Chapter 78
I nearly hesitate but keep going as I nod. Kane’s hands move from my shoulders to my biceps, indicating where I should squeeze, where I should feel the burn – so to speak.
His touch is light, the callouses on his palms tickling against my skin. I’m having a hard time focusing on the way my arms are moving, but it seems I’m doing fine.
“Good,” Kane says from behind me, his voice a low rumble. My throat is strangely dry, causing me to swallow.
Kane’s warmth disappears suddenly as he releases me, and then he steps around me again so I can see his face. He’s steady, unphased. He then leads me through a few more exercises, talking me through each step.
He doesn’t touch me again and I don’t know why I notice. It’s silly, really.
“Alright,” Kane says as I set down the weights. “Let’s move on.”
“To what?” I ask, gently panting. Hopefully nothing requiring my arms again because they already feel like noodles.
As if reading my mind, a hint of a smile tugs on Kane’s lips as he tilts his head. “Tired already, little wolf?”
“No,” I press again, but it’s an absolute lie. I am tired and I hate that it’s true.
“We need to work on your endurance,” Kane insists. “That partnered with strength are the most important qualities for any werewolf.”
I groan, knowing he’s right. But I also know what he’s about to make me do.
“You’re going to make me run sprints, aren’t you?” I ask.
“It’s one of the best ways to work on your endurance,” Kane states, folding his arms over his chest.
“One of?” I ask, quirking a brow. “What’s another way?”
Maybe it would be a more appealing option that running until I puke. I’d be willing to try and convince Kane to let me try it.
A low rumble comes from Kane, like the sound of a suppressed laugh. However, he then clicks his tongue.
“Well…some wolves seem to think sex is a pretty good method of building endurance,” he states amusedly.
Okay. I definitely wasn’t willing to try and convince Kane to do that.
My eyes blow wide. “Oh, I uh-,” I try and now Kane really laughs. It’s that same beautiful sound that I’ve only heard a few times.
“Get up, little wolf,” he says as I still blink at him in shock. “Time to run.”
I’d probably be more reluctant if I wasn’t slightly in a daze. So instead, I stand from the weight bench and follow him to the track that circles the entire room. I finally manage to regain the use of my brain as Kane laughs again.
I give him a brief scowl, but Kane doesn’t seem to pay it any mind. Instead, he gestures toward the track.
“Down and back,” he states.
“That’s it?” I ask, raising a brow.
“What?” Kane asks. “Were you hoping I’d suggest we fuck instead?”
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“Oh Goddess,” I groan, and because I can’t stand his presence or the stupid, smug look on his face anymore, I take off down the track.
I run as fast as I can and when I reach back to Kane, he simply nods. “Keep going,” he orders. “Again.”
I do as he says, sprinting back down the length of the track and then back to him. He simply tells me to do it again. And then again.
By the sixth time, the saliva in my mouth is hot, tasting like copper. My stomach is churning and my legs are on fire. My pace is starting to slow as I reach the far end of the track and then come back to him.
As I reach him, I can see his lips part, ready for him to tell me to go again. Only, my body has other ideas.
Right as I get to Kane, my legs give out and I collapse. Right into Kane.
My body goes limp as I fall right into him, and he’s decent enough to catch me in his arms so I don’t drop to the floor.
I’m a sweating, panting mess as I look up at him, watching as he tilts his head to the side.
“You have stopped at any point,” he tells me. “You don’t have to throw yourself at me.”
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