by Lola Glass
Definitely pissed.
The first fight started, two male enforcers facing off against each other. Someone turned on loud, booming rock music that reminded me of what Roman always had playing. The guys were evenly matched, so it went on a good ten minutes.
Arla took the seat Roman had left open beside me.
I noticed Roman start shaking partway through the fight. Arla noticed too. She nudged me and pointed to Roman with her eyes, pretty much telling me to deal with him. Then she got up and crossed the room, whispering something to Kylee and Kyler.
I figured touching him was the best way to chill him out and grabbed Roman’s hand. He looked down as I slipped my fingers between his and squeezed tightly. He didn’t relax, but the shaking stopped.
Success.
Or at least close enough.
Arla sat back down as the shorter male enforcer cracked the taller one on the head and the tall guy went down hard. The short one wrestled the tall one on the ground until Tall tapped out. Kyler and his sister declared the winner and then announced the next fight.
Roman would be going up against an enforcer named Jett. He hadn’t been in my entourage rotation because he wasn’t mated, but I’d heard of him. He was just as big as Roman and a professional MMA fighter to boot.
I didn’t like the idea of Roman fighting him, but this was just for fun.
Roman slipped his hand from mine and tugged his shirt over his head, handing it to me. He stretched his shoulders as he sauntered over to Jett.
Part of me wondered if he’d expect me to heal him again after his fight tonight, but I reminded myself how much I’d enjoyed the whole thing the night before. And Roman had never really expected anything from me.
He was good like that.
Everyone cheered when Jett made the first move. Roman dodged easily. Jett threw a couple more punches and Roman dodged a few more times before jabbing at Jett. Jett ducked and punched back, his fist shooting toward Roman’s face. Roman’s head moved with his body as he dodged and put his weight into a jab to Jett’s chest. Jett staggered backward but clipped Roman on his shoulder.
The crowd roared. I’d forgotten they were there, the music was so loud and the fight so intense.
“Are they glad he’s hurt or angry?” I asked Arla. She grinned.
“A little of both, probably.”
The fight continued, jabs exchanged. Both took a few hits, but nothing serious. I was on the edge of my seat when Roman kicked it into gear, hitting faster and harder. The fight ended quickly after that. Although Jett put up a good fight, he was used to fighting for show. Roman usually fought for his life.
Roman helped Jett up off the floor and the two of them exchanged grins. Both were worse for the wear, littered with bruises.
At least they weren’t claw marks.
The next fight was between Sky and Jamie. I’d seen Jamie kick ass, but I’d never seen her in a practice fight. Arla scooted over on the bench to make room for Roman between us, and when he sat he draped his sweaty arm over my shoulder.
“Gross.” I complained, pushing at his arm. He was still grinning from the fight and pulled me closer, squeezing me tight. I fought half-heartedly to get free and Roman maintained a death-grip until I gave up all hope of escape. His arm went back to my shoulder and I leaned into his side.
People could stare all they wanted. He was mine.
My eyes were glued to the fight as it started. The two women made it look like an art form. Lithe bodies flowed through movements, neither of them fazed by the move of the other. The first time Sky stumbled, Jamie struck like a cobra. All it took was one focused kick to Sky’s head and Jamie had her on the ground, unconscious for a second and a half. She came to before the time ran out, but Jamie pinned her so she was out anyway.
I high-fived Jamie as she came to sit back down, her cheeks flushed and a bright smile on her face. The only other times I’d seen her that happy were when she was drunk or bartending.
A few more fights between enforcers went down. Kyler won without taking a single hit and Oliver came out on top despite a few punches to the face. When Arla went up for her fight against Kylee, I noticed the tightness in Kyler’s expression.
He really cared about his sister.
That fight was the longest of the night. The girls were evenly matched and both were skilled at dodging. Arla won, but it was decently close. Not a great sign for an Alpha, and the grimace on Roman’s face told me he knew it. Someone could challenge his sister, and if they were really skilled they would win.
After a few more fights, Kyler and Kylee announced that the last fight of the night would be between me and London, both beginners. Roman tensed at the announcement, and I could sense that he was close to shifting.
“London’s just as bad as Henley, Rome. She’ll be fine.” Arla told her brother.
I met London in the middle and noted that she looked about as thrilled as I did.
“Don’t aim for the face. I sell shit with this nose.” She gestured to her face and I cracked a smile.
“The last time I punched someone in the face I ended up with two messed up knuckles. Not eager to try again.”
Kylee called for the fight to start. London struck quickly with a jab to my shoulder and I jumped backward.
The beast in me kicked into gear, my eyes shifting as my mind went into survival mode. I’d never been in a friendly fight before and my senses told me it was kill or be killed.
I hadn’t survived this long to lose now.
My elbow met her stomach, leg sweeping into hers as I leaped back away from another punch. Her fist clipped my cheek and I saw red.
A snarl tore from my lips and I shifted on the fly, leaping toward London. She screamed and dove to the side, shifting into her own dark-furred wolf as two-hundred-and-something pounds of muscle tackled me to the floor. Roman rolled my wolf form onto his chest and stood quickly, hauling my furry ass over his shoulder.
