CHAPTER 97: TRAIN ME, INSTRUCTOR!

"Do you know how to swim?" Alex asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Do I know how to do anything other than cause trouble?" Angela rubbed her neck. She had thought of asking earlier who their new instructor would be. She never imagined it would be Kaito. He did not look at her, not even once. His attention stayed on Kael and Samuel who had joined him.

"You don’t have to worry about it," Stales told her. "When I came in form one, I was terrified of swimming. I was so scared of pools, but Alpha Kaito helped me. Now I can swim without fear. I am even thinking of entering the Mistvale swimming competition this year."

"I am happy for you," she said with a small smile. They always knew how to lift her mood, even on her worst days. "But your case is different from mine. Kaito is angry at me. He does not even want to look my way."

"You think so?" the boys asked, glancing at the Alpha.

"I think he is just being professional," Alex said. "Trust me, he will not mix whatever is going on between you two with this class."

"Yes. You have to relax and learn, because the swimming test comes right after the combat test. You need to catch up," Stales added. He put an arm around her neck. "This mate is not as stubborn as Renn. You will enjoy his classes. You will find the basics more interesting."

"Why?" Angela crossed her arms over her chest. She was wearing black shorts and a shirt, with a band tied around her head.

"Because he is going to be a little touchy, and you being a girl who can easily tame—"

"Stop messing with her head, Stales," Alex cut in, giving him a light slap on the arm. Just then, the Alpha called them over. The class was about to begin.

When they all stood in front of the pool, Kaito stepped forward. Kael and Samuel stood behind him.

"These will be my assistants," Kaito said, looking at them briefly. "Kael and Samuel. They are good instructors and will teach you well."

His eyes scanned the group, forcing himself not to linger on the one female in the room. "If there is anyone who does not know how to swim, has a fear of water, or has never been in a pool, please step forward."

No one moved. He repeated his words.

Angela sighed. She stepped forward before Stales could push her. She avoided Kaito’s eyes, waiting for others to join her, but no one did.

"You are the only one who doesn’t know how to swim?" Kaito’s voice carried surprise, and the other students looked just as shocked.

Angela turned, hoping someone else would step forward, but no one did. Shit.

Her stomach sank. Why did she even come out here if she was the only one?

"Okay then," Kaito said. "You will train with me while the rest of the students train with my assistants."

Her pulse skipped. What did he mean by that? She would have preferred Kael or Samuel, but not him. Not when he was still angry with her.

"Let’s go."

He walked past her without a glance. The others followed his assistants to the big pool, while she trailed after him toward the smaller pool at the other end. Even there, he still didn’t look at her.

Angela tried to focus on his instructions about moving the hands and legs in the water, about learning to swim well in less than a week. When he finished, he told her, "If there is any question, don’t hesitate to ask."

She nodded. He stepped into the water, and just before she joined him, he said, "If you have anything wrapped around your chest, you better take it off so you’ll be comfortable."

Angela’s eyes widened. So he figured it out too. What had she been thinking? That he was too stupid to put the pieces together when the truth came out?

She hurried to the changing room, unwrapping the tight cloth from her chest. The relief was instant. She had been wearing it all day, only taking it off at night. She stuffed it into her bag and went back to the pool. He was still waiting, patient as ever.

Angela pulled at the front of her shirt, making it hang loose so her chest wouldn’t draw attention. But no one was looking at her...everyone was too busy with their own lessons. She let go of the shirt and stepped into the pool.

Her fear hit her like a wave. It was stronger than whatever Stales might have felt. She started to shiver, fighting the urge to run out of the water.

"Don’t be scared," Kaito said suddenly. His eyes met hers as he reached out a hand. She hesitated, then took it, letting him guide her in deeper.

He was a good teacher, no doubt. But his hands... every time they brushed against her, a sharp, electric sensation shot down her spine. Her legs felt weak in the water.

Angela wondered if, by the end of his class, she would be able to learn anything at all.

"Do you want to learn how to use your legs better?" he asked, standing behind her. She closed her eyes, feeling the heat radiating from him. She forgot for a moment that it was a class, and when his chest brushed her back, she found herself leaning against him.

"You are getting distracted, Angela."

Her eyes flew open and she quickly pushed herself away, but she was still in the water. Before she could fall, he caught her by the waist and pulled her close. His face lowered, his gaze locking with hers. Her heart raced, and for a second she wished it was a dream so no one could wake her. But as always, her luck betrayed her. The bell rang. Class was over.

It had started late today, and now it was past four. The students had to return to their rooms, take their baths, and get ready for dinner.

"We will continue tomorrow." His eyes flicked from her chest to the floor. "Go and change before anyone sees you like this."

"Can we talk? I can’t..." she began, but he cut her off.

"Someone might see you. You don’t look nice right now," Kaito said firmly, but she stayed put. She wasn’t leaving until he heard her out. He sighed, finally giving in. "Fine. Go and change quickly. If you catch up with me, we will talk."

Angela nodded and rushed to the changing room before anyone else. She changed into her uniform in record time. As she was pulling on her jacket, the room began to fill with students. Stales and Alex asked what was going on, and she told them what Kaito had said. They wished her luck.

When she stepped out of the changing room, he was already gone. Refusing to believe her bad luck, she ran through the empty hallway searching for him. She took the stairs two at a time and ran into Kael.

"Your Alpha took the path to his dorms," he told her.

Angela ran with everything she had until she reached the West House gate. Kaito was already disappearing inside, moving so fast she could hardly believe it. What was he trying to do? Wear her out? Drive her crazy with worry until her heart gave out?

She caught up and reached the door of their room just as he was about to enter.

"Kaito, please, listen to—"

Before she could finish, he grabbed her hand and yanked her inside. Her pulse spiked, fear and desire tangling together in her chest. The door clicked shut behind them, and before she could take a breath, his mouth crashed onto hers.

It wasn’t a kiss—it was an explosion. Fierce. Wild. Hungry. It tasted of frustration, longing, and every secret they’d buried between them. His lips moved against hers like he’d been starving for her, like this was the only way to breathe again.

She clung to him, kissing him back with everything she had. The world outside ceased to exist.

"Kaito..." she gasped when he finally pulled back, her voice shaking. "I’m sorry for everything."

"I don’t care anymore," he murmured, his voice low and rough, vibrating through her.

Then his mouth was on hers again, deeper, hotter, as his hands roamed her body with urgency. Her shirt was gone before she realized it, and she stripped his away in return, desperate to keep their lips connected.

They stumbled toward the bed, falling onto it in a tangle of limbs. She sank beneath him, his weight pressing her into the mattress, his hard chest flush against her bare skin. His body heat seared into her.

He kissed her forehead, then trailed fire down her face, her jaw, her neck. By the time his lips closed around her breast, her back arched with a sharp gasp. His tongue circled and teased until she whimpered, and his hand claimed her other breast with equal hunger.

"Goddess... Kaito..." she moaned, gripping his hair.

He sucked harder, pulling sounds from her that she didn’t know she could make. The heat coiled low in her belly, tightening until it was almost unbearable. Every touch, every lick, every graze of his teeth had her writhing beneath him.

Her breath came in desperate, shaky bursts. The Moon Goddess must have been smiling when she made him her mate, because right now Angela felt like she was being worshipped... and she never wanted it to stop.