?Chapter 66:

I could smell him now. Instead of the usual mix of lycanthropic hormones and adrenaline, his scent made my senses reel. By the goddess, it felt like home. I rxed at his touch, my body betraying me.

“What gives you the right to train me?” I hissed, still leaning close to him. Even though I knew it was wrong, I couldn’t ignore how our bodies felt against each other—the sweat, the heat…

Ryder’s grip tightened. With a sudden movement, he twirled me around. I nearly tripped over my feet and fell, but his grip was firm enough to keep my back pressed against his chest.

“Rule number two: Learn to use your enemy’s weak point against them,” he whispered in my ear, his hot breath making my thighs grow warm.

Weak point? I wanted to scoff, but I was a living testament to his statement. A frown deepened the lines near my eyes. I knew he was talking about me. He knew the way he made me feel. My back was almost pressed against his groin. I gulped. His taut hands moved to my waist, and I felt the walls between my legs tighten, my skin burning under his touch.

“Principles ofbat, Jasmine,” Ryder said, his voice low and husky. “Exploit weaknesses, create openings. Never engage without a strategy.”

With a sharp breath, I broke away from his grasp, the charm now broken. “I’m not your puppet, Ryder,” I spat, my voice shaky as my breath hitched. “And I don’t need your damn rules.”

Ryder’s famous smirk crept onto his face,pletely unfazed by my tantrum. “You’ll thank me for them one day, princess. But until then, keep that fire burning. It’ll help you survive.”

Survive. That word hit me harder than I expected. This wasn’t just about training. He was preparing me for something more—something darker. I was merely a werewolf, and he was preparing me for what? Battle? Only God knew what Lycans fought against.

“But what about defense?” I asked, proudly disying mybat knowledge. “What about blocking and parrying?”

“Defense is crucial,” Ryder agreed. “But a good offense is what wins battles. Economy of motion, Jasmine. Use your opponent’s energy against them.”

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I was still seething. I’d asked him those questions to make him rx. No way was I going to be another one of his pawns. And I sure as hell wasn’t going to let him win this fight.

Without warning, I lunged again, this time aiming a hard punch toward the middle of his chest. There was no way he would survive that; he’d stagger at least. Confident with my strategy, I attacked him, but this time Ryder’s hands shot up in the air, and with a single hand, he caught my wrist mid-air, spinning me around and pinning me to his chest in one swift movement.

“Centerline theory,” he whispered harshly. “Protect your core, expose your opponent’s.”

For a split second, the world around us dissolved. Ryder’s chest pressed against mine, our hearts pounding in tandem. Because of the light material we wore, it felt as if my breasts were bare, and—

“Don’t get distracted,” Ryder warned, his voice low and husky. “Focus on the fight.”

Shit! Was I that transparent? His body was my number one distraction. My body, on the other hand, was not thinking differently from my brain, making me weak and vulnerable.

I wriggled free, using my hand to push his arms away from my body. “I won’t be distracted.” It was more of a prayer than an actual statement.

Damn him! He was ying with me, teasing me like I was a game he could control.

But this time, I wouldn’t lose.

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