The Ruthless Lycan King's Virgin Mate

#Chapter 11 Training

Harper’s POV

Although Dylan’s encouragement yesterday had induced confidence in me to stand up to Erin last night. Today I feel frail, gazing into Dylan’s serious gray orbs. Leaving me wanting to retreat like a balloon, escaping a child’s hand and fleeing into the atmosphere.

I’m aware that the maid selection competition will involve testing skills in cooking and housework, which I am decent at. However, in the werewolf world, your rank matters heavily and your rank is classified by strength.

I therefore fear there’ll be a test of strength. And as an alpha who is weaker than an omega, there’s no way my strength will carry me through the test. Not to mention, I haven’t shown an ounce of talent in learning those offensive attacks!

I’m doomed!

I’m fully aware of Dylan’s eyes on me, and eventually he interrupts my spiraling thoughts with his voice. “Where's all the confidence I saw within you yesterday Harper?”

I swallow hard at his imposing presence, lowering my gaze sadly to finally explain my fear. “I’m so weak, it will be impossible for me to win.”

Despite the truth of the matter, Dylan doesn't seem convinced. Something in his eyes remains determined, and he speaks with conviction and pride. “You are going to win because I will be training you. There is no reason for you to fail!”

I want to believe him, I really do. But something tells me that Dylan is soon going to realize how weak I am.

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An hour later we are standing out in the field by my cabin. I put on a brave face as Dylan starts his lesson of the day, stating that “I’m going to start with teaching you a few offensive moves that you can easily practice.”

I nervously nod my head, doing my best to pay attention as he begins showcasing each of the moves he wants me to follow.

But as already established, the universe is never on my side. As Dylan begins moving in a focused deliberate attempt to teach, my vision gradually starts to blur. And then… I see two Dylans… no wait…three, oh god.

Now there are four Dylans, all mirror images of each other, all beholding the same serious expression.

Everything he does looks so complicated and difficult. His limbs whizz back and forth in defined motions that I can’t comprehend, and my brain hurts from trying.

I feel like I’m back at school, trying to understand difficult math problems. Every time I face them, it’s so easy for me to fall asleep. And the numbers would blur in and out of focus, like the way Dylan is now.

I shake my head numerous times, trying to get back to having one Dylan in my field of vision. But the four remain, and now I feel my body begin to sag. It feels like there are heavy weights being pressed against my eyelids, threatening to shut into deep slumber.

I’m jolted awake as Dylan once again speaks, “Right so that’s all you have to do. Pretty simple moves, even a child can learn them.”

My gaze flickers towards him. Noticing how he sighs in deep satisfaction, clearly believing his teachings are simple and well put together as he stands broad chested, hands held upon his hips.

“Your turn now.”

Oh no…

I try to desperately wrack my brain to remember the moves he’s expecting me to display. But my mind isn’t home… or more so, the engine room of my brain seems to be on fire, and the little people inside my head that operate me, flail about, all screaming in confusion as to what to do.

I can’t remember the moves!

In the end, my body moves about like a glitching robot with an obvious malfunction. Worst of all, Dylan’s potent gaze observes me like a hawk. And like a little rabbit, flustered and fearful of being swooped up and eaten, I hop about with absolutely no regard to what I’m doing.

In my panic, I trip over my own two feet, releasing an uncontrolled ‘Waaaa’ as I face plant the dirt.

I’m not ready to witness Dylan’s disappointed expression. So I stare at the more comforting dirt for what feels like ages. Admiring the ground in all its glory, since dirt can’t hurt me anymore than it already has… at least it’s better than having to face Dylan. Right?

But eventually, my coach clears his throat, wanting my attention. And so I embarrassingly lift my head to look at him, with a sheepish smile.

While he does appear peeved by my incompetence, something in his stiff stance and pursed lips tells me he’s withholding his irritation. Dylan takes in a deep long breath, before heaving a sigh.

“I’ll show you again…” he eventually says, maintaining a cool gaze and waiting for me to get up off the ground.

Despite his initial annoyance, he does take the time to try and explain each move to me. Slowly and smoothly he demonstrates before moving my arms and legs into the necessary positions.

And….

My brain turns to mush.

His touch alone sets fire to my skin. And all I can think about is the way he wraps a hand round my waist to straighten me, or shift my legs into a stance. The little girl in me is enthralled and also brainwashed into squealing inside.

“Okay, so try that now.”

Uh oh…

I blink. And blink and blink and blink, like an old vintage camera that's out of film. Having not captured any of the previous information, I stand like a mindless statue. Still in the position Dylan put me in, but no way of knowing what's the next step.

I again hear Dylan’s frustrated sigh, as he remains stunned by my inadequacy. And this time, he can’t help mocking, “Harper, god, even a goldfish has the ability to remember things for at least a couple of seconds. How is your memory worse than that?”

