page 15 of Alpha's Hated Mate

She shrugs. “Makes sense, though, right? He’s a new Alpha of a pack that I hear is pretty influential. A damned good-looking one, too.”

“He’s also Nadia Vaultmore’s brother. Don’t forget that.”

Yarra smirks at me. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you two say boo to one another, and you already have some kind of problem with him? Just because his sister is Nadia? That’s not very tolerant of you.”

I don’t really have a response to that, and that’s fine. The professor just walked into the room. Class is about to start.

Our Defense teacher, Professor Kayne, is a muscular wolf with short black hair, a beard, and hairy shoulders. He has the look of a wolf that just stays mid-change most of the time, even though he’s in human form. His nails are a little too long and shiny, his large hands are rough and calloused, and even though I’msurehe’s not sporting fangs, it wouldn’t surprise me if he was.

“Morning class. Let’s circle up.” His big, booming voice bounces off the high walls and spurs us into motion. As we fall into place, I glance behind me to see Aydan still standing by the door.Wonder what that’s all about?

“Today, we’re covering a little hand-to-hand combat,” Professor Kayne says. “Some of you will leave Moonhelm to be the Alphas, Lunas, or the top defenders of your pack. And some of you will just live your lives as part of the wheels that turn within Clarion. Whichever way you go, knowing how to defend yourself against an attacker ofanykind could mean the difference between life and extinction.”

Life and extinction. Professor Kayne certainly has a flair for the dramatic.

“I know that many of you are well equipped to spar in your wolf forms, but this world and the one beyond has more than just wolves in it. You need to know how to defend yourselves as humans. That’s where we’re starting today.” He glances over at Aydan, who is still standing by the door. “Now, you may have noticed we have an observer today. Mr. Vaultmore has had extensive combat training in his pack and has agreed to assist. Please give him the proper amount of respect that you would also give me.”

Everyone else is looking back at Aydan. Not me. I’m ignoring him and his scent.

“Let’s pair up. Male/female.” He claps his hands to get us moving.

I glance at Yarra, and my shoulders slump a little. She’s usually my partner since no one else ever wants to spar with me. Immediately, one of the Howler wolves, Sam Orman, chooses her. He just so happens to be this giant, hairy beast of a wolf, and every time I’ve seen him he’s always howling loudly with his buddies in random places around campus. Yarra walks off with him while everybody else pairs up . . . and now I’m acutely aware of the odd number of wolves in the room.

Spineless cowards. All these big tough wolves, and they’re all so scared I might lose control or something. Whenever this happens, I usually end up sitting things out or being the one that the professor demonstrates a thing on. I’m getting tired of playing the test dummy.

I go to sit down on the side when Professor Kayne says, “Hold on, Ms. Kamaria.”

I stop and turn to him, expecting him to call me to the center of the circle to practice. Instead, he turns to Aydan and asks, “I know you’re just here to observe, but would you mind? We have an odd number, and Ms. Kamaria needs a partner.”

Aydan’s eyes ask the same question I’m thinking.Why don’t you do it?He doesn’t say it, though. He just rolls up his sleeves and walks toward the circle. “Of course, Professor,” he says.

He stands next to me, and I’m drowning in his scent. The warmth coming off his body seeps into me, and I can already feel my thighs getting moist.

“Maybe you should change,” he says. “Might make it easier on you.”

I scoff. “That’s not the assignment. Plus, I’m sure you don’t want to mess up that expensive shirt.”

“There’s nothing you’ve got that I can’t handle,” he says, his voice low enough just for me to hear it.

Asshole.

Professor Kayne goes, “All right, students. I want a good five minutes to show me what you’ve got. Go.”

We all step to our own corners of the gym. I glance over my shoulder at Yarra, who’s looking back at me with her big blue eyes. Sam’s pretty big, but she’s tough. I’m not so worried about her. Me, however . . .

Aydan stands in front of me with his arms folded. “You can have the first shot.”

“Don’t do me any favors,” I say to him.Fuck, he smells so good.Right now, it’s less like rainwater and more like a waterfall. It’s so distracting.

“I’d rather take a defensive position. I don’t want to hurt—”

I don’t give him a chance to finish. I drop to the floor and sweep his legs in one motion. Caught off guard, he collapses, his back hitting the wood. He winces as I get to my feet.

“First rule of combat,” I say. “Always be ready.”

He smirks a little, then sits up. “Okay.”

I walk over to him to help him to his feet. The second he grabs my arm, he yanks me forward and rolls on top of me. He pins me down and leans into me, his breath in my face.

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