Page 20 of Brutal Alpha’s Sold Mate (Starfire Hollow Alphas #4)

I’m not sure I’ve felt this good since the day I knocked a seven-foot rogue on his butt with one solid kick.

For weeks now, I’ve woken up feeling like I’m slogging through knee-deep mud, thanks to that nasty concoction Malcolm and Wiley pumped into me.

But these days, my muscles snap to attention with more vigor.

My wolf stirs behind my ribs, no longer a faint echo.

Today, I even dare to think she might return in all her glory if I keep pushing.

I leap off the bed in Theo’s cabin. The first few steps are cautious. My side sometimes twinges, a memory of the night I almost died. But there’s no denying it’s getting better. Soon, I’ll have enough power to wave goodbye to this place and pick up my life before everything turned upside down.

Except… I’m not entirely sure that’s what I want anymore.

“Kai!” Tara, one of the younger she-wolves I’ve been training, calls from outside, her voice traveling up the open window. I poke my head out and wave. “We’re all set up if you’re ready!”

“Be right there,” I call back before ducking back inside, getting dressed, and lacing my boots.

I catch a glimpse of my reflection in a small mirror leaning against the wall.

My eyes look brighter than they have in ages, and there’s a faint flush in my cheeks that’s definitely not from sickness.

I know exactly where that flush comes from.

The memories fill my head of the last few nights I’ve spent with Theo and the way he whispers my name like I’m the only thing he wants in this entire pack.

A dull heat pulses through me at the thought.

My mind keeps drifting to the last night we shared, to the way his breath fanned across my neck, the way he made me gasp with each electrifying touch.

I push the memory aside before my face burns too obviously.

I’ve got a training session to lead and a bunch of novices waiting.

Tara and a handful of other women, plus a couple of teenage shifters, cluster near the old fence we’ve been using for practice.

The ground is flattened from constant use.

A small audience forms with some looky-loos from Theo’s pack who enjoy seeing me drill these “noncombatants,” as I’ve recently learned they used to be labeled.

I move to the center. “All right, folks, line up. We’ll start with the combos we’ve been drilling, then we’ll add a few new techniques. Pair up.”

Tara pairs with an older teenager I’ve trained since I first limped into this territory. Their forms are improving daily. They exchange short jabs with more fluidity than ever before, pivoting as I taught them.

“Good,” I tell them, moving through the line.

I pause at Rhea, a mother of three who used to think she couldn’t fight because she’s “too busy raising kids.” She ducks low under her partner’s swing, then comes up with a counter jab that actually sends the other woman stumbling.

“Yes, Rhea!” I cheer, shooting her a wink.

“You’ve come a long way from the shy wolf I met weeks ago. ”

She straightens, a grin lighting up her face. “Couldn’t have done it without you,” she replies, giving me a respectful nod.

And that’s the thing: I’ve never taught a group that was more eager to learn.

They’re hungry for knowledge. They want to defend themselves.

They want to stand tall in a pack that, until recently, never saw their potential.

Every time I see their progress, my heart twists with pride…

and a whisper of regret that I’ll have to leave eventually.

I can’t stay here forever. East Hills is my home, and I have a brother who’ll want me back once my wolf is ready to fight again.

I wave the group to a halt. “All right, new addition today: defense against a charging opponent. Pair up with someone close to your size. We’ll walk through the steps slowly.”

That’s when Theo’s presence sidles into my awareness even before I glance up. He’s standing at the edge of the training area, watching us. A faint curve tugs at his mouth. I pretend not to notice how my pulse jumps.

“Keep going,” I instruct the group. “Practice that stance.”

They resume, trying out the new moves in pairs. I wander over to Theo, arching an eyebrow. “Spying on me?”

He shifts his stance. “Not spying. Observing. Big difference.”

I roll my eyes. “Sure. If you say so.”

He shrugs, but I can see genuine approval beneath his casual facade. “They’re looking good. A few weeks ago, they were flailing. Now, they handle themselves like they’re ready for real combat.”

“Because they are,” I reply. “They just needed someone to believe in them.”

His gaze sweeps over the women sparring. “You’ve done more than that. You’ve changed how they see themselves. And how I see them, too.”

That admission sends a ripple of something warm through my chest. “Glad you finally came around. Maybe next, you’ll see that the entire pack could use a broader training regimen, not just the men.”

