Page 60 of Wolf Bound

“I think the fuck not!” Ryker growls.

“Why not?” I ask him, bouncing on my toes. “It’ll be fun.”

“I’m not going to be responsible for hurting mymate,” he scoffs.

“You won’t hurt me. Look. See?” I put my head back and point at my neck where the gashes have almost completely healed over. “I heal fast now too.”

He shakes his head at me, a slightly irritated look now covering his attractive face. “Absolutely not.”

“What? Come on, please?” I even go as far as batting my lashes at him.

“No!”

I cross my arms and glare at him, annoyed he won’t do this for me. I’m about to say something to him when Remington pushes through the crowd wearing a pair of black leggings and a neon green sports bra.

“I’ll do it.” She grins at me. “Since my brother is too much of apuss—”

“Remington,” Ranger scolds.

Ryker shakes his head at his sister. “You guys aren’t doing this.” He scowls. “She doesn’t have any experience with hand to hand fighting.”

“She held her own with your psycho friend a couple weeks ago, didn’t she?” Remi points out as she kicks off her tennis shoes.

I think back to when Avery tried to attack me and how fast I was able to move. I pull my long hair into a ponytail, so it’s out of the way. “Yes, I did.” I lift my chin in defiance. “I’m doing this,” I tell him before I also kick off my shoes and walk onto the mats.

“Pruitt…” he warns me, but I don’t look back at him.

Remi and I bump fists, grinning at each other as we do. I can already feel my wolf coming to the surface in preparation for the fight. My whole body buzzes with excitement, nerves, andpower.

“I’m not going to go easy on you,” Remi warns me as she pulls her shoulder-length hair into a knot on top of her head. Her gaze slides over to where Ryker stands. “He just doesn’t want to see you get hurt.”

“I know, but he can’t protect me from everything,” I sigh as I stretch my arms out. “He also doesn’t get to tell me what I can or can’t do,” I tell her, but I also tell Ryker since I know he can hear what I’m saying.

“That’s my girl,” Remi nods in approval.

Logan walks over to stand next to us. “No claws or fangs allowed and no eye jabbing either, “he says, speaking to me since Remington knows these rules. I don’t miss the look he gives me as he talks. It’s a mix of fear and respect. “Tap the mat when you’ve had enough.”

We both nod at him, and he walks away.

“So do we just begin or—“ I start to ask her when her fist comes flying at my face.

I barely have enough time to evade her punch, and as I lean back, I feel the airwhooshpast my face. I duck quickly when she wastes no time aiming another punch in my direction.

“Good, you’re quick. That’ll be useful,” she praises, but the moment is short-lived when she spins around and sends a roundhouse kick to my abdomen, knocking the air out of my lungs. I stumble back a few feet, grabbing my stomach and trying to catch my breath.

“Watch where my muscles tighten and anticipate my moves,” she coaches.

I nod in understanding and right myself again. I hold my arms in front of me to block any more of her attacks as we begin circling each other. I feel my wolf getting irritated with me that we aren’t attacking first. Like Remi said, I need to learn how to anticipate someone’s advances, so instead of attacking, I watch how her muscles tighten and move.

When her shoulder tightens up, I raise my hand and block the punch that’s thrown in my face. I grin at this, proud of myself for seeing it coming.

“Don’t get cocky,” Remi scolds before she kicks out her leg in a sweeping motion, causing me to lose my balance and fall onto the mats. I land on my back with anoof.

Dammit!

I see a flash of movement, and I roll out of the way just in time. I watch as Remi’s fist connects with the mat right where my head had been a second ago. But I don’t move quickly enough when herotherfist comes down and connects with my chin. I taste blood immediately.

When I attempt to move out from under her, she grips my shirt, causing it to tear. I push her with all of my strength and send her flying backward.

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