"Hoi-ya!" Pen karate chopped the air- the very same air two inches from my face.

"I'll give you one second to step down." I patiently swiped the dish rag across the dirty plate. I had completely forgotten that I was now responsible for clearing and washing the dirty plates. There were two perfectly functioning dishwashers in the kitchen, but Luka had simply guided me to the sink and flung me a pair of hideous pink rubber gloves. He didn't need to say more. I donned the pair of rubber gloves and began to empty the sink.

That was about an hour ago.

I had scrubbed through a pile of pots and pans; my wrists were beginning to ache. I still had a stack of glasses to wipe clean. At some point, Pen had found her way to me.

"Huh-"

"Seconds up." I grabbed her index finger and twisted.

"Holy banana!" She shrieked and lunged back. She held her injured finger against her chest.

"You monster." She poked her uninjured finger in front of my face. I reached to twist that one too, but she slapped my finger away with accusing eyes.

A week had passed since the triplet incident. After the triplets had explained what happened, their mother became furious but Alpha Slater used his lulling voice to iron out her worries. He definitely used his Alpha influence to accomplish it because others had tried to relax her prior to their conversation. Yet, once the Alpha spoke, Bella listened. There was always something different with an Alpha's power. He could ease the most painful of hurts if they trusted him enough.

There had been intruders and it was my luck that I stumbled across the triplets. They would have been in serious trouble if someone else with a bad agenda had spied them first. When they revealed this, Bella had almost collapsed to her knees. Alpha Slater had managed to catch her before she could fall.

The triplets recounted their story to the Alpha once they were calm enough to form the sentences. It was a surprise that Alpha Slater had purchased a girly tiara with the brightest pink gems intertwined in the golden metal work to give to little Daisy.

Although he ordered Jamison to deliver the precious item the next day and since I was shadowing the Enforcer, I got to witness the delight the blonde little girl showed when Jamison tentatively handed her the jewelled object with big pink gems, encrusted with glitter. Bella had teared up as her daughter caught Jamison's thighs into a hug before running off to her brothers with a squeal of happiness.

Everyone had known that the Alpha was responsible for the big, wide grin on the sick little girl's face that day.

Nyall, Leon and Maxim praised her with adoration and love, filling the girl with so much joy, she could only beam up at them.

Even Jonathan, their father, had misty eyes that day.

The only thing missing from the bright pink celebration was the Alpha himself.

I asked Jamison why the Alpha would miss out on such a wonderful moment. He replied with a stern response, outlining something along the lines that Alpha Slater had more important matters that needed his attention than a frilly girly party invaded by pink balloons.

I would be lying if I said that I didn't have the sudden urge to just slap the arrogance out of him as we left the celebration.

My arms were elbow deep in the soapy water as I stared at Pen. I still didn't know what to say to her, so I picked up the last plate from the sink and cleaned it from the earlier dinner rush. After three beats, I responded to her earlier request. "You want me to train you?" I repeated. I was genuinely caught off guard when she approached me.

"Duh, that's what I just said." She demonstrated another karate move. I noted she looked as if she would topple like a domino if I extended my leg to her knee.

"What happened to Alexei? He's your E.S buddy. He ripped a were-bear into two with his bare hands. Bare hands Pen or should I say bare hand? Singular. Now, that my friend is impressive." I emphasised with wide eyes.

She shrugged and tugged on her pink highlights threaded into her dusky hair. "He's always occupied with things. Truth is, he never lets me shadow him most of the time. The man loves his privacy, especially if he has lady company." She groaned helplessly.

I gave her an empathetic glance, "Can't you swap?"

"I don't want to come off as a nagger. Alpha Slater will kick me out and I'm not willing to be sacked because this is it for me." She whispered. Determination set clear in the stubborn purse of her lips.

I understood the meaning of her words, but I didn't like it.

She was a Rogue.

She had nothing to return to.

If she did manage to finalise as an official Elite Syndicate Enforcer at the end, she'd have that familiar kinship she was deprived of.

Many of the other Recruits avoided her like she was infected with leprosy, and I wasn't proud by how my Pack mates simply ignored her like she wasn't even standing two feet in front of them. I wasn't that surprised though. They never treated me like I was part of their Pack.

Sometimes, it wasn't better to be the person ignored. It felt as if you weren't a living and breathing person of flesh and bone, who could be broken and wrecked by the simplest words and actions from others.

