“Kri,” Anandur called out to get the Guardian’s attention.

Wonder forced a smile, but as the instructor turned, her long blond braid whipping around to land with a thud on her back, the smile got broader and more natural.

Kri wasn’t what Wonder had expected. So yeah, she was tall and muscular, her shoulders as broad as that of an athletic male, but her face was feminine, and her breasts were even larger than Wonder’s.

Maybe they weren’t so different after all.

“Wonder, I assume.” She walked over and offered her hand.

“In the flesh. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kri. I heard a lot about you.”

Kri narrowed her eyes. “What did the big oaf say about me?”

A big oaf? Wonder cast a quick glance at Anandur. He didn’t seem offended at all.

“He thinks your intermediate class is a good fit for me.”

A hand on her hip, Kri regarded Wonder with a critical eye. “From what I heard, my class might not be advanced enough for you. A beginner could not have taken down the undefeated duo.”

“It was a fluke. I took them by surprise.”

Kri snorted. “I bet.” She gave Wonder another look over. “Well, if you want to join, you’re welcome. But not in those clothes. Do you have a workout outfit?”

Wonder shook her head. “All I have are the things Amanda gave me. I guess I can use a pair of leggings and a T-shirt.”

“You can borrow some of mine. I have a locker full of outfits, and you can grab whatever you want. Number one hundred and eight. It’s unlocked.”

“You mean now?”

“Yeah, why not? We are almost done, but I’ll stay after class to assess your level.”

“That’s so nice of you. But I don’t want to keep you here. Maybe I can come to your next class?”

Anandur tapped Wonder’s shoulder. “I need to get back. I have another class after this one. If you stay with Kri, we can walk home together.”

“Okay.”

After an entire day of missing him, she wasn’t going to give up a chance to spend time with Anandur, even if it was only the few minutes it took to walk back to her house.

Her house. It sounded so strange to say that.

“Do you know where the locker room is?” Anandur asked.

“Yeah, I do.”

For a split moment, he looked disappointed, but then smiled and took her elbow. “I’ll walk you there anyway. I don’t want you to get lost.”

“I’ll see you in a few,” Kri said and turned back to her students.

After making sure she could find her way back, Anandur dropped her off at the locker room and returned to his class.

Kri’s locker was stuffed to bursting, and not only with workout clothes. There were a couple of black T-shirts with cartoon characters printed on their front that didn’t look like they were meant for exercise, a pair of black combat boots, and athletic shoes in a variety of colors. There was also a stack of fluffy pink towels on one of the top shelves. The one above it was home to a pink teddy bear with a big white heart on its tummy and the word ‘love’ stitched over it.

It seemed Kri had a softer side that she was hiding in her locker, or maybe not. Perhaps she didn’t care if everyone knew that she liked fluffy pink things.

After changing into one of the Guardian’s many outfits, Wonder found an empty locker, put her folded clothes inside, and headed back.

On the way, she passed several of Kri’s students who were going in the direction she was coming from.

When she got to the classroom, the door was open, and the Guardian wasn’t alone. There was a guy with her. The two were in a tight lip lock and had their hands on each other's butts.

Wonder started to back away, making as little noise as she could, but Kri heard her.

Releasing the guy, she turned around and smiled. “Wonder, come in and meet my boyfriend Michael.”

“I can come later.”

Kri waved a hand. “Don’t be silly. We can continue smooching at home.”

Michael glared at Kri. “I’m not your boyfriend. I’m your mate.”

She patted his cheek. “I know, sweetie. But Wonder is new to our world. Mate might sound weird to her.”

Kri was right. It did sound a bit strange but only because she hadn't heard people use it in reference to their partners.

The explanation seemed to mollify Michael, though. “I’ll see you at home.” He kissed Kri’s cheek. “It was nice meeting you, Wonder. I’ll see you in the Guardian training program.” He said it as if it was a foregone conclusion that she was going to join.

“I’m not sure about the program yet.” She had no intention of joining but didn't want to get into the whole discussion with yet another person.

He shrugged. “I’ll see you at the café then. I heard that you started working there today.”

It seemed news traveled fast in small communities. “That's why I can't start the training.”

“You can train with Kri in the evenings. She’s an amazing fighter. It will take me years to get to her level.” He looked at his mate lovingly.

It took a lot of confidence for a guy to admit that his girl was a better fighter than him. And he’d said it with so much pride.

“Let’s start with what you know,” Kri said as the door closed behind Michael.

“I don’t know what I know. It just comes to me instinctively when I need to protect myself.”

“In that case, let’s get right to it. Stand in the middle of the mat, and I’ll come at you. We’ll see what you’ve got.”

Wonder hesitated. “I’m very strong. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Kri lifted a brow. “I’m a Guardian with decades of training behind me, and I’m strong as well. If anyone is going to get hurt, it’s you. Are you ready for that?”

Not really. But backing out was not an option.

“I guess I’m going to find out.” Wonder walked to the center of the mat.