Chapter 16 - The Lycan King's Mate

King Cameron’s POV

I carry Ava’s sleeping body over to the bed and tuck her in, watching her sleep for a minute before going back over to the blue sofa.

I’m eager for the rest of my men to get here tomorrow. Fifty Lycans are currently heading to the airport and will arrive by tomorrow early afternoon.

Once they arrive, we can form a larger, more structured patrol. Then, hopefully, we can figure out what we are dealing with.

Just how big is this Red Night pack? How many Lycans are involved? And why the hell are they attacking werewolves in MY territory?

I run my hands through my hair and wish I had a drink.

Instead, I decide to get some sleep, it’s going to be a busy day tomorrow.

I strip down to my boxers and crawl into bed beside Ava, pulling her close against my chest and breathing in her scent.

It feels like I’d been asleep for five minutes when I jerk awake, taking in my surroundings.

Ava is wiggling against my chest.

I loosen my grip and she rolls over to face me, her make up slightly smudged under her eyes and her hair literally seems to have grown overnight.

I smile at her. She truly is beautiful.

She smiles back at me.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning.” I lean down and kiss her forehead.

“Will you go to training this morning?”

“I will try to swing by, but I won’t be participating. I have a lot to do to prepare for my extra men coming in today.”

She nods at me and brings her hand to rest on my chest. I place my hand over the top of hers, enjoying the way it feels.

I’m starting to wonder how much time we have when I feel Darius trying to mindlink with me. I let out a sigh.

“We are going to start a close proximity patrol until our men get here, taking ten of our men with us and twenty of the Silver Streams pack. Will keep you updated.”

I don’t respond because he doesn’t expect me to, he’s just keeping me in the know.

Ava is now sitting up and looking at the clock on the end table.

“Oh no! I’m going to be late! I have to get moving.” She throws the covers off and starts to move out of the bed when I wrap my arm around her and pull her back.

“You don’t have to go to training.” I pull her underneath me and start to kiss her neck, but she pushes against me and I pull away.

“Alpha Caleb said it was mandatory! And I want to train, I want to be ready if something happens.”

I frown. “Alpha Caleb is no longer your Alpha, you don’t have to obey his commands, you are now with me, and you will always be safe with me.”

I run a finger along her collar bone, enjoying how it makes goosebumps instantly spring up.

She’s breathing heavy, but she gently pushes my hand away.

“I don’t want to rely on someone else for my safety.” Her eyes lock onto mine.

“Fine.” I roll off of her. I understand. I can even admire the fact that she wants to train and protect herself. However, I also know that she would never stand a chance against a Lycan, so training would be less beneficial to her than if she just stayed in bed with me…which would be way more enjoyable for both of us.

“I’ll walk you to training.” I stand from the bed and walk to the closet to get ready.

“You don’t have to do th-“

“I am. You aren’t to be alone anymore when you leave this packhouse. I personally will make sure either myself or one of my men is with you at all times.”

Ava bites her lip. I can tell she doesn’t like the idea of being baby-sat.

“I actually don’t live here, remember? My house is close, all my things are there.”

“I can take you back to get whatever things you need.”

I grab my clothes from the closet that someone had put there for me. I throw on a button up and jeans and run my hands through my hair while Ava goes into the bathroom to get ready.

She comes back out in a black sports bra and gray shorts, her long dirty-blonde hair pulled up in a big bun on top of her head.

“I need to run back home now, I don’t even have tennis shoes and these shorts are pajamas.” She glances nervously at the clock.

I nod my head at the door and we make our way out of the packhouse. She has her phone in her hand and she keeps nervously checking the time, practically bouncing on her toes.

“You’ll be fine, it’s okay if you are late.”

Ava looks at me with wide eyes. “What? I can’t be late! That’s crazy!”

I shake my head.

When we reach her house, she doesn’t wait for me but runs inside and up the stairs.

Her home was unlocked, that can’t be happening when there is a pack of Lycans attacking. I step inside and shut the door behind me, listening for any strange sounds and sniffing for any out of the ordinary scent.

The only scents I can detect are Ava and Lily’s.

And Alpha Caleb’s beta Ralph.

Hmm.

Ava is already racing back down the stairs in blue athletic shorts and white tennis shoes.

“Let’s go!” She’s jerking the door back open.

“Wait! Don’t you want to grab some things while you are here?”

“No! I can’t be late!” She jumps the steps from the porch and doesn’t even make sure her door was locked.

I lock it and catch up to her.

“You can’t just leave doors unlocked. Locked doors might not stop a Lycan from entering, but you shouldn’t just leave them an open invitation to come inside.”

Ava looks distracted at me as she mumbles ‘okay’, her eyes distant.

I sigh.

We reach a gray building with metal siding. She reaches for the door and flings it open before I grab her hand and pull her back in for a kiss.

She sinks into me and seems to momentarily forget training.

She releases the door and her hand grasp my shirt eagerly.

This is more like it.

I deepen the kiss, enjoying the feeling of her bare back on my hand and the taste of her freshly brushed minty breath against my exploring tongue.

She suddenly jerks away and throws a bye over her shoulder as she disappears behind the door.

I’m left standing alone outside of the training building as the sun begins to rise, casting an orange glow.

I turn on my heels and make my way back to the packhouse to prepare for my new arrivals, already missing Ava.

