For Whom He Fights Read online

  “Oh, shit!” Kurt cursed as he reached down to help her up. “I’m so sorry. Please tell me you’re not hurt.”

  Andronaisa let him help her to her feet and gave him a smile. “I’m fine. Just a little winded. But honestly, I should apologize. I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

  “Neither was I,” Kurt said. “Have a bit on my mind.”

  “Guess we’re both at fault,” Andronaisa chuckled softly.

  The smile she gave made Kurt’s heart speed up. Of course, it could’ve just been the running he had been doing before they collided with each other.

  “So what brings you out this early?” Kurt asked as he fell in step beside Andronaisa.

  “I figured it would be a nice day to finally get out of the house. I can’t always rely on George to take me places.”

  “She loves it, though. I told her she should drive for Uber or Lyft. Because she enjoys driving people around,” Kurt chuckled.

  Andronaisa just nodded and looked down at her feet. Kurt frowned, but didn’t push. After a minute, though, he smiled at her and offered her his hand. “So, I don’t think we’ve been formally introduced. I’m Kurt Williams.”

  Andronaisa gave a small smile as she shook his hand. “Andronaisa Davis, but everyone calls me Andy.”

  “It's a pleasure Andronaisa. I have to say, Andronaisa is quite a unique name.”

  “Yeah,” she chuckled. “My mom was all about weird and unique names.”

  “Well, my mom was all about simple and boring names.”

  “Kurt isn’t a boring name,” Andronaisa commented. “It's definitely not a name you hear often. Well, at least, I haven’t really heard of anyone named Kurt.”

  Kurt smiled as they continued walking along the trail, “So how are you liking Cheshire so far?”

  “I like it. It's a lot different from San Diego, but it's not a bad difference. And George has been really great with getting me settled and helping me feel like I belong.”

  “Yeah. George is great.” Kurt nodded. “She can be annoying at times but it's a good type of annoying, if you know what I mean.”

  “Oh, I do! Her cousin, Stephane, is my best friend, and he’s the same way.”

  Kurt was slowly losing control over the wolf inside him, and he had to close his eyes to calm down. He hadn’t really found anything explaining why this human would cause him to lose control like this. He figured that if he didn’t find anything on his own, by Monday he was going to go see the Alpha Pair. They would have a better explanation than his mother.

  “Are you okay?” Andronaisa asked.

  Kurt could smell her worry. But the last thing he wanted was for her to worry about him. “I’m fine.”

  Andronaisa got quiet after that and just shuffled her feet. Kurt could practically feel and smell the distress coming off her. He wondered what had happened to make her act like this. “Hey,” he said. “You know, if you ever need someone to talk to, about anything. Or need to vent about something, I’m a great listener.”

  Andronaisa blinked. Where had that come from? How did he know...? “Thanks. I may take you up on that one day.” She bit her lip and looked down.

  The way Andronaisa bit her lip nearly had Kurt moaning. He knew there was nothing sensual about the way she was chewing on her lip, but everything about her made Kurt feel like a schoolboy ready to cream himself over the hottest girl.

  “You’re nothing like I expected,” Andronaisa responded suddenly.

  Kurt blinked as they stopped and sat on a nearby bench. “What do you mean?”

  Andronaisa looked down at her hands for a moment before looking up at Kurt. “I just mean, you don’t even know me and you joined me for a walk instead of helping me up and moving along like most people do. I’ve never known someone to bump into another person, help them and then walk and talk with them. And when George and I picked you up from the gym...you seemed a little rough around the edges.”

  Kurt laughed, “Well, I am plenty rough around the edges,” he teased. “And, it just looked like you needed some company. If I’m intruding, you can tell me to go away and I won’t be upset.”

  “Oh no, you’re not. I appreciate the company.” She sighed. “I got a... troubling phone call and I guess, I’m still a little shaken by it.

  Kurt nodded. It took everything in his power not to wrap his arms around her. “I see.”

  “Aren’t you going to ask?” Andronaisa wondered.

