I dropped my stuff on the guest room's bed in the Alpha's wing that Flora, the housekeeper, took me to after I arrived. The curious looks that I got from various pack members as we walked through the packhouse amused me- evidently, the rumours of who I was must have spread quickly.

"Forgive them, miss- they don't mean to be rude but everyone is wondering about the woman that the Moon Goddess picked for our Alpha, especially as he is not exactly the settling down type," she tried to explain on their behalf when we entered Rafe's wing but it only made me titter.

Don't I just know it.

I took the room in and noticed a small, handwritten note on the coffee table:

Meet me at the training grounds.

You'll find some clothes in the second drawer.

Training grounds? It was certainly not where I expected to meet Rafe, given all his promises earlier. Still, I had to admit that it was a pleasant surprise. I was looking forward to a bit of a workout to release all the tension from the past few days, even if none of us had rested properly after the fight with Markolf.

Maybe it was because of the abilities that I gained after the guys marked me but I felt surprisingly energetic, almost restless, ever since that moment with Rafe in the hallway and now that I was back in Scotland, the feeling had intensified. It was as if every fibre in my being knew something that I didn't. Like something was about skin-tight and I couldn't lose time resting and miss it. So yes, burning off some energy sounded perfect right now.

I opened the drawer and spotted the grey sports bra and black skin-tight boy shorts left for me. It was a bit creepy how whoever got these knew my exact size but, frankly, after everything I had witnessed since finding out about this world, nothing shocked or surprised me any longer.

Once I was ready, I made my way to the training grounds with some guidance from Flora. As I crossed the Windcrest estate, I marvelled at how beautiful the pack's grounds were. Yet, what struck me more was how different the whole place felt compared to the times I visited when Angus was still Alpha. It used to be a much colder, serious pack but now it reminded me of Blackwood with its liveliness and vibrancy. I was sure that it was Rafe's leadership that brought on this change, even though he had only taken over recently.

The smell of sweat and stale air hit me the moment I entered my destination. A big group of pack members was gathered around one of the areas inside the building, cheering as they watched two large wolves fight each other. The fight was fierce but a familiar silver-grey wolf was clearly dominating.

As I watched the encounter through the crowd, an irresistible pull drew me closer to the fighting ring. The pack members made way for me until I found myself standing at the front line just in time to see Kai pounce on his opponent for the final blow, letting out a victorious howl as he was announced the winner of the fight.

Did you bring me here to see you show off your skills, Rafe? I rolled my eyes.

But it was Kai who actually answered my mind link. Did you hear that? Our mate thinks that my skills are worth showing off, he replied with smugness in his tone, although his words were more for Rafe than for me.

As the crowd dispersed in the hall, the silver wolf trod towards me and I felt this inexplicable connection to him, just like I had with Blaze. The awareness I had of both of them whenever they were near me made me wonder if this was what it was like to have your animal.

He licked my hand before he rubbed his head against it. It was the first time I got to interact with Kai and I was excited to give the big guy some loving because I felt that he and I would get on like a house on fire. I ran my hand through his thick, shiny fur. He was warm and soft to touch- I could easily lose myself petting him for hours. Slowly gliding my hand along his back, I scratched his head and his ears when I got to them, which elicited happy chirping from Kai.

You have to be fucking kidding me- you are meant to be a fierce Alpha wolf, Kai, not a tail-wagging puppy. Rafe protested through our mind link.

Screw you, Rafe. Not my fault that I am the one she enjoys touching.

Says who?

Say I.

Maybe it was time for me to interrupt them.

Boys, enough bickering. And I can pet you anytime you want, Kai. Now, can someone please tell me why we are meeting here and why I am wearing this skimpy fitness outfit?

It was Rafe's chuckle that I heard in my head. Well, I did tell you that you won't really need clothes. And anyway, you don't really strike me as the type that would work out in T-shirt and jogging pants.

Touché, he was right about that.

The noise of cracking bones made me step aside and within seconds, Rafe was standing in front of me in all his glorious nakedness. My eyes soaked up his picture-perfect body. Every inch of him was flawless and appetising... Some parts even more than others, I thought to myself when my eyes landed on his erection.

