My Best Friends Mate

Chapter Thirty- the witch

RYANS POV

I stood there attempting to teach the new trainees how to do a basic arm bar and it was not going well. Of the large numbers, half were kids and the other half adults who didnt want to pay attention. This wasnt going well. Natalia had followed me and that frustrated me. She should have been with Dustins group but here she was like a bad rash that just wouldn't go away. Admittedly though, I appreciate the help.
I see Gabriel walking through the woods into my direction. I tilt my chin up and nod acknowledging his arrival. He finds his place beside me and asks me how its going.
"Not as good as I had hoped" as I ran my fingers through my hair.
Gabriel just stared at everyone who at this point werent even trying anymore. They were just in eachothers full guards looking around like theyre lost and dont know what to do next. I was surprised when he didnt mention anything about it or even offer to help.
"I have some business to take care of but ill be back late tonight " he said flatly and still scanning over all the bodies in front of us. It wasnt any of MY business so despite my curiosity, I didnt ask what he was doing.

"Will you be at Dustins dinner tomorrow? We're going some place off the compound. A human Italian restaurant called Bella Italiano."

"Yes, Ill definitely be there." and with that he did an about face and took his leave.

I wondered what this "business" was and before I could analyze it to myself Natalia appears beside me.

"Kiaras uncle is mercurial isn't he?" she said in a conspicuous tone.

"Why are you here Natalia? Seriously?"
I was not in the mood today.

"Im here to see you of course" batting her eye lashes at me.

"cut the shit" I demanded.

She just smiled and shrugged. "im here to help too... with anything you need" emphasizing the anything, her eyes intense, then she walked off and just in time too because Kiara was just entering the tree line. I could smell her. When she finally made her way to my side, she inconspicuously graze my fingers with hers, careful not to reveal any unprofessional behavior.

"whats going on here?" she asked

"well... attempting an arm bar." I replied.

"an arm bar Ryan?" and she laughed.

"what?!" I threw up my hands.

"we need to get back to the basics."

"the basics?"

"the basics. The inch worm"

I busted out laughing.

"come on Ryan, I know you remember the inch worm" and she nudge me with her elbow.

"yeah, I remember teaching you the inch worm and after a day, you were getting out of my hold."

"see? you are a good teacher." and she winked at me.

"I just think you were a good student and you were twelve and a tiny little wolf back then"
We stared at eachother as we both replayed the memory in our minds. Kiara had been training with the warriors and special ops for only a couple days. Being five years older than her and significantly larger I watched her struggle under my hold as I got in her full guard. She couldn't pair up with her brother because he would have gone easy on her and no one else wanted to because they thought she either wouldn't put up much of a challenge for them her being so young and small or it was so soon after her parents death they all dispersed, afraid of what to say to her. At the time, I justified teaming up with her because shes my best friends little sister and her mom died protecting mine but looking back, I can see I loved her back then and even all those years ago, there was a pull inside of me to always be there for her.
I broke free from my memories and turned to the sea of faces staring at us.
"Ok! Kiara and I are going to teach you how to get out of someones guard. If someone has you on the ground and you can get away, do it."
I turned to Kiara nodding at her to take over. I watched her instruct everyone to get on their backs with their hands tucked into their chest.
"keep those arms in and tight. TREX arms. by doing this you protect yourself and believe me, you do not want to give your opponent access to your arms. Now, using your entire body youre going to push up and away but if you're legs are swung to the right you're going to push yourself to the left and if your legs are swung to the left you're going to push yourself to the right, always keeping your hands in." She instructed.