Forbidden |18+

XXII: Training?

XXII: Training?

I still feel bad about what happened, but Ulric reminds me not to beat myself up over it. Mistakes happen.

This morning, Ulric and I enter the medical building, and he brings me to his giant calendar on the wall at the back of his desk. He tells me, "We won't forget again, I promise."

There is a note he's made on every Monday. In red marker, "Wren Feed" is scrawled across the dates.

"Thank you," I smile softly at him, and the moment I do, I notice the way he looks relieved.

His features soften as he nods slightly, taking a step toward me. I do enjoy the way he brushes his knuckles against my cheek before I walk forward and wrap my arms around his neck.

"Can I kiss you?" While I ask him this playfully, remembering back to our first kiss, my cheeks turn slightly red as I feel heat within them.

Ulric chuckles softly, lowering his lips slightly as he replies, "You can always kiss me, you never have to ask."

Our lips are gentle against one another's, his hand cupping my cheek as his other arm holds firm against my lower back. Breathing out slowly, our kiss grows deeper for but a moment because...

"I—oh," Noir's voice comes from the front door of the medical building, "oh!" She clears her throat while the air hitches in my lungs. I quickly separate from Ulric, though he doesn't appear too perturbed that we were caught kissing.

"Noir?" Ulric asks as I try and not turn into a tomato, lowering my gaze to the floor.

"Wren is on her sleep schedule solidly now, correct?" Noir asks, almost unsure.

Ulric nods his reply, though I can feel when he glances at me. He then adds, "I mentioned to Alpha Ernouf she's on her new schedule."

"That's why I'm here," Noir replies and I slowly lift my gaze, the embarrassment I feel leaving as confusion settles in. She nods at me and says, "It's her first day of training, Alpha Ernouf's orders."

Ulric releases a sigh of defeat, "There goes my assistant."

"Like you actually need one," Noir rolls her eyes and then turns her next comment toward me, "you should get dressed in some of the athletic wear provided and don't forget your running shoes. I'll wait for you here."

After Ulric hands me the key to his home, I exit the medical building briefly. Once in his room, I pull back the curtains and glance out the window, viewing the overhangs in place...yet...the sun has me concerned.

What happens if something goes wrong and I end up outside of the reach of shade? For longer than a few minutes, direct sunlight exposure will turn me to ashes...

Shaking my head, I fight down the worry. They said I am safe here, and I have to believe in every aspect. Settling on the long leggings made of spandex and a long-sleeved, breathable athletic top, I search for the running shoes I was given. Once I find them at the bottom of Ulric's closet, I grab socks and lace them up over top. Leaving the room behind, I feel slightly weird because I'm a little anxious about how this is going to go.

I've never done any real training, just...Eli...

As I reach for the front door handle, the bridge of my nose stings. He's my brother, he's supposed to...I don't even know, I thought he would try to look through what happened and be on my side. No, he just followed the judgment passed by King Seskel and Queen Arabella, their word made law.

My family...

...are they worried about me?

No, why would they?