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“Appreciating my alpha, huh?”
Cortana glanced back to where Riaz was practicing on the mats, completely unaware of her voyeuristic tendencies. “Not appreciating. ‘Observing’ is a touch more apt.”
“Lies bind the tongue and sour the spirit, Cortana. Even a vampire can appreciate that tall glass of water.” Ava’s eyes danced with humor.
“What makes you think I’m thirsty?”
“Everyone’s thirsty for something,” she replied. “You just have to figure out whether you want water or ale.”
Cortana grunted. “I’m more of a red blood girl, myself.”
As she watched, Ava’s expression turned shrewd, the other woman offering her a knowing smirk. “Fortunately, I believe Riaz’s blood runs red.”
The sound of footsteps saved her from having to reply, a sandy-haired werewolf skidding to a stop before them. “Ava! I wanted to volunteer for the scouting mission to the plant.”
Bouncing on his heels, the hopeful expression on the youngster’s face betrayed just how keen he was to be involved. Ava, however, adopted a schooling look before responding, “Benny, you know you’re not approved for scouts yet. You’ve yet to pass your field exam and you still need weapons training.”
A whimper escaped before Benny could silence it, his deep blue eyes falling mournful with a pitiful pout. “But Ava, you know my wolf is keen to help.”
“I don’t doubt it, pup.” Ava rested her palm against his cheek, the move as maternal as it was chastening. “But there are rules in place for a reason, and you have to trust our alpha.”
Benny huffed a sigh. “Isn’t there anything I can do to prove myself? I’ll do anything!”
The youth’s drive was so compelling, Cortana hoped he’d get a chance to run with the scouts soon. Ava merely patted his cheek. “You’ve still got a lot to prove on the mats before you’re ready to scout, little pup.”
“I’ll take on anybody here, beta. Just watch me!”
Cortana’s chuckle caught his attention. A spark of hope lit in the pup’s eyes, and he looked back and forth between them. “If I take out the vamp, will I have proven myself?”
Boisterous laughter sounded from behind Benny. Tilting her head to the side to see its source, Cortana found Riaz just feet behind the young werewolf, an infectious grin lighting the alpha’s features.
“I’m pretty sure our resident vamp doesn’t do mat work, pup.” Another laugh. “She might break a nail or something.”
Oh, now it’s on.
Cortana’s eyebrows rose incredulously. “Break a nail, Fido? How about I stab you in the neck with these nails to demonstrate their strength?”
Without asking for his permission, she removed her outer jacket, revealing the teal tank top she’d put on underneath. Benny darted off to the other side of the mat, quickly warming up. Beside her, Ava drew near and kept her voice low.
“Go easy on the pup. He lost his family two years ago to the Citizens hunter, and he’s eager to do his part in protecting the pack.” Ava’s lips thinned. “He thinks that if he saves enough people—if he can walk in Riaz’s footsteps—it’ll eventually stop hurting.”
It felt as though she’d been kicked in the gut, but Cortana simply nodded to the beta. She rolled her shoulders to limber up, and jerked her chin to beckon Benny into the ‘ring’.
With a whoop of excitement, the pup leapt onto the mats, shifting anxiously from foot to foot before settling into a stance. By the time Cortana assumed her position, they’d already drawn a crowd of curious onlookers.
It’d been a hot minute since she’d actually entered into combat with another, but she’d never let her skills get rusty. The last time she’d sparred, it’d been at the House in New York City, working off aggression with another one of Drake’s lieutenants.
And like that one, she’d win this handily.
Benny immediately went for the throat, relying on his brute strength to slam into her like he’d clearly done with every other opponent. Casually, Cortana merely sidestepped his attack, leaving him to tumble off the mat in an uncoordinated jumble of limbs.
Barking a laugh at himself, Benny turned on her with eager eyes, clearly enjoying the game afoot. Over the next ten minutes, he attempted no less than twenty different take downs and demonstrated a surprisingly robust repertoire of martial arts. However, even when Riaz began coaching him from the sidelines, Benny didn’t land a single blow.
Finally, when the young wolf had exhausted himself, Cortana easily took him to the mat with a Judo throw, pinning him with a jujitsu chokehold that he hadn’t seen coming. Tired but not defeated, Benny accepted a hand up and tipped an imaginary hat in her direction.
“Huh, would you look at that.” Riaz remarked flippantly. “Danger Fangs beat him. More than just a pretty face after all.”
The look behind his eyes told her exactly what she needed to know. Riaz had known full well she wasn’t a porcelain doll that sat on a shelf to be admired, a pretty trinket with no purpose. He’d anticipated she’d wipe the floor with Benny.