  Kurt shook his head. “I may be a detective, but I don’t pry. If you want me to know, then you’d tell me. Simple as that.”

  “Huh. Most people I know would be all up in my business.”

  “Well, not me.” Kurt glanced at his watch. “Hey, are you busy this evening?”

  “No. Why?” Andronaisa asked, poking out her lips.

  “Wanna come to Swistaks with me and George? It's a nightclub that’s not far from my house. We usually go there on Saturdays and some Fridays after work. Well, usually we go out to eat and then we hit the nightclub.”

  “Oh, that sounds fun. Sure.”

  “Great. I can pick you and George up and we can all go together.”

  Andronaisa and Kurt stood. Andronaisa smiled and gave a nod. “That sounds great. I can’t wait to tell George. I haven’t been to a nightclub since I left San Diego. Stephane and I would always hit up the club after work on Friday. It was our Friday night routine. Michael hated it. He...” she trailed off. “Um, what time should we be ready?”

  Kurt frowned. He wondered if the Michael she was talking about was the same Michael he was working with. It wasn’t likely. There were billions of Michaels in the world. “Um, seven sounds good.”

  “Great. I’ll tell George. Thank you, Kurt.”

  “You’re welcome. See you tonight.”

  Andronaisa nodded and, with a wave, headed toward George’s house.

  KURT MADE IT TO GEORGE’S house a few minutes before seven and honked the horn. George exited the house first, wearing her usual party get up, but as soon as Kurt saw Andronaisa... his mouth went dry with want. And it was all he could do to keep his inner wolf from staking his claim. Andronaisa was dressed in a red strapless mini dress with a leather jacket covering her arms. Her hair was up in a curly ponytail and she appeared to have put on makeup. She was also wearing black one-inch heels.

  “She looks good, doesn’t she?” George asked as she climbed into the car.

  Kurt just nodded. He really couldn’t speak, especially when Andronaisa had opened the back door and climbed in.

  “God, I’m so excited.”

  George laughed. “Your first big night on the town. Ready to have some fun?”

  “You better believe it,” Andronaisa laughed. “Where to first?”

  “Well, George and I usually go get food first at Bass Water Grill and then we go to Swistaks. But whatever you want to do is fine.” Kurt smiled at her from the rearview mirror.

  “No, I’m fine with that,” Andronaisa smiled back.

  Kurt grinned and George kicked him, “Hey!” he glared at her.

  “What?” George pretended to be innocent.

  Kurt just glared as he pulled away from the curb. As they drove, George fiddled with the radio and they made light conversation. Andronaisa asked them about the case and how it was working with the feds. George had told her all about the feds the day they came.

  “Oh snap, I love this song!” Andronaisa exclaimed as Blinding Lights by The Weeknd played through the speakers. And she began to sing.

  Kurt tried not to laugh. While she may have a pleasant singing voice, Andronaisa was so off key. But compared to when he saw her this morning and now? He was just glad she was happy and enjoying herself. It wasn’t long before they reached Bass.

  “How’s mom, Kurt?” George asked as they were seated at a table.

  “She’s been pretty good. Like I told you. The doctor was a little concerned a few days ago because her blood pressure was a tad high, but hey that’s to be expected. Especially after
the full moon.” He noticed Andronaisa’s questioning look and started to explain when she cut him off.

  “I think everyone has those issues around the full moon. The full moon makes us all a little loopy.”

  Kurt chuckled and nodded, “Yeah.”

  A server came, and they all ordered steak. Kurt stared at Andronaisa as she ordered her steak. It wasn’t until after he left she grew concerned. “What?”

  “Kurt is just shocked that you ordered a rare steak. Normally, he’s the only one who gets his meat rare.” George explained.

  “Oh. Yeah. I’m a weird one. I prefer my steaks to be rare, but all my other meat dishes have to be well done. Michael used to hate it.” Andronaisa suddenly went quiet, as if she realized she said too much.

  This was the second time Kurt noticed how Andronaisa talked about Michael and how he hated things she liked. He was starting not to like this dude. And if it was the Michael he worked with, then he really did not like him. That this person treated her like that? He wanted to rip his head off.

