The Raven Wolf King: Wolfless novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38

~Valeria~

When I wake up the next morning, I’m alone in my bed. Raphael and I spent the night together, and it was nice and sweet. He was so gentle-a welcome change—but he left early.

A few knocks come from my door. “Miss Valeria, you have been called to go to practice.” I hear Nolan at the door. I rush over and pull it open.

“What? Have they started again?”

“Yes. It was decided today that training will begin once more. Everyone is expected at the training grounds.”

“Okay.”

I quickly get ready and head out. When I arrive at the training grounds, I’m shocked to see Raphael half-naked and sweaty. He stands next to Antonio and Stephan, who doesn’t look happy.

“Is that Raphael?” a girl says.

“Yes!” another giggles.

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seating area and drop to the floor. Raphael grins and throws me a wink.

I take a seat next to Grimm, and he immediately speaks. “I’ve been thinking about what you said yesterday. About us being descendants of… you know who.” He glances around. “I’ll come by your room later so we can talk.”

“Okay.”

Raphael clears his throat and begins addressing the crowd. “I’ll be training you for the next few weeks.”

Antonio nods. “We’re skipping the damn tree and going straight to fighting.”

“Why do I have to be here?!” Fera suddenly arrives, whining and stomping her foot.

Stephan sighs. “Because it’s required of everyone between the ages the King announced.”

“But! But Lady Roseana isn’t participating! Why do I have to!” she whines.

“Lady Roseana is mated to the crown prince. Her only task is to produce the next heir, and she’s a princess. You’re the daughter of a General. Look around you-there are many Generals’ ghildren here.”

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“Shut up and sit down!” Raphael growls. “Stop making up stories.”

The satisfaction I feel almost makes me guilty-almost.

She gasps, but before she can complain, Antonio interrupts. “Class is in session. Everyone, come.”

I hear a few of the girls, including Jade, snicker, and even I can’t help but do the same.

Antonio repeats, “Class is in session. Everyone, come.”

We’re sent running first as a warm-up. After that, Antonio demonstrates the fighting moves-a kick, a sweep, and a punch.

“This is what I want you to practice on Raphael. Each of you will have a turn. You can add any other moves you like, but this is meant to test your speed and form.”

One by one, we’re called forward. Raphael shows no mercy, not even to the girls. He deflects their strikes with ease, then snaps a punch that halts just short of their skin-close enough to make them flinch.

Then Grimm steps up and surprises us all. He runs through the three moves; Raphael deflects them, but when Raphael’s fist drives toward his face, Grimm blocks it and counters with a Bunch of his own. Raphael stops the incoming strike instantly.41

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Raphael says to one girl, and she cries.

“No mercy,” a girl near me whispers.

“He’s so scary,” another says.

“Always the gorgeous ones,” one more mutters.

He can be scary, but they don’t know him as I do. He’s such a big teddy bear who likes to cuddle and is so sweet.

“Valeria, your turn,” Antonio calls.

I get up and head straight to Raphael.

“Hey, beautiful.” He smiles.

I stop in my tracks, hearing all the girls in the back gasp. I want to kiss him and break his face at the same time. It’s a thing I only feel with him.

Without warning, I launch into the moves they taught us. I know I won’t land a hit, but I add a quick step back and throw another kick. He catches it-and refuses to let my leg go. For a moment, it feels like he’s caressing it. Then, with a smile, he finally releases me. “Good girl.”

All the girls groan and mutter complaints. This boy is going to make me enemies for sure. When I turn, Jade is glaring dagger$1

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Zoning in on Jade, I lift my hand and give her the middle finger.

“Now pick a partner and spar,” Antonio says.

What?

The grounds erupt with complaints. Obviously, Grimm and I stick together.

“What do we do?” he asks.

“Uhm… you try to hit me… I guess?”

“I don’t want to hit you.”

“And I don’t want to hit you.”

Raphael, trailing behind each team, suddenly shoves Grimm toward me. Instinct takes over-I raise my fist. He comes at me so quickly that it connects with his cheek before I can stop myself.

“Perfect! Just like that!” Antonio cheers.

I gasp. “I’m so sorry!”

I narrow my eyes at Raphael, watching as he pulls the same stunt with every group that hesitates.

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fight. Fera quickly throws a punch and hits Jade back. Now they’re both screaming at each other, trying to rip each other’s hair out.

This is hilarious to watch. I wish I could just sit down and enjoy

the show.

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Chapter 38-2

“Valeria, get your head in the game,” Stephan says. “Here— stand like this.”

He shifts into a fighting stance. I do my best to copy him, and Grimm mirrors me.

“Good, but widen your legs.”

Stephan steps behind me, his hand guiding my thigh until my stance opens a little further.

“Perfect,” he whispers in my ear.

My body gets chills. That felt good.

“That’s too wide,” Raphael says, his voice low.

“I don’t believe it is,” Stephan counters.

“Then it shows how much you know.”

“Like you, I’ve been fighting since I was a child, and we had many of the same instructors, so I know plenty.”

“You just wanted to touch her.”

Not right now—it was purely for training. But maybe later.

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Stephan doesn’t back down; his grin sharpens into something edged, almost daring. The two of them look like they’re about to pounce on each other.

Holy… crap.

“Okay!” Antonio claps his hands between both men. “How about you take the left recruits, and you take the right. Let me handle this area here.”

Both men glare at each other before finally turning away while Antonio gives me a knowing stare with a tight smirk. I turn away with cheeks flushed but relief washes over me-I thought those two were about to throw down right here.

“Is Stephan into you, too?” Grimm whispers.

“I… don’t know.” I lie. I know he is. Or maybe he’s just trying to piss off Raphael. I don’t think they like each other very much.

Finally, we’re done for the day.

I rub my nose. “I can’t believe you hit me in the face, Grimm.”

“They instigated the whole situation! Those princes are the devil,” he says.

I laugh, but it cuts short when a group of girls passes by. One of them bumps me with her shoulder, and the rest glance back41

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“Raphael’s fault.”

“What’s my fault?” Raphael pops from behind me, making me jump.

I glare at him. “Your favoritism is making all the other women dislike me.”

“Well, I can’t help it if you’re cuter than all of them.” Raphael looks at Grimm and narrows his eyes. “Who are you?”

“Leaving,” Grimm says, waving at me. “See you later.”

“Smart man,” Raphael mutters. “Who is that?” he asks, watching him leave.

“That’s my friend,” I tell him.

“A male friend?”

I

“Yeah. People have those—like you might have a friend who’s a girl.”

“I don’t have that. I don’t believe in having a female friend unless they’re your significant other. Family doesn’t count.”

“Oh… well, I have a friend who’s a boy, and that’s not changing. I care about him-as just a friend. So be nice.”

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friend? He continues to glare at me.

I huff. “Look, that guy was my sister’s fated mate, but she rejected him.”

“Oh!”

“Yeah. But we’re just friends. To be honest, he feels like a sibling

to me-a cousin, or even a brother.”

“So there’s nothing romantic at all?”

“No.”

“Not even from his part?”

“No.”

“Hm. Alright.”

I roll my eyes. “So what are you up to now?”

“I have to head to a meeting,” he says.

“Well-”

The man doesn’t let me finish-he sweeps me up and carries me into the forest, not stopping until we’re hidden away. He presses me against a tree, his kiss urgent, and I don’t resist. I hiss hing:41

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