"Tatum wants to see you."

I sighed, rolling tape along my knuckles. Some spots on my body were still a bit tender from Jace's attacks but they were manageable now. I could barely feel the sting of it now. "Where is he?"

After Jude had cleaned my wounds and added some ointment, he had to rush to the Western border because one of the E.S Enforcers spotted something unusual that required his attention.

The test had been postponed for tomorrow, but we had to complete a set of exercise drills before Solkolov reluctantly released us. Jamison had wanted us to do some laps around the field but precious Luka -bless his heart- cut in before we could really start.

"Right here." Tatum approached us but his gaze was locked on mine, as if he couldn't help it. There was a certain wariness in the way he moved. Now that I was paying attention to him, it was impossible to mistake this man as anything but lethal.

Emerys, who had accompanied the man, scowled flatly in his direction, "You weren't supposed to follow me Eyeball. You should have stayed back."

"I wasn't going to wait another day to see my kid Emma."

"It's Emerys."

"Makes no difference to me."

"Did you want him here?" Emerys probed, glancing warily between us. I finished strapping the tape across my bruised knuckles and hesitated. Did I really want to be left with this man who fathered me? He basically was a stranger and the way he kept trying to steal my attention by trying to catch my gaze wasn't working either. Whatever he wanted to say, he wasn't going to let them slip from his lips with Emerys looming close-by like an unwelcome guest.

"Recruit?" Emerys raised a questioning brow.

I nodded, "He can stay."

As soon as Emerys made himself scarce, the tension notched up around us. I focused on the material wrapped tightly around my hands, playing with the band to keep me distracted from having to talk.

Or look at him.

From my peripheral, he looked anything other than the notorious assassin everyone claimed he was. Even I could sense the hint of anxiety he tried to keep locked up. His nose flared and I just knew he could smell the mating bond, but he didn't comment on it. Indeed, he was a smart cookie. "You really aren't going to make this easy for me, are you?" He enquired instead.

"If I'm being frank, I hardly know you. I don't know you at all aside from the fact that you're supposed to be some badass assassin."

"I tend to keep my identity out from people's mouths. It helps with the anonymity."

"Why are you still here?"

"You really are my kid." He laughed but it was of the sad variety. "You really look like Allison. You have her eyes."

I was a spitting-image of my mother. I repressed the urge to roll my eyes.

It wasn't just only my eyes. I wanted to argue with him, fight him too but he resembled a wounded soldier on his last round of energy. Something kept my lips clamped shut and I refused to believe it was guilt.

What did I have to be guilty for?

"I know how I look like Tatum." I sassed.

"You may look like her but that attitude of yours surely wasn't from her." He added, raising a knowing brow.

Sure, Ma was definitely on the sweet side. Was he trying to say that I was like him more than I thought?

Right now, I wasn't too keen on the thought. My muscles were tense and I couldn't relax with him too close.

More silence ticked by and I was wondering whether he'd leave already. I was on the precipice of striking out, spitting out words I had trouble keeping locked down. I was still so angry and confused. Why wasn't he there? Why hadn't he been there when Ma and I needed him the most? What the fuck had he been doing this whole time?

"I didn't realise you were recruiting to be part of the E.S. Enforcers. Are you sure that is something you want to do kid?"

"That's none of your business."

"Yeah, you're right."

Silence again.

"Just talk to me. Please."

I spun on my heels, until I was facing him. He was so damn tall, I instantly loathed it. It was unreasonable but if I were to yell at him, he'd probably think I was a cute leprechaun trying to make him laugh for the shits and giggles. I had to applaud him. He did a remarkable job at maintaining a straight face as I glared up at him, full of ire. "You really want to talk? Ok. Let's do that. You would have to pardon me from not organising a tea set. Let's start from the beginning, shall we?"

His gaze narrowed, "Fuck, you must have been a handful growing up." But he wasn't stating it like it was a condescendence. No, it looked like he would have craved to see it and be a part of that journey.

"Where were you?" I blurted out.

"That's one question I can't answer without having to lie to you." His words sounded regretful.

I bit my lip, struggling with the cascade of emotions that caught me into a state of speechlessness.

Ma rarely spoke of him. I didn't know what to feel and despite the tension stiffening his form, along with the trickle of anxiety, there was a hint of uncertainty. He didn't know what to do with me and it hurt knowing that he might not be that same person that had so obviously loved and adored Ma.

"Let me start." He proposed, his expression softening. "My name is Tatum Blackwood. Most refer to me as The Eye. I hunt people for a living but only pursue those that have earned it. I'm not a good person but I....I try to be. For Allison, I did. She was my perfect girl. I met her when I was eighteen..." His gaze turned watery as he continued, "...we fell in love when we were twenty-one. She chose me over her mate. I chose her over everyone.... then I had to leave."

"Why?" I asked, playing with the band across my knuckles.

"I didn't come from a good family. Allison knew but she held onto me, knowing what evil I came from. And she loved me. Without limit."

"And you broke her heart."

"Regrettably so. One of my deepest regrets." He exhaled deeply, wiping the corner of his eye. I pretended not to notice as a small knot formed in my throat.

