| am stunned at the power that Grace just pushed out. And ording to her, it was only half her power. She literally knocked all
three Alphas, a fae king and a group of warriors on their collective asses.
Cara starts pping. “Nice job, Grace!”
Rik jogs over to Trevor who is limping but not injured badly.
| walk with Ailduin and Liam back over to my mate. “Are you okay?” She asks me, her eyes looking over my body for injuries.
“I''m fine. But, wow, baby. | had no idea you were that strong.”
“| told you, it''s a LOT of power that | can feel now.”
As Trevor limps closer she goes to him. “Are you alright? Did | hurt you?” She asks him, concern etching her voice.
“I''m good, Luna. | asked for it and wow, that was something else.”
“Maia? That was only half of your power?” Ailduin directs his question to Maia, rather than Grace.
“Yes. | pushed my power into Grace’s Alpha aura and then helped her hold it back.”
“Impressive. | will have toe up with another way to test your strength, since your full strength would cause injury to the
pack.”
“| think I''m done for now.”
“Are you fatigued from pushing your aura?” Ailduin asks her, his brows furrowing.
| walk over and put my arms around her. “No, she’s concerned about hurting Rik and Cara’s pack. Can we switch gears to
something else for now?” | answer for my mate. | can feel through the bond that she feels guilty for hurting Trevor, even though it
wasn’t bad, and he is already healing.
“Of course. | want to test your strength as well.” Ailduin says and | walk Grace to a chair, helping her to sit her, before kissing her
forehead and walking back.
“Well, | can tell you, I’can’t do what she just did.” | say.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.
Ailduin chuckles. “No, | wouldn’t expect that you could. But that doesn’t mean that you’re not stronger than you used to be. Have
you tested your strength?”
Not specifically | train like the other Alphas, but | can’t say I’ve tested my trength other than during the obstacle course we did a
couple weeks ago.
I''m not as knowledgeable about the gifts of being mated to a Guardian. Based on what I’ve learned from Rik and Liam, you gain
some of your Guardian''s abilities. I’d like to see if that’s true for you. | believe Liam has agreed to spar with you today?” He asks,
looking at Liam.
‘Hell yeah!” He says, hopping up anding over.
“You letting me get some payback?” | ask, as | take a defensive stance.
“No way, you''ll have to fight for it.” He says, beforeing at me.
| quickly realize that I’m faster than | used to be. I’ve fought against Alphas before, and | always struggled to hold my own. Now,
however, it feels like I’m faster than Liam.
I''m also very familiar with how hard Liam punches, having been his punching bag for six months. But now, his hits don’t seem so
powerful, and my own punches are making an impact.
After about 30 minutes, Ailduin calls us to stop.
Whew. Were you always this strong?” Liam asks me, holding his ribs. | got some good hits in.
“| don’t think so. | know | wasn’t this fast, and | also know that your punches feel weaker than before. Unless you''re getting old.” |
say, lightly punching him in the
arm.
“Who are you calling old, old man. You''re older than me.” He says, punching back.
If someone had asked me a year ago if I’d be sparring with Liam Holstin in the back of Rik Forte’s packhouse, joking with both
Alphas, | would haveughed in their face. And yet, here | am.
“How about you, Rik. Are you going to give the old man a go?” Liam says tauntingly to Rik.
“| don’t know if the old man can take a young stud like me.” He says, walking over. “But, if he’s game, so am I.
I''m not as experienced with Rik’s fists as | am with Liam’s, but | have some memory of our fight when | was trying to kidnap Cara.
It''s the same as before, even though Rik is nearly 13 years younger than me, I’m skipping in and out of his reach, getting my
punches in. Hends his share on me, but they don’t feel
nearly as powerful as | remember.
When Ailduin calls us to stop, | give the same feedback. | feel faster and Rik’s hits feel weaker than | remember.