4. Punchline

                                    

                                          
CHAPTER FOUR
Diana's POV
Training with Angelo was always the highlight of my day. Sure, it was serious business—learning to fight off rogue wolves and protect the pack—but with him? Everything felt lighter, like a dance with a punchline.
We circled each other in the clearing, the ground soft under our feet and the scent of pine hanging thick in the air. Angelo's eyes were locked on mine, his grin cocky. He loved sparring with me, mostly because he thought I was easy to beat.
"You sure you're ready for this?" he teased, his muscles rippling under his t-shirt as he stretched. "I'd hate for my soulmate to tap out so soon. That'd be... embarrassing."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop my own smirk. "You talk a big game for someone who can't keep up with my left hook."
"Left hook, huh?" Angelo bounced lightly on his toes, looking completely at ease. "Let's see if I can dodge it this time. Or, you know, maybe I'll throw you a bone."
Ugh, wolf puns. "If you make another bone joke, I swear, I'm going to—"
I didn't get to finish. Angelo lunged, and I barely had time to duck. He missed me by inches, his fist cutting through the air right where my head had been. I used the momentum to spin and throw a quick jab, but he blocked it easily.
"Too slow," he said, stepping back, hands still raised, a teasing gleam in his eyes.
"You're such a—" I leapt at him, feinting left before aiming a high kick at his ribs.
Angelo caught my ankle mid-kick, and I could feel the smugness radiating off him. "Is that all you got, Diana?"
"Not even close," I grunted, twisting my body and using his own grip against him. I managed to knock him off balance, and before he could recover, I yanked my leg free and threw a punch at his stomach.
He doubled over, letting out a fake groan. "Oof, my ribs! Oh no, whatever will I do now?"
I crossed my arms, trying to hide my grin. "You're such a drama queen."
"Alpha, actually," he said, straightening up, his usual smirk in place. He rubbed his stomach and gave me a wink. "But you're getting better. One of these days, you might even—"
"—Beat you?" I finished, stepping closer. "I think I already did. Unless you need a break?"
We both stood there, just close enough for our breath to mingle, and I felt the familiar pull of the bond between us, like a magnetic force. Sometimes, I swore Angelo and I didn't need words at all. One glance, and we were connected. His deep grey eyes softened for a moment, the playful teasing slipping away.
But then, in true Angelo fashion, he ruined the moment.
"Yeah, right. Maybe when squirrels learn to fly," he said with a grin, stepping back.
"Squirrels will definitely fly before you admit I could take you," I muttered, shaking my head.
We sparred for another hour, throwing punches and puns, falling into an easy rhythm. I loved this—the way we moved together like two parts of a whole, knowing what the other would do almost before they did. It was effortless.
But we couldn't lose focus for long. Even in training, the danger of the real world was always there. Lurking. Waiting.
As we finished off the last of the training dummies, Angelo wiped sweat from his forehead and shot me a grin. "So, think the squirrels got the message?"
I let out a laugh, but there was a tightness in my chest. "Yeah, but we can't get too comfortable. Not out here."
He nodded, his face serious now. "I know. We can't slip up, not even for a second."
We stood side by side, scanning the trees, the lightheartedness from before replaced by a familiar tension. The woods were quiet, too quiet. My instincts were on edge, every muscle in my body tense, waiting for something—anything—to happen.
And then I felt it.
A prickle of dark energy crept up my spine, making my skin crawl. I swallowed hard, trying to shake the feeling, but it only grew stronger. I glanced at Angelo, and he was already on alert, his body rigid, eyes narrowed as he scanned the treeline.
That's when I saw him.
Benjamin.
He stepped out from the shadows like he owned the place, his too-perfect smirk already in place. Angelo growled low in his throat, stepping in front of me protectively, but I could still see Benjamin's icy blue eyes locked on mine.
"Well, well," Benjamin drawled, his voice smooth and condescending. "If it isn't the happy couple. Training for what, exactly? Hoping to beat a few dummies and pretend that'll save you from what's coming?"
Angelo's fists clenched at his sides, his muscles tensing. "You've got about three seconds to turn around and leave, Benjamin."
Benjamin ignored him completely, his gaze never leaving mine. "Diana... I'm not here for him. I'm here for you."
My pulse quickened, and I hated the way my stomach twisted in knots at his words. Benjamin had been nothing but trouble since the day he interfered with my bond to Angelo. He wanted to break us apart, but more than that—he wanted me. For reasons I didn't fully understand, and definitely didn't trust.
"I don't need anything from you, Benjamin," I said, my voice steady even though my insides churned.
Benjamin took a step closer, his expression softening just enough to look sincere. "Don't be so sure, Diana. There's something inside you. Something dark. You've felt it, haven't you?"
I stiffened, my heart pounding in my chest. I had felt something. A growing presence, like a shadow lurking just beneath my skin. But I'd kept it to myself, thinking it was stress. Or worse, my imagination.
Angelo stiffened beside me, his protective energy practically buzzing. "She's fine. She doesn't need your lies, and she doesn't need you."
Benjamin chuckled, his eyes gleaming. "You're so blind, Angelo. So wrapped up in your Alpha pride. But this isn't about you. It's about her. And the entity growing inside her. Dark magic, Diana. You won't survive it without me."
I stared at him, my breath catching in my throat. Dark magic? Entity?
"Think about it," Benjamin said, his voice lowering to a whisper. "When the darkness comes for you, who will you turn to?"
Before either of us could respond, Benjamin turned on his heel and disappeared into the trees, leaving nothing but an eerie silence in his wake.
I stood frozen, my thoughts racing. Angelo's hand found mine, grounding me, but it didn't stop the fear that gnawed at my insides.
"Don't listen to him," Angelo murmured, his voice tight with anger. "We'll figure this out. Together."
I nodded, but even as I leaned into him, the weight of Benjamin's words hung over me. How can I fight something already inside of me without me going down with it? 
I had a feeling this was Benjamin's plan all along to somehow to capture it and put an end to it. Maybe I'm putting too much hope for that and he's really as powerless as I am. Only after having a talk with him will I know his intentions.