"I was too weak. I was stupid. I didn't deserve anything. I was fucked up." He looked off into the distance, unblinking. "I wasn't man enough to live up to my words when I said I'd cherish her forever."

"Do you still love her?"

A faint but pained smile made his lips curve upwards, "Never stopped, kid."

"She didn't tell me much about you." I admitted. I would have missed his subtle flinch if I hadn't been staring at him so intently. I wasn't trying to hurt him, and guilt immediately ate up my insides. "It's not what you think. I think she just tried to hide her pain away from me."

"She's like that." He whispered fondly, "Hated it when she did that."

In the distance, Jude appeared, talking with a woman who looked vaguely familiar. She was swathed in a blood-red shirt and tight black jeans with kitten heels. She spoke animatedly with Jude. We could hear glimpses of their laughter riding through the wind.

"Is he good to you?" Tatum asked, his attention stuck on Jude who had paused mid-stride. The woman beside him stopped beside him too, following his gaze to us. They were still too far to clearly make out their expressions but they made no further move to come closer.

"I like him." I confessed.

"He's a dangerous man."

"You are too."

This made him grin, "What I'm trying to say is no one will be good enough for my little girl...but he comes close. Kind of. I'm still on fence with this one."

I glanced up at him in surprise. "Why?"

"Like I said, he's a dangerous man."

Jude lifted a hand. He didn't wave but kept his palm high for a few seconds until I waved back.

"I've heard some things about him. It doesn't surprise me that he's a descendant of Uriel."

He was referring to Uriel Wolfe, the eldest among the three Wolfe brothers with the affinity to hunt. The Shadow Hunters Pack bled with his elite blood and people feared them for it. The other Recruits had taken time to relax around them but still, the E.S Enforcers had limited the contact between the Pack and Recruits.

In the distance, Jude spoke something to the woman who nodded and swiftly left. Then, he made his way over to us.

"Alpha Slater."

"Alpha Slater?" Jude came to my side, studying Tatum intently. He was not impressed seeing the assassin up close. Their last encounter hadn't been all smiles and giggles either. I was pretty sure Jude had been seconds away from taking his head.

"So, I can use Jude?"

"You may use neither." My mate replied smoothly.

"Hey." His tone instantly changed into a softer one when he sidled to my side, brushing a chaste kiss against the high crest of my cheek.

A loud cough interrupted. "Hands off of her." Tatum coughed again into his fist.

Jude didn't reply but made a point of wrapping an arm around my waist, pressing me into his sturdy side. "Don't tell me what to do Tatum. You're on my Territory and considering you're still breathing and alive, you should deem this a blessing."

"Blessing? You guys fed me shit."

"Well Emerys tries with his cooking. It isn't great but it's edible."

I glanced up at Jude incredulously, "You're terrible." I hid my laugh into the collar of his shirt.

A small grin spread across his plump lips, but he didn't deny it. He only squeezed my hip in return, inhaling the fragrance of my shampoo. I knew this because he had been doing it several times already.

"Tonight, I'll officially make the announcement." He revealed. "More than enough Pack members have caught hold of our mating scent. It's about time."

"Okay." I said but my insides were tightening up at the thought of facing his Pack members.

"They'll approve of you Aella." His fingers brushed the stray hairs that escaped from my bun. He was gentle as he tucked the strands behind my ear, eliciting shivers along my skin. "You're perfect."

Tatum somehow found himself in a violent fit of coughs again.

Luckily, Emerys returned, flushed from probably having to run from wherever it was he had been. "The talking over?" He asked.

The question was directed at Jude rather than Tatum.

This irked off the latter since he crossed his arm, narrowing his gaze on Jude as if daring him to continue. Fortunately, Jude didn't bite back and directed his response to his loyal friend, "You can escort him back to his accommodations. Also, gather the Pack here at midnight. The ceremony will take place during that time."

Emerys didn't seem surprised by the details. He just nodded. "Of course."

"I'll speak to you later." Tatum stated, stepping towards me.

I felt Jude tense beside me, but he didn't do anything when Tatum took one of my hands and clasped it gently between his big palms. "Thank you for speaking with me kid. You really don't know how grateful I am. You remind me of my Allison. I have to say it's the eyes. Was always weak for those azure eyes." He smiled but it didn't reach all the way to his eyes. They were a little too hollow and I wondered what this man had been doing to have his eyes reflect so much sorrow and melancholy.

When he eventually left with Emerys, Jude clipped my chin between his long fingers, tilting my head towards him, "Stop it."

I frowned, perplexed. "I don't know what you mean."

He placed each of his index fingers on the edges of my lips, forcing it up with the sternest expression on his face. I almost belted into a laugh seeing his lips pinch with such focus. It was an expression I was used to. It had been quite a while since I'd seen him wear it too. "Don't be too worried about him. He's a grown man. You don't need to worry your head over things he should be worrying about. I won't let you." He added the last bit with a note of determination in his tone.

"I'm not worried." I was flat out lying but I didn't know what to say either.

Jude could tangle my thoughts up and he didn't have the slightest clue.

"Liar." He chuckled warmly against my cheek.

"Okay. Only a little bit." I whispered just as he sealed his soft lips over mine in a toe-curling kiss.