I’m not surprised when the faerie shuts his mouth and keeps his discomfort to mild whimpers from then on. If Nick had looked at me the same way he looked at that guy just now, I’d find a way to forget about the pain, too.
The next hour goes by torturously slow. Wulf keeps me glued to his side as we work, and we stay close to the guy pinned to the counter the entire time. Terrance nearly kills the faerie anyway when he finally comes inside and sees the bruises on my neck. Wulf talks him out of murder, but Terrance decides the faerie has to stay put until closing time so that everyone who comes to the bar tonight knows I’m under his protection.
He also stands behind the bar, shadowing me like he’s my own personal bodyguard. And let me tell you, a pissed off troll makes one hell of an intimidating guard. Word is definitely spreading that I’m untouchable. Is it horrible that I think maybe tonight’s gruesome events are worth it? People will definitely think twice about messing with me now.
Last call is at two a.m., but it takes over an hour to get all of the club patrons out the doors. The faerie is the last to leave, just after three. He looks pale and slumps as he exits, but both Wulf and Terrance assure me he’ll feel right as rain by tomorrow.
I try not to think about it as I set to work cleaning the mess behind the bar, but I can’t help the way my body shakes. A hand comes down on my shoulder, and I whirl around with a startled yelp. My heart is in my throat, but it’s only Wulf, gazing at me with concern. “That guy really scared you tonight, didn’t he?”
I hate to show my weakness, but hell yeah, that guy scared me. I have his fingers imprinted around my neck, and that was the least scary part of the ordeal. My head is a mess right now, so I shrug and own it. “Its not easy having a front row seat to people’s worst fantasies. Sick men have even sicker minds. His thoughts were very clear, and I can’t get them out of my head. Plus, he moved so fast I didn’t even see him. His hand was just suddenly there, squeezing the life out of me. I’ve never been strangled before.”
I shiver again and nearly drop the tray of dirty glasses in my hands. I’m not in the mood to talk about this anymore, so I turn to head back to the kitchen to drop these last dirty dishes off. Wulf stops me, calling out softly to me. “Would it help if you knew some self-defense?”
I slowly turn back around to face him. “You offering to teach me?”
He shrugs. He’s trying to look nonchalant, but there’s tension beneath the casual appearance. Tonight shook him a little, too. “Werewolves love a good tussle. I know how to hold my own in a fight. Yeah, I’ll teach you, if you’re willing to learn. You’ll always be human and female, so size and strength won’t be your allies, but I could teach you how to work around that to give yourself at least a chance.”
He has no idea how badly I want this. I’ve spent my entire life wishing I knew how to fight. I’ve had too many attackers not to want to know how to protect myself. I know I’ll still be human, but any leg up is a blessing, no matter how small. Still, I can’t just accept it right away. “Why would you do that?” I ask, letting my wariness ring out in my voice. “What do you expect to get out of it?”
“Peace of mind.” He shakes his head at my frown. “You’re not the only one with images stuck in your head right now. I’m going to see that bastard’s hand around your throat in my sleep all night tonight.”
I’m touched by the admission.
“I’ve been an anxious mess all week. Terrance trusts me with your safety, and I’ll always do my best, but I’m just one man, and things can get rowdy here. I’d like to know that if a real bar fight ever breaks out, you’ll be able to at least hold out for a few minutes until Terrance or I can get to you. I’ll teach you, simply because you need to know it.”
He seems sincere. And he hasn’t hit on me at all this week. He’s been friendly, but he treats me like a little sister, if anything. I’m a kid he’s fond of, but that he’s babysitting all the same. That’s what makes me think he could train me without it becoming a problem.
I’ve never gotten self-defense lessons before, as badly as I’ve wanted them, because I’ve been too afraid of all the physical contact necessary. Teaching someone to fight and defend themselves requires a lot of touching, high energy, and intense situations. With my uncontrollable allure, I’ve never felt an instructor would be able to resist taking advantage of me before. For the first time, I’m not worried about that. Well, not too worried. “Would we be in public?” I ask.
Wulf knows exactly what I’m asking and why. He knows all about my problem with people. After that first night working with him, he said I was a hundred times worse than Cecile, so I had to break down and tell him about my problem. After a week working together, he knows it’s not in my head.
His face falls sympathetically, and he says, “We can go to the training gym out at my old pack’s compound, if you’d like. There’s always a steady flow of both men and women in there, so we’ll never be alone. It wouldn’t hurt me to put in an appearance there. My old alpha’s always trying to get me to come home for a visit.”
I feel bad making him go back to the pack grounds if he really doesn’t want to be there, but I don’t want to spend any time alone with him, either. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
He shakes his head and grins. “Only if the females start sniffing around too much. Then I’m out.”
I raise an eyebrow, and he laughs. “She-wolves are the worst. Always trying to tie you down with that whole mate bonding thing, and they can’t resist a dominant wolf. I’m not ready to settle down, move to the compound, and have some woman constantly nagging me and trying to change my lone-wolf ways.”
He’s not joking. He’s happy as a lone wolf and is a hopeless flirt with all women, except for with other werewolves and me. I’ve wondered what his deal was with his own kind. I can believe it’s as simple as him not wanting a pack or a mate. “Okay, that’s fair,” I decide. I wouldn’t want to be chased like that, either. “As soon as the females start hounding you, we’ll bring it back here—as long as it’s going okay. If my problem gives you any trouble, though, will you let me know?”
He nods. “Of course.”
“Great. In that case, when do we start?”
Wulf drives us about half an hour south of Detroit to a city called Flat Rock. Flat Rock has a much more spread out feel to it than Detroit, with lots of trees everywhere. Very suburban. We drive through town, cross over a river, and hit the edge of civilization. Buildings give way to trees and water. Then, about ten minutes later, we reach what looks like a random planned community on the edge of a large park. The place is gated and looks newer than anything I saw in the actual town of Flat Rock. It’s pretty fancy. I’ve stepped into upper middle class suburbia, and I feel a bit out of place.
I squirm as we stop at the gate, and Wulf speaks to the guy in the little guard shack. They murmur in low voices, so I only catch my name and the word human before the guard shakes his head in surprise, checks his list, and opens the gate. The man’s eyes stay glued to me until we’re out of his sight.
“Are humans not usually allowed?” I ask.
Wulf glances sideways at me. “It doesn’t happen too often, but it’s not frowned on or anything. Wolves like humans just fine. It’s the humans that are usually shy of us.”
I can fully understand that.
We drive through the stunning neighborhood full of beautiful homes, groomed yards, and kids running around, and come up to a large building that looks to be a clubhouse of sorts. It’s obviously the pack headquarters as well. When Wulf parks, he looks around warily at all of the people now staring at us.
“Been a while since you’ve been home?” I ask when I realize they’re not staring at us, they’re looking at him. “Or do you just not bring home many human girls?”
Wulf blows out a big breath and rakes a hand through his hair as he eyes one woman specifically. She’s stopped jogging along a path and is openly staring at Wulf. Even I can see the hungry gleam in her eyes. “It’s been a few years since I visited the compound.” He breaks the lady’s stare and smirks at me. “And I’ve never brought a girl with me, much less a human one.”