Go after her Jane.?
That was the only encouragement she needed. Jane ran toward her, her brain not thinking, she was merely allowing her body to act. She hunched over, her shoulder aimed at Lou?s midsection, and Lou?s knee jutted forward, waiting to connect with her face. Jane pushed with her right foot, jumped, left foot landing on Lou?s knee, using it as a step up, jumped again, twisting in the air and drove her right knee into Lou?s jaw. Jane landed on her feet, fists clenched at her sides, staring down Lou as she scrambled on the floor, clearly disoriented.
Assuming that she?d proven enough, Jane turned, seeking out Dirk from the crowd. She started to move toward him when something hit her in the back of the head. Jane flipped forward, in a move something similar to a cart wheel and spun to face Lou yet again. The woman was back on her feet and asking for more. With a snarl, Lou charged at her full speed, fist flying at Jane?s nose. Jane grabbed Lou?s fist and gripped it as she spun, pulling it over her shoulder and pressing her back into Lou?s stomach. She pushed her hips back into Lou and flung her over her head. As Lou soared over her, she grabbed at Jane with her free hand, trying to grip onto anything she could. She grabbed onto Jane?s t-shirt and pulled it up over her face as she landed on her back. Sacrificing her shirt to keep her grip on Lou, Jane sliced through the shirt with her claws and peeled it off her face, then flipped Lou onto her stomach. She straddled over her yanking Lou?s arm backward and with her other hand, she dug her fingers into a pressure point in Lou?s neck.
Lou was paralyzed with pain but somehow, grunted out the word ?bitch?.
Not being able to control herself any longer, Jane jerked on Lou?s arm and when she heard a bone snap, she stood up, smiling in victory.
The noises from the group around them had faded out, but now she was hearing them again. Some cursing her, some congratulating her, and some of the men whistling and calling out obscenities. A growl comparable to a lion?s roar echoed through the gym and pounded against her ear drums. Jane placed her hands over her ears and shuddered, just as everyone else had done. A moment later, Jane looked up to see that over half of the other people had fallen to their knees, but all heads were bowed to Dirk.
Jane looked him up and down and winced at the sight of his eyes. His usual amber eyes burned orange. It was as if his anger had ignited a fire behind them. Another glance over him showed the tense muscles of his arms and neck and even the muscles of his chest and stomach rippled under his shirt. Further examination showed that his claws had slightly extended and his clenched fists dug them into his palms, causing blood to drip from his knuckles and trickle downward to the floor.
?Everyone out!? he ordered, not loudly, but with more violence than she ever thought capable of him.
Chapter 8
Within less than a minute, everyone had left the training room except Jane, Dirk and Lou. Dirk took concentrated breaths in and out and slowly, his eyes began to return to their normal amber color.
Jane stood with her head down, only occasionally glancing up at him. With her peripheral vision, she could see Lou sitting on the mat holding onto her shoulder with her head bowed.
Several minutes passed and Jane wondered why Dirk was so angry. What had she done wrong? She?d only done what he?d asked.
Finally, Dirk spoke, ?Lou, you need to see the pack doctor to have that shoulder set before the bone heals improperly. When you are finished, I want to see you.? Before Lou could reply, Dirk said, ?Go.?
Jane watched as Lou picked herself up and left the room, then, once she was gone, she looked up to Dirk. His eyes surveyed her, looking her up and down, then finally settled on her face and he said, ?That was very impressive.?
?Thank you,? Jane replied, wondering if she was now about to be scolded for injuring Lou.
?It appears that you have very skilled training in your background, but not knowing that, I am very angry for the way that Lou approached you. Had you not been so sufficient, she could have badly injured you.?
Jane watched him carefully, not