Ava’s POV

It was hard to pull away from Cameron, for a moment I wanted to do exactly what he suggested and skip training and get back in bed with him. But then Caleb was in my head, telling me I was going to be late for training, and I couldn’t do that. I don’t want to miss a training session with Lycan’s!

The moment I came through the door, I spot Ralph and Caleb standing in the front of the room, right next to none other than the scary guy, Chris.

Ugh.

Not thrilled that he is here.

I weave my way towards the front so I can have a good view. I scan the room, which is more packed than I have ever seen it, and count seven Lycan’s, including scary guy.

I’ve always enjoyed the training. Caleb and I use to train all the time, most of the time even joined by Ralph. I’m a better fighter than most females, and I owe it to the one on one training with an Alpha or Beta for so many years.

Scary guy starts talking, telling us to break up into pairs and he will walk around to give us instructions.

I look around for a partner, but I’m the last to arrive and everyone had already found a partner, not wanting to be left the odd man out.

I make eye contact with Caleb and he smiles at me, gesturing for me to come to be his partner.

I take one more quick glance around the room to make sure everyone else was taken before dragging my feet to the front.

Scary guy catches my eye and smirks at me.

He’s the worst, seriously, why in the world does Cameron have him as his beta?

I take the ready position across from Caleb and we start fighting. I know his moves like my own, having spent the last four years training with him after our regular training sessions.

I smile as he lounges at me on my left, as I knew he would, and easily side step him.

He turns, smiling and fakes a right before lounging left and grabs my forearms at the same time he sweeps my legs, so that instead of falling and hitting the ground hard, he gently lays me down. That’s a new move.

I shake him off and jump back up, scowling at him.

Okay, that was quick and embarrassing. I concentrate as we circle each other, Caleb still smiling.

“Don’t go easy on me! How am I going to get better?”

“I don’t want to hurt you, wouldn’t want to upset the King.”

I make a face at Caleb and throw a kick that he easily blocks, but he just misses my fist that quickly follows, making contact with his shoulder.

He grimaces and fakes a shocked look at me.

I smile.

We continue training together for nearly an hour while the scary guy walks around growling disapprovingly at everyone, telling them exactly what they are doing wrong.

I’m sweating and just missed a punch to my stomach, Caleb’s closed hand barely skimming it as I jump back and suck in, when I hear Chris snort behind me.

“You’ll never get better when someone goes easy on you, you need to learn to lean into the movements and always get the next shot in before they regain their balance.”

I wipe the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand and look at Chris with a frown.

He rolls his eyes. “Here, let me show you.” He steps in front of Caleb who frowns and takes a few steps back.”

Oh shit.

I don’t like the look in Chris’s eyes right now as I crouch into the ready position. This won’t be like training with Caleb where he isn’t aiming to break bones or cause any harm, scary guy Chris looks like he is all too eager to leave me bleeding on the floor.

I swallow hard as I notice again how huge Chris is.

“Ready?” Chris cocks an eyebrow at me as he smirks.

Before I know what’s happening, I’m on the ground, gasping for air at the impact against my stomach and Chris’s face is at my neck, his teeth lightly nipping at the skin at my throat, his body on top of mine, pinning it to the ground.

His teeth release my skin and he brings his face in front of mine, his eyes wolfish as he looks at mine.

“You’d be dead in three seconds.”

I try to shove him off but his body doesn’t move at first, smirking down at me before he takes his time standing up, looking around the room.

“THAT is how Lycan’s fight. THAT is why we need to change the way you train. They are bigger, stronger, faster, and way more ruthless than you are. Our hearing is better, our smelling is better, our reactions are better. Anticipate your partner’s movements, always think one step ahead! Let’s go again!”

I stay on my back, catching my breath, when Caleb and Ralph’s faces come into view. Caleb looking concerned, Ralph grinning.

I take both of their outstretched hands and they easily pull me up.

I’m grateful everyone around me has started fighting again instead of looking at me.

Ugh, I wrap my arm around my stomach that still throbs.

“Are you okay? He hit you way too hard for training!” Caleb looks outraged.

“I’m fine.” My voice comes out in a gasp.

Ralph is still grinning. “Wow. Never seen anything like that before. You never stood a chance.”

“Yeah,” I try straightening up. “Think about trying to fight off an entire Lycan pack.”

Caleb and Ralph frown and glance at each other, as if remembering why we are doing extra training. Remembering Benny.

I let out a deep breathe. “Okay, I think I’m ready.”

“Oh no!” Caleb shakes his head. “You’re done for the day.”

“No, I’m fine!” Caleb shakes his head again. I look at Ralph, he lifts a shoulder nonchalantly at me.

“You are done. You can go check on Lily. Ralph will take you.” Caleb is frowning while watching one of his men face off with one of Cameron’s Lycans.

“I think it’s about to get a lot more intense here and King Cameron probably won’t be too forgiving to anyone if you end up bruised.”

I watch the Lycan take his man down in two strikes. I nod and follow Ralph out of the building, still rubbing my stomach.

“I almost get the feeling that King Cameron’s beta doesn’t like you very much Ava.” Ralph doesn’t look at me as he says this, looking around the road as we make our way back to the packhouse.

I absently rub the back of my hand.

Yeah, I get that same feeling.