I was Kidnapped for Revenge by a Ruthless Alpha-Chapter 171: Sparring pt 1

~THIRD PERSON POV~

Ash stood beside me "You know," he said casually, "I’m beginning to worry that you invited me for this session just so you could punch me."

Odette shrugged as if considering the possibility. "Not true. I was also planning to kick you."

"Ah, so it was on the schedule."

"Only as an option."

Ash chuckled, patting her shoulder as they reached the open mat area. "Well then, option accepted."

They both stepped onto the track, stretching lightly. The familiar sense of routine falling between them.

They took off running together. Slow and steady. Just a warm up. the jog ended quickly, with both of them feeling loosened up.

"Three rounds," Ash said. "Full magic. No energy draining. And no complaining when you lose one."

"Three wins for me," Odette smirked. "Take a breath, old man. You’re about to get embarrassed."

"Sweetheart," he replied warmly, "I raised you. If you embarrass me, I’ll simply claim credit."

Odette laughed and shook her head. He seemed different, less intent on challenging her and taunting her, and more intrigued.

They bowed.

And the first battle began.

Ash struck first with a sudden, perfectly timed lunge forward as he swept Odette’s legs with the inside of his ankle. She vaulted over his leg, flipping once and landing in low with her leg stretched out and her hand to balance the front. Her grin flashed a hint of fang.

"Trying to take me down already?" she teased.

"This old man is trying to get a nap in before dinner," he countered.

Odette launched forward. Her with a straight jab toward Ash’s chest, fast enough that normal eyes wouldn’t track it. He blocked it with his forearm, turning the momentum and slipping to her side. She pivoted, bringing her elbow around in a tight arc. Ash caught that too barely and stepped back with grin. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Your form improved," he said proudly, a smirk resting in the corner of his mouth.

"And you’ve gotten slow and out of shape. Not having me around has made you lazy."

Her kick came swift, cutting upward toward his jaw with a speed. Ash caught her ankle in one hand and then yelped when she used his own grip as leverage, twisting midair and locking her other leg around his neck in a locked hold.

"Language," Ash scolded through strained breaths, completely upside down.

"I didn’t say anything."

"Your aura did. Rude aura. Very unladylike."

"I’m not a lady, I’m a Luna."

She twisted, flipping both of them downward. Ash landed on his back with a hard thump, Odette pinning his shoulders with her knees. He blinked up at her.

"I see," he said. "You’re going for efficiency today."

"Round one," she said sweetly. "Say it."

Ash didn’t tap. He threw her off with a sudden surge of strength, rolling backward to his feet. Odette slid across the mat, flipped back upright, and skidded to a halt, boots screeching against the gym floor.

"Oh," she said, "we’re doing that."

Ash chuckled.

They charged each other again.

There punches connect in the middle, her knuckles against his palm, as Ash spun, dragging her into a shoulder throw. Odette rolled with it, landing with both hands on the ground. She sprang forward, sweeping his ankles. Ash jumped, flipping cleanly over her. Odette caught his coat mid flip and yanked, slamming him back into the mat.

Ash hit, bounced, and landed on his feet like a cat.

Odette stared with a frown. "Okay. That was rude."

"There are no rules! Nothing is rude." His smirk was getting on her nerves but brought a strong sense of home sweeping into her heart.

Her punch landed squarely in his stomach not hard enough to injure, but strong enough to knock the wind out of him. Ash staggered, laughing breathlessly.

"That was a cheap shot! I thought I taught you better than that."

"You left the opening! And you also taught me to never leave a door open."

"Touche." He smiled.

He swung back. She ducked. They moved in a blur, punch, block, elbow, kick, dodge, repeat. Their steps were a rapid like drumming thunder.

She snapped her fingers and conjured a thin sheet of frost beneath his foot just as he stepped. Ash’s eyes widened.

He was surprised; she could use ice magic now.

"Odette, don’t you dar..." before he could even finish his sentence he slipped.

She caught him mid fall, slammed him (gently) onto the mat, and pinned him again.

Ash cursed softly.

Odette beamed. "Round one?"

He sighed dramatically. "Round one."

She helped him up. They dusted off, breathing lightly, sharing a proud, competitive smile.

One down.

Two to go.

Ash cracked his knuckles. "Alright," he said, "no more being nice. Guess I have to up my game."

"You were being nice?" Odette choked laughing, she knew her father better than that.

"I was warming up."

She laughed more, stepping back as his aura increased. She could sense the air shifting with him.

Odette rolled her shoulders. "Let’s dance."

Ash launched himself first. His speed was amped up, his claws extended outwardly. He pretended to swipe at her but quickly pivoted to a back handed punch. She avoided it by sliding down, and dodging. She slammed her hand on the ground, a wave of frost rushed forward. Ash rolled to the side, the frost barely missing him. A cold foggy mist spread through the air.

They moved through the fog, shadowed figures moved like monsters in the dark.

A burst of ice.

Odette conjured a curved blade of water, its edge frozen sharp. She slashed. Ash dodged, his coat freezing at the edges.

"You owe me a new coat," he said.

With his long extended claws, he slashed through the air; she threw up a shroud of fog and mist and then burst through the it, knee driving toward his ribs. Ash blocked, the impact sending a shockwave through the room.

Odette skidded back, shaking out her hand. "Ow."

"You insisted on kneeing my ribs," Ash said mildly.

"I’ll knee them again."

"Of course you will."