I caught her punch and deflected it. “Oh, I’m going to work you tonight.”
“Work me real good,” she countered.
Chapter 19: Jane
After a month of nonstop training, I felt like a stunt double for a movie. The number of gnarly tricks I could do was enough to make me feel like a badass. And it didn’t even matter that I was pregnant. Plus, I was still in my earlier trimesters so my stomach wasn’t big enough to get in the way.
“Focus.” Landon was quick to reprimand me as I got lost within my own thoughts. A bamboo stick came flying my way. I heard its swish and jumped out of harm’s way at the last possible moment. I held out my arms, balancing myself on a small tree trunk.
“Always watch your back,” came Roman’s warning before he came lunging toward me in his wolf form. His upper lip was pulled back, revealing his deadly set of teeth. If I di
dn’t know any better, I would have feared the possibility of having my throat ripped out.
Quickly, I rolled onto the ground, lying flat on my back. A second later, I transformed and barreled into the side of his body, using my head as a battering ram.
Landon was ready with a gun, silver bullets lining the chamber. The whole myth about werewolves hating silver was just that — a myth. But the boys liked to use it in an ironic fashion.
Bang!
I swear, had I delayed a moment more.
“Quicker!” he barked. “Is this how you expect to survive?”
With a pivot, I faced my lover. My transformation was swift and flawless. I held up my hands, feigning defeat. “You’ve got me,” I said. “I’m too weak to resist. Please, all I ask is that you do not hurt my baby.”
“Huh? You’re going to be that quick to give up?” Roman walked up behind me and that’s when I made my move. I planted my left foot into the ground, using it as a stabilizer as I rotated my right leg towards his body. It crashed into his midsection, winding him just enough that he doubled over, panting for breath. I didn’t give him the opportunity to recuperate. Oh, no. I snapped my arms around his neck and pinned him against my chest.
“A classic chokehold,” commented Landon. “Very impressive. And must I say that your little moment of deceit was very well placed.”
Seeing as Roman was turning a little blue, I decided to let him go. He collapsed onto the ground. “Jeez. Were you trying to kill me?”
“Maybe,” I said, trying to stifle a laugh. “It’s a shame that you werewolves don’t believe in life insurance…”
“Shifters,” he corrected. “Actually, you know what? I don’t care. Werewolves. Shifters. Call us whatever you want — just don’t you ever do that to me again!”
“Sounds like someone is scared.”
“I’m not scared. I’m just not fond of people choking me. I get that some people are into that but I’m not one of them.”
“I’m sorry. Next time I’ll go easy on you.” I could tell that Roman was getting upset but I just couldn’t help myself. Roman makes himself so easy to tease because he always gives you such a reaction. “And I’ll tell you what. Maybe tonight I can give you one of those massages that you like so much.”
“Are you attempting to bribe me right now?”
“I’m only trying to make you feel better, as any girlfriend should strive to do.”
In the middle of our conversation, Landon took off, disappearing among the trees.
“What the hell are you doing?” I asked. It was still a strange form of communication to talk to my mates telepathically but I was starting to get the hang of it. Although, half the time, I felt like a downright crazy person.
No answer.
I glanced over at Roman who offered nothing more than a shrug.
“Do you think that something’s wrong?”
“Doubt it,” said Roman. “If there was something wrong, he would have told us.”
“Then why run off like that?”