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"Come here…", Keith beckoned Talia. "I will show you a kick that can take even the biggest guy down if done right."

Talia was not sure if she can bring anyone down, but she still obeyed without voicing her doubts.

Keith faced Talia with one step of space between them.

He extended his leg and touched the outer side of her left knee.

"The move is to kick here but instead of pulling your leg away, hook your foot behind your opponent's knee and jerk him toward you as you pull your leg back. That will make him lose balance, and once you achieve that, it's up to you if you will continue to fight or flee…"

Talia nodded earnestly while thinking that this is a good strategy. If she can make an attacker lose balance for a moment, that moment can be enough for her to escape.

But kicking in a knee meant that she would need to face her attacker and be really close. Can she hit a moving target? Can she keep her cool if a baddie gets that close?

An image from the amusement park flashed in Talia's mind. What if there is more than one baddie? What will kicking one achieve?

Looking at Keith who was ready to accept her beating, Talia hesitated.

This will be a problem.

She didn't think about kicking her trainer when she imagined how she will learn to fight.

Whenever someone attacked her before, Talia would curl into a ball while trying to minimize damage received from the hits. She never thought of fighting back or fleeing.

Talia told herself that she needs to cross this hurdle. Somehow.

She pressed her lips into a line and gave Keith a small kick.

Keith paused for a moment and then chuckled. She was so gentle. He barely felt it. Adorable.

"Give it your all, Talia. Start with a kick, and we will add the hook-and-pull later."

"I don't want to hurt you."

"Even if you hurt me, I will heal in a day or two. As a trainer, it's an honor to have a bruise from my student. Think of it as a sign that I taught you a good move so it will be worth it. Now come on, show me what you've got…", Keith encouraged her.

…

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...

Damon changed his clothes with haste and he got out of the dressing room to a scene of Talia focusing on Keith and kicking him in the knee.

He cocked an eyebrow. How was that kicking? There was no strength behind the hit. But that feeble attack paired up with Talia's serious expression made her super-cute.

Damon really wanted to tackle her on the exercising mat and kiss her all over.

Alpha Maddox and Axel were sitting on a nearby bench and observing Talia's training.

Damon joined them.

"The two of you are not even pretending to train anymore.", Damon grumbled, and Maddox chuckled while Axel didn't show any visible reaction.

"Talia is an interesting one.", Maddox said with amusement in his voice. "I can see why she got your attention."

"Don't even think about it.", Damon spat at Maddox.

Maddox's eyebrows shoot up. "Oh? And what am I thinking about?"

"Nothing good." Damon knew that Maddox was persistent in taking Talia with him to the Blue River pack. It didn't matter why because that was not happening.

"How protective.", Maddox retorted. "You should probably worry more about this guy who is silent."

Damon knew that Maddox was talking about Axel. Axel was suspicious and for some unknown reason, Axel also offered Talia to go to the Midnight Guardians pack. But Damon was aware that all members of the Midnight Guardians pack are waiting for their mates, and since Talia can't have two mates, Damon didn't see Axel as his rival while Maddox was a potential scoundrel who would want to get into Talia's panties.

"I'm not worried about either of you.", Damon said coolly. "Actually, continue talking like that. Talia is a gentle soul, and your coarse jokes will make Talia keep her distance from you."

Maddox was offended. "What's wrong with my jokes?"

Damon waved casually, indicating that the conversation was over.

Maddox was saying something, but Damon got lost in the image of Talia assuming an offensive stance and kicking Keith. She was beautiful.

"Good. Good.", Keith praised Talia. "Feel free to kick harder…"

'Yes, harder', Damon thought. Maybe she could break Keith's leg. Open fracture.

"OK. Ten minutes are up.", Maddox said.

"Did we set a time limit?", Keith asked Maddox and Damon perked up with curiosity.

Maddox shrugged. "Do you need more time?"

"Not really.", Keith admitted. But he hated to part from Talia. He didn't know what Damon prepared for this pointless competition, but Keith knew that he will lose.

