Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

apter 229

Xena's POV

The slap sent a sharp sting through my aim. It wasn't severe, but enugh to make me wince and lower my shoulder. I felt a tinge of guilt, but knew it was necessary -he needed to snap out of it.

His eyes snapped to mine. It took him a second to register my pain. But when he did, I watched him struggle to regain control over his wolf. Ryder closed his eyes, and that's when I felt someone grab my arm and pull me back,

Ryder's eyes flew open, glaring at the warrior. Don't fucking touch her." His warning growl was low, dangerous, and filled with possessive rage.

"Ryder!" I stomped my foot to get his attention, trying to defuse the situation before it spiraled completely out of control. 'Calm

down!"

“THIS IS SO FUCKED UP! I'LL KILL HIM!" Ryder roared, his voice filled with primal fury.

"No, you won't!" I moved toward him, grabbing his arm. He didn't push me away, but I could feel his muscles tense like steel beneath my fingers. "We need to be smart about this. We don't know the whole picture or exactly what's happening

you, touched you, and

as if afraid he might hurt me.

emotions swirling in my chest. "I'm very aware of what happened to me. We need to be strategic. I want to kill them too, but we can't just storm their territory. Remember, you were shot too, and they killed Samuel. This is bigger than what happened to me. Wiley is planning something, and we need to be prepared. Alpha Benedict hasn't handled this

own wolf rising, that primal, revenge-seeking instinct

the men around me nodded in agreement,

right!" I heard one of

flashing in their

looking at Ryder. He was staring at me, trying to control his breathing. I could feel his struggle, caught

I told him through our mind link, hoping

the best course of

control. "Xena and I need

response, and then we started walking back toward

of earshot of the men did Ryder speak to me. "I'm sorry,"

understood how his wolf sometimes took

me to turn and face

apologizing for?" I asked, shifting my weight and crossing my arms as