Chapter 0468

Alistair had asked me earlier to arrange alternate transportation for Ivy so he could have some private time with Seraphina. Since I didn’t drive here, a brisk walk back seemed like the perfect solution. Truthfully, I didn’t mind the chance to spend time alone with Ivy either.

I felt her tense as we stepped out of the school. Good. Let them all see. I wanted to make my intentions clear.

In a few months, the entire pack would know she was my mate. Until then, their opinions meant nothing to me.

I steered the conversation toward today’s training session. "Tell me—where do you think your strengths and weaknesses lie?" I already had my own assessment from yesterday’s obstacle course, but I wanted to hear her perspective.

As we walked, I realized something remarkable. Ivy wasn’t just aware of her abilities—she had a sharp, analytical mind when it came to her own growth. Most warriors could list their strengths but struggled to acknowledge their flaws, let alone strategize how to improve them.

Not Ivy. She had clear ideas about where she needed work and how to push herself further. What she lacked was a sparring partner who could truly challenge her. I’d assumed Silas would have filled that role, but now I saw how wrong I’d been—both Alistair and I had underestimated her.

When we reached the fork where our paths diverged, I handed her bag back. "See you soon, Ivy."

I jogged to the packhouse, dropped my things in my room, and changed quickly. Excitement thrummed through me—I hadn’t felt this eager for a fight since my last match with Alpha Sebastian. A plan was already forming in my mind, a way to test Ivy’s limits while incorporating her own strategies.

Downstairs, I sought out Alpha Sebastian. "I spoke with Alistair. I’ll be sparring with Ivy today—my way. She’s better than I realized, and she has solid ideas for improvement. I want to push her."

Alpha Sebastian studied me. "Anything I should know, Gregory?"

He wasn’t fooled. The man had an uncanny ability to sense every undercurrent in the pack. But I wasn’t ready to discuss Ivy being my mate with anyone except Alistair. "Just making sure she gets the training she needs."

His skeptical hum told me he didn’t buy it. Fine. As long as he gave me the green light.

After a long pause, he nodded. "Alright. But you’ll tell me what’s really going on when you’re ready."

"Deal, Alpha."

"And we agreed you’d call me Sebastian, Guardian."

"Thank you, Sebastian." I turned just as Ivy approached.

"Gregory will be training you today," Alpha Sebastian announced before walking away.

I grinned at her. "You’re stuck with me."

She rolled her eyes but listened attentively.

"Actually, Alpha Sebastian approved a private session. I want to see what you’re capable of." I motioned for her to follow me to a more secluded area.

She hesitated, glancing back to ensure we weren’t being summoned.

Once we were clear, I shifted into a defensive stance. "Show me what you’ve got."

Her brows shot up. "You want me to hit you?"

"Try to hit me," I corrected.

A mischievous glint lit her eyes. "What about kicking? Can I kick you?"

I smirked. "Like I said—you can try."

Confidence radiated from me. She was good, but I was a Guardian. The only ones who could defeat me were other Guardians—and the sole remaining one lived halfway across the country.

Let her try. This was going to be fun.