Chapter 196: Chapter 197

Chapter 0197 Chapter 0197 Ella POV Alexander continued lifting weights, but every time I glanced his way, I found him looking at me. I couldn’t exactly complain, considering I was staring at him just as much.

Still, it made me uneasy. We were supposed to be keeping our distance, not giving in to our mutual attraction. It was difficult to stick to that plan when I let myself indulge in moments like this.

Feeling flustered, I stepped off the treadmill and made my way to the other side of the gym, putting as much distance between us as I could without actually leaving.

“How’s your workout going?” a cheerful female voice called, pulling my attention away from Alexander.

I turned to see Stephanie, the petite, pale blonde trainer I had met during my first visit. We hadn’t worked much together yet, but she was always friendly and encouraging whenever I saw her.

“It’s going okay,” I said, catching my breath. “I started with a warm–up on the treadmill and sort of lost track of time. I’ve been running for a while now.”

“I can see that–you’ve worked up quite a sweat,” she commented with a smile. “Maybe it’d be a good idea to go for a dip in the pool. You could get an extra workout by swimming laps. That’s my favorite way to end a cardio session.”

“That sounds nice,” I said, “but I’m not really ready to finish my workout just yet.”

“Of course not,” she replied with an easy smile. “But maybe I can teach you some lap drills? We haven’t really had a chance to work together yet, and this is my specialty.”

I laughed softly, catching the real reason behind her approach. “Of course,” I said, feigning innocence. “I haven’t been avoiding you. I’ve just been-”

“Focused,” she finished for me with a knowing look. “Don’t worry, I’m not offended. So, shall we head to the pool?”

“Sure,” I said, glancing toward the locker room. “Let me just get changed, and I’ll meet you there.”

She nodded, looking genuinely excited, before heading off toward the pool. As I walked to the locker room, I couldn’t shake the feeling of Alexander’s gaze following me. I resisted the urge to look back, knowing all he’d see was my blush giving me away.

Once inside, I showered quickly and changed into my swimsuit. When I stepped into the pool room, the sharp scent of chlorine greeted me.

To my relief, the space was mostly empty, save for Stephanie, already in the water and waving at me with enthusiastic energy.

I waved back and approached the edge of the pool.

“Jump right in,” she called, grinning. “The water’s heated.

I obeyed, slipping in as she instructed. Warmth enveloped me immediately, the tension in my muscles melting away. A sigh of relief escaped me, and I couldn’t help but smile as the water soothed my body.

“This is incredible,” I said, meeting her gaze, my grin mirrored in hers.

Stephanie grinned, treading water effortlessly. “Told you! There’s nothing better after a long run. Ready for some drills?”

1/2 +25 BONUS Chapter 0197 “Absolutely,” I replied, already feeling more relaxed.

She demonstrated the first drill, showing me how to alternate strokes for a full–body workout. I followed her lead, starting with freestyle and transitioning into backstroke. The rhythm of the movements and the soothing warmth of the water made it easy to lose myself in the exercise.

“Nice form!” Stephanie called after a few laps. “You’re a natural.”

“Thanks,” I said, pausing at the edge of the pool to catch my breath. “This is definitely a change from my usual workout.”

“Variation in your exercises is important,” she said as she adjusted her goggles. “You want to make sure you’re working all your muscle groups–your heart, your lungs. Your overall health is what really matters.”

“That’s true,” I agreed. “I want to become stronger overall so I can reconnect with my wolf.”

Stephanie nodded thoughtfully. “And this is the best way to do it, I think. Though I know there are other techniques as well.”