8. Rule # 8 Trust Your Gut

Rule # 8: Trust Your Gut

Zoe

B est friends.

Oh Hecate, help me.

Rory made herself comfortable on the couch next to me, grabbing some of my blanket to cover her incredibly long legs.

"What are we watching?"

"Um, a documentary on orcas. Seems like they're organizing with other species of whales and dolphins to get revenge on whaling boats."

"Huh. Good for them. Do you know what my favorite animal is?"

Puppies I'd bet.

"Beluga whales," she said without waiting for my answer. "They're so friendly and helpful. Did you know that their brains are so far back in their heads and the front part is like a giant squishy marshmallow?"

She pulled out her phone. "Look!"

Then she proceeded to show me at least three TikToks of somebody playing with a beluga whale's gross head.

"That's disgusting!" I said with a grimace when she showed me one of a beluga whale moving its own squishy head.

"No! It's so cute! I want to touch one. "

"Hard pass," I said, grabbing another slice of room temperature pizza.

Rory grabbed one too and my eyebrows shot up as she munched on the slice.

"Oh, sorry. I should have asked first," she said with a wince.

"Erm, it's not that. I just didn't think vampires ate food."

"We don't need it for nutrition, but it still tastes delicious."

"So, how does being a vegan vampire work anyway?"

She sighed and her face shuttered a bit. "Well, I don't like feeding directly off humans. I don't enjoy the hunt. It feels… wrong. My nest didn't appreciate that I didn't bring in food. That I refused to hunt. They only see humans as food."

"So what, you drink animal blood? How's that vegan?"

"For a vampire, that's vegan. As far as they're concerned, I might as well be eating carrots."

Rory hesitated before reaching for another slice.

"Go ahead," I said and she did.

"I get animal blood from the butchers. It gets me by. Sometimes I need human blood though, so I have a contact at the blood bank. Thankfully, I only need that every few months or so."

"I haven't seen anything in the fridge."

"Yeah, I have a mini-fridge in my room. Thought it might freak you out if you saw it."

"I'm fine with it, but I think Lewis might have a heart attack if he saw it. So maybe you should keep it up there to avoid that."

"Lewis is your boyfriend?"

"Nooooo. Lewis is my pain in the ass best friend and boss who has no problem going through the contents of someone else's fridge. He doesn't know I'm a witch. And I'd like to keep it that way."

"That's a pretty big secret to keep from your best friend. "

I didn't respond to that. I didn't have an answer other than that I was scared of losing him. And that was too deep of a conversation to have with someone I had met five minutes ago.

"I have an early morning," I said as I stood.

Disappointment clouded Rory's face. "Oh! But we've just started getting to know each other."

I smiled awkwardly. I didn't need another person to let me down. I wouldn't be making friends with this girl.

"Yes, well. I still have to be up early. Goodnight Rory."

"What is he doing here? There aren't any jiu-jitsu classes scheduled today."

I was currently hiding in Lewis's office, avoiding Daniel.

"What is your problem with him? He's perfectly fine."

"I don't trust him."

"What's new? You don't trust anyone."

"It's different this time. I have a very strong gut feeling. He's hiding something."

Lewis quirked an eyebrow at me. "You're the only one hiding here."

"I'm not hiding. I'm avoiding a first-degree murder charge."

A classic long-suffering Lewis sigh filled the room. "Don't you have a class to teach? I don't pay you to hide."

"I hate you."

"You love me and you know it. Now go on. Daniel will be observing your class today."

"What?" I squawked .

"He wants to learn more about the sport and today was the only time he had available."

"And you're only telling me this now?"

"If I told you beforehand you would have suddenly come down with a rare flu. Even though I've never seen you sick a day in your life."

"Whatever."

"Go do your job, Zoe."

"Yes, boss. "

The sarcasm wasn't lost on him as he threw me the middle finger.

I had an intermediate class this morning. Which meant they knew all the basic moves, but were nowhere near ready to fight in the ring yet. Some of the women in this class were fine with that though. They were here for self-defense and fitness. They weren't looking for championship belts. But there were others who had their eyes on the prize, and I couldn't fault them for that. Not when I had my very own belt hanging in Lewis's office next to three of his own.

I spotted Daniel leaning casually against one of the pillars off to the side. He was dressed in black joggers and a white t-shirt that clung to his biceps and chest for dear life. T-shirts like that should be illegal. The scruff on his face made me wonder what it would feel like against my thighs. His lips twisted into a devastating smirk as if he knew what I was thinking, those forest green eyes of his shining with mischief. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing the effect he had on me, so I ignored him.