"Enjoying the sight, mate?" The self-satisfied bastard asked as he eyed me up.

Shit, did I end up sharing my last thought through our mind link? Argh, I really needed to get the hang of not projecting all my thoughts, especially the dirty ones.

Rafe laughed as if he was able to read my mind, again. "I can see the panic in your eyes, Riley. It's the spike in your arousal that gave you away."

I was not sure what was worse- accidentally projecting my secret thoughts to my mates or them always knowing when I was aroused and exactly how aroused I was.

"Would you mind putting something on, Rafe?" I muttered, avoiding looking at him, but all that my words did was make him laugh once again.

Finally, he motioned to someone to throw him a pair of shorts. "Scared that you would be too distracted to spar with me, Moreau?"

"Oh, please. Nothing that I haven't seen before- I'm sure you have spent enough time with Aiden to know what I mean." I didn't even feel bad about winding him up like that because he asked for it really and, to be honest, I always got a kick out of riling him up. The growl that came from him told me that I had hit a nerve. I moved closer to him and leaned into his ear to whisper. "And I can kick your arse with my eyes closed anytime."

My breath lingered on his skin as I moved away from him, although my body was begging me to pull him closer. We were like two opposite magnets, drawn to each other. His eyes flashed with lust but I had already sensed his lascivious desires through our connection.

"Leave," he bellowed out the order and the place emptied in no time of the few pack members who were still around the building after the fight. Rafe and I were the only ones left.

"Worried that I would embarrass you in front of your pack, Alpha?" I winked at him but he didn't react at all.

Instead, he walked over to the wall and grabbed two large thick wooden sticks hanging on the stand there. He threw one to me before he returned to the ring, getting himself into a fighting position.

"You should be worried about what I'll do once I pin you to the ground, mate- I thought that you might not want an audience for that."

The idea of being pinned down by him sent shivers of pleasure across my body. His words made my pussy clench in need and anticipation. The carnal desire that I had been keeping at bay over the past days was ready to be unleashed.

God, how could he make me feel of all this with nothing but words?

I took a deep breath to centre myself again. I wanted to give in to my urges but I was sure as hell not going to do so without kicking his cocky arse first.

"So, is this your idea for a date then? Get a girl all sweaty and dirty, and then seduce her?" I bit my lower lip provocatively while I pulled my hair in a high ponytail, ready to fight my mate.

"Do I look like the wine and dine type to you?"

He certainly didn't. That was Aiden's speciality. Our last date had been amazing and if I knew something by now, it was that my dragon mate was going to keep surprising me with his creativity and thoughtfulness when it came to expressing his love.

But Rafe? My wolf mate was different. He was the low-maintenance guy who seemed to have avoided relationships as much as I had. Bossy and demanding was one way to describe him, yet at the same time, I knew that there was a softer side to him as well. Still, he was the kind of guy to get my adrenaline going and then take me for a burger and a beer. And I would be lying if I said that I didn't love it. The two of them offered everything that I needed to feel loved and stimulated...in more than one way.

As much as I teased him about our little sparring, I was so excited about it- no guy I had dated had ever dared go against me. Maybe because they thought I was too weak or perhaps because they didn't want to embarrass themselves. It didn't really matter, to be honest. What mattered was that both of my mates recognised and appreciated my strengths, and they were not scared or worried to challenge me.

It was time to play now.

"No, you look like the big bad wolf that is about to have his arse handed to him." I lowered my stance, smiling sweetly at him.

"Is that so? You think that you can just run that pretty mouth of yours whenever you want, Moreau?" He cocked an eyebrow, his lips tipped in a half-smile. "Give me your best, princess."

We got into position against each other, both of us keeping a calm, poised exterior.

"Cute, Alpha boy." This was going to be fun.

The moment I finished, he lunged forward with his stick, attacking me relentlessly as I blocked his advances blow after blow. The moment I saw my opening, I lowered my stick and aimed for his feet. I hoped to make him lose his footing but Rafe was a worthy opponent who did not fall for my tricks, blocking my attack. He dropped down on one knee and swung the stick around to hit my legs instead, yet with no luck, as I jumped high enough to avoid his strike.

