The Alpha's mate

Training and growing feeling

Matthew POV

The morning air was crisp as I stepped onto the training grounds. It was a place I knew well, where sweat and effort had shaped me into one of the strongest warriors in the Blue Moon Pack. But today, things were different. Today, Raphael stood at the edge of the field, watching me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.

My brother, ever the teasing older sibling, nudged you as he walked by. “Don’t let him distract you, little brother,” he said with a wink. “I hear Raphael likes a challenge.”

I rolled my eyes, determined to focus on the session. But Raphael’s presence was impossible to ignore. His dark eyes followed my every movement as I sparred with one of the senior warriors. His gaze wasn’t just watchful—it was possessive, a silent claim that everyone on the field could feel.

After the session ended, Raphael approached me, his usual confident smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. “You’re impressive,” he admitted, his voice low and smooth. “I can see why your pack holds you in such high regard.”

I crossed my arms, trying to ignore the way my heart raced at his compliment. “I’ve worked hard for it. I don’t need anyone’s approval.”

Raphael chuckled, stepping closer until the scent of peppermint and musk surrounded me. “I wasn’t offering approval,” he said, his voice dropping. “Just stating facts. You’re strong—strong enough to be my mate.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine, but I refused to let him see it. “Being your mate doesn’t mean I’ll bow to you,” you shot back.

For a moment, Raphael looked taken aback, but then his smirk returned, wider than before. “Good,” he said. “I wouldn’t want you to. I like a challenge.”

Despite his flirtation, I couldn’t deny the tension between us. There was something about Raphael’s confidence that both annoyed and intrigued me. He wasn’t like anyone else I’d met—and that scared me.

The rest of the day was a blur of patrols and strategy meetings, but Raphael found every opportunity to insert himself into my space. Whether it was a casual touch on my shoulder or a lingering glance, he made it clear that he wasn’t going anywhere.

By evening, I found myself sparring with him in the secluded part of the training grounds. Raphael's strength was undeniable, but so was mine. Blow after blow, I matched each other, neither willing to back down.

“You’re holding back,” he teased, dodging a punch with ease.

“Maybe I’m just testing you,” I retorted, landing a swift kick that sent him stumbling.

Raphael’s laughter echoed across the field as he regained his footing. “You’re going to keep me on my toes, aren’t you?”

Before I could respond, he lunged forward, pinning me to the ground with a smirk. His face hovered inches from mine, his breath warm against my skin. “I could get used to this,” he murmured, his voice laced with something deeper.

My heart pounded as I shoved him off, determined not to let him win. “Don’t get too comfortable,” I warned, brushing the dirt off my clothes. “I’m not going to make this easy for you.”

Raphael’s grin widened as he watched me walk away. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

As the stars began to dot the sky, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Raphael was right. The bond between us was undeniable, and no matter how hard I fought it, I couldn’t deny the pull. For better or worse, Raphael was my mate—and nothing was going to change that.

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