Mated to the Alpha Queen (Book 12 of the Regal Eclipse Pack Series)

Chapter 44

He was in over his head. He realized that after a bit, though he was frankly doing better than he thought he would, and he forced the negative thoughts out of his mind, instead focusing on Kyra's words to him. You're much more powerful now that you're mated to me. And you'll heal very quickly. He hoped so. 

He vaguely remembered Kyra telling him that Caleb was over nine hundred years old. That had been the night they'd both gotten so drunk. And Kyra had played pool with him naked, then offered herself to him as a prize. What a prize she was, and one he'd claim over and over again. But he needed to get his head back in the game. 

For being someone's great great grandfather and over nine hundred years old, Caleb Remington was fast and dangerous. As former Alpha King, he was one of the most powerful werewolves alive, and Cole realized then that Caleb was probably holding back. Until his first connected hard into Cole's side and something snapped and pain shot through him. 

Caleb backed off then, and Cole took a breath, then realized he shouldn't have. It hurt to breath. Caleb had broken his ribs. He realized that now, and his gaze darted to Kyra. 

Give it a moment. I know it hurts but you'll heal up quickly. 

He didn't respond to that, but she was right. Within a few moments, he was fine, the pain gone and he could breathe easily again. They seemed to know it too, and Caleb came at him again, a bit harder this time, but Cole forced himself to completely focus on Caleb, and not on his gorgeous mate and the things he'd been doing to her just a few hours ago, and he held his own. 

Finally, the match came to an end, and Caleb patted his shoulder. "Good fight."

"Thanks, Alpha," Cole muttered. 

Caleb frowned at him. "Just Caleb."

Cole nodded but he really wasn't sure if he'd be able to do that. 

"I haven't been the Alpha in over four hundred years. No one calls me that here," Caleb said. 

Cole stared at him. "I see."

Caleb just smirked, then nodded to Ragnar and Kyra and left the gym. 

Ragnar walked up to him. "How's the ribs?"

Cole lifted his shirt and studied the spot. The bruise was mostly faded and he was a bit sore, but otherwise okay. "Good." He'd never healed that fast before. 

"You did really well," Ragnar complimented him. 

"My head wasn't really in it," he muttered. He'd been distracted with thoughts of Kyra.

"You're newly mated. It's to be expected," Ragnar shrugged. "You'll be back down?" 

"Of course. I enjoy it, and I'd like to learn more, too," Cole told him. 

Ragnar nodded, then glanced at Kyra. "You sparring?"

"Not today," Kyra murmured, her eyes on Cole. 

Ragnar nodded and walked away. "See you two around."

"Are you okay?" Kyra asked him as they headed out of the gym. 

"Yeah, I'm fine. I love having my ass kicked," Cole grimaced. 

Kyra stopped, grabbing his hand. "Cole.."

"I'm kidding, Kyra. I really am fine. I did better than I thought I would, but he held back quite a bit, didn't he?" 

"Not really." She smiled up at him. "Maybe a bit, but for the most part, you did really well against him."

He scoffed at that, wondering if she was just trying to soothe his ego.