Chapter 168: The Alpha’s Lesson

The pale blush of dawn crept through the window, soft and golden, brushing against the quiet forms on the bed. The fire from the night before had long gone out, leaving behind the faint scent of ash and warmth. Sophia was still asleep, her breath steady and calm, tangled in the blanket like a sleepy pup.

Orion lay beside her, eyes open. He has slept like a baby. The moment she wished him goodnight, it was like it was a command for his body to give into sleep and so he did. Her scent wrapped around him and he basked in it.

Annoying as she was, she was becoming his most favourite person.

He studied her face for a moment. There was something unguarded about her when she slept. The usual sharp wit, the quick retorts were all gone, replaced by peace. Her hair fell like silk across her cheek, and he reached out without thinking, brushing it back gently.

She murmured softly in her sleep, something incoherent, and he smiled faintly.

Then, carefully, quietly, he slipped out of bed.

The floorboards creaked under his weight, and he froze watching to make sure she didn’t stir. He didn’t want to wake her up due to his noise. When she only shifted slightly and settled again, he exhaled. Moving with the silence of a predator, he picked up his tunic from the chair and pulled it on.

A soft wind brushed through as he opened her door. He stepped outside and closed it gently behind him, taking a deep breath of the morning air. The compound was still quiet. The only thing that could be heard was the chirping of birds. Snow fell softly as he crossed the small path that separated their homes.

His house was only a few steps away. Immediately he entered, he closed the door and went straight to his washroom. He whistled as he washed up. He was all smiles as he moved through his home, wearing his clothes.

Sophia was good for one thing, and that was making him smile even when she wasn’t there with him. If his friends saw him now they’d ask what spirit had possessed him to behave this way.

By the time he dressed and returned to Sophia’s home, the light had shifted, dawn was breaking fully now, the first true rays of sunlight filtering through the trees. He knocked once and stepped in, his tone casual.

Sophia was already up.

She stood near the window, lacing her boots, dressed in her usual running attire, simple tunic, fitted trousers, and her cloak thrown over a chair. Her hair was braided loosely over one shoulder, and she turned when she heard him, eyes narrowing.

"What are you doing in my house again?" she asked, suspicion clear in her voice.

He leaned against the doorframe, looking far too comfortable. "Good morning to you too."

"I said," she emphasized, tugging the last lace tight, "what are you doing here? I have to go to the training grounds for my run."

"I came to tell you something important."

"Something important?" She asked me with a frown.

"Yup. It’s about your morning run."

Her brow furrowed. "What about it?"

"You’re not doing it."

Sophia blinked. "Excuse me?"

He pushed off the doorframe and walked toward her, stopping a few steps away. "Starting today, you’ll no longer be running every morning."

She stared at him like he’d just announced that the moon had fallen out of the sky. "You do realize that’s my routine, right? It’s you who suggested it to improve my stamina."

"I’m aware," he said, calm and steady. "But from today onward, I’ll be training you myself."

That made her pause. "Training me?"

He nodded. "Yes. Remember how I taught you to throw a dagger and you mastered it?" He asked her.

"What does that have to do with anything?" She asked him.

"You caught on fast," he countered, smirking. "You learned how to aim and throw in less than an hour. Most people can’t do that even after weeks."

Sophia tilted her head, skeptical but intrigued. "So?"

"So," he continued, stepping closer, "you’ve got something and it’ll help with you learning to fight. Either way, I noticed it before during the ball game, you went head to head with me for about an hour I think."

She blinked at him, trying not to look too flattered. "So...does that mean I have talent?" She asked him.

He shrugged with infuriating nonchalance. "I didn’t say so and if you do, it’s yet to be discovered."

She rolled her eyes at him.

He chuckled, the sound deep and rich. "You should see your face right now."

Sophia crossed her arms, pouting, and he laughed again.

"You know, this is all if you are still interested in training though." He told her.

"If I wasn’t interested why would I be running every morning to improve my stamina?" She asked him.

She had forgotten a bit about the dream but now speaking to Orion, she remembered it. And she was once more reminded of why she wanted to learn to fight in the first place.

"So you’re interested." He told her. "Let’s go then."

They walked together down the pathway. There was still no one in sight even as birds began their morning chatter, and the faint rays of sunlight painted the world in soft gold.

"Do you know how many people in the pack would kill for this?" Orion said conversationally as they walked.

"What?"

"This. Training with me."

Sophia rolled her eyes. "Wow. Modest, aren’t we?"

"It’s not about modesty," he replied easily. "It’s the truth. There are dozens of trainees begging for me to mentor them. I only pick those with potential."

"Which means you picked me because I have potential right?" she asked, unable to stop the small grin tugging at her lips.

He hummed. "And because you badgered me to train you."

"And you agreed." She told him with a smug smile.

Orion stopped suddenly, scanning the area as if searching for any potential threats.

When he was sure no one was nearby, he turned to her. "Come here."

"What now?" she asked suspiciously.

He didn’t answer, he just leaned down and brushed a quick kiss against her lips.

Sophia froze, eyes wide, looking around instinctively to search if there was anyone around who saw them.

"Orion!" she hissed. "Someone could’ve seen that! You said we should keep it a secret."

"There’s no one around," he said with infuriating calm.

"How do you know?"

He tilted his head slightly, nostrils flaring. "Because I can smell them before they even get close."

Sophia blinked, unimpressed. "That’s... comforting?"

He grinned, eyes glinting with mischief. "Relax. No one saw. And for what it’s worth, I’ve wanted to do that since we stepped outside."

She tried and failed to look annoyed. "Well," she said with a grin. "I am irrestible after all."

Orion laughed. "You really are."

"So where exactly are we going for this so-called training?" She asked him.

He began walking again, hands casually in his pockets, voice low but steady. "The training grounds."