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

my heart squeezed by an invisible hand. This

ever happened!" I shouted, the tremor in my voice betraying my

down to pee. I took a few minutes to collect myself, trying to steady

I heard footsteps and the sound of the bathroom door being locked. My sixth sense went on high alert, a premonition

said through our mind link as I felt my stall

sis,"

bitch,"

steal someone else's boyfriend," another girl's voice snarled, along with a third girl's voice adding her

out. On the surface, I was calm, but inside I was already calculating the possibilities and strategies for

I asked,

want you to stay away from Ryder. He's mine!" Helen jabbed her finger into my chest, the possessiveness in her tone making me

calmly, while mentally assessing the situation: three against one, I could at least get a solid hit

between us. That

punched her in the teeth before the other

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Chapter 15

I'd broken at least one of her teeth, but the short-haired

me as I threw an elbow strike, hitting her nose and breaking it. I took two more hits to the ribs from the long-haired girl and Helen,

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.

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 of adrenaline was the multiplied pain

followed.

hell is happening here?" Samuel roared,

in fear.

club to mess with my sister?" Logan's voice was dangerously

seemed about to snap in his grip as she frantically tapped