AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That jar, and whatever was still in it, was right under his elbow, and he goddamn knew it.
Kye had at least a hundred pounds on me, and if I wanted to beat him, I would need every bit of training I’d ever gained.
A shit ton of luck wouldn't hurt, either.
I moved in slowly, staying out of arm's reach as I took my turn circling him. “Since when is this pack land? It isn't marked. I would've scented it.”
I'd have smelled you.
His gaze narrowed. “Right, your legendary wolf nose. If the least useful wolf trait was the only thing I had to show for my heritage, I wouldn't brag about it.”
“With respect, Alpha,” I sneered, “It isn't bragging to point out you're lying. And why lie when it's so easy for me to sense the bullshit coming out of your mouth from a mile away?”
I was ready for many things to happen, but his next movements were nothing but a gray blur. His fist connected with my jaw, and an electric shock of pain shot through my face and down my spine as blood pooled in my mouth.
Aw. Big bad Alpha can't handle the truth. Poor baby.
He stood over me, hands on his hips, and heaved a deep sigh. “Sorry, Pinky. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt you.”
“Today,” I scoffed.
I pressed my fingers to my aching jaw. Nothing shattered, just painful as fuck.
“What?” He replied.
“You mean, you didn't want to hurt me, today.”
Kye shook his hands out as he chuffed, then awkwardly rubbed his neck with one hand. He glanced away, the fucking coward, which was less than I wanted. I’d have preferred him dying of shame on the spot. However, his attention shift gave me the barest glimpse of an opening.
I swung my leg around and knocked him to his ass. “Hey, asshole? Didn't your mama ever tell you not to hit a woman?”
He growled and jumped upright in a fluid movement that no human could duplicate, but I leapt to my feet too. We stood eye-to-eye on as equal footing as we would ever get.
“This isn't sparring, Pinky. I will not take it easy on you.”
I tucked a stray lock of blonde-pink hair behind my ear. “You never took it easy on me, Kye. No point in pretending that you weren't trying to force the change on me every time you put your hands on me.”
“Too bad I couldn't. You know, everybody told me I gave you too much credit.”
“They might have been right. It still makes you look pretty pathetic though…”
His eyes widened as I feigned a right at his face and followed through with my left knee to his inner thigh when he blocked the punch.
“Still so predictable, too,” I snapped.
He roared and grabbed me around the waist, sending us careening to the floor. My forearms barely broke my fall before the back of my head slammed into the boards. The impact sent wood chips, dust, and dried rat shit flying like confetti in Times Square.
I closed my eyes and mouth and heaved with my legs to shove him off me. He didn’t even budge. His weight was still there, and I opened my eyes to find him staring right back at me.
I suddenly remembered the last time I called him “predictable”, and for a moment, neither of us breathed.
“You're so predictable,” I giggled, rolling us both so I was on top again with my ankles locked behind him. “How did you not see that sacrifice move coming? I telegraphed it so hard I should've rented a billboard.”
“Yeah, you did, so hard, in fact, I honestly thought you were faking me out.” He tucked an escaped bit of hair from my ponytail behind my ear. “I guess you're just too honest.”
I chuckled at that. “You're just saying that, so I'll tell you I love you.”
He smiled, not his usual charming, butter-wouldn't-melt grin, but softly. He saved his softness for when we were alone. Just for me. “I'd believe you.”