I landed on my feet and within a split of a second, I aimed my stick at Rafe's head, stopping mere inches away from his face. If we were calmer, more civilised people playing chess instead of fighting each other, I would have been saying "Check" right now.

"Impressed yet?"

He didn't reply. And he didn't give up. Instead, he grabbed my stick and tugged it towards him, pulling me forwards along with it as he swung again with the stick. Once more, my instincts kicked in. I jumped and tucked my knees in, letting the stick pass beneath my feet. With my stick gone, I opted for a punch in Rafe's chest as my counter-attack, which sent him flying backwards.

"Not so cocky now, are you Alpha?"

My mate grunted in annoyance and threw the sticks away, charging forward for another attack. He was evidently irked but not enough to lose his focus. We traded blows, both of us alternating in attracting and defending.

To say that we were an even match was an understatement. It almost felt like we could read each other's minds and each of us expected the next move with ease. Or perhaps we were just that attuned to one another.

Sweat was dripping across our bodies and we were both grunting and panting as we fought. When I eventually goaded him to attack, I used my skills to trip him up and put him into a tight headlock from behind.

"Did I ever tell you that I have a black belt in martial arts?" I mused as he tried to free himself from my grip.

"In martial arts or smugness?" How was he still not admitting defeat?

I must have lost my focus for a second though because Rafe somehow managed to free himself and throw me over his shoulder before he jumped on top of me and pinned my hands above my head. Damn it, here was the cocky grin again.

"You were saying?" Ugh, arrogant bastard. "I have to say that I am impressed, mate. You are even more skilled than what I had seen in action." He leaned in, his breath caressing my jaw as he moved on to my ear. "But the big bad wolf is the big bad wolf for a reason, mate," he whispered with a voice that made my core drip, in need of his touch.

My hips bucked against him, looking for his bulging erection. A low, sensual moan rolled off of my lips and I knew just how much it affected him as I felt his heart speed up. He wanted this as badly as I did, maybe even more. My nipples hardened with desire. Fuck, I wanted him to jump rip my shorts off and have his dirty ways with me.

"Goddess, Riley, the smell of your arousal has me under its spell every single fucking time. It's like a drug- I crave it, I need it. I want you, mate."

Our bodies, minds and souls' need to have us mate was as intoxicating for me as it was for him but I was not ready to give in. Not just yet.

His focus on our lust made it all the easier for me to push him off me, moving into a leg lock while I twisted his arm behind his back.

"Never lose focus, Macalister," I exclaimed, smiling at my victory.

"I didn't realise this was a competition, mate."

"Did you expect me to let you win?" I demanded, half-seriously, while I let him go and got up on my feet again. "And anyway, all is fair in love and war, right? What if another woman uses lust against you?"

I was not sure what I said that got to him but the next thing I knew, I found myself pressed against the cold wall behind me, my legs wrapped around Rafe's waist and my throbbing core pressing against his stiff cock as his hands cupped my butt. He caught me so off-guard that my hands instinctively grabbed hold of his naked torso for support and balance.

"Do you honestly think that another woman could ever get under my skin like you do, Moreau? That I could ever desire or be turned on by anyone other than you?" He growled in my neck but instead of sounding angry, he was bloody sexy. My arousal was off the charts, the wetness between my legs soaking my panties.

Rafe pressed me further against the wall, our hot, sweaty bodies rubbing against each other. I was a goner- nothing mattered right now other than the desperate need to have him inside me.

"Argh," he grunted, "this is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do but we can't go further....for now." His whole body was tense and his voice was so pained that I knew he was serious, for some reason. That didn't mean that I was not disappointed. He must have sensed it because he lifted my chin with a finger and looked me in the eyes. "Hey, I promise you that this will happen- over and over again- but I have plans for tonight and if we don't stop now, I don't think that we will leave this building anytime soon."

What the hell! When had Rafe become the voice of reason?

He was right though. And after all, I was now intrigued to find out what he had in mind- something told me that it was going to be worth waiting for.