Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

Chapter 4

Xena's POV

Her openly hostile stare had already rubbed me the wrong way from the moment we met, but this sudden provocation made my blood boil. Without hesitation, I stepped up, locked eyes with her, and said coolly, "Excuse me? You wanna say that again?"

Samuel quickly jumped between us. "Whoa! Whoa! Calm down."

Leonard cut in immediately, "Hey!" he said quickly, nudging his date out of the booth. "Babe, why don't you go get some drinks and order three large pizzas for the group? I'll handle this."

"Yes, please do," I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm as I stared her down.

The girl huffed but slid out of the booth, shooting me a glare before stalking off toward the counter.

"Seriously, Leonard?" Ama said once she was out of earshot. "Where do you find these humans?"

"She's hot," Leonard defended weakly. "And she doesn't know who you are yet."

“She'll learn,” I muttered, standing up. "I'm getting my own drink."

I made my way to the counter, weaving through the night crowd. Someone stepped on my foot.

"What the fu—” I jerked back instinctively.

"I'm sorry-" a deep voice began.

I looked up to find myself staring into the intense green eyes. Ryder. Closer now than we'd been this afternoon, I noticed details I'd missed before. My stomach did a weird flip as I took in the rest of him-light blonde hair cut short, strong jaw, broad shoulders under a black leather jacket. He was gorgeous in a dangerous way that made my skin prickle.

Before he could finish his apology, a girl with dark hair appeared beside him, wrapping her arm possessively around his waist.

where you're going," she snapped

fucking sucks-ran into so many

drew myself up to my full height. "He

quietly, his hand tightening on her waist in warning. "This is

the hostility remained

fake smile. "Oh,

I replied flatly, moving past them

since I was a kid, greeted me with

leaning against the counter."No,

it," Noelle replied, punching in the order. "Put it on

I said with

bitch thinks she owns the place."From behind me, I heard Helen mutter under

them up clearly. I felt my patience snap. Turning slowly, I looked directly at her and released a small portion of my aura-just enough to

from the Nightcedar Pack. I expect a certain level of respect. If that's too difficult for you to manage, we can always step outside and discuss

eyes widening as she felt the pressure of my presence. Ryder beside her, placed a restraining

he said, his voice deep and controlled though his eyes flashed with anger as he gripped

aura, satisfied that my point

his eyes never

drink's ready," Noelle

turned around and grabbed the glass from the counter. From the corner of my eye, I saw Ryder dragging

draped over my shoulder. "Everything okay here, X?" Logan asked, his voice casual but his posture protective as he

I replied, leaning slightly into my twin's side. "Just a misunderstanding." Keira, Logan's girlfriend, appeared on his other side,

on with Alpha Benedict's son?" Logan

to learn some manners," I

"What did she

shifted to make room, his arm coming to rest on the back of the booth behind me. It wasn't a romantic gesture—just necessity in the cramped space-but I noticed Leonard's date eyeing