Chapter 5 The Great Training Day

Celeste had one goal for the day, which was to avoid Hunter Blackwood at all costs.

Which should have been easy since she had meetings, strategy discussions, and warrior training lined up for the day. A completely Hunter-free schedule.

Or so she thought.

The minute she stepped onto the training grounds, there he was, shirtless yet again.

Celeste groaned. "Why is the Moon Goddess doing this to me?"

Hunter, the absolute menace, caught sight of her and grinned. "Morning, mate."

Celeste ignored the warmth that shot through her at the word. Instead, she crossed her arms and scowled. "Are you allergic to shirts?"

Hunter stretched, causing his muscles to flex in a way that was frankly illegal.

"Not allergic," he said lazily. "I just like the fresh air."

Celeste snorted. "You like showing off."

Hunter smirked. "If you had a body like this, you would too."

Celeste rolled her eyes so hard she saw a past life. "Un-freaking-believable."

Hunter chuckled. "You sure you don't wanna say good morning properly?"

Celeste gave him a bright, sarcastic smile. "Good morning, Hunter. I hope you trip over a log today."

Hunter laughed. "See? That wasn't so hard."

Celeste turned her attention to the sparring session. Alphas and warriors from various packs were warming up, preparing to test their strength and technique.

It was supposed to be a normal training day until Hunter decided to open his mouth.

"I challenge Alpha Rivers," he announced.

Celeste blinked. "Excuse me?"

The warriors stopped mid-pushup. A few gasped audibly. One Beta even dropped his water bottle.

Hunter grinned. "What's wrong, mate? Scared?"

Celeste scoffed. "Of you? Please."

"Then fight me." Hunter stretched his arms again. "Let's make it fun."

Celeste folded her arms. "And what do you define as fun, exactly?"

Hunter's grin turned mischievous. "Winner gets whatever they want."

The warriors around them perked up immediately. "Oooooh," someone muttered.

Celeste narrowed her eyes. He was up to something, and she knew it.

"Okay Hunter, what do you want if you win?" she asked suspiciously.

Hunter smirked. "A date."

A collective gasp rippled through the warriors, and someone actually whispered, "Oh my Goddess."

Celeste choked on air, swallowing hard. "You..." She pointed at him. "You did not just..."

Hunter tilted his head. "What's wrong, mate? Afraid you'll lose?"

Celeste's wolf, Luna, was practically vibrating.

"Date! Yes! Fight him! Win him!"

Celeste, on the other hand, wanted to strangle both Hunter and her wolf, but her pride refused to back down.

"Fine," she growled. "But when I win, I want all my breakfasts back."

Hunter raised an eyebrow. "Your grand prize is... food?"

"I take my pancakes very seriously."

Hunter laughed. "Deal."

Celeste cracked her knuckles. "Prepare to be humiliated."

Hunter winked. "I was born ready."

The second the match started, Celeste attacked.

Hunter dodged smoothly, sidestepping her first strike.

Celeste smirked. "Good. He could keep up."

Their fight became a blur of movement-punches, dodges, kicks, and counterattacks.

Hunter was fast. Annoyingly strong. But what irritated her the kost was that he was having way too much fun.

"Is that all you've got, sweetheart?" Hunter teased, ducking under her next swing.

Celeste growled. "You talk too much." And with one quick move, she swept his legs out from under him.

Hunter hit the ground with a thud.

The warriors cheered.

Celeste smirked. "What was that about me being scared?"

Hunter grinned from the ground. "You're cute when you're smug."

Celeste blinked. "What!"

Then, before she could react, Hunter rolled up and tackled her. Both hit the ground simultaneously, tumbling across the dirt.

Celeste twisted, pinning him for a half-second-before Hunter flipped them again.

They wrestled for control, muscles straining, wolves practically howling in their heads.

Luna was losing her mind.

MATE. STRENGTH. GOOD MATCH. BITE HIM.

Celeste, gritting her teeth, ignored her wolf's very unhelpful input. She saw her opening when Hunter shifted slightly, leaving himself open for a takedown, and she took it.

Celeste lunged, and Hunter dodged at the last second. Sending Celeste flying right into a giant, disgusting, muddy puddle.

The training grounds went dead silent.

Mud dripped down her face, her arms, her entire soul.

Seeing the stste she was in, Hunter burst out laughing. His laugh was loud and unrestrained as he doubled over.

"Oh-oh my Goddess," he wheezed. "That was the greatest thing I've ever seen."

Celeste sat up, seething. And without any warning whatsoever, she, very calmly, very carefully grabbed his ankle and yanked.

Hunter went down instantly, face-first into the mud.

Now Celeste was laughing.

Hunter pushed himself up, blinking through the mess. "You little-"

Celeste grinned. "What? You looked too clean."

The warriors erupted into cheers.

Celeste turned to them. "So? Who won?"

One of the Betas, still laughing, shrugged. "Honestly? You both lost."

Celeste groaned.

Hunter, however, grinned wickedly. "That means no clear winner," he said, voice dripping with amusement.

Celeste paused only to realize what that meant.

Hunter's smirk grew, seeing her expression.

"So..." he drawled. "About that date-"

Celeste cursed loudly, and Hunter couldn't help but laugh.

Neanwhile Luna was howling in delight.

"Traitor," Celeste said to her wolf, as she stormed toward the Summit's main building, still covered in mud.

Hunter, who was also now muddy, trailed behind her, grinning like a fool.

"So," he said, sounding entirely too smug, "where do you wanna go for our date?"

Celeste glared. "I am not going on a date with you."

Hunter chuckled. "We made a deal, mate."

Celeste scowled. "I hate you."

Hunter smirked. "No, you don't."

Celeste pointed a mud-covered finger at him. "I will throw you in a lake."

Hunter's grin widened. "As long as you come with me."

Celeste groaned. "I cannot stand you."

Hunter, completely unbothered, strolled alongside her. "Can't wait for our date, sweetheart."

Celeste prayed for patience because if this was what being mated to Hunter Blackwood was like, then she was bound for trouble.