  George suddenly kicked him under the table. And he glared at her. “Your eyes,” she hissed.

  Fuck. His eyes had shifted. He looked to see if Andronaisa had noticed, but she was busy digging in her purse for something. Kurt took a deep breath and calmed down, forcing his eyes to shift back to brown. The steaks arrived, and any conversation was halted as they dug into their meals. Kurt found himself entranced by Andronaisa. How someone could entrance him just by eating was interesting. Kurt felt George kick him under the table and he knew it was because of his eyes again. Kurt excused himself to the restroom and sighed. Twice in one night? Maybe it's time he didn’t wait. He figured he’d talk to both his mother and the Alpha Pair. Maybe they would tell him the same thing and that would help him a lot.

  After Kurt returned from the men’s room, they had a server pack up their food, paid the check and left to head to Swistaks.

  “We can walk to Swistaks,” George explained, looping her arm with Andronaisa’s.

  Andronaisa chuckled. “That sounds good. I could use the exercise. I’m so stuffed.”

  Andronaisa was determined to have a good evening with George and Kurt, and she wasn’t about to let any thoughts of Michael ruin it. Andronaisa chanced a glance over at Kurt, and he seemed to be deep in his own thoughts. And for a second, she thought his eyes turned yellow. Andronaisa let out a small gasp. That couldn’t be right, could it? She blinked and shook her head. But when she looked at Kurt again, his eyes were normal. It must’ve been a trick of the light. As soon as they crossed the street, Andronaisa could hear the music blaring from the nightclub. It was one reason she wasn’t too fond of nightclubs. They always played the music too loud. But she had to admit, as her hips started swaying on their own, it was pretty good music. Not that trash from the nightclubs she’d been to.

  “Dancing already?” Kurt teased.

  “Can’t help it,” Andronaisa laughed. “The music’s good.”

  Kurt nodded, “Yeah it is. That’s why we usually come to this one. They play pretty good music.”

  The lights were the first thing that Andronaisa noticed as they entered the club. It wasn’t that they were extremely bright, like most clubs, but it was the way they were moving. That’s when she looked up and noticed the disco ball and the way the lights were moving all over the place made sense.

  “Is this a disco club?” She asked.

  George laughed, “No. I think they feel the disco ball gives it a flashier look.”

  “I like it because this way, we don’t get those annoying flashing lights,” Kurt said.

  Andronaisa nodded and followed them over to the bar. Well, they both were right. It was flashier, and it didn’t have those annoying neon lights most clubs were so fond of. Those lights always gave her a headache.

  “Andy, what are you drinking?” George asked.

  “Oh, um, I’ll have an Amaretto Sour,” Andronaisa replied, pulling herself from her thoughts.

  “Oh, so you’re a fruity girl.” Kurt winked.

  Andronaisa shrugged. “I like it. I don’t like straight hard beer, plus I’m not much of a drinker and this doesn’t have that much alcohol in it.”

  The bartender served up their drinks, and they moved to a table. Kurt took a sip of his drink and then moved to the dance floor. Andronaisa found she couldn’t take her eyes off him. The way he moved to the music was like... she never saw someone dance like that. He moved like he was a professional dancer. Her mouth had gone dry. Andronaisa took a sip of her drink to try to wet her throat.

  “Why don’t you go dance with him? Show them girls that he’s taken.”

  Andronaisa shook her head. “But he’s not.”

  “No, but you want him. You want him to be yours, so why don’t you go for it?”

  Andronaisa sighed. George knew why. Over the past week, she had explained to George the reason for her coming to Cheshire and about Michael. “You know why George.”

  “Andy, you can’t dictate your life based on one bad relationship. I know Michael hurt you, but you can’t let that make you swear off men forever. Not all men are douchebags. There are some pretty decent men in the world.”

  “I know. It's just... I’m scared.”

  “I know. And honestly, I don’t blame you. But, you can’t let it overpower you, Andy. Because if you do, you’ll never get anywhere in life.”

