“Do you want to report him?”
She raised her eyes. “I can take care of myself. You didn’t need to do what you did.”
“What did I do?”
“You almost broke his arm, gave him a black eye, and he walked away like an old lady from class.”
Noah grinned. “Nothing he didn’t deserve.”
“Maybe, but now he’ll say that you favor me.”
“I’d do that to any other student who’d been harassed by a jerk. To any woman, actually. His behavior was improper. How does a teacher react when something like this happens? Do I need to file a report? Can he be punished for it?”
“Grandpa has a strict code of conduct.”
“Then, I’m assuming that having you beating him up would be against the rules. You wouldn’t be the victim anymore but the bully.”
Grace blinked. “I guess I lost my temper back there.”
“He’s a lot bigger than you,” Noah reminded her.
Grace clenched her jaw. “I’m faster and smarter than him. Brute force isn’t always an advantage.”
Noah pursed his lips and folded his hands. “Do you want me to write a report for your grandfather about this? Or do you want to keep it between the class and us?”
“It’s not the first time he’s done this. I’m not the first one he did it to, either. He’s a bully and thinks that all the girls have the hots for him.”
“Typical alpha males think that,” Noah said.
“Do you think that?”
He coughed. “What? Why would I think that?”
“Alpha males.” She grinned.
“Asshole alpha males,” he corrected. “Anyway, you’re evading my question.”
“Grandpa allows his students to resolve their issues with their fists.”
Noah frowned. “How so?”
“If there’s too much animosity between two students, and they decide to fight one another, a battle can take place to resolve their differences. There are rules, and the teachers will supervise so no one gets seriously hurt or plays dirty.”
“Do you want to fight Michael?”
Grace shrugged. “He’d never accept it. It would be bad for his pride to lose to me.”
Noah smiled and leaned back. “You’re cocky.”
“Just realistic. My physical condition is above average. My biological material gives me an advantage, and my fighting abilities are top-notch. Michael would have a hard time winning against me.”
“Remind me not to fight you, then,” he joked.
She leaned forward with a teasing grin. “I have no reason to fight you, Noah. I’m your guardian.” Resting her elbows on the table, she added, “Besides, you’ve already fought for my honor. I’m sure Michael has learned his lesson.”
Noah chuckled. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
Her eyes softened, and she reclined in her seat. “Thanks for taking my side.”