“How else am I supposed to hit, Daniel? Hello… I am a girl!” I used my hands to show my body. “Is this why you don’t have a girlfriend? Are you confused about what we look like?” I squealed out loud as he reached out to swat me, and I tried my best to block him. My arm went wide, resulting in the painful sting of his hand connecting with my side.
“Crap, Darcy. Do you not know how to defend yourself?” His cheeky grin now turned incredulous.
“I’m a werewolf. I always assumed I had the natural ability to take care of myself. I didn’t think it was it was that important,” I paused.
“Until now.” All joking was gone as Daniel finished my sentence.
“Yeah. I didn’t like how it felt being so defenseless. Avery cut me off from my wolf completely. I was helpless against his compulsion.” I looked up to find eyes filled with compassion. “I don’t want to feel like that again.”
“Then that’s what we’ll work on.” He offered no more explanation as he took hold of my hand, leading me from my room and out of the house. He kept a brisk, steady pace as we made our way to the back of the property, to the space where Mason had a gym installed.
Throwing the doors wide open, Daniel made quick work of turning on the lights, revealing a place filled with every kind of fitness equipment you could imagine. I glanced over at the treadmill. That was by far my favorite because I was able to read while I walked and avoid just staring off into nothing. I moved to go climb on it, but I was directed elsewhere.
“Welcome to your first ever lesson in self-defense… Daniel style.”
I raised my eyebrows at the last part of his comment because I had no idea what he meant by it. Judging from the cocky way he stood, I’d say I was in for an education of sorts.
“Ready? Assume the position.”
I burst out laughing, my hands covering my mouth. “What position?” I struck a pose and watched his eyes almost pop out of his head.
“Oh, no you don’t, I’m being serious. I know I don’t have much to work with.” He smiled as he walked a slow circle around me, flicking his hand at my ponytail. “But I need to at least show you some basics. This is the position I want you in.” He stood in a fighting stance, and I rolled my eyes.
“Why didn’t you just tell me to get into a fighting stance? Even I know what it’s called.” I blew a puff of air upward, moving a stray lock of hair out of my eyes.
I shifted my body until I was standing to the side with my right foot in front. I readjusted my legs, making sure they were a shoulder width apart and I raised both my hands up, curling them into fists. I leaned my weight onto my back leg and was instantly chastised.
“No! Never put all you weight on one leg. Distribute it down in the middle.” He moved forward, pushing down on my shoulders, causing me to bend them both. I felt my muscles begin to burn from the sudden tension.
“Why does it matter?” I asked, not sure why I even had to stand this way.
“Straighten your legs again… like you just had it.” I didn’t have time to respond before he shoved hard at my chest, sending me flying. Walking over to where I painfully landed, he pulled me up onto my feet. “That’s why it’s important. By keeping your weight equal, you can maintain balance. How effective will you be at defending yourself if you’re sprawled on the floor? The key is to stay upright. Try again.”
Dusting myself off, I got back into the stance, this time mindful of my body. I watched him strike out again, and even though he moved me backward, I was able to regain my stability and footing quickly.
“You learn fast, young grasshopper.” He smirked before returning to teacher mode. “Now, can you guess why it might be helpful to stand like this?” He moved his body to match mine, legs firmly apart. I studied him for a moment before shaking my head. A few answers filtered through my mind, but I didn’t know if I was right.
“What does this tell your opponent?” He raised both his fists, an expression of concentrated focus on his face. He appeared every bit the warrior, and I was glad for his help. Looking him over, I suddenly realized the point.
“It tells them you’re ready to defend yourself,” I replied as it suddenly seemed obvious to me as he stood there. “You can see every move they’ll make and be prepared.” His wide grin told me I was right.
“Exactly. Come stand in front of me-right there.” He gestured to the open space before him. “Now go slowly, and watch how I move. Throw a punch.”
Without hesitation, I let my hand fly and he deflected it away with a frontward block of his wrist. It seemed effortless and as he stepped in close, I noticed I was now free to be attacked. A slight jab to my ribs illustrated that fact.
“See how it opened you up? Try again,” he stated.
I threw another punch, this time coming from a different angle. His block also changed, but the results still the same. I was thrown off balance, exposed enough for him to strike again.
“Now instead of punching, come at me like you are going to grab me.”
I went to move and came in contact with his leg. Whether it was the front or back, foot or knee, I repeatedly tried to seize him as I met with resistance.
“Now I need you to promise me-swear to me-the move I’m about to show you, you will never use on me… no matter how much you might be tempted.” There was a twinkle in his eye which made me curious so I quickly agreed. “Chances are those who’ll try to assault you will be men, and even though they’ll far outweigh you, and perhaps even be stronger, you do hold a few advantages.”
I instantly started grinning because I knew where he was going with this. The way he cupped himself was also an indication he was aware I understood.
“I already know I can knee a guy in the balls, Daniel. Hit them hard enough and it makes them fall to their knees, whimpering like a baby. Want me to show you?” I smiled sweetly.
His face whitened before he shook his finger at me in warning. Making sure he was out of reach, he continued. “Don’t be afraid to use it if you need to. It does require you to get in close, or at least have decent aim, but you need to make sure you hit hard. Put all your weight and force behind the blow. You want to knock them out of commission long enough for you to get away.”
“Okay, full weight… powerful hit.” I started raising my knee, pretending I was facing an attacker and I couldn’t help imagining Avery every time I made a strike. I held the perverse need to show him this exact move up close and personal. “What else you got?” I wiped away the sweat on my forehead with the back of my wrist, ready for more.
“Another thing you can do is this.” Grabbing hold of my hand, he moved it in a forty-five degree angle, palm open and fingers slightly curved. Tapping the meaty heel, Daniel continued. “Use this part here and aim straight for the person’s face.” Demonstrating his own, he showed the motion I would need to follow and what I would need to target. “Hit them in the nose with the intent of breaking it. You’ll cause their eyes to water, blood to flow, as well as a crap load of pain. Everything I’m showing you is designed to give you time to escape. I don’t want you engaging them in combat.”
Moving my hand back and forth, helping me get used to the flow of movement, he released me, and I was able to maintain the motion without fault. If the pain I felt when I accidently bumped my nose was any indication, this would definitely hurt. My confidence increased, and I smiled widely.
“One more thing, and then I’m going to have you work on those girly punches.” Daniel laughed and with lightning fast reflexes he turned me, pulling me hard against his body, and placing his arms around my neck. “Sometimes your attacker won’t give you the courtesy of seeing them coming. Rude, I know, but what can I say? Any person who’ll attack a woman doesn’t exactly have a strong moral compass. Now, try to get out of this.”