  Andronaisa looked down at her glass. George was right. Michael was behind her. He couldn’t hurt her anymore. She could finally move on with her life. Andronaisa took a sip from her glass and stood up.

  George wolf-whistled, “Go girl!”

  Andronaisa chuckled as she walked over to where Kurt was dancing. He gave her a look of surprise before offering his hand. “I didn’t think you were much of a dancer.” His eyes twinkled.

  “Shows how much you really know about me, detective,” Andronaisa teased.

  Kurt’s hands went to the small of Andronaisa’s back, causing her to let out a small moan as they moved closer for the next song. For a brief moment, Andronaisa was sure she saw a flicker of yellow in his eyes again, but shook it off.

  “Well, I want to get to know you, Andronaisa. You... intrigue me.”

  Andronaisa put her arms around his neck. “In good ways I hope.”

  “Very much so,” Kurt whispered against her lips.

  Andronaisa couldn't explain this pull she felt when she was near him, and right now, she didn't want to. Andronaisa stood on her tip-toes and brushed her lips against his. For a minute, his lips remained stiff against hers, but after a few seconds, she felt him respond. Andronaisa moaned again, closing her eyes. But as quickly as it started, it stopped. Andronaisa opened her eyes as she felt Kurt pull away.

  "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..." he started.

  "Kurt, you have nothing to apologize for. I'm the one who started it," Andronaisa cut him off.

  "Y-yeah. I'll, uh... I need to use the restroom." Kurt released Andronaisa’s waist and disappeared through the crowd. Sighing, Andronaisa headed back to the table with George and tossed back the rest of her drink.

  "Dude, you okay? What happened? Where's Kurt?"

  "Bathroom," Andronaisa responded. "I, uh, we kissed."

  George's eyes widened. "Oh. Emm. Gee!! Andy! That's, wow! You really don't pull any punches."

  "I didn’t mean for it to happen. It just... did. I think I upset Kurt."

  Before George could respond, Kurt came back. “What are you ladies talking about?”

  "How you and Andy kissed on the dancefloor," George answered before I could reply.

  "Oh. Yeah. So," Kurt started finishing his drink. "I'm gonna call it a night. You ladies ready to go?"

  “Yeah, it's getting late, anyway. Andy, are you ready to go?”

  Andronaisa nodded and glanced at Kurt. Why was he acting so... different all of a sudden? Was he angry that they kissed? Embarrassed?

  “What’s with Kurt?” Andronaisa asked after Kurt dropped them off bac
k home.

  “What do you mean? He’s fine,” George said.

  "No, he wasn't. He seemed irritated all of a sudden. And he didn’t speak the entire way home. Was it because of me?"

  George didn't answer immediately. "It wasn't you."

  When George didn’t offer anything else, Andronaisa huffed and headed to her room. She shook her head as she sat on her bed. Kurt and George were hiding something and she was going to find out what.

  Chapter Nine

  Kurt couldn’t sleep. He spent all night tossing and turning, thinking about Andronaisa and the kiss they had. The way she seemed to affect him so much. He just didn’t understand it. And to be honest, it scared him a little. The fact that this woman, who just moved into town, had so much effect on his inner wolf. So when five a.m. rolled around and he was still tossing and turning, he did the one thing he knew would help. He shifted, left the house, and ran. Running usually helped to calm him, which is partially why he did it whenever he was frustrated or couldn’t sleep.

  He blinked when another wolf joined him. He didn’t recognize the pelt, so he assumed it must’ve been Michael, the wolf that he was working with. They didn’t speak and just ran. While Michael was built for strength, Kurt was built for speed. Something he used to his advantage as he ran with the Fed. Kurt didn’t have an actual destination or path in mind, so he was a little shocked when he ran past George’s house. What was even more surprising was that Andronaisa was standing on the porch with a mug in her hand.

  Andronaisa blinked at the two wolves that ran past the house. One of them seemed to gaze at her, and she clearly didn’t like it. Like he was staring into her soul. Something Michael used to do. She shivered slightly and cradled her mug tighter. But she didn’t run.