Page 22 of The Wolf and the Chimera
I raised them, and Ryder smirked.
“We’ve gotta protect that pretty face, remember?” he joked.
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t think my fists would be enough to protect me from a vampire attack anyway, but carry on.”
Ryder’s jaw clenched. “Not with that attitude. Let’s see some jab-crosses.”
Ryder opened his palms, and I swung at them. My gloved hands bounced off them pathetically.
“Shouldn’t you be wearing gloves too?” I asked.
Ryder snorted. “With the punches you’re throwing? They wouldn’t be enough to hurt a fly, much less a werewolf.”
I glowered in irritation. Though I doubted I would ever be good enough at combat to protect myself, I had shown up at four in the morning to appeasehiswishes. Now, I stood in borrowed workout clothes, covered in sweat, and shaking with fatigue, yet hestillmocked me.
I punched at his hand with all my might, using my hips to drive more force behind the blow. The burst of energy knocked me off balance and my swing missed his hand entirely. Without his palm to stop my force, I twisted and careened into his torso. Strong hands steadied my waist, and Ryder’s laughter tickled my braids.
Humiliated, I shoved myself out of his embrace and stormed toward the door. Faster than I could ever move, Ryder blocked my path and crossed his arms. His lips twitched with effort not to smile.
“Laugh,” he said. “You know you want to.”
Part of me did, but it was eclipsed by the fear I fought every day to quiet that now reared its ugly head.
“Maybe you can find amusement in how pathetic I am,” I argued, “but I don’t find the reminder particularly funny. I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t want to see just how woefully outmatched I am by everyone who wants to kill me!”
All traces of humor left Ryder’s face. Something worse replaced it—pity. When I tried to sidestep him to get to the exit,he blocked my path once more. Exhaustion forgotten, I shook with anger.
“Get out of my way,” I demanded.
Ryder narrowed his eyes. “Make me.”
I scoffed. “You’re an asshole.”
I tried to skirt around him, but he stopped me again. I nearly smacked his broad, t-shirt clad chest with my face.
“Yeah,” he agreed, “but I’m not asshole enough to let you keep feeling scared all the time.”
I flinched. Every day, I buried the fear that accompanied my existence like a shadow. In a handful of weeks, Ryder had brought it to light.
Not fair,I thought.Not fair that this powerhouse of a man gets to see right through me.
Ryder couldn’t possibly understand what it was like to be hunted and vied for like a piece of treasure—like an object.
“Let me go,” I demanded and shoved his chest. He didn’t budge. “Let me go!”
Something fractured in my chest, and I unleashed it on him. I punched his broad chest with all my remaining strength. Anger eclipsed my fear and sharpened my aim. Ryder stumbled back a step, and I stopped.
We stood in silence only interrupted by our ragged breaths.
“Did you fake that?” I asked quietly. “Or did I actually cause you to move?”
He grinned. “That was all you, Ellie. I knew you had it in you—you just have to believe it too.”
Foolish joy bloomed in my heart. All I had managed to do was shake his balance—while he made no effort to fight back—but I had donesomething.From Ryder’s smile, he took it as a victory too.
Before I knew what I was doing, I swung my arms around his neck and hugged him. He stiffened but quickly pulled me even closer and buried his nose in my neck. His breath was hot against my skin.
What had started as a mindless, happy embrace sent heat down my spine. Ryder’s hands traveled leisurely up and down my back, but I didn’t pull away. I didn’t want to leave his warmth and strength and woodsy scent.
