Chapter 12

Xander

When Aria walked in, and I saw the bruises and cuts all over her, I wanted to hunt down the men who hurt her and kill them. That rage was quickly replaced with pride. She’d fought and held her own against three Alphas! Daniel had texted me last night to warn me what to expect because he knew she wouldn’t miss a day of training. She never did.

She had attempted to play it cool when she came in, but I know she’s hurting. I want to suggest we take it easy today, but I know she won’t listen.

I watch her as she talks on the phone. Her brows are furrowed, and she’s biting her lip like she always does when she’s nervous. Something is going on.

“Okay, thanks, Pop.” She’s talking to Buck.

She ends the call and slides her phone under her leg.

“What’s going on?” I ask her.

When she focuses on me, there is genuine fear in her eyes. I sit a little straighter, like I’m readying for a fight.

“The guys I beat up called the police. Buck says they might come looking for me.” Her voice shakes just slightly, but she does a good job trying to seem calm.

I’m not calm, though. “What? Why would they call the police? Wouldn’t that just put them in trouble?”

I don’t know much about what goes on with the Iron Horsemen, only what Daniel and Aria talk about. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that whatever they get up to is dangerous. Several of the guys work out here, and they come with bruises and broken bones more often than not.

“You’d think, but Buck says they have some cops in their pockets. If they arrest me, then I’ll be stuck. They could do whatever they want to me, and no one would know.” Her body slumps over, and she covers her face with her hands.

There is no way I would let them take her. “We need to get you out of here then.”

I stand up and walk around my desk to crouch down next to her. She lifts her head and looks at me. She looks tired and broken now.

“There is no point. If they want to find me, then they will. They know I’m with Buck and his pack, but I’m not a part of them. I’m basically open for anyone to take. If I were part of his pack, I’d be protected, but I was too scared and stubborn to accept his offer. My stupid fear has come to bite me in the ass.” She sighs.

She never told me everything about her past, but I know enough that I know she came from a difficult situation. It was why she came to see me in the first place. Out of anyone who needs protecting, it’s her. Even if she tries not to show it, she needs help.

“I know you said you don’t want it, Aria, maybe you should-“

I’m cut off when she gives me an angry look. “Xander.”

I raise my hands. “I know. I know, but you need someone, Aria. Maybe join Buck’s pack.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t want to be bound to them. If I ever have to leave, it would hurt them.”

Her words make my stomach drop. “Why would you be leaving?”

“Never mind.” She says with a shake of her head.

I want to push harder, but the door to my office slams open and Daniel comes stomping inside. He tugs on Aria’s arm, not hard enough to hurt her but enough to encourage her to stand. She stands, and his arms are instantly around her. Her arms slowly move around his waist, and he lets out a long breath.

“Buck called me. We need to get you out of here.” Daniel says, pulling away just enough to look at her.

She looks so small right now.

“No. I don’t want to run. Running isn’t going to fix anything.” A notification comes from her bag.

Daniel lets her go, and she pulls it out of her purse. Her breath hitches, but she starts typing quickly and runs a hand through her hair. Whatever the message says has her on edge. She sets her phone down on my desk and glances at me.

“What’s going on?” I ask her.

“The Omega. The one I helped yesterday. We were going to meet later, but I asked him to come here instead. I would feel better if he were here with all of us. It would be safer.”

“Doesn’t he have a pack?” Daniel asks.

Aria scoffs. “A sad excuse for a pack. They did a shit job last night, and I’d rather not see them again, but the Omega…I just want to make sure he’s okay with my own eyes.”

“Of course, he can come here,” I tell her, but I catch a narrow-eyed look from Daniel.

My gym doesn’t allow Alphas because they tend to be too aggressive even around Betas. They like to make snide comments or even get physical with them. So the Omega won’t be in any danger here.

“Thanks, Xander, I owe you. Do you think I can borrow one of the instruction rooms?”

“Of course. We don’t have any classes today in room 3.” She gives me a grateful smile, and my body warms at the sight.

The day she walked into my gym, she had some old injuries that looked a week or two old. Cuts and bruises on her neck, arms, and even a black eye. Even in that state, she was one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen. The second I set eyes on her, I knew I was a goner. I have always been professional with my clients, but I was so drawn to her. We never crossed a line, but we became good friends, and that was enough. Over the years, though, it's been getting harder and harder not to want her. She insists that she doesn’t want a pack, but I have an overwhelming urge to protect her. It doesn’t make sense as a Beta to feel that sort of thing, but with her…that protectiveness is so strong. It’s the same with Daniel. You can see it in his eyes even now. He has been less than subtle about his feelings, though, which Aria brushes off as him being a flirt. She couldn’t be more wrong. He’s crazy about her, just like I am.

“Can we stay with you when you talk to him?” Daniel asks.

“No, I want to do this alone. I don’t want to overwhelm him.” She says, but softens the rejection with a soft smile and a squeeze of his hand.

He nods, but he is noticeably unhappy. He looks at me, and I slightly shake my head. He’s worried, but if he comes on too strong, he’s only going to upset her more. She’ll let us know what she needs when the time comes.

“I’m going to head to the front and wait for him.” She says, standing and grabbing her bag.

Daniel and I watch her go.