I didn’t want to talk to anyone about what had happened between Blake and me.
“It’s none of your business,” I shot back at him and I turned my back to him and faced the punching bag.
“I just want you to be happy,” he said softly from behind me.
I took a deep breath and released it. Why did so many people care?
“I am happy,” I lied. I was miserable.
I’d just lost my mom and I refused to accept Blake the way he deserved. Grief and guilt were eating away at me and there was nothing I could do to stop it. As much as I wanted to control my emotions, I knew it was only a matter of time before they broke free and it was inevitable.
“I don’t want to talk anymore,” I admitted to him as my hands held the punching bag.
“Fine,” he said and I expected him to leave me but instead he stood still, remaining beside me.
“I could do with some training as well,” he explained when I shot him a questioning look.
I shrugged and went back to punching the punching bag while doing my best to ignore Kyle.
For the next hour, in silence, Kyle trained alongside me. At first it annoyed me that he hadn’t left me alone but as time progressed it was nice to have the company although we never talked.
“So this is where you disappeared to?” I heard a voice say and I turned to see Blake leaning against the door.
I couldn’t help the flutter of butterflies inside my stomach at the sight of him. The pull to go to him and run my hands through his hair and cover his mouth with mine was strong, but I resisted it.
“And you have company,” he stated, glaring at Kyle. Even though we’d mated, he was still jealous of Kyle. It was such a guy thing.
“Yes, I’m her friend. Nothing more,” Kyle stated in annoyance as he turned to face Blake.
“She's mine,” Blake stated like Kyle didn’t already know that. I rolled my eyes.
I didn’t have time for this type of crap. I walked up to Blake and kissed him hard on his mouth. The calmness that spread through me was like a drug I was addicted to.
“I’m yours—you have nothing to worry about,” I assured him before I turned and left the two of them in the gym glaring at each other while I went to have a shower.
Guys tended to be territorial about their girls but werewolves were something else entirely. It didn’t seem to mean anything to Blake that I’d mated with him and that we’d slept in the same bed together.
I liked Kyle. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, he was a friend. He was one of the few that had seen the good in me when everyone had already judged me. And as much as Blake didn’t like Kyle being around me, I wouldn’t allow Blake to dictate to me who I was and wasn’t allowed to be around.
Once I was showered, I dressed in a set of clothes I left at the gym. Blake was leaning against the wall and Kyle was gone when I walked back into the gym.
“You should be taking it easy,” he told me as he pushed off the wall and walked to me.
“I know but I needed to take my mind off things,” I admitted.
“I understand,” he said softly, pulling me into a hug. I allowed myself a moment to lay my head against his chest and breathe him in. I wanted to be able to lean against him and allow him to take control, but I just couldn’t let myself let go of the control I needed.
Looking up to him, he kissed my forehead. I closed my eyes for a moment, savoring the feel, then I pushed away from him and he released me.
“I need to arrange my mother’s funeral,” I told him. He scanned my face like he was looking for something that was missing.
“You seem to be handling your mom’s death really well,” he said as his eyes narrowed.
I shrugged. I didn’t want to have that talk now. There was so much to do. A few moments of silence descended between us before he stepped forward and took my hand in his.
“Come on, let’s go and do what we need to so you can have a little downtime before the change starts,” he instructed, and I nodded in agreement.
As much as I didn’t want to admit it, it was nice to have someone by my side who was ready to help me shoulder the responsibilities I had and make my load lighter. Even though I’d fought it hard, I realized I loved him just a little bit.
