Page 11

The clanging of weights and rhythmic thumping from the treadmills greeted Faith as she and Tala stepped out of the locker room and onto the gym floor.

The main workout area was surprisingly busy for a Friday early evening.

She hadn’t expected this many people so close to the weekend, but Tala crossed the room with an easy stride, unfazed by the bustle.

Faith sent her a doubtful look. “Are you sure Wrasa consider this romantic?”

Distractedly, Tala turned toward her. She’d been busy sniffing the air, as if using her nose to find out the identity of the gym goers half-hidden by workout machines. “Well, when I said sharing a run is a popular couples’ activity, I didn’t mean putting on your workout clothes and hopping on the treadmill. I meant shifting shape and running through the forest together.”

“Oh.”

“But this”—Tala swept her arm along the rows of stationary bikes and weight machines—“is the next best thing. I mean, inhaling the scent of your mate’s sweat, seeing a flush on her face and the way her muscles play under soft skin…” A seductive rumble rose in her chest.

Was Tala messing with her, as she had last week, when she had told her Wrasa went into heat once a month? Faith could never quite tell when she was joking, but the intense expression in Tala’s eyes made her think she was serious.

Faith licked her dry lips. “Um, how about we start with some stretches?”

“Stretches?” Tala asked as if she had never heard of that activity.

“Wrasa don’t stretch?”

Tala raised her eyebrows. “Have you ever seen a pack of wolves stretch before a hunt?”

“I guess that’s a no. Not that I have ever seen wolves outside of a zoo. But humans need to stretch to prevent injury.”

“Of course. Wouldn’t want anything to happen to those lovely limbs,” Tala said loudly enough for half of the gym to hear. Gently, she grasped Faith’s hand, raised it to her lips, and brushed a soft kiss across Faith’s knuckles. “We’re being watched,” she whispered, her hot breath washing over Faith’s fingers.

A shiver went through Faith—from being watched, not from Tala’s lips on her skin, of course. She peered left and right.

A big, muscle-bound guy observed them from the weights section.

“Damn,” Tala muttered, still leaning close so no one could overhear them. “Of course the first person to pay us much attention has to be the only Maki in the gym.”

“What’s that again?” Faith whispered. She still hadn’t learned all the terms for the different Wrasa subspecies.

“A bear-shifter.”

Faith’s throat tightened. “Are they dangerous?”

“No. While they have short fuses, they’re just big…well, teddy bears at heart. But they’ve got the keenest sense of smell among all Wrasa. So far, the mate scent perfume seems to go unchallenged. If this guy gets too close, though…” Tala’s lips compressed into a hard line.

Another shiver went through Faith. “Then let’s stay away from him.” More loudly, she added, “Come on, babe. I’ll show you how to stretch.” She hooked her arm through Tala’s and pulled her over to the warm-up area along the wall opposite of the weights section.

Tala wore black workout shorts and a tank top the same coppery color as her hair, revealing her toned physique. The bare skin touching Faith’s felt soft and so warm that heat swept through Faith.

Quickly, she pulled her hand away and guided Tala through a series of quad stretches.

It didn’t take long for her to realize Tala didn’t need any help. She copied each of Faith’s movements with fluid grace, pulling her leg up behind herself and effortlessly balancing on the other.

Faith transitioned into hamstring stretches.

Again, Tala executed the exercise without showing any signs of strain. Her agility was impressive, and Faith wasn’t the only person in the gym staring.

“Wow,” Faith couldn’t help saying. “You’re really flexible.”

Tala flashed her a coy smirk. “And that’s just what I can do in the gym. Imagine what I can do in other locations.”

Faith nearly lost her balance and swayed on her back leg. But no way would she give Tala the upper hand, so she sent her a grin in return and replied loudly enough for the Maki and any other Wrasa in the gym to hear, “Well, since I’m coming home with you, I won’t have to imagine it, will I?”

Tala paused in the middle of the exercise.

Faith’s grin broadened. Ha! This was fun! It had been way too long since she had flirted with anyone. Too bad it was just for show.

The corner of Tala’s mouth twitched, and she gave Faith the tiniest nod of respect. “No, you won’t. I don’t plan to leave anything up to imagination.”

Their gazes seared into each other.

Faith wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of blushing and looking away. She could only hope the gym goers would interpret their intense stare-off as a charged moment of desire.

Finally, Tala was the one who glanced away as she pulled her phone from the armband she was wearing around one toned biceps. “Mind if I record us for”—she wrinkled her nose—“social media?”

Faith hesitated. She wasn’t one to post photos or videos of herself online, partly because Chloe was a big part of her life and she didn’t want pictures of her daughter on social media and partly because her social circles clashed.

Her father’s employees and his church-going friends didn’t want to see her attend Pride parades, and her queer acquaintances would scratch their heads if they saw pictures of her hanging out with conservative HASS members.

But if she wanted the Wrasa to believe she was on board with their fake-dating scheme, she couldn’t refuse. “Sure. Go ahead.”

They continued to stretch, and Tala went back and forth between directing the camera at Faith and filming both of their reflections in the mirrored wall of the gym.

“Okay, last exercise,” Faith called out. “Let’s finish up with some hip circles.”

“Hip circles, huh?” Tala replied. “Sure, opening up those hips is important.”

Faith managed not to roll her eyes. She lifted her knee up and swung it to the side.

Once again, Tala completed the exercise with perfect precision. “What’s next?” she asked when Faith paused to take a swig of her water.

“Let’s head over to the treadmill and see if you can keep up.”

A glint flashed through Tala’s golden eyes. “Challenge accepted.”

They crossed the gym and stepped onto treadmills side by side.

