Page 41 of Sweet Omega
“I doubt that,” Tarymn said dryly.
“What?” Hym shot back, standing up with a dramatic huff. “I would’ve been the alpha, no question. You’re just jealous.” He stretched his arms over his head, then grinned. “Come on, we’re hitting the gym. I guess you forgot who kicks your ass every time.”
“You want to spar?” Tarymn asked, raising an eyebrow. “Now?”
“Afraid?” Hym teased, already heading for the hallway. “You know you’re going to lose.”
Tarymn shook his head but followed, trailing behind his brother through the wide hallways to the other wing of the house.
“Here.” Hym tossed a bundle of loose clothes at him.
Tarymn caught them and sighed as Hym began changing into his gear, already bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet. He clearly needed this.
“Come on,” Hym called from the middle of the mat.
“Patience,” Tarymn muttered, tugging his shirt over his head and changing quickly. He stepped onto the mat just as Hym came at him, fast and hard.
“Easy!” Tarymn grunted, stumbling slightly as he blocked the hit.
They grappled, neither one taking the lead, their bodies moving with muscle memory and the familiar rhythm of old sparring matches. They crashed, twisted, countered, and fell. Again and again. Until sweat dripped from their temples, and their lungs burned from the effort.
“Time out,” Hym panted, flopping onto the mat and wiping his forehead with his wrist. “I’m dying.” Tarymn dropped beside him, equally breathless. “Where did that come from?”
“What?”
“Usually, I’d have you pinned by now,” Hym said between gulps of air.
Tarymn shrugged, smirking. “I usually let you win.”
“Liar,” Hym said, nudging him with his elbow.
“I do,” Tarymn replied, his smile fading slightly. “I prefer my wolf contained. Controlled. You thrive in yours’s wild, dominant and aggressive nature. I don’t. I don’t like letting go like that.”
Hym sat up, his expression softening. “Is it because of Dad? Because he… lost it a bit after Mom died?”
Tarymn stood without answering, collecting his clothes from the floor.
“Not everything is about him, Hym.”
“Okay,” Hym said quietly, still seated on the mat. “But don’t bottle it all up. You’re an aggressive alpha. If you never let off steam, it’ll find its own way out. And it won’t ask for permission.”
It already has, Tarymn thought.
“I’m fine,” Tarymn said instead, already walking toward the door.
“I’m going on a mission tomorrow,” Hym called out suddenly.
Tarymn paused mid-step.
So, this was why he'd pushed for the sparring match. To soften the blow.
“I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
Tarymn’s chest tightened.
“Do you know where you’re going?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
“You know I can’t tell you that,” Hym said with a small smile as he got to his feet.