No one wanted that role and I got it. I understood it.

I lived it.

I pondered quietly to myself if that was what drew Pen towards me.

Could she sense that I was an outcast among my own Pack mates?

That I didn't fit?

Stop Aella. Don't do this to yourself.

"Hey, are you okay? You're shaking." Her calloused but warm, hesitant hand touched my shoulder.

I quickly dispelled the tremors invading my body and let the layers of my self-control tighten and harden around me. When I felt my layers gradually lock in place, I released a breath.

I recovered with a grin, "I'm good." I was proud that no vulnerability leaked into my tone.

However, Pen was not convinced. Instead of calling me out on it, she simply gave me a comforting squeeze.

I snapped off my gloves and wiped down the counter where I finished washing the dishes.

Unfortunately, Luka and Jamison were serious when it came to drawing out punishment. Since I showed up tardy for the dinner, I couldn't escape the task they piled up on me.

So far, the people in the Shadow Hunters hadn't disturbed me yet. They only spared a few curious but wary glances when they slipped their dishes into the sink. They always left quickly after that. There were no greetings, just prolonged silences often laced with a heavy dose of awkwardness. On some level, I was conscious of the fact that they didn't know me. Hence, they were wary of me as they should be.

However, because of this, I hadn't been able to familiarise myself with the Pack members at all.

The only company I had was Jamison's grumpiness. On occasion Luka would offer a sanguine greeting that was polite but distant and then there was Pen who sometimes sought out my company for whatever reason. I didn't know why she liked me enough to linger.

Like now.

"So now that you're done slaving away, you want to teach me that whole fighting combo thing you used on me during our sparring?"

"I don't know." I replied. "I've never taught anyone other than myself."

That seemed to make her pause as she stared at me with wonder and a hint of speculation. "You're self-taught?"

"Partially." I responded. Since I was never welcomed into the Pack training grounds, Ma always took me out at night when she wasn't bound by her other commitments. This happened rarely and the rest was up to me.

Yes, I did most of the training by myself, but Ma had shaped me from the minute I could walk. She never allowed me to be defenceless or become a weak pup. Although she reigned in her maternal affection in every aspect of my life, when it came to my protection, she always guaranteed my safety.

But unlike Ma, I took it a step further and crafted my own little arsenal of weapons that bore my mark. She knew about my ninja stars and daggers. She encouraged any step that strengthened my protection and safety. She even handed me some of her own daggers and stars which I also kept strapped on my body.

"Please Aella. Teach me your ways. I'm your humble student starting now." She imitated a monk as she bowed with two hands pressed together in front of her chest.

"Pen I don't-"

"Is it because of what I am?" She blurted out. Suppressed anger and a hint of vulnerability emanated from her expression. She reminded me of a lost child.

"No." I let her see the truth in my face. "I have no prejudice for Rogues." I added firmly.

Her confusion made something ache inside me.

"Then why..."

"Fine. Meet at 3 in the morning tomorrow."

"You. Are. The. Best." She lunged for me in a squeal. I froze as she tackled me to the ground, wrapping her arms tightly around my torso. "Oh shit, I didn't mean to take you out like this."

I snorted, "Just get off me please. My back is killing me."

***

"You're dismissed." Jamison said once we were done ensuring that all Enforcers were at their stations and the surveillance around the Pack House was secured. I took note of where the cameras were, so I would avoid them when I would sneak out later to train.

"Thanks." I moved to go back inside but he stopped me.

"Have you sensed anything lately?" He asked, clearly uncomfortable with having to come to me for answers.

I forced down a smug smirk and raised a brow, "Would you mind repeating what you just said?"

He snarled but gritted out the question again. He did this while looking at anything else but me.

I took my time pondering his question before I replied, "Sorry. I haven't sensed anything lately." It was the truth. I hadn't had the opportunity to look into anything, but I didn't want to concede any suspicions without solid evidence to prove my points.

Jamison nodded once and left.

I watched his retreating form become smaller and smaller in the distance. He never once relaxed from his stiff form. Even now, just before he turned the corner, he held himself like there was a stick shoved up his ass. The only time his stubborn chin wasn't in the air was when Alpha Slater was around.

Returning to my temporary room, I stripped off my clothes and let the water cleanse away the dirt, sweat and blood I accumulated throughout the day. The water was a little too hot, but I relished it. The steam gathered thickly and by the time I was done, the mirror was fogged. I had to swipe my hand over the layer of condensation to see my reflection.

