lowered his arms. “I lost someone I loved, too. And I know what you’re going through, but you can’t let yourself wallow in grief—it isn’t healthy. I realized after my sister died that trying to avoid the harsh reality of death is stupid. You can’t escape it. Only except it.”
Accept my dad’s murder? Not likely.
“Maybe I like wallowing in gloominess,” I mumbled.
“Maybe I’m not gonna let you.” Trent stared at me. “I get it. You’re angry. I felt the same way after Madison’s funeral.” He placed his hands on my shoulders. “The pain will pass, Shiloh, and we can ride it out together.”
Trent’s words melted my heart. I sighed. “You’re right. My dad would’ve wanted me to stay strong.”
“And train your ass off, so the same thing that happened to Kayla and your dad doesn’t happen to you .” Trent moved away and grabbed his water bottle. “You may not be as strong as a lycan, but you sure as hell can outsmart one. Or you’re gonna get yourself killed.”
“I’m just trying to keep it together, Trent.” I clenched my jaw, gnashing my teeth together. “Why are you giving me a lecture?”
“Because I don’t want you to rush into doing anything stupid, like trying to fight the lycan alone. You’re not ready, mentally or physically.”
“That’s why you’re here,” I said. “What’s the problem with being proactive?”
“Because you’re not ready to get proactive. That’s what’s wrong. You’re barely ready for anything right now. And you’ve got your ass handed to you twice by the lycans.”
“That’s precisely the point of being proactive! So I’ll be ready the next time the sucker shows its ugly wolf face.” My hands fisted. “Why else do you think I’m doing all this training? For kicks?”
“Honestly, I think you’re doing it because it’s simpler than dealing with what you’re really feeling.”
“Which is?”
“Blind hated and vengeance.”
Gee, was I that transparent?
“You must think I’m being stubborn or stupid…”
“Quite the contrary,” he said, gazing into my eyes. “I think you’re amazing.”
I faintly smiled. “You do?”
“Every time, I’m with you.” He gently brushed his knuckles down the side of my face. “Now let’s get back to work.”
After two more hours of training, the falls no longer hurt. I could roll away from an assault and bounce to my feet, prepared to defend myself. If I made a mistake, I learned from it and although I was exhausted and bruised, I endured. If Trent flung me, I stood poised seconds after I hit the mat.
“You’re doing great. I’m impressed.” Trent rested his palms on his knees, breathing fast. He straightened, then flexed his arms and rolled his shoulders. Joints popped and relaxed. He threw me a towel.
I dabbed the sweat beading my skin, then draped the towel over my shoulder. “I didn’t think I’d ever get it right. Real kickboxing is hard, but now I’ll be more prepared the next time I face the lycan.”
Trent nodded, and then wiped at his face and neck with a towel resting on a the little table in the corner where our water bottles sat. His forehead was damp, but he didn’t even look fatigued. Unlike me.
He set the towel down. “I wanna show you a few more moves before we finish up.”
We circled each other again. I raised my hands, primed for battle. I struck out with my fists, but Trent blocked my jabs fast and easily, until I launched a high kick at his chest. He caught my foot and spun me in midair. To stabilize what would’ve been a painful tumble, I did a somersault, then got back into position.
Trent nodded with approval, letting the unspoken compliment sink in before he attacked again. Blocking his fists, I executed a perfect butterfly kick. My foot made contact, and Trent slumped to the floor. Yes! With a crooked smile, he grabbed my ankles and jerked me down. No! I landed on my butt and the air swooshed from my lungs.
“If I’d wanted to be
Accept my dad’s murder? Not likely.
“Maybe I like wallowing in gloominess,” I mumbled.
“Maybe I’m not gonna let you.” Trent stared at me. “I get it. You’re angry. I felt the same way after Madison’s funeral.” He placed his hands on my shoulders. “The pain will pass, Shiloh, and we can ride it out together.”
Trent’s words melted my heart. I sighed. “You’re right. My dad would’ve wanted me to stay strong.”
“And train your ass off, so the same thing that happened to Kayla and your dad doesn’t happen to you .” Trent moved away and grabbed his water bottle. “You may not be as strong as a lycan, but you sure as hell can outsmart one. Or you’re gonna get yourself killed.”
“I’m just trying to keep it together, Trent.” I clenched my jaw, gnashing my teeth together. “Why are you giving me a lecture?”
“Because I don’t want you to rush into doing anything stupid, like trying to fight the lycan alone. You’re not ready, mentally or physically.”
“That’s why you’re here,” I said. “What’s the problem with being proactive?”
“Because you’re not ready to get proactive. That’s what’s wrong. You’re barely ready for anything right now. And you’ve got your ass handed to you twice by the lycans.”
“That’s precisely the point of being proactive! So I’ll be ready the next time the sucker shows its ugly wolf face.” My hands fisted. “Why else do you think I’m doing all this training? For kicks?”
“Honestly, I think you’re doing it because it’s simpler than dealing with what you’re really feeling.”
“Which is?”
“Blind hated and vengeance.”
Gee, was I that transparent?
“You must think I’m being stubborn or stupid…”
“Quite the contrary,” he said, gazing into my eyes. “I think you’re amazing.”
I faintly smiled. “You do?”
“Every time, I’m with you.” He gently brushed his knuckles down the side of my face. “Now let’s get back to work.”
After two more hours of training, the falls no longer hurt. I could roll away from an assault and bounce to my feet, prepared to defend myself. If I made a mistake, I learned from it and although I was exhausted and bruised, I endured. If Trent flung me, I stood poised seconds after I hit the mat.
“You’re doing great. I’m impressed.” Trent rested his palms on his knees, breathing fast. He straightened, then flexed his arms and rolled his shoulders. Joints popped and relaxed. He threw me a towel.
I dabbed the sweat beading my skin, then draped the towel over my shoulder. “I didn’t think I’d ever get it right. Real kickboxing is hard, but now I’ll be more prepared the next time I face the lycan.”
Trent nodded, and then wiped at his face and neck with a towel resting on a the little table in the corner where our water bottles sat. His forehead was damp, but he didn’t even look fatigued. Unlike me.
He set the towel down. “I wanna show you a few more moves before we finish up.”
We circled each other again. I raised my hands, primed for battle. I struck out with my fists, but Trent blocked my jabs fast and easily, until I launched a high kick at his chest. He caught my foot and spun me in midair. To stabilize what would’ve been a painful tumble, I did a somersault, then got back into position.
Trent nodded with approval, letting the unspoken compliment sink in before he attacked again. Blocking his fists, I executed a perfect butterfly kick. My foot made contact, and Trent slumped to the floor. Yes! With a crooked smile, he grabbed my ankles and jerked me down. No! I landed on my butt and the air swooshed from my lungs.
“If I’d wanted to be
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