Safe Between Monsters

Chapter 9

WINTER POV

My hands were still shaking when we got back.

Not from fear.

From adrenaline.

From the way my body hadn’t frozen this time.

From the fact that I’d actually fought back.

The house looked worse in daylight. Broken door. Cracked walls. Security moving in and out like shadows. The air still carried that sharp, metallic edge of violence.

But something inside me felt… different.

Awake.

“You’re bleeding.”

Kai’s voice cut through my thoughts.

I blinked. “What?”

He stepped closer without asking, his fingers catching my wrist before I could pull away. His touch was warm. Firm. Careful in a way that didn’t match the way he fought.

“There,” he said, tilting my arm slightly.

A thin line of red trailed along my skin where the man had grabbed me.

I hadn’t even noticed.

“It’s nothing,” I said.

Kai didn’t let go.

“It’s not nothing,” he murmured. “It’s a reminder.”

“Of what?”

His eyes lifted to mine.

“That next time, you don’t let them get that close.”

My breath hitched slightly.

Something about the way he said it—

Not judgment.

Expectation.

“Next time,” I repeated quietly.

“There’s always a next time,” he said.

“Enough.”

Dante’s voice cut in sharply.

Kai didn’t move right away.

Then slowly… he released my wrist.

But his eyes lingered.

Too long.

Luca stepped between us smoothly, like he felt the shift too.

“Let me clean that,” he said gently, guiding me toward the kitchen.

This time… I didn’t resist.

The kitchen was quieter.

Safer.

Or at least it felt that way.

Luca grabbed a first aid kit and motioned for me to sit. I perched on the edge of the counter, watching him as he worked.

His movements were precise. Gentle.

Too gentle for everything that had just happened.

“You did well,” he said softly.

“I panicked.”

“You acted,” he corrected. “That’s the difference.”

I looked down at my hands. They were still trembling.

“I almost froze.”

“But you didn’t.”

His fingers brushed my skin as he cleaned the cut. The touch was light, careful—but it lingered just enough to make me aware of it.

Of him.

“I didn’t think,” I admitted. “I just… moved.”

Luca glanced up, something unreadable in his eyes.

“That’s what we need.”

We.

That word again.

“Stop saying that like I’m already part of you,” I muttered.

His lips curved slightly.

“You’re standing here, aren’t you?”

I didn’t answer.

Because he wasn’t wrong.

“Training starts now.”

Kai’s voice came from the doorway.

I looked up.

He leaned against the frame, arms crossed, expression unreadable—but there was something in his eyes now.

Something sharper.

More focused.

Dante stood behind him, watching.

Always watching.

“Now?” I asked.

Kai pushed off the wall. “Adrenaline’s still in your system. Best time to learn.”

“I just got attacked.”

“And you survived,” he shot back. “So let’s make sure you do it again.”

“That’s not comforting.”

“Wasn’t meant to be.”

I slid off the counter slowly.

My legs still felt a little weak.

But I stepped forward anyway.

“Fine,” I said. “What do I do?”

Kai’s smile was slow.

Dangerous.

“First rule?” he said.

He stepped closer.

Too close.

“Don’t hesitate.”

Before I could react—

He grabbed my arm and pulled me forward.

Fast.

A yelp escaped me as my balance shifted.

“Too slow,” he murmured.

“Hey—!”

“Again.”

He released me just as quickly.

My heart was racing again—but this time it wasn’t fear.

It was something else.

“Try me,” he said.

I narrowed my eyes. “You’re enjoying this.”

“Very much.”

Of course he was.

I lunged.

Bad idea.

Kai sidestepped easily, catching my wrist and twisting just enough to throw me off balance. I stumbled, barely catching myself before hitting the floor.

“Predictable,” he said.

I glared at him.

“Then teach me something useful.”

His grin widened.

“Oh, I will.”

He stepped behind me this time.

I tensed instantly.

“Relax,” he murmured near my ear. “You’re too stiff.”

