“I don’t fit in here Maverick,” I argued softly.

“It takes time.”

His lips still so close to mine.

“No one expects you to figure it out overnight.”

His eyes were hypnotic. My entire concentration was on how close his lips were to mine.

“Surely this would be easier if this was where I belonged.” The off handed comment made his forehead crease.

His mouth touched mine taking me by surprise, the stroke of his tongue against mine made me grab his shirt. I was lost in his touch.

It was only when he moved his mouth from mine did I come back to reality.

“Does that feel like you don’t belong?” His voice husky.

I shook my head slowly. I wanted to drag him to the nearest bed and have my way with him.

“I’ll oversee your training with Jackson so there aren’t any further incidents.”

“I don’t want to,” I murmured.

“Do it for me,” he suggested.

I frowned. I understood he was doing it for my own good but it didn’t mean I had to like it.

I gave a brief nod, dreading it and not being convinced I could control the urge to hit Jackson again if he said those insulting things again about my childhood and how no one had loved me.

He had taken the worst things from my life and thrown them in my face for a reaction. I smiled when I remembered the bruise already developing after I had hit him. It had served him right, even if it had been his job to illicit a reaction.

An hour later we were back at it but this time Maverick stood on the side lines. Jackson stood a few feet in front of me.

My temper had been an issue my whole life, getting me into difficult situations with my impulsiveness. I was always the act now think later type. Now somehow I had to change that and I wasn’t convinced I could, even if I tried.

But I was going to attempt it to appease Maverick.

“You ready?” Jackson asked. Surprisingly, he held no animosity from the previous incident.

I gave a nod.

Maverick looked between Jackson and I, ready to step him if I lost control. I didn’t know if it was because he didn’t want me to hurt Jackson again or he feared that Jackson would hurt me if he retaliated. He was there to ensure things didn’t get out of hand and I had to concentrate on trying to pass the task without incident.

“You are a sad case you know Victoria.” Jackson spoke, watching me carefully.

Asshole. I swallowed.

Even though I knew he was only saying it to get a rise out of me I couldn’t help but respond.

I clenched my teeth as I felt the simmer of anger spark to life. Sad had been the running theme for my childhood. Jackson had a way of saying the most accurate things to get a reaction, if I wasn’t in the firing line I would have been impressed but there was nothing to admire when you were on the receiving end of his talent.

“I bet you were one of those orphans who just wanted to be loved and you know what…your parents gave you up. Maybe they knew what a loser you would be….” He kept going and I held his gaze, my anger building at such a rate I wanted to explode.

Maverick’s gaze stayed on me as I wrestled between with what I wanted to do and what I should do.

The more he said the more I wanted to hit the other side of his face so they matched.

“They abandoned you. You had no idea were a werewolf until you showed up in town here. They didn’t care enough to even tell you what you are…”

I didn’t want to listen to anymore. My fists tightened, the urge to swing grew with each word. I wanted him to stop. Closing my eyes did nothing to stop my anger as Jackson continued to insult me.

I exhaled sharply as I opened my eyes. Taking a shaky step in his direction I heard Maverick move closer but my focus was entirely on Jackson and his words.

The emotion filled every part of me as I tried to breathe slowly but nothing I was doing was working. I took another threatening step to Jackson.

Maverick was closer but he took no action to interfere.

“…do you think your parents would be proud of the person you are today? Not with your list of crimes,” Jackson scoffed.

I wanted to strike out so badly, I bit the inside of my mouth to cause a physical pain to detract from the emotional turmoil Jackson was stirring up. The metallic taste of my blood lingered in my mouth.

All of the things he was saying I had already contemplated myself.

I swallowed the sting in the back of my throat when I felt close to tears, wanting the hot angry rather than breaking down. Anger was action, crying was weakness.

For every step I made to Jackson, Maverick matched moving closer to me.

Finally I was in front of Jackson, he was just a couple of feet away. Maverick stood beside me, his eyes on my face as Jackson continued his tirade of insults.

“And boy did Maverick pull the short end of the stick when he got stuck with you.”

It hit me straight in the chest, I flinched.

I could feel Maverick watching me but I blocked him out. All I could see was Jackson in front of me and all I wanted to do was hurt him to stop him from saying another word. His words cut through me like knives, tearing right through the skin to deep inside me.

I exhaled sharply, like I was breathing through the pain. Jackson did not stop. He kept going.

“Let’s hope you don’t have children.”

The wolf inside me growled and allowed the noise to expel from my mouth.

Maverick was still beside me, watching me closely.

Stay in control, my minded instructed. Kill him, my emotion begged.

I could see it in my mind. Shifting into my wolf and lunging straight for his neck. He was stronger and he would retaliate but even that wasn’t enough to stop the thought from taking hold and growing all the while I glared at him.

“You just going to stand there and take it?” Jackson asked smugly, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow at me.

I had put up with a lot in my harsh life but never had anyone stood in front of me saying such hurtful things.

I was so filled with rage I thought I would combust if I didn’t react.

And then…I swallowed.

My body trembled as I stood.

Jackson’s mouth was moving but I heard nothing.

The first sob tore through me, like a tidal knife. My knees caved.

But I never hit the floor, Maverick had me in his arms tight against his chest.

I held onto his shirt like my life depended on it as the dam burst and the tears began to run down my face.

I heard retreating footsteps through my sobbing and then a door closed.

“Shhh,” Maverick soothed holding me close like I would break if he released me.

He lowered to sit with me on the mat.

I couldn’t even understand what had happened. I had no control of the emotion that poured out of me. Trembling, I hiccuped.

The tears began to slow.

Maverick sat on the floor with me on his lap, my legs on either side of his waist. He rubbed my back gently in a circular motion.

I rested my head on his shoulder.

I had never broken down like that before. Now he had seen me stripped right down to the scared little girl who just wanted to be loved.

He kissed my forehead and I sighed releasing the pent up emotion.

His touch made me feel warm and safe, easing the emotions that had coursed through me. I felt open and exposed. I had fought so hard to keep my tough exterior to protect myself.

And the first and only time I hadn’t been able to hold it steady, Maverick had been there to catch me.

I lifted my gaze to his.

He touched my cheek softly.

“I bet that scared Jackson more than a fist swinging.” My tone dry.

Maverick chuckled softy and hugged me.