The belt below Faith’s feet whirred to life, and she started out with a light jog.

Tala, however, immediately set her speed to a blistering pace.

Faith adjusted her own settings, not wanting to fall behind. She matched Tala stride for stride, but within minutes, it became a struggle.

Next to her, Tala sprinted effortlessly, every motion precise, controlled, and powerful, as if she could keep up this pace for hours. Her sneakers seemed to barely make contact with the treadmill belt, and her toned arms swung back and forth in an easy rhythm.

Faith had a feeling her mouth hung open—to suck air into her burning lungs, but also because she was gaping at Tala. She was transfixed by the play of lithe muscles beneath Tala’s smooth skin. Truly captivating.

Nonsense, she firmly told herself. It wasn’t as if she was attracted to Tala. She was probably just delirious from the lack of oxygen.

Still, she couldn’t look away as Tala picked up her pace even more.

Jesus, what was she, a fox or a cheetah?

Tala’s lean thigh muscles flexed with each long, smooth stride. She was running with a relaxed smile on her face, not struggling at all. The thrill of the competition made her golden eyes seem to glow.

Not that Faith was much competition. Of course, she had known that the Wrasa were physically superior, but this was the first time she’d encountered their abilities up close and personal.

If they ever decided to turn against humans, how could Faith’s kind defend themselves against such incredible strength and stamina?

“Don’t tell me you’re already tired,” Tala shouted over the rhythmic thumping of their feet on the treadmill belts.

“Tired?” Faith panted. “No. Just getting warmed up.”

She pumped her legs as she tried to keep up. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and every muscle in her body protested. Sweat dripped down her forehead and into her eyes, but she couldn’t wipe it off because she was clinging to the treadmill’s handles for dear life.

Tala kept glancing over. She must have realized Faith was struggling, but thankfully, she abstained from taunting her.

Just when Faith was about to give up, Tala tapped the display in front of her and slowed her pace to a walk.

Faith nearly collapsed on the spot. Every cell in her body screamed in relief as she followed suit. She would have cheered if there was any air left in her lungs.

Their treadmills wound down, then whirred to a stop.

Tala gracefully leaped to the floor.

When Faith stepped off, her legs wobbled beneath her.

Before she could end up face-first on the gym floor, Tala dashed over and caught her around the waist. “Easy there. You okay?”

“Yeah,” Faith mumbled, trying not to sound out of breath. “Just getting my sea legs.” She draped one arm over Tala’s shoulders to steady herself.

“You know,” Tala whispered, indicating the way Faith clung to her, “I think we’re really selling this couple thing.”

Her sweaty skin was pressed against Tala’s. For the first time, Faith’s overheated body was the same temperature. Tala’s rib cage rose and fell, slow and steady, against her own heaving chest.

How could Tala still smell fresh as a daisy, while Faith probably reeked like a bag full of old gym socks?

Tala’s nostrils flared as if to confirm it, but she didn’t back away. She leaned closer and sniffed her.

Faith’s already burning cheeks heated even more. “W-what are you doing?”

“Is she okay?” a deep voice said before Tala could answer.

Arm still draped over Tala, Faith looked up.

The bear-shifter had left the weights section and stood directly before them. He leaned down and eyed Faith with concern—then paused and audibly drew air in through his nose. His brow crinkled.

Oh shit. Faith stiffened. Could he tell that their mate scent was as fake as they were as a couple?

Tala let out a growl that made her sound like an entire pack of bloodthirsty wolves, not just a single fox. “Back off from my mate!”

Her five-foot-two frame appeared like that of a child compared to the hulk towering over them, but she stepped between them and shoved against his muscular chest with both hands, managing to push him back.

For a moment, his eyes went feral. His fingers flexed as if he expected sharp claws to sprout from them, and he pulled back his lip as if about to roar.

Faith’s overheated body went cold and clammy. “Um, Tala, maybe we should…” She tried to tug her back.

But Tala didn’t move an inch. She pierced the bear-shifter with a warning glare, as if she were the more dangerous predator who could slash him into pieces with a single strike.

The bear-shifter’s chest heaved as he took several calming breaths. His nostrils quivered. Then he lifted his hands, palms out. “No harm intended. Word of advice, though: You two might want to switch to a new deodorant. Yours smells a bit…off.”

While Faith nearly sank to her knees for the second time within minutes, Tala’s face remained completely impassive. “Probably can’t keep up with the kind of…exercise we’ve been doing.” Her tone left no doubt that she wasn’t talking about their warm-up routine or the treadmill.

“Ugh. Spare me the details. One of us should never be with her kind.” Nose wrinkled in disgust, he whirled around and strode away.

Faith slumped against Tala again.

Tala wrapped a steadying arm around her. “Come on. Let’s get out of here before his brain catches up with his nose and he realizes why we smell off.”

“Speaking of brains not catching up… What were you doing squaring off against him like that?” Faith whispered as she stumbled out of the workout area and into the women’s locker room next to Tala. “He could have ripped you apart!”

“He could have tried,” Tala said with a chilling calm.

“Oh, get real! He was twice your size!”

Tala shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I had a role to play. Alphas are very protective of their mates. He would have known something wasn’t right if I had let him sniff you.”

Faith stared at her. Tala had risked ending up in the hospital just to make their fake-dating scheme more convincing?

Of course. Why else would she get between Faith and an intimidating bear-shifter? Certainly not because she was jealous. It wasn’t as if Tala even liked her…or as if Faith was disappointed it had all been for show.

She was just surprised at how far Tala would go to play the protective lover. Why on earth was this silly plan that important to her? She really had to step up her James Bond game and find out.

As soon as her legs stopped shaking.