"What was that? She isn't your type. Pretty sure she'd be an alpha. If she were one of us anyway," said Tristan.
Kian couldn’t stop glancing at the door. His muscles coiled in restraint. Finally it registered that his friends had said something. What had they asked?
"Uh. What? I have no idea," was all he could say for several seconds. "She's different." His eyes were drawn right back to that thin bit of wood separating him from her.
"Man, you sure you're okay? I think it's time to hit the mats. I'm starting on the bag. That week off kicked my ass and last thing I need is one of you two pussies having to carry me out of the next fire we get called on," said Ethan.
"Yeah. Sure. Let's go. I'm doing a fight this weekend and really need to get my shit together," said Kian.
Ethan stood up first and headed to the gray mats that covered ninety percent of the open space in the rustic warehouse. Large heavy bags lined one wall while mirrors lined another. Ropes dangled from a couple of rafters and in a corner was some work out equipment, just in case someone happened to need more than just the ass-kicking most of the guys received on the mat.
"Is this a caged fight again?” asked Ethan
"I need this fight. I won't be breaking anything but the other opponents will. It's been too long, I'm getting restless."
“You better not break any ribs this time. You know what a bitch it is to carry a full pack and gear. And this time we won’t help you out princess.”
Tristan and Ethan were his closest friends and both happened to be part of his team at the fire department. Lucky for him they got him. His cougar growled at his hesitation to work out.
Kian couldn't shut down his mind. His human side fought the animal. Alone was good. He wasn't one of those pack animals. No, alone was best for him.
Strolling to the heavy bags, he decided to start there. Pulling up his hands to either side of his face, he widened his stance and he focused on the bags. Alone was a good thing, or so he told himself every time his fists connected with loud thuds.
His cougar growled. The problem with everything was his cougar didn't think alone was right for them anymore. Kian stepped and swung, his shin connecting and rattling the chains supporting the bag.
He needed to beat down whatever it was his cougar wanted. Right now. A mate was not in the picture.
Blowing out a sequence of breaths, he swung even harder this time. Kian's reward was a loud thud as his fist connected. Punching a bag could only solve some many of his issues. Every breath was a reminder that this was him against his soul and guess who was losing?
For as long as he could remember martial arts could control the rage within him. Focus and discipline. Clearing his head he isolated each muscle. He needed control; Kian had kept the beast happy. He had to keep the beast happy. Only once had he ever lost control and things didn't end well.
The bag swung in front of him. He'd spent his entire life remembering how not to be an animal, driven by instinct. Until now and the smell of the woman made him purr.
"Seriously dude. If you look at that door one more time I'm going to practice my roundhouse on you,” said Tristan.
Kian turned back. "Who is she talking to? I can hear her voice, not her words, but her voice. You don't think someone is in there with her do you?"
Both men stopped a switch-kick and stared at him as if he'd just grown a second head.
"Who the hell cares? Train. Now. You're acting like a puppy dog." Ethan said.
Kian nearly shifted as his cougar reared up to attack Ethan.
“Did you just go there? A dog. F-off."
Just as he went to turn around the door to the room opened and out walked Raine. His cougar stretched out deep within him itching at a chance to take control and have her.
Without looking away he spoke to both men. He couldn't look away.
"For fuck’s sake. What the hell? I'm barely keeping a lid on my shit." He ran a taped hand down his face. "I have got to do it. I can't take it anymore. What was her name again? Take me to see that matchmaking lady. You're right. I can't do this. I can't find my own dates and if I don't soon, this cougar is going to be the death of me."
Tristan slapped him on the back. "Seriously. You are going to kill someone in the ring if you don't figure out how to control yourself. I already told my wife to call Geri. Sometimes a man needs help - even the pretty ones."
Kian kicked out so fast that he knocked the wind out of Tristan.
"That's the Kian we remember," said Ethan.
Kian had a hard time getting the long blonde hair of Raine's out of his mind. His hands itched at the idea of running his fingers through it. What he wouldn't give to have her scent all over his bed. He turned back to the bag and punched it, once, twice, three times. He'd keep going until his muscles burned.
The boots. Good Lord, those boots. He punched again. She'd had on some kind of tight pants and tank-top that had left little to his imagination. But those damn boots had managed to make his head spin.
If he didn't watch it his baggy athletic shorts weren't going to be hiding much in a minute. He threw himself into his work out. Lightening speed and reflexes were his strength. He could be just as lethal as a human as his cougar.
He was a hunter, and yet when it came to women he