With that, it was Damon's turn.

He stood in front of the little woman who looked at him apprehensively, and he thought about what to show her.

It took him a minute to decide.

"Punch me in the throat."

Talia's eyes widened. "What?"

Damon gave her an encouraging nod and repeated while pointing at his Adam's apple. "Punch me in the throat."

"That's a killing move.", Keith said from the side with a frown.

Damon didn't deny it. "If Talia is in danger and needs to physically defend herself, she shouldn't hesitate in taking down her opponent." He really meant it. Anyone who attacks Talia deserves to die.

Damon saw Talia's shocked face and backtracked. "With your strength, you probably can't kill a guy, but he will have trouble breathing. Come on. Right now, I'm the enemy and I will attack you. Defend yourself."

Without any warning, Damon moved toward Talia and yanked her arm, pulling her toward him.

Before Talia realized what's going on, Damon hugged her from behind and her back pressed against his chest as he arched slightly above her.

Talia sucked in a sharp breath at this sudden invasion. But why did it feel so intimate?

Damon spoke to Talia in a low voice, "If a guy is openly making a move against your will, he won't hesitate to restrain you and harm you. Do you want to defend yourself? You need to decide if you want to be a timid victim or a fierce fighter. Do you have it in you to fight back, or will you go to the safe house and let warriors handle it?"

Talia knew that Damon was talking about the last night's incident. He said that she should go to the safe house, yet she didn't listen. With her gentle mentality, Talia couldn't bear to harm anyone, and she also knew that if the bad guys came to the town square instead of Damon, she would be an easy target. A victim. A hostage. A liability.

Damon held her without any force, yet she couldn't budge.

Now she understood why Damon was so relieved to find her last night. He feared that she was captured or hurt. Would he be able to fight against the baddies if they had her in their hands? She didn't have an answer to this question.

Talia pressed her lips into a line as the gravity of the situation weighed on her.

"I'm sorry.", Talia said.

Axel bolted to his feet. He couldn't take it anymore. "You are scaring her!"

Damon cocked an eyebrow at Axel. "Scaring? I think that before learning how to kick an immobile target, Talia should understand what she will be facing. Don't tell me that you learned how to fight by being coddled."

Axel's frown deepened, but he didn't argue. Damon was right. If anyone wants to learn how to fight, they need to get out of their comfort zone.

Damon grabbing Talia from behind and holding her in place was nothing compared to what Axel went through while training. Even now, as a seasoned fighter, Axel ends up with cuts and bruises after heated spar sessions. It's normal for werewolves. Actually, they enjoy a good challenge because one can learn only by facing strong opponents.

Axel knew that he shouldn't meddle, but for some reason, Axel didn't want Talia to fight. He wanted her to live in safety and comfort and… she didn't belong on the battlefield.

Seeing that Axel gave up on interfering and that Maddox observed all this with amusement, Damon lowered his head and continued talking to Talia. "I can teach you as many moves as you want, but none of them will be useful if you are not willing to fight. Didn't Keith show you how to kick? Kick me. I told you that you can punch me in the throat. Do it. I won't retaliate. Make me let go of you."

'Easier said than done', Talia thought.

Out of all the people in the world, Damon is the last one she would be able to harm. Not because her punch won't be more than a mosquito bite to him, but because he was the person she cherished the most.

Yes, Damon got that spot in her heart, and even if he abandons her, regardless of the circumstances, Talia will cherish their every moment together as a precious memory.

Talia turned her head to see Damon whose chin was rubbing on her shoulder as he spoke, and she blinked when she realized how close they were. So close.

Just a bit closer and they could kiss.

Inappropriate thoughts.

Damon observed Talia's cheeks that were getting increasingly red, and he chuckled.

"Kitten…", he whispered. "Like this, I will never let go of you."

Talia's lips didn't move, but her smile was clearly visible in her honeyed eyes. She didn't want him to let go. Ever.

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