His taunting has me ducking my head with a half-smile.

“Right, it’s fine. Let's try something else.”

“More?”

He scoffs, “Yes, don’t think I’m letting you off the hook that easily!”

And that was indeed a fact. Half an hour later, I’m running laps around the lake that’s in the center of my pack’s territory. Dylan thought that maybe I should start with the easiest aspect of training, which was building up my speed and stamina.

Apparently maids in the palace need to be quick with serving the King, and work for long hours at a time. So this is the best way to work on that.

But I’m exhausted. I bet I look like a clumsy drunkard, with sweat pooling off my face in bucket loads. Whilst Dylan just strides behind me with great ease.

While my vision swims about like I’m in a lucid dream, I can eventually make out a few pack members that are having a picnic by the lake. Immediately my face brightens with hope as I call out to them for help.

They look up at me with immense confusion and bewilderment. And I’m betting the hulking presence on my tail scares them a little too.

But before my call for rescue can be responded to, I hear a strange buzz behind me, like the buzz of an old radio, as if someone is flicking through the channels haphazardly, till they suddenly come up to the right one.

My head whips over my shoulder, horrified to see Dylan carrying a megaphone! He clicks on and speaks into the microphone, while his gaze zones in on me, “Harper hasn’t finished her training yet, no one's to interact with her. I repeat, no one is to interact with the maid in training.”

The megaphone amplifies his voice so it carries across the lake. And the group having a picnic begin to uncontrollably laugh at the situation, leaving my face to redden like a ripe apple.

Eventually I lose the ability to run any further, I find myself in a grove as my legs buckle and I have to halt to stop myself from falling. Dylan calmly walks up beside me, as I bend over, heaving and gasping for air.

“Please can we take a break? Or can I at least get some water, I’m thirsty.” I ask, praying Dylan will pity me.

He finally bestows a glimmer of mercy on me, “You wait here, I’ll go get you a bottle.”

In an exhale of relief, I flop onto the ground like a fish, trying to rest my legs by lifting them into the air. Slowly I roll over onto my stomach, watching Dylan walk away, but not without noticing a piece of paper drop from his pocket.

My brows narrow in interest, and still not willing to get up, I crawl over to it. But when I take it and unscrunch it to read the small handwriting, my eyes widen.

I recognize that it’s a spell! The language is familiar to me, and I easily go to memorize the piece of writing, sensing the power behind the spell with no trouble.

There is not much to consider really, other than to return it to Dylan, so I get up and put the paper in my pocket, waiting for him to return.

However, in the midst of waiting, I find myself gradually feeling drowsy again. The forest around me is soothing, and the quiet chirping of the birds lulls me into a state of calm. I inhale deeply before my eyes slant shut.

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Dean’s POV

Unbelievable.

There's nothing else to do but to stare in disbelief as I come back to find Harper is fast asleep while standing…

How’s that even possible? Never mind that, we have work to do.

I try to poke her with a nonchalant air, but all Harper does is sway as she continues to snore every so often, mumbling that she doesn’t want ‘to train anymore’.

Huh. Even in sleep, she tries to avoid my training.

Finally, I decide that I just have to forcefully wake her. However, just as I place my hand on her shoulder, Harper appears to instinctively retaliate. She flinches, yelling out suddenly, “No! Go away, go away. Please get away from me!”

In an instant, an unexplainable force pushes me, sliding me backwards so easily it’s like I’m standing on ice. In seconds I’m 7 feet away from her, completely unable to go any closer.

Fuck sake.

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The girl can sleep. Clearly. Because by the time she finally wakes, it’s the dead of night. She innocently blinks her eyes open, turning to look at me. “Uh, why are you standing all the way over there?”

I snort at her wonderment, ready to tell her I’ve been standing here for ages waiting for her to wake up. However, I’m halted as a loud bear roar sounds off in the distance.

The two of us immediately clock onto the large carnivore that's headed straight for Harper. There's clearly something wrong with its misplaced aggression.

But I can do very little, as the invisible force refrains me from getting any closer to her. My fists coil in frustration as I fight against the barrier.

Just as the bear closes the distance, and I’m about to forcibly break through the barrier with my Lycan power, Harper’s clear cry for help appears to shatter whatever holds me back.

But before I can throw myself in front of her, the bear rushes forward with incredible force, that I fear she’ll be overwhelmed by its sheer size.

But what I don’t expect, is the blinding blast of purple light that suddenly emits from her. It’s as if the world around us has suddenly been tinted in an alluring violet. And the ground beneath us shakes slightly from the power generated.

Harper screams an indiscernible phrase whilst the bolt of light -with some clear force behind it- collides with the predator. In no less than a second, the impact sends the bear into the air, like a limp rag doll!