Page 46 of Glitched Fates & Stolen Mates

“You can do better than that.”

He tried again, marginally harder.

“Imagine you’re in danger, and this punch could save your life.”

Another punch. Still felt like a butterfly landing.

“Imagine that man comes back,” I found myself saying, shocking myself with the idea. “And you want to show him he should never have decided to mess with you.”

This punch finally had actual force behind it. I grabbed his wrist mid-swing, twisted it behind his back, and pulled him against me in one fluid motion. Classic restraint technique, designed to immobilise without causing injury.

I pressed Felix tightly against my chest, his back to my front, breathing hard from exertion and adrenaline. In the ballroom’s ornate mirrors, we were reflected from multiple angles—him trapped in my arms, me towering over him, both of us flushed and breathing heavily. For different reasons.

I’d wanked this morning specifically to avoid getting hard during this session.

But Christ, we were veering into dangerous territory now, with heat pooling low in my belly, Felix’s ass pressed against my hips, his body soft and pliant in my arms and those bloody mirrors showing me exactly what I looked like holding him.

Every instinct I had screamed at me to tighten my grip and never let him go.

But I did.

The next hour blurred past in a haze of basic defensive moves. I taught Felix how to break free from wrist grabs, how to use his elbows and knees as weapons, how to make himself a smaller target. He was surprisingly quick to pick things up once he stopped overthinking every movement.

“Don’t telegraph your intentions,” I called out as he attempted another escape manoeuvre. “Your face gives away everything you’re planning to do three seconds before you do it.”

Felix scowled and tried again, this time managing to twist free from my grip with only minimal help.

“Better. Your body’s remembering the movements now.”

He had a scrappy spirit underneath all that anxiety. When he stopped worrying about looking foolish, he fought with genuine determination. Nothing graceful or polished, but effective in its own chaotic way. Like a cornered animal that had finally decided to bite back.

By the time my stomach started growling, Felix had managed to land several solid hits and execute most of the basic escapes without my assistance. Sweat dampened his white T-shirt, making it cling to his chest, and his hair stuck up at odd angles.

“Right, lunch time,” I announced, hiding any disappointment that our session was ending.

Felix practically sagged with relief, wiping his face with the hem of his shirt. The fabric rode up, giving me a glimpse of stomach and the dark trail of hair that disappeared beneath his waistband. My mouth went completely dry. When he dropped the shirt back down, I had to force myself to look away before he noticed me staring.

“You did well,” I said. “Really well, considering you started from scratch.”

“Thanks.” Felix grabbed his hoodie from the side and pulled it back on. “My arms are going to hate me this afternoon. I might have to voice-type instead.”

“I was thinking,” I said, stacking the last mat against the wall. “I’d like to schedule a session where you train with me as a wolf as well.”

Felix froze. “As a wolf?”

“Just in case GREY sends a shifter after you,” I said quickly. “Or any shifter, really. You need to know how to handle an opponent who’s faster and stronger than any human.”

Nothing to do with my wolf’s burning desire to be near him, to let Felix see every part of me, to have his scent all over my fur.

“You think it’s Greywatch?” Felix’s voice pitched higher. “My stalker?”

I shrugged, aiming for casual. “Could be. Though honestly, it might just be some bloke who fancies you but doesn’t know how to ask you out properly.”

I’d meant it as a joke, something to lighten the mood. But Felix didn’t laugh. His bottom lip thinned as he pressed his mouth into a line.

“So my two options are weaponised military wolf shifter, or sexual predator with poor social skills.”

Ah. Well, when you put it like that…