The Black Wolf and her Mate

TWENTY THREE

Adam's POV

I wake up the next morning to an empty bed. Just like last time, I have a pillow in place of my mate. No, no, no, no no! Not again! I frantically smell around for her - she's hidden her scent again! Then I find a note on the side of the bed. With trembling fingers, I pick it up and read it. 

Hey, Adam!

Don't be afraid. I didn't leave. I'm just training in the pack grounds. I don't know exactly when you'll wake up to read it, but if I'm not there, then I'm training somewhere. So calm down. I didn't wake you up coz you were SO PEACEFUL! I can't disturb you like that! So I left this note. 

Don't worry. No more running. I promise.

;)

- Ava

I shook my head. She knew so damn well that I was afraid. I chuckled to myself. I looked out the window to see a blur of black running around the pack borders. I assumed that to be my mate. I immediately got up and made my way to where I assumed she would be at this point of her run. I was right. I was met with a pitch black wolf, with black eyes as dark as the night. 

"Hey, babe." I greeted her. She stuck her tongue out in a wolfish grin. Good morning, Adam. She greeted through the link. I smiled at her. 

I shifted into my wolf as well, not really caring about the clothes that were shed in the process - I have clothes hidden all around for situations where a forced shift happens or anything like that. 

I lick her snout in adoration, causing her to sneeze and give another grin before shooting off for another round. How many to go? I ask her. 

Forty down, ten to go. She replies. Forty?! I ask, stunned. Yeah, forty. Don't worry, you also got some strength, remember? You'll be able to do it with me. She shrugs. I just follow her, doing ten rounds myself. 

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By the end of 'practice', I'm sweating like a pig, while Ava just puts her hands behind her head, panting. "This is practice?! What's training then?!" I yell in disbelief. She just chuckled. "I do a little more than others. The reason for which, I will not be explaining at the moment." She replies. I suspect she doesn't mean to say the last part although she covers up her mistake pretty well, waving it off.

Now I'm curious. I want to know why she did more than the rest. She wouldn't have told me anything about any new reasons if it was just because she had more stamina and strength than others. No, she had another reason behind this. 

I just decide to leave it be for the time being. I'll be sure to ask her about that later, though. Maybe today evening, after dinner might be the best time...

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Ava's POV

Practice in the morning with Adam was interesting to say the least. He had forgotten to put the mind link off, allowing me to read his thoughts without even meaning to. Not that I was complaining, I enjoyed it. He didn't know, of course. 

In the end, I had to cover a slip up I had made. I almost told him everything. You might think that it wouldn't make a difference if I told him, but the truth is, I don't want him to look at me like I'm broken. I don't want this to make a difference in how he treats me.

It was just past dinnertime. Adam was in the shower, while I was lying down on the bed, having already taken one. As if on cue, he came out just when I was thinking about what I should tell him. He was wearing a tight-fitted black T-shirt, with a pair of white shorts.