Standing nonchalantly at the door, a tall silhouette with their arms crossed is staring right at us with a smile. I would recognize it anywhere. It’s been five years and that asshole has barely changed. His black hair and dark skin. How he moveslike a predator. He has a new scar on his face, across his left cheek, and a large tribal tattoo I had never seen before on his torso. He’s only wearing ragged jeans, walking barefooted on the tatami.
Daniel moves to stand between me and him, but I gently stop my best friend. I don’t care if he comes close. Diego walks up to us with an annoying smirk stuck on his face. Moon Goddess, how in the world did I ever fall for such a jerk like him. When he’s a few steps away, he smiles at me, acting like a good guy.
“Te extrañé, mi amor.”
“Fuck off, Diego.”
No matter how much you prepare yourself, I guess you can’t do much against your worst nightmare. Strangely, reality is very different from the mess I had imagined. I didn’t think I could stay so composed, or even stand being in the same room as him. I thought maybe I would go insane, scream, or jump at him to kill him.
But I don’t feel any of that right now. Seeing my ex standing there in front of me, smiling at me as if nothing had happened, fucking disgusts me, and my wolf is growling loudly too, but there isn’t much more. I realize it now.
I’m furious at him, and Moon Goddess, I still hate him to the core. But some of that hate has been subdued and forgotten by now. I am not the same helpless, idiotic teenage girl I was back then. I’m older. I have moved on. I found a new love.
Diego hasn’t.
I turn around to ignore him and signal to Daniel that I want us to spar again. My best friend understands, and we exchange a few hits.
Honestly, I knew it wouldn’t be enough to drive Diego away. Instead, he stays on the side of the ring.
“What? I don’t even get a welcome kiss?”
I ignore him. Daniel throws a punch at me, and I manage to avoid it, sending back an uppercut. He growls a bit and kicks back. Maybe because of Diego’s presence, Danny is angry, and his punches are fiercer.
“Elena, I’m talking to you.”
Well, I don’t give a damn. I keep ignoring him, even after he calls me one more time. I focus on my fight with Danny instead, and my best friend manages to keep me busy for a while. That is until Diego jumps on the ring to get in between us, dangerously close to me. I step back as a reflex. My wolf is furious. She doesn’t want him near us, not after what he did to our baby.
“I said, I am talking to you,” he growls.
“And I said fuck. Off.”
I repeated that slowly, glaring right at him, showing him that he doesn’t have any fucking right to order me around. He frowns, visibly a bit surprised. Seriously, what in the world did he expect? For me to be happy about his return? Really? After all that shit I went through five years ago?
“Five years without seeing me, and that’s what I get? Fuck off, really?Estás enojado conmigo, amor?”
“Last time, Diego. You get the fuck out of my ring and out of my dojo,” I warn him.
He seems shocked to see me standing my ground. I’m proud of myself. I don’t even let him see how angry I really am and stand my ground without fail. Even I didn’t think I could control my emotions so well.
Diego seems to hesitate a bit and slowly takes a few steps back. I can tell he is re-evaluating me, changing his attitude upon seeing my reaction.
“We are not done talking,” he growls.
I watch him leave without answering, but I make sure to glare his way and let my wolf growl with all her might until he’sout of sight. As soon as he’s exited the dojo, I take a deep breath again.
“What a son of a dog, are you okay, babe? Damn, I don’t think your Alpha Aura has ever felt that scary! If you were growling at me, I swear my pants wouldn’t be dry right now!”
I chuckle. Only Danny can crack jokes at times like these. I sigh and rest my arms on the ropes of the ring, gazing in the direction Diego went. Around us, the few people who listened are sending glances my way, but I ignore them to talk to Daniel.
“He’s going to be pissed now.”
“You think?”
“I’m sure. He will be mad that I ignored him; that’s the worst for him. I made him understand he won’t be able to control me like before and he will not like it.”
“Whatever. If he’s unhappy, it’s his problem. Come on, I’m done getting my butt kicked. Lunch is on me today.”
I wish it was that easy. I know Diego won’t let it slide. Nevertheless, I grab my bag and follow Daniel. Just as we exit the gym, my cousin Iris suddenly walks up to us.