The weight plates rattled as Helena locked out another impossibly heavy deadlift. The entire platform shook beneath her boots. A few people nearby stopped their workouts just to stare.

And honestly… you couldn’t blame them.

Sweat glistened across her muscular arms and shoulders, the tight black compression shirt stretched so hard over her body it looked like it might tear if she flexed any harder. Every movement made the outlines of her abs and chest shift beneath the fabric. Her thick blonde ponytail swayed behind her as she stood tall, towering over almost everyone in the gym — especially you.

You had been training for years longer than Helena. Years. Yet somehow she had surpassed you completely.

Bigger arms. Broader shoulders. Stronger legs. Even her grip strength was ridiculous now. When she wrapped a hand around your wrist earlier to pull you toward the squat rack, you realized she could probably overpower you without effort.

Helena dropped the barbell with a thunderous crash and looked over her shoulder with a confident grin.

“Still warming up?” she teased.

You tried not to stare as she rolled her shoulders, veins visible along her forearms. It was impossible not to compare yourself to her now. Standing next to Helena felt less like being beside your girlfriend and more like standing beside some genetically engineered super soldier.

And the strangest part? She absolutely loved it.

Helena stepped closer, resting one heavy arm across your shoulders with casual dominance. Even relaxed, she felt overwhelmingly powerful.

“You’re distracted again,” she said softly, smirking down at you. “Cute.”