The Heartless Alpha's Beloved Luna Novel

---- Chapter 135 Avery's POV "Enough." Gideon growled, and the training grounds fell silent, "Get off of her." Unable to disobey a direct order from his Alpha, Ian released me and stood to his feet, offering me a hand to rise as well. "Alpha," he bowed his head in respect. Gideon's eyes flicked between us as we both stood there, breathing heavily. I could see the muscle in his jaw leaping as he looked me over. "Js there a problem, Alpha?" I asked, pointedly. "What are you doing?" Gideon questioned, heatedly.

I started to answer but he turned to Ian, "She needs to train with a woman her own size." "Does the Alpha feel that I am most likely to be threatened by other women?" I sneered, "I can't imagine why he would feel that way," sarcasm was heavy in my tone, "Surely rogues and other warriors are more likely to present a threat, so training with ---- Ian is the best use of my time if I'm to learn how to take down a grown man." "Does the Luna come to this conclusion from her vast fighting experience?" Gideon said, pointedly. I glanced away. I couldn't claim to be anything close to a warrior.

"Train against a matched opponent while learning the basics," the Alpha growled, "before adapting techniques for uneven competition." "J don't have a woman to train with," I pointed out, and so help me if he recommended Dierdra I was going to hit him. "J will fight her," a woman's voice sounded. We all turned to see Jessica swaggering towards us, her flattering figure on full display in her close-fitting outfit, "the Alpha has but to ask." She smiled coquettishly at Gideon, and both Ian and 1 exchanged eye rolls. Of course.

"Excellent idea," Gideon grunted, stepping back and gesturing sharply for Ian to do the same. Under command from his Alpha, Ian could only shout advice at me as Jessica and I entered the wrestling ---- circle opposite each other. "Don't turn your back on her!" he called out from the sidelines. Gideon said nothing, and his stare was relentless when I turned my head. I wasn't sure if he wanted me to win or lose.

"What's the matter?" Jessica sneered as we circled each other, "Have you fallen out of favor with your beloved Alpha?" "Doesn't matter, I'll be delighted to kick your ass," I called back in challenge, then raised my voice to call out, "Come at me!" Honestly, I said it with a bravado I didn't feel. Jessica no doubt had more practice than I did, and it had been along time since I had spent any time in bouts like this. Mostly matches with Ryan's friends when I was hanging out around him. I had never been anything other than a mediocre athlete.

My limited diet, and the time I spent doing chores for the pack meant I always felt weaker than my peers. My limited victories had been flukes, as pretty much anyone in my age group in Silvermoon ---- had more experience than I did, and better physique. But maybe I could manage to pull Jessica's hair or something. I might lose this match, but it would be a pleasure to try and hurt her. I smiled in anticipation as she rushed at me. Using a technique Ian had showed me, I sidestepped her rush and pushed down on her back as she tried to ram her shoulder into my stomach.

To my surprise, the maneuver worked, and Jessica squawked in surprise as I pushed her off balance and she sprawled in the dirt. "Point!" Ian crowed enthusiastically, then trailed off and scratched his eyebrow awkwardly as Jessica shot daggers in his direction. "again," she hissed, climbing to her feet and launching herself at me before I had time to return to the reset position. Startled, I reacted reflexively, spinning as she tried to grab at my legs to grapple me to the ground.

Her fingers tore at my leggings, but I broke her grip and managed to get my arm around her neck in a headlock instead. ---- Ihadn't practiced a move like this before, and I found I was awkwardly off balance as Jessica twisted to prevent my hold from choking off her air. She withdrew, gasping, as my grip slipped. "Great attempt, Avery!" Ian cheered, "You got this!" I shot him a thumbs up, and saw Gideon's eyebrows were raised in surprise. He quickly reset his expression as I glanced at him. So, I had managed to impress him, even if just a little.

That feeling gave me confidence to dodge Jessica's next attempt, using my hip to toss her away as she tried to sidestep behind me and leap on my back. She was growing more irritated, her cheeks red and face flushed.