I hastily dried off and donned on my black skins and athletic bra. It would be freezing once I stepped outside but I knew I'd be overheated once I completed a lap around the training grounds.

There were three cameras near my window but whoever installed them were a touch off in accuracy. If you wedged yourself right near the pipeline once camera one turned, you had at least a five second window before camera two and three crossed, hitting the blind spot.

I managed to slip down the pipeline in a few seconds.

The destination I had in mind was the Pack's very own training grounds. The field was dirt rather than grass or artificial grass. Exercising tools lined the circumference of it. A large tarpaulin was pulled over half of the space to shield away from the sun's heat during the scorching mid-afternoons.

There were large stadium lights that focused on the training grounds, providing enough light to highlight the vacant area.

I knew during this time; members of the Pack were caught in a deep sleep. No one would notice the girl running around in the deep of the night.

I began my training with an even-paced run along the perimeter. As soon as I took three long strides, I let everything in my mind go quiet. The rustling of the trees became silent. The smells diminished, and my surroundings became nothing but black as I slipped into a focused state where I ran the laps.

This often happened. My surroundings would be eclipsed by my thirst to train. It was the only time my wolf lingered right at the surface, merging subtlety to my human form.

If anyone interrupted me, they'd find that my blue-green eyes were completely black.

I had one string of control holding my wolf back. If I allowed that string to unfurl, my wolf would surface.

I didn't know how long I had run but sweat began to dampen my clothing.

Next, I had laid out my belt filled with my ninja stars, daggers, and other weapons in front of me. There were targets set up a good distance from where I stood. I palmed all five stars in my right and my trusted daggers in my left. For a brief second, I let myself envision my weapon sinking into the red dot with a clear thump.

I released the stars all with a flick of my wrist, aiming for all five targets.

They sailed through the air, emitting a shrill whistling sound before they hit their targets with clear, consecutive thumps.

They all hit bull's eye, except one. It was an inch off the red dot. I sighed. I was losing my touch it seemed-

"Impressive."

I gasped, turning around to spot Alpha Slater himself standing a few mere metres from where I stood panting. I was a sweaty mess. I didn't need a mirror to know I looked like I just rolled out of bed without fixing my hair and washing my clothes. It should've made me somewhat self-conscious but that would be pathetic. I shouldn't care what he thought about my appearance.

There was no use in looking good in front of him, but my traitorous hands reached up and tucked away the stray locks of hair that fell out of my ponytail earlier, back behind my ear.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, wary.

It wasn't fair that he could still look this good at the end of the day. He wore a brown leather jacket over a thin V-neck, which led to a pair of faded jeans tucked into black, heavy boots. The laces were threadbare, and the tips worn down from use. It didn't matter. He still looked good standing under the moonlight's grey rays. His eyes almost looked like they were glowing. That's how light and almost translucent his eyes were but there was no way one could diminish the pure, animalistic edge to his gaze.

I noticed his chains were wrapped around his forearms, gleaming beneath the dull lights. They softly clinked together when he moved his arms to cross them over his wide chest.

I met his silver gaze. They were such a stark contrast to his dark hair. They held a lethal beauty, the type that'd lure you unawares until you were close enough to see the threat in them. It would be futile running away from this man.

It was no wonder he was the Alpha of the Shadow Hunters.

His bloodline hailed from Uriel's kin.

He made his way soundlessly to my side, until I could smell his scent. Pine and frost, with a hint of leather. Cold with a touch of warmth. It suited him.

"It's midnight. You're up after bedtime hours." He replied, staring into the distance where the tips of my ninja stars were barely visible.

"No hello?" I inquired, knowing I let my sarcasm slip into my tone but also knowing it was stupid the minute I heard my tone through my own ears.

"Attitude." He countered.

"Sorry." I muttered, biting my tongue.

I felt his gaze drift from the targets and land on me. I sensed his curiosity, which I didn't know how to feel about it.

What was this man thinking?

"Who trained you?" The question rolled off his tongue. It sounded almost casual but there was wariness tied into his words.

I shifted on my feet and shrugged. "My mum."

He didn't say anything else. He simply nodded, took one last lingering glance of the targets before he quietly left.

I watched him depart. I briefly wondered why he was out or why he didn't send me back to the complex. I didn't dwell too long on the thought. I was just simply grateful I could find time to train.

I retrieved my stars and began the process again until my wrists ached.