The Snow Wolf's Mate

Show Me Your Teeth:

[POV: Aria]

The training field was humming with energy, fresh recruits circling up for sparring drills. The air smelled of sweat, dirt, and spring wind, and the midday sun shimmered above us as we shouted instructions, corrected stances, and called out rotations.

It felt good to be here. To belong here.

Emmett and Russell were helping pair up the trainees, while Noelle stood by my side with her arms crossed, scanning the field like a battle-hardened general.

Then she stiffened. “Incoming storm.”

I followed her gaze—and sure enough, there she was.

Talia.

In full black leathers, her braid wound tight and face already set with that signature smirk of superiority. She walked like the field belonged to her, eyes cold and assessing as she took in the recruits. When she finally locked eyes with me, something in her glinted.

Here we go.

“Well, well,” she said loud enough for everyone to hear. “Looks who finally crawled out from the bottom of her own shadows.”

My fists clenched. Noelle muttered something sharp under her breath.

“Here to help or just need attention again?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral.

“Oh, sweetheart. I’m here to educate.” Talia’s smile twisted cruelly. “Mind to show these rookies what real skill looks like? You and me.”

Russell immediately groaned under his breath. “Oh no.”

“Talia,” Emmett said, stepping between us. “That’s not necessary.”

“I’m not asking for your permission, brother,” she snapped without looking at him.

“She’s just trying to provoke you,” Russell added, nudging me gently. “You don’t have to prove anything.”

Noelle, however, leaned in, eyes glittering. “Kick her arrogant ass.”

I grinned. Oh, I want to.

Talia smirked as I stepped forward into the circle. “Still so easy to bait.”

“I’m just not hiding anymore.” I said, stripping off my jacket and baring my arms.

Talia grinned, sharp as a blade. “You think acting tough makes you dangerous?”

“No,” I replied, tying my hair back. “But beating your ass in front of the whole pack might.”

The circle around us widened as everyone cleared space.

The first strike came fast—Talia lunged in with the speed of someone trained under pressure. I deflected, rolled, spun away. Our bodies moved in a sharp, violent rhythm, claws grazing skin, fists cracking against ribs.

She was strong. But I was much stronger than I was ever before.

We collided like fire and oil—fast, messy, furious. Her nails caught my cheek. My knuckles cracked against her jaw.

She punched, I ducked. I kneed, she twisted. Each hit was fiercer, more vicious.

“You think just because Hayden looks at you, you’re something now?” she sneered between blows. “He’ll never want a weak, broken little stray like you to be near him.”

I froze just for a second—and that was enough. She slammed into me, claws raking my ribs. Pain bloomed red-hot. But it wasn’t comparable to the burn in my chest.

I shoved her off, hard enough that she staggered and then I launched myself at her.

We crashed down, claws and fists and snarled curses. I got in a hit that bloodied her nose. She got one that made my lip split.

“You’re not worthy of him,” Talia hissed at one point.

My blood roared. “Neither are you.”

We fought like we were trying to kill each other. This wasn’t sparring. It was personal. Brutal. The air stank of sweat, blood, and tension.

No one cheered. No one moved. Even the wind held its breath.

“Enough!” someone yelled.

We didn’t stop. It wasn’t enough until someone ripped me off her.

I thrashed in strong arms, spitting curses, blood in my mouth. “Let me go!”

“Aria, stop— Fuck, stop it—”

It was Hayden. His arms wrapped tight around my middle, lifting me back like I was some little brick. My legs kicked. My claws still burned.

Behind me, Talia was being held down by Emmett and Russell, face bruised, breathing ragged.

“That’s enough, Aria!” Hayden growled, dragging me back from the edge.

I twisted fiercely in his hold, snarling, but he didn’t even flinch and just held me tighter.

One second, I was seething and the next, his arm swept under my knees, the other bracing around my back as he lifted me straight off the ground.

“Hey—!” I hissed.

He cradled me like I wasn’t covered in bruises and fury, like I wasn’t still ready to tear Talia apart with my bare hands.

“Put me down!” I growled, squirming in his arms.

“No,” he said flatly. “You’re done.”

I twisted in his grip, but his hold only tightened. “Hayden—”

“I said stop,” he murmured, not even looking at me. His jaw was clenched, his eyes locked forward. “You don’t need to prove anything. Not to her.”

My breathing hitched. My pulse pounded. Yoka fought him. I fought him. And then I just stopped. Feeling how calmingly his scent started to surround me.

Honeysuckle. Damp earth. Strength.

I hated how steady he felt. How his scent was already pulling the fight from my chest.

“Showoff’s over,” he called over his shoulder. “Back to training.”

We arrived at the healer’s tent minutes later, and Mia was already prepping bandages by the time Hayden set me down on the cot.

“Careful,” she muttered. “That gash on your side’s deep.”

Hayden crouched beside me, his eyes scanning my wounds like they offended him.

“I’ve never seen that kind of bloodlust in you before,” he said, smirking faintly. “But I won’t pretend I didn’t like it.”

I huffed a laugh. “She was asking for it.”

“That she was,” he murmured.

For a moment, his hand lingered on my knee—thumb tracing slow, soothing circles. Then someone called for him outside, and he stood with a low groan.

“I’ll check in later,” he said to Mia. “Make sure she’s not hiding any broken bones.”

He gave me one last look, intense and full of something almost tender.

Then he was gone.

Mia returned to cleaning the wound on my arm.

“She did a number on you,” she said lightly. “Not bad for a show-off.”

I winced. “Talia always has something to prove.”

Mia glanced at me. “Well… she’s probably just staking her claim before the Alpha announces who his Luna will be.”

My heart skipped.

I blinked at her. “What?”

She shrugged, totally unfazed. “Just a few knew yet. But it’s gonna happen on the Rebirth Feast. And some she-wolves want to make sure their name’s still in the running.”