Being a hunter was something that never stopped. Every minute of every day, I had to be vigilante or end up dead... like my parents.
That night had been like any other night. It was a typical mission, hunting down some vampires that had started snatching up teens living on the streets. I wasn’t old enough to go on missions yet — I’d barely started my training at that point — but that didn’t stop me from begging to go with them.
Of course, my parents refused.
They left me with one of the other hunters that night. They gave me a big kiss and hug and promised to be home when I woke up the next morning.
What I didn’t know was that was the last time I’d ever see them again.
Weights clanked louder than needed. My eyes jerked over to the sound. The werewolves weren’t paying attention to their work outs anymore. No. All their eyes had locked onto where Jack walked out of the locker room.
I understood why they stared. Jack was a sight to behold in normal clothing. Put her in a skintight pair of bike shorts and tank top, and anyone could appreciate the curve of her hips. The smooth, creamy, toned skin visible by the clothing just itched to be touched.
Even a thirty-year old man, like me, couldn’t keep his blood from racing, heating, every fiber of his being zeroing in on her and her alone.
This was such a bad idea.
Jack walked across the gym, completely unfazed by the attention she was getting from the testosterone-filled wolves sniffing nearby. I shot them a glare of warning, which only served to make them smirk.
“Alright.” Jack clapped her hands on her thighs. “Let’s do this. I want to go to bed.”
I arched a brow. “Little early for bed, isn’t it?”
Jack tossed the long end of her ponytail over her shoulder and shrugged. “Had a long night. Didn’t get much sleep.”
I hummed, gesturing for her to step onto the mat. “I hope you aren’t letting your social life get in the way of your... studies.”
We circled each other on the mat, getting a feel for the other’s movements. I’d been a year since we’d trained together. Ever since I’d become her superior, I tried to keep our physical involvement as little as possible.
Jack scowled at me. “I can multitask. I can’t spend every second of every day thinking about work. I’m not you.” She lunged for me, ever the impatient one.
“Is that right?” I said, side-stepping her attack. I grabbed her arm and pulled her around. Her free arm swung at me, her fist grazing my chin. “Come on, you’re not even trying.”
Jack growled and shoved me back.
I released her arm, my lips twitching. She was so easy to rile up. It made her movements predictable. That’s why it was so easy for me to catch her leg as she kicked out.
“Too slow.” I held her ankle in my hands as I grinned. “You’re unfocused.”
“I’m not,” she grunted, throwing a combination of hits and kicks in my direction.
I dodged and weaved, growing more frustrated at her lack of ability. “What happened? A year ago, I’d be on my ass already.” I grunted, catching the elbow she threw at my face, closing in close behind her as I twisted the arm behind her. “Did that vampire take all the fight out of you? Too heartbroken to take me out?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jack argued before her head snapped back, smashing into my nose.
A sharp pain filled my face, and my eyes watered. Before I could process the pain, she knocked the wind out of me. I stumbled back barely keeping my footing. A ripple of surprised whistles and laughter filled the gym.
I huffed. “You’re letting your emotions cloud your judgement.”
She threw another punch. “I’m doing my job.”
“No.” I grabbed her wrist. “You’re being reckless.”
Jack stepped into my space and glared at me. Then she hooked her leg behind me, knocking me to my knees on the mat.
“Still reckless?” she asked as she stood over me.
Shaking my head, I brushed myself off and stood. My expression went cold. “Then why were you out there on your own?”
