Page 48

“Yet.”
“What?”
He grins. “Never mind, continue.”
Willow grabs my hand. “As I was saying before I was interrupted, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I reassure her. “I can’t believe I did that. Omigod, I could’ve broken his nose!” All of a sudden, I can’t catch my breath because the air is too thick around me.
One of the people I would never want to hurt… And I did. He’s done so much for me.
Hudson steps in front of me. “Aurora, focus on me. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.” I mimic him the best I can. “Good, again.”
Once I have control over myself, I ask, “Is his nose broke?” Hudson shakes his head and is about to speak before I hear my name.
“Aurora,” Jaxson calls. I peek around Hudson and see Jaxson standing.
I walk slowly toward him. Blood soaks his beige t-shirt, and bruising is starting to form under his eyes. I wince. “I’m so sorry.”
The corners of his mouth twitch. “You already said that.”
“I don’t know what happened.”
“Your fight or flight instincts took over,” Bennett pipes in.
Thomas nods in agreement. “Did you see her eyes?”
“My eyes?” My brows furrow.
Thomas taps his temples. “You looked defeated, ready to tap out. Then they were burning bright. Hard to explain, but I see it in soldiers when the adrenaline is really pumping.”
“Oorah,” a chorus erupts around me.
I bump my shoulder into Jaxson. “No hard feelings?”
“No,” he replies. “This is what we’re training you for.”
Not exactly the response I was going for. What about ‘you kicked my ass… congratulations’… Something!
“Fellas, it’s been fun and all, but I think Aurora is way overdue for some quality girl time.” Willow grabs my hand and tugs me toward the exit.
“Wait!” Carver hollers. “Can I come?”
“No!” we both yell over our shoulders as we race out the door.
Ten minutes later, we burst into my dad’s house and Lykos greets us in the foyer.
Willow scratches him behind his ears and pats his back. “Who’s a good boy?” Lykos licks her hand and soaks up the attention.
My dog’s an attention whore.
“C’mon, I need a shower.”
We race into my room like we’re teenagers again, Lykos trailing behind us.
“I can’t believe you beat the shit out of Jaxson,” Willow says, plopping down on the bed. Lykos jumps up and makes himself comfortable next to her.
“It was an accident,” I admit, sitting next to them. “I’ve never done that before.”