We should add that he’s got the sexiest smile I’ve ever seen to the list, but I keep my mouth shut.


    He sighs. “I trained to be able to take on multiple opponents at one time. It helps that your warriors weren’t working together, they were just reacting. That skill didn’te naturally for me. I had to work at it. I trained hard at the Academy to be adept at fighting multiple opponents at once. Since I didn’t know what type of job I wanted when I finished the Academy, I thought it was a good idea to learn that skill in case I wanted to be an enforcer for the Council.”


    “But you still excelled at it, didn’t you?” I ask.


    “I worked extremely hard to be the best, yes. I got my ass handed to me multiple times. Each time I did, I took the lesson and learned from it, making me a better fighter. Not everyone does that which is why I was top of the ss and someone else wasn’t. That’s also why I am working individually with you in warrior training. I want to give you that same opportunity. Learn from your mistakes and improve on your weaknesses.”


    Okay, when he puts it like that, it makes sense.


    “Regarding Shane, having someone here who he knows is supporting him, someone he knows is going to help him seed, is what’s making him feel confident. He lost that when you lost your parents. The Council sending me here has given him that same level of support which, in turn, bes confidence.”


    “I was supporting him,” I say, still defensive.


    “I know you were and still are. But you are also drowning in your own grief. I’m an objective party. I’m not suffering with the loss of my parents which gives me the opportunity to focus on this pack and the two of you. Both you and Shane are still struggling to process <b>your </b>loss. That’s understandable. Losing two parents so suddenly must be horrifying. I know if that happened to me, if I suddenly lost both of <b>my </b>parents… well, I wouldn’t be confidently standing here in front of you. You’d have someone else here helping you manage this pack while I suffered in my own grief.”


    I nod, looking down. He somehow makes me feel understood in ways that others don’t.


    “With you,” he says, standing and taking a step toward me. “I don’t like seeing women cry, ever. But I certainly don’t like seeing a woman cry when she’s lost in her grief and feels like there isn’t anyone around to hold her while she cries. I was serious when I said I want you to seek me out any time you need me. I don’t care if it’s the middle of the night. I will hold you so you don’t feel alone. You’re not alone, but just like you can’t always be the support that Shane needs, he can’t always be the support you need either, because you’re both lost in your own grief. Will you at least agree that you’lle to me if you need me? Or if I’m not close, reach out to me so I know I need toe to you?” He slides his hands down my arms as he asks, his eyes, always so intense, stay focused on me.


    “Okay. You’ll probably regret that. I cry almost every night,” I tell him honestly.


    “Then I wille check on you, every night. I will hold you, every night. I willfort you as best I can while you work through your grief, Enya.