Feral Instincts (The Feral Series) by Erin Ashley Page A

her unexpected sense of humor. “You are not a mutt.”
    Once
Ava had calmed down she suddenly became serious again. “I want you to teach me.
Teach me to protect myself.” The smile on Ava’s face was gone and she looked
down at her ballet flats, unable to meet Joseph’s eyes.
    Joseph
felt to loss of her smile. He didn’t like it one bit. “Okay then, your first
lesson starts right now.”
    “Really?
Right now.”
    “Sure,
unless you have something better to do.” Joseph raised one dark eyebrow in
challenge.
    “No.
No. Now is good.” Ava walked over to the edge of the padded floor and slipped
her flats off and then pulled the sweater over her head and put it by her
shoes. She pulled the bottom of her lace trimmed black tank top down over her
hips and hesitantly walked over to stand in front of Joseph.
    Joseph
let his eyes roam over the curves that were displayed now that her loose
sweater was gone. He would have to get her some more baggy sweaters if she was
going to be around the other guardians.
    “Okay
then, we will start out with something simple that will help you work on your
balance and coordination. You are still weak from your transition and your
speed and strength won’t improve until you are feeding regularly.” Ava paled at
the reminder that Victor was expecting her to try feeding tomorrow.
    “Ava
don’t worry, everything will be fine.”
    “That’s
easy for you to say. I have been a vampire for two days and you have been a
vampire for how long? Hey, how old are you anyway?”
    “Focus
please. Balance…”
    Oh
no.  Ava was not letting him off the hook that easily.  This was too
good to pass up.
    “Whoa,
so old you don’t want to tell me?” Ava looked at the massive vampire with eyes
gone wide in comical shock.
    “Ava…”
Joseph growled in warning.
    “Fine,
don’t tell me old man.” With that Joseph growled and began to advance on Ava.
    “Balance
and coordination! I’m focused! I’m focused!”
    Joseph
chuckled and proceeded to show Ava a couple of basic moves she could build on.
Time passed quickly and they worked together for the next forty five minutes or
so. Ava was a good student and quickly had the exercises down. Joseph could see
though that she was beginning to tire. “Okay now let’s put it all together. I will
attack you and you will…” 
    “…
and I will kick your vampire butt.” Ava interrupted with a cheeky grin.
    “…
and the kitten’s claws are back out.” Joseph grinned. “Have we learned nothing
tonight?” Joseph teased her.
    “I’m
gona take you down to china town.” Ava taunted.
    “Gods
Ava, where do you get this stuff.” Joseph shook his head at her antics. Then
suddenly he was coming at her. Ava quickly blocked his first two moves but
rapidly lost ground. The cheater was just moving too fast for her to keep up
with, even though she knew he was definitely taking it easy on her. Ava
squealed as she suddenly found herself flying through the air. Joseph flipped
her over onto her back, crouching over the top her and holding her down with a
single hand to her chest. Ava looked up in surprise at his smiling face. She
began to laugh when suddenly she heard a horrible snarling roar and then Joseph
was knocked off her chest by a something really big and really angry.
    She
sat up in time to see Joseph slide across the floor and regain his feet before
he had barely stopped moving. Scrambling to her feet Ava focused on his
attacker and was shocked.
    “TEAGAN!”
Teagan’s eyes glowed with a supernatural light and his hands were now tipped
with razor sharp claws. He had maneuvered himself so that Ava was behind him
and he was between her and Joseph. Both men faced each other preparing to
attack. “Don’t touch her.” Teagan growled.
    “Teagan!
Wait! What are you doing?”
    Teagan
had been feeling restless after seeing Ava in the meeting tonight so instead of
going out with Daniel he decided to spend some time in the training room. Her
scent had hit