My humanity set back in as Roman pushed the doors to the men’s bathroom open, barking for everyone to leave. The only guy inside quickly zipped his fly and hurried out, nodding at Roman. I shifted back to human form and Roman sat me on the countertop, pulling his shirt off and handing it to me. I put it on, not meeting his eyes.
I’d lost control of my beastly side like a horny teenage boy.
“Are you okay?” His hands framed my face and I realized he looked more concerned than angry.
“Fine. Thought you’d be pissed.” I waited for his fury.
Instead, his lips twisted in a grimace.
“I am, but not at you. I knew that was going to happen before the fight started.” He tugged his fingers through my now-tangled hair, lifting it closer to his eyes.
“You changed it.” He scowled.
“It’s still red and long. What is there to complain about?”
“I liked the way it was.”
I scowled back at him.
“You’re supposed to tell me my hair is beautiful and you don’t care what I do to it. Haven’t you ever seen a romance movie?”
“Your hair is beautiful and I don’t care what you do with it as long as you leave it pink and long.” He said, grudgingly. I smacked his bare shoulder.
“It’s red.”
“You’re lying to yourself, Hen.”
This was a pointless conversation.
“How did you know that was going to happen?” I gestured to the door, which I was 99% sure Roman had locked behind us.
“When you attacked Carly in the hallway, I sensed the moment you registered her as a threat. Your mind shifted and your body followed. It was an automatic response.”
“So I’m not going to be able to learn to fight?”
“You’ll learn. We’ll just go at it a little differently than what happened out there.”
Relief relaxed my shoulders.
“Ready to go back out?” He looped a strand of my hair around his fingers. I grimaced.
“Everyone’s probably judging the
shit out of me.”
“If they judge you for your survival instincts they can go to hell.” Roman took my hand and pulled me off the counter. His shirt fell to the middle of my thighs, plenty long enough to cover the important bits.
I held my chin high as the two of us walked back to the bench, ignoring the eyes on us. I mouthed an apology to London and she grinned and shook her head. She was probably glad the fight ended early.
Fight night was over, but it didn’t look like anyone had left. They were all waiting to see me and Roman if I had to guess.
Kyler was now running a class of women who stank of desire, showing them the proper way to throw a punch. Punching bags had been dragged onto the mats, and the women were using a couple of them.
“Sorry, Henley. I didn’t realize that would trigger you to shift.” Arla looked a bit sheepish. “I wouldn’t have forced you to come if I’d known.”
“I’m glad you did.” The words surprised me as much as they did her. “I’d like to be able to protect myself. It didn’t go the way I expected, but I’m alive so that’s got to count for something.”
“After that call today, I’d definitely say so.” Arla said.
“What call?” Roman looked between the two of us. Arla and I looked at each other.
“You didn’t tell him?” She asked.
“I thought you did.”
“One of you tell me.” Roman’s grip on my hand tightened uncomfortably. I glanced at the crowded floor.
“We’d better take this to your office.” Arla told him, leading the way to the elevator. Roman and I followed.
The ride up was tense and uncomfortable. I extracted my hand from Roman’s grip to avoid more broken knuckles and he folded his arms over his chest. Said arms were looking much hairier than usual, betraying his state of mind.
We were in his office a few minutes later. Roman slammed the door behind us and I jumped at the noise.
“Ledger called Henley today.” Arla jumped right in. Roman snarled.
“And said what?”
“That I’m his and he’ll leave you alive if I go to him willingly.” I said.
Roman cursed loudly, grabbing the computer off his desk. With a roar, he launched it at the wall to the side of the room. I flinched and took a few quick steps toward the door as it crashed into the wall and shattered.
“I’ll kill whoever betrayed us.” His words were loud, Alpha power pouring off him and making me ill. The assault of power brought back a memory of my ten-year-old self cowering against a wall while the Alpha shouted at me for talking to his son as if I was a normal werewolf girl rather than an abomination and an absurdity.
Instinct kicked in and logic left the building. I grabbed the door and sprinted to the elevator, skidding inside just as the doors shut with a surprised-looking woman inside. Roman’s snarl shook the elevator as his fist thudded into the metal of the closed doors while the elevator glided toward the floor.
The middle-aged woman was pale.
“Did you run from the Alpha?” she whimpered.
“Yup.” One of my hands wrapped tightly around my stomach, fighting the fear that had flooded through my veins.
“He’ll chase you.”
Thanks, Captain Obvious.
“I know.” I stabbed the button for the first floor a couple more times. Getting out of the building and away from Roman’s power was my first priority.
I needed a place to breathe.
There was only one place I knew I could do that away from Roman, so the moment the elevator stopped on the first floor I practically flew out. Bare feet pounded cement as I wove through the crowded streets. Gasps erupted from the few fancy people who noticed my lack of clothing and I cursed myself for shifting and tearing up my clothes earlier.
It wasn’t long before I hauled into the break room at the nightclub, heading straight for the bathroom. I locked the door behind me and gripped the edges of the counter tightly, forcing air into my lungs and words through my mind.
Roman isn’t like the other Alphas.
He’s not.
My heart clenched and my chest began to hurt. It was a panic attack, not a heart attack, but the two could feel the same.