Clapping my hands to get the class's attention, I yelled out, "Gimme five hundred on the jump rope and twenty laps around the ring. Let's go. Let's warm those muscles up."

"Quite commanding for someone so small." That British accent tickled my spine but I clamped down on the shiver that threatened to shake my body. This was my class. My territory. I would not be shaken .

"It's called respect, Daniel. Might do you good to find some."

"Oh. I have the utmost respect for you," he said from slightly behind me. So it was a bit of a surprise when his warm breath caressed the shell of my ear. "But I would love the opportunity to disrespect you. If you'd let me."

His voice took on a low, sultry tone and it really shouldn't have turned me on as much as it did. But flashes of the way he'd do just that assaulted my brain. Me on my knees for him. Him bending me over the couch and holding me down while he took what he needed from me. Giving him control.

I suppressed the shiver that threatened to give me away, instead throwing him a dirty look that made him chuckle.

"If you're joining this class, you better start skipping."

He lifted both his hands in surrender. "Oh, no. I'm just watching today."

"Then stay out of my way and go be quiet in a corner."

"Yes, ma'am." He gave me a two-finger salute then prowled off to observe from the side. There was something powerful about the way he moved, the muscles of his back bunched deliciously through his t-shirt and I shook my head to rid myself of the image of his naked back invading my brain. Ugh, I didn't need this distraction today. So I did my best to ignore him.

I was doing pretty well and forty minutes through the class, I had all but forgotten he was there. I was putting my guys and girls through some drills and now had them paired up. We were practicing self-defense so I had them in mixed pairs where the girls had to fight their way out of a hold, when an annoying voice butted in where it didn't belong.

"A jiu-jitsu move would actually serve you better in this scenario."

I swung around to face him, pure venom in my eyes. "This isn't a jiu-jitsu class. "

"Do you want your girls to be safe or not?" he asked, not a trace of antagonism in his voice. He was trying to help, but I couldn't find it in me to appreciate it. He walked up to the pair currently in front of us and showed her how to maneuver so that she could escape him.

"It worked!" she cried, eyes gleaming with excitement. I couldn't even fault him. It was probably the better move. I taught them to incapacitate, then run for help. Giving them a chance to survive.

"Well, it is the better sport," he said, grinning at me.

I honestly don't know where the next words out of my mouth came from, but I blamed my ever-present anger. The stupid bitch had only ever gotten me into trouble.

"Wanna test that theory?" I said.

"I'd love to," Daniel said, straightening up. The wide grin on his face brought out his twin dimples and I decided I hated them.

"No. This is a class. Not an exhibition."

"Come on, coach!"

"Kick his ass!"

"Make him eat his words!"

At least my students had my back.

"Fine. Three rounds. Three minutes each. Rhonda, you time us."

I knew this was a mistake immediately. His limbs were far too long. I aimed a push kick to his midsection, but he caught my foot, twisted it, throwing me off balance then quickly tackled me to the ground. I elbowed him in the stomach and he let go, but somehow got me in a headlock. His nose ran along my cheek and his next words had me frozen.

"Hmmm. Witchy," he whispered in my ear.

I dug my fingernails into his forearm and he let go with a sharp hiss. Nobody said I couldn't fight dirty. I kicked out and scrambled to my feet then dealt a series of blows and punches that he could do nothing but block. I was all fire and fury. He knew what I was, but how? My heart thundered at being discovered and all I could do was attack.

I grinned when I hit him in his side and he grunted. But then a wide smile stretched across his face as he laughed. He was having fun. Which pissed me off further. His green eyes glowed yellow, making me freeze as he lunged for me.

Fuck. I knew what he was.

He tackled me to the ground, getting me in a full body lock from behind that made my legs and arms useless. The feel of his hard body pressed up against mine had me imagining a completely different and inappropriate scenario.

So, I did the only thing I could. I bit his bicep that happened to be right in my face.

"Ow! That's dirty!" he yelled, letting go.

I stood then leaned down into his face and whispered, "Well, werewolves always play fucking dirty. So kinda appropriate."

I stomped away, heading to the locker room. I didn't care that the class wasn't done yet. Or that we hadn't finished our three rounds. All I knew was that I wouldn't be able to contain my rage at the moment.

I had been right about him hiding something, and now I knew what it was.