“I wonder why.”

“Because you’re thinking too much.”

His hands moved to my arms—guiding, not forcing.

But my body reacted anyway.

Heat.

Awareness.

Too much awareness.

“If someone grabs you like before,” he continued, his voice lower now, “you don’t fight their strength.”

His hand slid down to my wrist again.

“You break their control.”

He shifted suddenly, demonstrating—pulling me slightly off balance again—

“Use your weight,” he said. “Turn—”

I followed the motion this time.

Too fast.

Too sharp.

We both stumbled.

I hit his chest.

Hard.

For a second—

Neither of us moved.

My hands were pressed against him.

His grip tightened just slightly at my waist.

Our breathing… not steady.

Not normal.

His eyes dropped to my lips for half a second.

Then back up.

Something shifted.

Dangerous.

“Again,” Dante’s voice cut through the moment like a blade.

Kai stepped back instantly.

The air snapped back into place.

I exhaled slowly.

Right.

Training.

Not… whatever that was.

“Focus,” Dante said, stepping forward now.

His presence changed everything.

He wasn’t playful.

He wasn’t teasing.

He was… precise.

“Self-defense isn’t about winning,” he continued. “It’s about surviving long enough to get away—or end the threat.”

End the threat.

My stomach tightened.

Luca moved to my side quietly. “You don’t have to be perfect,” he said softly. “You just have to be faster than fear.”

I nodded.

Kai circled me again.

“Try again,” he said.

This time—

I didn’t lunge.

I waited.

Watched.

His eyes flickered with approval.

He moved first.

I reacted.

Not perfectly.

Not cleanly.

But I moved.

Blocked.

Turned.

Missed.

Tried again.

Minutes blurred together.

My breathing got heavier.

My muscles burned.

But I didn’t stop.

Didn’t freeze.

Didn’t run.

“Good,” Kai said finally, grabbing my arm again—but this time I twisted before he could lock his grip.

He stilled.

Then smiled slowly.

“There she is.”

My chest rose and fell rapidly.

Sweat clung to my skin.

But something inside me—

Felt stronger.

Dante watched me closely.

Evaluating.

Then—

“You’re learning,” he said.

It wasn’t praise.

But it meant something.

I met his gaze.

“I told you I’m not helpless.”

“No,” he agreed. “You’re not.”

Luca’s hand brushed lightly against my back.

Grounding.

Steady.

“Just inexperienced,” he added gently.

I rolled my eyes. “Thanks.”

Kai laughed under his breath.

Then stepped closer again.

“But not for long,” he said.

And the way he looked at me—

Wasn’t just about training anymore.

Later…

When everything finally quieted down—

When the house settled into uneasy silence again—

I sat alone on the edge of my bed.

My body ached.

My mind wouldn’t stop replaying everything.

Marcus.

The fight.

The way I moved.

The way they looked at me after.

Not fragile.

Not breakable.

Something else.

Something… worth teaching.

Worth protecting.

Worth—

My phone buzzed.

My entire body went cold.

New number.

Of course.

My hands shook as I opened it.

A picture loaded.

My breath stopped.

It was me.

From earlier.

Outside.

Training.

Watched.

Always watched.

Then the message came.

You learn fast. I taught you well.

Next time… you won’t get away.

My heart slammed violently against my ribs.

He was still watching.

Always watching.

A knock came at my door.

“Winter?” Luca’s voice.

I couldn’t answer.

The phone slipped slightly in my hand.

“Winter.”

The door opened.

All three of them stepped in.

One look at my face—

And everything changed.

“What is it?” Dante asked sharply.

I handed him the phone.

Silence.

Then—

Kai’s jaw clenched.

Luca went still.

Dante’s expression turned to pure ice.

“He was there,” I whispered. “Watching the whole time.”

Dante looked up at me slowly.

And this time—

There was no calm left.

“Then next time,” he said quietly,

“We hunt him first.”