A fist pounded the door moments later and I screamed at the sudden noise.
“Open the door.” Roman’s voice was quiet, not the shout it had been earlier.
“I can’t.” My hands shook and I shrunk to the floor, heart and mind racing. My knees scrunched into my chest and I held them close, tightly.
“I’m going to force my way in.” he warned. “Is that okay?”
“Fine.” I shut my eyes tightly.
There was a crack and then Roman was on his knees beside me, reaching for me. He hesitated before touching me.
“I’m so sorry, Hen. I can’t believe I did that.” He pulled his hand away.
“It’s fine. I’m fine.” The words came out in wheezes. “You just have a lot of power. Last time I was hit with power like that wasn’t good. Brought back memories.”
Roman’s fists clenched, and I could tell he was fighting not to touch me.
“Hold me.” I said.
His arms wrapped around me tightly and he pulled me up into his lap. I buried my nose against his neck, body shaking against him. The steady sound of his heartbeat calmed mine, and over the next few minutes I stopped shaking and my breathing went back to normal.
“Sorry I flipped out.” I apologized, not lifting my head from his chest because I didn’t want to meet his eyes.
Roman leaned back and used his finger to tilt my chin up so our eyes met.
“You’ve been through shit. You’re allowed to flip out every now and then. I’m just sorry I caused it. I shouldn’t have lost control like that.”
“No one’s perfect.” I glanced at the door and then down at my clothing. Or lack of it. “Shit, we should get out of here.”
“Probably.” He agreed. “I’ll order dinner.”
We held hands during the walk back to the skyscraper and through the elevator ride to the forty-fourth floor. He went to my apartment with me. I ducked into the closet to put on pants and heard Roman’s phone ring. He was still on the line, fist clenched and pacing my living room when I came out.
“Are you sure?” He demanded.
I couldn’t hear the other person’s response.
“Fine. I’m coming.” He barked, hanging up the phone and shoving it in his pocket.
“So where are we going?” I forced my voice to sound upbeat. Roman’s expression told me without words that where he was going, I wasn’t invited.
“My mom showed up on Arla’s doorstep beaten and bloody. Dad relapsed again. I’ve got to take him back to rehab and help my mom.” He dropped a kiss on my forehead.
“Oh. Alright.” I bit my lip.
When would he be back?
He strolled out the door, lifting his phone back to his ear.
TWENTY-FIVE
I saw Roman every day over the next few weeks, but never for more than thirty minutes or so at a time unless you counted the two nights we shared a bed. He was busy dealing with family stuff. I got that, and was used to entertaining myself and working a lot.
When Christmas Eve came around, I got dressed for my normal night shift at the nightclub. I’d worked every holiday for nearly ten years since I had no family or friends to spend them with. The girls hadn’t texted about Christmas get-togethers or anything, so I figured I’d spend this Christmas the same way.
I was heating up leftover pizza when the front door burst open. Roman flew into the apartment, half man and half wolf. Thick black hair covered his arms and what I could see of his heaving chest, blue eyes lit with the beast within and fangs exposed.
“Your phone.” He snarled at me.
I glanced down at the device, face-down and dead on the counter beside the Ziploc bag I’d pulled my pizza out of.
His mind had clearly shifted with his eyes and teeth, so asking what was wrong wouldn’t get us a
nywhere. I waited.
“Ledger King is standing in my lobby demanding to see you.”
My heart seized in my chest and I was on my feet in an instant.
“I have to go.” I rushed toward my bedroom but ran into a wall of solid muscle.
“Mine.” The beast snarled. I stilled.
“You think I’m going to Ledger? Oh, hell no.” I placed a hand on his chest and shoved him backward. He moved barely an inch, but it was enough for me to get past him and into my room. “I’d never willingly go to him. He’s a monster.”
“What are you doing?” He demanded, as I pulled my suitcase out of the closet and started throwing everything I owned into it.
“What does it look like?” I shot back.
Running.
His hands closed around mine.
“No.”
“I don’t remember asking your permission.”
“You’re mine. I can only protect you here.”
“I’m not your possession.” I snarled, the beast in me surfacing to fight Roman’s. “The only person I belong to is me.”
Roman’s grip on my hands tightened just a fraction. It didn’t hurt, but it wasn’t comfortable either. He glowered at me.
“MINE.”
“Put the man back in the driver’s seat. I’m not talking to a wolf while my worst nightmare sits in the lobby.”
I ripped my hands from his and clenched them into fists at my sides. I’d rather avoid another hand injury, but I’d punch him if I had to. If it would snap him out of it.
Roman spun around and stalked out of the closet, leaving me inside. I continued packing. I’d let myself start to get comfortable and had collected too many things to fit in my bag, so I ditched the books in favor of pants.
Roman stepped back into the room, arms a normal level of hairy and eyes back to their human dark blue.
“He won’t get past the lobby. You don’t need to pack.”
“I can’t stay here if he’s willing to show up and wait me out.”
“Why not?” Roman challenged. My eyes flashed, anger growing inside me.
“Because he wants me and will do anything to have me. He’s insane, and I can’t go through that shit again.”
