Claws & Crochet

Part 62

ZOEY

"I got into a fight with another wolf," Warner admits.

"Werewolf, or wolf-wolf?"

"Werewolf."

"Why were you two fighting?"

Warner grimaces before resting his head on my shoulder. "Because he would've hurt you if I hadn't."

Cold trails through my veins at his words, and I give an involuntary shiver.

"Could you elaborate on that?"

Warner loosens his hold only to rub his hands up and down my back. The move is soothing, but I can't give up all the tension thrumming through me. My eyes flit to the dark window, wondering if I'll see the face of an animal on the other side of the glass.

"It was Ross. The asshole from my work. You insulted him, made him look stupid."

Some of my fear gives way to anger. "Good. That was the point."

Warner lifts his head to offer me a thin smile. His warm palms cup my cheek, and he trails his thumb over my lips. "And I loved watching you talk circles around him." He sighs. "But my kind doesn't take insults lightly. And we hold grudges. When I got back, he made some more comments, and I knew things weren't over. Not in his mind." Warner's hold becomes firm, as if he's desperate to keep me in place. "I knew that if Ross ever came across you again there was the real possibility he might hurt you."

"So you fought him?"

Warner nods. "Werewolves are territorial. We'll get violent to protect what's ours. Especially if it's someone we care about."

Is that what I am? His?

I don't voice the question, not sure I want to hear the answer.

"But, how does you two fighting solve anything? Did you . . . kill him?" I hesitate because this is another answer I'm not sure I want.

"No! No, I swear." Warner presses a kiss to my forehead, so gentle that I have trouble imagining him getting violent with anyone. "Think of it like MMA. I just knocked him out. We weren't even in wolf form."

"Okay." I've never been a fan of the sport, but at least I have a mental image. "Still, what's to keep Ross from hurting me in the future?"

"It's a dominance thing. And a warning. He knows that if he hurts you, I'll come after him. Actually, if he comes after you, he'll face punishment from the pack." Warner grimaces, obviously realizing he's not explaining the situation well.

"I think you need to tell me more about werewolves. Do you all have different rules than humans? Do I have to follow those rules when we're together?"

Warner tilts his head as he ponders my questions. "We do. Have different rules, that is. And we monitor ourselves. The Pine Falls police force doesn't have jurisdiction over the pack, and they know it."

"That's disconcerting."

His lips pull tight before he shrugs. "In some towns, with other packs, yeah. It would be. But our pack leader is Roderick. You'll never meet a more honorable guy. And if anything, he holds us to a higher standard than any human laws would."

I think back on my brief interaction with the stoic werewolf. He was intimidating, but reminded me of my older brother Abram, one of the most honorable men I know. Maybe werewolf law isn't the worst thing in the world.

Problem is, it's hard to follow rules I haven't learned.

"And do I have to meet these standards, too? Since we're hanging out."