The Broken Warrior's Daughter

| probably shouldn't have laughed so much at Clint. But here he is, this Guardian of Alphas, looking like a big tomato. He did seem very sincere when he said he wanted my forgiveness. I’m finding it harder and harder to resist him. Yesterday at training, | thought we would train together again, but my father pulled me in as his training partner and Clint didn’t fight it. Then afterward, my father forbid me from letting Andra train.

This morning, however, my father couldn’t find a way to keep me away from driving with Clint and Anders without making it obvious to our future Alpha that he was trying to keep me away from Clint. Something is off with my dad. I’m not sure what’s going on, but his response to me seeing Clint is excessive and not in line with other times that I’ve been asked out on dates. Even more strange, my father is going to visit another Alpha over the weekend and he’s insisting that | go. | told him | had plans Friday night, so we’re going Saturday and coming back early on Sunday.

| don’t see Clint the rest of the day. I’m guessing he went home to shower and change. When | get to training, | see him. He’s talking to Alpha Patrick, whose lips are twitching. Clint is still a shade of red that makes it look like he’s got the world’s worst sun burn. My dad calls me over at the same moment that Alpha Patrick looks up and sees me. “Lily, you’re with Clint today.”

| look at my dad and see him grinding his teeth, but there’s nothing he can do about it and it’s not like anything is going to happen on the training field. | turn and walk over to Clint. He’s watching my father’s reaction and his fists are clenched and his eyes are narrowed.

“Clint.” | say, putting my hand on his arm. | wait until he looks at me. “Ready for an ass whooping?” | say, hoping it will pull him out of his anger at my father’s

resistance to him. He laughs outright. “Let’s go Lily bud.”

We move away from the rest of the group again and he takes a defensive stance. Let’s see what you remember from the other day.”

| get into position. “You know, I’m having a hard time taking you seriously when you look like you forgot to put sunscreen on before laying at the beach all day.”

“You'll be taking me seriously when you're face down in the dirt.” He says, giving me the ‘come on‘ gesture with his fingers. He pushes me harder today and his punches are stronger. But | hold my own and 1/3

we go the full two hours again, pouring in sweat by the time we're done. He’s careful not to get too close when he takes me down, so we don’t have any more knee—meeting—groin issues.

Afterward, | see my father waiting for me and | know he’s going to forbid me from training Andra again. | sigh, about to walk toward him when Clint grabs my hand and pulls me to the forest. “What are you doing?” | ask him.Content is property of NôvelDrama.Org.

“Time for Andra to get her training.” He says. But | know he’s making sure my father can’t keep us apart. The whole thing is bizarre. Any parent would be thrilled to have a Guardian giving their child individualized training. Any parent but mine. My mother’s not a warrior, and she won't go against my father anyway, so she’s no help.

When we get to the forest, we strip and shift. Once again, Andra is excited to see Donovan and he seems just as excited to see her. He runs her for over an hour, pushing her speed and her dexterity over the rocky terrain of the pack lands. When we’re done, he walks us back to our clothes where we change before he turns to walk me home.

“So, you're still going out with Lucas tomorrow night?” He asks me. “Um, yeah.” | guess | am, | haven't exactly had a moment to talk to Lucas since Tuesday. “Where’s he taking you?” He asks.

“I'm not sure.” | say, because | have no idea. I’m not really looking forward to this date. But | guess | better ask him tomorrow, so | know how to dress.

“And you're still going out with Calista on Saturday night?”

“Actually, no. My dad wants me to go with him to the Blue River Pack, so we're leaving Saturday and coming back in time for our date on Sunday, since dad told Alpha Anders he'd allow it.”

| watch Clint’s brows furrow. “The Blue River Pack? Why there?” I shrug. “No idea, but he wants me to go.”

Clint is quiet longer than normal. | stop and turn to him. “What is it?”

“Alpha Mahli is looking for a mate.” He says, looking at me with concern in his eyes, but | laugh it off. “I'm not old enough to find my mate. My birthday isn’t for almost two more months.” | tell him. “Right.” He says, but I can tell he’s not convinced. “But you’ll be home for our

date?”

“That’s what my father said.”

“Is your mother going too?”

“| don’t think so. My father said he has some business with the Alpha.”