Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

Chapter 15

Xena's POV

"No, I'm taking her to her brother. You go be with your friends."

"What? You're choosing her over me?" Helen stared at me with disgust, like I'd committed some unforgivable offense.

I felt irritation building in my chest, a nameless fire burning. Why did she have to make everything so complicated? I didn't owe her anything.

"I'm not choosing anyone," Ryder said firmly. "I'm just fulfilling a promise to her brother. This is why we could never work."

I caught a flash of hurt in Helen's eyes before she ran off crying. The emotional manipulation made me feel suffocated, and I sighed internally.

"Am I being too dramatic?" I half-joked, my voice tinged with bitterness. "You can go after her. I'm not your job." I added more seriously.

Ryder suddenly grabbed my hand, pulling me into a meeting room near the bar. It was rarely used, the air heavy with the scent of dust. He pushed me against the wall, his body pressed against mine. I could feel his body heat through the thin fabric, my heart racing as my body instinctively tensed.

"Tell me you don't want this. Tell me to stop," Ryder said, one hand circling my neck, tugging at my hair to force me to look at him. His other hand gripped my chin, his thumb

gently prying my mouth open.

I instantly lost my ability to speak, desire completely taking over my senses. I saw his eyes turn black, his wolf nature beginning to surface. My tongue

unconsciously licked his thumb, and that small action seemed to ignite the last thread of his rational thought.

With a low growl, his lips crashed down on mine. He held me tightly, kissing me so hard, so passionately, as if trying to melt me into his life. Only minutes later did he allow me to breathe again.

"I shouldn't be doing this," he backed away, guilt and regret crossing his face.

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Chapter 15

water, making my entire body go cold, my heart squeezed by an invisible hand. This feeling

ever happened!" I shouted, the tremor in

headed straight for the bathroom. I entered a stall and sat down to pee. I took a few minutes to collect myself, trying to steady my breathing and

My sixth sense went on

me," I quickly said through our mind link as I felt my stall

sis,"

out, bitch,"

steal someone else's boyfriend," another girl's voice snarled, along with

but inside I was already calculating the possibilities and strategies for the fight. Three against one

do you want?" I asked, my

from Ryder. He's mine!" Helen jabbed her finger into my chest, the possessiveness

break your fingers," I warned calmly, while mentally assessing the situation: three against one, I could at least get

between us. That was the

her in the teeth before the other two could grab

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Chapter 15

at least one of her teeth, but the short-haired girl had already

elbow strike, hitting her nose and breaking it. I took two more hits to the ribs from the long-haired girl and Helen, then grabbed what seemed to be the long-haired girl's head and smashed

leaned against the wall as the three approached me slowly. The bathroom lights flickered ominously, and I didn't know how long it would take Logan to arrive. A flicker of fear

and Logan and Samuel burst in. Samuel quickly grabbed two of them by the neck, slamming them against the wall. Logan went straight for Helen, grabbing her throat without hesitation. I looked at them both, relief washing over me as I took a deep breath. The price

followed.

happening here?" Samuel roared,

in fear.

with my sister?" Logan's voice was

about to snap in his grip as