Music Recommendation: Bad Things by Machine Gun Kelly & Camila Cabello.

.......

The moment Aire stepped into the training grounds, she knew this was a mistake, or would be a mistake.

The air hit her first.

The air was hot, thick, and heavy with sweat, dust, and an animal smell all around.

Her nose twitched slightly at the smell of fresh blood.

Aire’s steps slowed.

Her fingers curled slightly at her sides as her eyes lifted, and froze.

There were bodies everywhere.

Male wolves moved across the wide field like they owned it... because they did. They were all shirtless, with their skin gleaming under the sun.

Their muscles shifted and tightened with every movement they made. There was no restraint or hesitation between them.

A punch landed somewhere to her left, hard enough that she heard the crack before she saw the body hit the ground.

Aire flinched.

Her gaze snapped to her side. The man didn’t stay down.

He barely paused and by the time he pushed himself up, the bruise on his jaw was already fading, with his skin knitting back together like it had never been touched.

Another growl ripped through the air.

Aire swallowed.

Her throat suddenly felt dry. This wasn’t the quiet, controlled world she had been hiding in.

This was what they were. This was wolves being wolves, unapologetic, unfiltered, and unrestrained.

Her eyes shifted again, and caught the edges of the field.

Females stood around. A cluster of them stood nearby, watching. Some leaned against the rock rails, and others stood in small groups.

They all laughed, whispered, and giggled repeatedly.

Their fans fluttered lazily in their hands as their eyes followed the movements of the males with open interest.

A soft gasp came from one of them as a particularly brutal hit landed.

"Did you see that?"

"He didn’t even flinch."

"God,look at his arms!"

And more ripples spread around the field.

Aire blinked. Her stomach twisted slightly. She felt so uncomfortable. This is the first time she had seen violence at this rate.

This was normal to them.

Aire took a step back, then another. She turned violently, and carefully, ready to leave before anyone noticed she was even there.

However, she walked straight into something solid. She froze, and slowly turned around.

Madam stood behind her, staring at her with sharp eyes. Madam didn’t move, nor step aside. She held Aire’s eyes, sharp and unyielding.

Aire’s lips parted slightly. For a second, she almost said something, she almost argued, or even tried to walk around her anyway.

However, she didn’t. Her fingers tightened at her sides, and a breath filled her lungs. She swallowed it down, lifted her chin, and turned back to the field.

Her gaze moved across the field again, stronger now, and steadier. Her blue eyes observed the field, and that was when her eyes rested on the Alphas.

Everything else felt like noise compared to them. Their three bodies with three forces clashing together and not holding back was pure awe.

Nate moved first, fast enough that Aire almost missed it. The sharp pivot was blocked immediately.

Another strike from Xanden came immediately after, low, brutal, aimed to take someone down.

Alaric barely shifted. He caught the blow like it was nothing, and drove his shoulder forward, hard enough that the impact echoed.

Aire’s breath caught slightly.

Nate didn’t wait. He came in from the side, faster, rougher, and less controlled with a snarl tearing from his throat as he grabbed and slammed Alaric’s back.

Dust rose from where they laid.

Aire couldn’t look away. She secretly swallowed, and straightened up, unable to breath properly.

She felt a heat between her legs.

Her breath caught, and she hated that it did. Something unfamiliar tightened low in her stomach and she looked away too late"

She parted her lips slightly, and licked her lower lips with her eyes strongly focused on all three of them. Their bodies were marked with faint scars that hadn’t fully disappeared.

Their muscles cut sharp under sunlit skin, and sweat ran down their backs, catching the light in a way that made everything feel... too tense.

Her breast got the wrong vibes, and her nipples replied immediately, as sensual sensitivity travelled through her upper body.

Aire swallowed.

Her chest felt tight. The females around her weren’t wrong. They were... they were right. Her eyes traced the triplets broad shoulders.

If—

Her thoughts cut off abruptly when one of them stopped miid-movement. His head turned, slow, and deliberate, and his eyes locked onto her.

Nate.

Aire stilled.

For a second, he looked surprised then interest flashed through his eyes. Aire swallowed, and tried to break away from his gaze, but she couldn’t.

The fight behind him didn’t stop, but he did. Then he straightened, and started walking toward her.

Aire’s heart skipped a beat.

The other two noticed. They followed his line of sight, and then, their eyes rested on her too.

Aire felt it immediately. The energy shifted, and she saw their muscles rippled through their skin before they started walking towards her.

Aire stood her ground, barely.

Her spine straightened a million times. Her chin lifted slightly again, and her pulse spiked up when they stopped infront of her.

Nate’s gaze dragged over her first. "You came." He said, taking in her whole appearance.

Impressed, or disappointed to see her, he didn’t show.

Aire held his gaze. "I was told to."

Madam suddenly coughed behind, and a corner of Nate’s mouth twitched slightly.

Xanden stepped forward. He stood closer than necessary, and his presence was heavy. More suffocating.

"Doesn’t look like you belong here." He murmured.

Aire’s jaw tightened. "I wasn’t aware I needed permission." She breathed.

Her eyes landed on his string lean long fingers, and the vein in them. She inwardly wished he’d just move closer. Just a little bit closer.

Alaric let out a short breath.

Aire didn’t look at him. Her eyes stayed forward, and steady.

Alaric stepped closer, just as she had wished. His heat enveloped her, and before she could react, his hand lifted, and brushed lightly against her face.

His touch wasn’t so gentle as his fingers tilted her chin slightly upward, forcing her to meet his eyes fully.

Aire breath caught. This was too sudden. Her lips parted, forming an ’o’ and she couldn’t deny the intrusive thoughts in her head anymore.

This felt too familiar in a way she didn’t like.

"Look at that," he murmured, studying her face like she was something to be examined. "She cleans up well."

Nate’s expression shifted immediately. "Take your hand off her."

Alaric didn’t move.

If anything, his thumb brushed slightly along her jaw. The move was slow and deliberate, almost challenging.

"Why?" he asked without looking away from Aire. "You claimed her already?"

The air changed.

Aire felt it press against her skin. Alaric’s thumb rested on her soft plum lip, and he pressed on it.

Nate stepped forward, close enough now that the space between all of them felt... nonexistent.

"She’s not yours to touch like that."

Alaric’s lips curved faintly. "And she’s yours?"

Aire felt the weird sensation moving between her legs again. Her breathing fastened, and she had to tighten her legs to stop the feeling from spreading.

She felt the need to be touched. However, she felt more insulted than treasured.

Her hand came up fast, and she pushed his hand away from her face. "No one touches me," she said quietly.

All three of them stilled.

"When I want to be touched, I’ll send a message to each of you." She continued. She took a step away from them, looked ahead, raised her chin, and ordered. "Now, excuse me. You’re blocking my view."

At one edge of the training ground, Hannah stood still watching. Her face squeezed up into an unpleasant view as she watched Aire’s interaction with the Alphas.