He inclines his head. “I’ve already started drafting a schedule. Once we handle the immediate border threats, I’ll make it official.”

I swallow a grin. “Look at you, adapting and everything.”

He shoots me a mock glare. “Don’t get snarky. I’m an alpha who can still boss you around.”

“Maybe in your dreams,” I quip, though the memory of him pinning me down in bed drifts to mind, sparking a flush. “Anyway, let me finish up here.” I turn back to the group, calling, “Ten more minutes of drills, then we’ll do a cooldown.”

The group continues punching and dodging with growing skill.

Theo remains close, occasionally offering a tip to someone who’s messing up.

It’s still strange to see him giving attention to these novices, but I can’t deny it makes me proud.

He’s letting them matter, and that’s a significant shift from the stubborn alpha who initially saw them as a secondary priority.

Once we wrap, the women and younger shifters disperse, chattering excitedly about how they’re going to show off their new moves. I watch them go with a hint of nostalgia tugging at me even though I haven’t left yet. That’s how I know I’m getting attached.

Theo steps forward, tilting his head at me. “You okay?”

“Better than okay,” I insist, rubbing the back of my neck. “This potion from Jade is working wonders. I can feel my wolf stirring more each day.”

He nods. “I’m glad. You’re… different when you’re fully yourself. More confident, if that’s possible. I like seeing it.”

That confession bounces around in my head, tangling with my own confusion. Part of me wants to push him away— this is a temporary arrangement, after all. But each time he looks at me like that, I lose a bit more resolve.

“I’m going to head for a run,” I announce, searching for an excuse to break the tension building between us. “I need to test my limits.”

He frowns. “Alone?”

“Relax,” I tell him. “I’m not planning to run to another state. Just around the perimeter. I’ll be back soon.”

“Fine,” he concedes. “But if you feel any pain—”

“I’ll stop,” I finish for him, rolling my eyes. “I promise.”

I take off, ignoring the twinge in my still-healing ribs. After the first dozen strides, my body falls into a smoother rhythm. My wolf is right under the surface, growling softly as if to say, Let me out .

Not yet , I think back. I’m not risking shifting too soon. I need a full recovery before I test that boundary.

I circle the perimeter, weaving around clusters of trees and small cabins.

A few watchers wave, and I wave back. My stamina outlasts any previous attempts I’ve made in the past few weeks.

When I finally slow, my heart’s pounding in a satisfying way, not out of weakness. I’m breathless but triumphant.

Returning to the training field, I find it mostly empty except for a couple of watchers exchanging notes.

The breeze ruffles my hair, sending a mild shiver down my spine.

I wipe sweat from my forehead and head back toward Theo’s cabin, stepping inside to find him flipping through a stack of papers on the table.

“You’re back faster than I expected,” he remarks, glancing up.

“I covered more ground in less time,” I explain, stretching my arms overhead. “My endurance is improving.”

He sets the papers aside and angles his head toward me. “That’s good to hear. Because I’ve got a proposition.”

“Another one of your brilliant ideas?” I tease, dropping onto a chair.

“Funny,” he says dryly. “I’d like to expand the training you’re doing. Make it mandatory for all adult pack members, regardless of gender or rank. You’d lead, with watchers assisting.”

I stare at him. “Mandatory? Even for the older wolves who think they know everything?”

“We can’t have lazy attitudes. Reed and Jacob’s antics prove that any vulnerability can be exploited. I want this pack prepared. And since you’re basically the reason half these novices are badasses now, you’re the best teacher.”

I feel a surge of pride in my chest. “I’m flattered. For real. But I’m not staying forever.” The words catch in my throat, though I force them out. “I have my own pack to return to.”

His mouth forms a line. “I know. But until you leave, you’re the most capable trainer we’ve got for the wide range of skill levels.”

Silence stretches. My chest feels tight, and not from pain. “All right. I’ll help as long as I’m here.” A pause. “Are we sure I can leave soon? Because I’m starting to wonder if I can break free at all, with how this pack drama keeps rearing its head.”

He brushes a hand through his hair. “I won’t force you to stay. Once your wolf is truly back and I’ve officially been named alpha, your life is yours. I just…” He trails off, something heavy in his expression.