I stand opposite Joel outside of his cabin and raise my fists in a defensive pose. I can sense more guardians are nearby and I hear them coming closer. Joel studies me assessing my stance, and then smirks playfully before jabbing his fist towards my face. I block it easily and then roll my eyes at him. He is obviously pulling his punches.
“Don’t hold back, Joel, I have been fighting Alpha’s, I can take a hit,” I tell him.
“I’m not going to use full force to punch you,” he half laughs.
“Why? Because I'm a girl?” I raise a brow.
“No, because you are you,” he admits with a shy smile.
I drop my defences to look at him and my mind flashes back to the first time I'd met him. When he'd touched me so tenderly in the hospital all those years ago. Could I imagine that man ever throwing a full-
