"Stand down." A stern voice snapped.

I shook my head, "I got it." I sprang from my hide-out, nailing two consecutive silver-lined bullets into the changeling's hairy chest. A high-pitched squeal left its jaw as it shook, falling to the dust with a twitch. Pleased, I released a breath. Foam dripped from its lips but before I could approach it, a hand gripped my elbow, yanking me away from the changeling.

I felt the rough surface of the tree trunk scant seconds later at my back as familiar twin brown eyes glared down at me.

From my peripheral, Elite Syndicate Enforcers approached the dead animal, pointedly ignoring Alexei's fury as they busily doused the dead wolf in gasoline. Someone flicked a match, and a burst of colourful flames erupted into a brilliant red-orange flare.

"Eyes on me Penelope." He ordered.

I caught those brown eyes again. I hated those eyes. I only said they were just brown because that made me feel better, rather than confess that his eyes reminded me of deep pools of liquid dark gold.

Yeah, this man brought out the poet in me.

I had a weakness for men with dark, smouldering eyes- although in this moment, Alexei certainly was not giving me sexy eyes.

"I said I got it." I sighed, giving my weight to the trunk. "And since I was the closest and had a clear shot, I went for it."

"You should've listened to me when I said to stand down."

"As you can see, the wolf is dead. That's all that matters."

"I don't give a shit if it's dead now. It wasn't before. If something wrong happened, you could've got injured badly. That would have costed us. You heed my orders. I am leading this search party. You listen to me Penelope."

I clenched my jaw but saw the truth in his words. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again." I conceded the words before I could tug them back.

"Good." His gaze bore down on me for a long second before he pushed away, barking orders to the other E.S Enforcers.

I watched him sidle next to Emerys who was laughing his head off despite the charred remains of the deceased wolf near his feet. That man was a strange one. He bumped fists with Alexei who looked only a tiny bit better but there was a lingering scowl still pasted on his handsome face.

I diverted my attention. I couldn't think of Alexei.

Ever since I officially entered the Pack as an Elite Syndicate Enforcer, he'd been treating me differently.

I didn't know what it was exactly but there was obviously something happening with him. One night while we were on patrol together, I tried apologising for whatever it was I could've done to him, but he simply shook his head and ignored my apology altogether. That had pissed me off. I noticed that he was actively trying to avoid me. I tried once more to approach him, but he refused to even listen.

Hence, I was now over it.

I didn't bother him again after that.

I had already tried twice to mend whatever had happened between us to cause this weird rift, but Alexei didn't want a lick of it.

It wasn't like we were friends although I hoped we were, but Alexei had been giving me the cold shoulder for months. I couldn't wade my way in into his good graces. I'd given up.

I had other things to worry about.

It was a shame that Alexei was never going to let me know what was going on in that head of his.

I knew he could be fun, charming, and flirty but he'd never let me see that side of him up close. Maybe he knew I used to possess somewhat of a small crush on him earlier on, when I had simply been a trainee under his wing. He had a sharp eye so it wouldn't have taken him too long to detect my secret infatuation back then.

Now? I could look in his eyes and not completely melt. It was a stark contrast. Maybe he noticed that now when I met his gaze.

But I wasn't sure.

Things were marginally different now. I had other things to worry about.

Alexei would not damper my mood.

I wasn't going to let him.

**

"These pancakes are delicious." I moaned as Jane set another plate of pancakes soaked in chocolate sauce to my right. I reached for the pile, but her mate Joel eased the plate away with a tsk of his tongue, "You're going to need to see a health professional soon if you're going to eat the rest without chewing properly."

The man was huge, he looked like he would gobble up Jane who resembled a petite, auburn-haired princess. The woman's blue eyes sparked each time her mate offered her pancake after pancake. I would've said it was endearing if he wasn't so keen on not sharing the goods his wife cooked up for us.

"Don't be stingy Joel." Aella extended her hands, making 'gimme me' motions. She resembled a toddler doing that but everyone sitting at the table knew just how perilous those hands could be with or without a weapon.

At first glance, Aella just looked like a pretty face paired with a sassy mouth. I had made the mistake of underestimating her when we sparred for the first time. She had landed me flat on my back in the span of a few seconds. I think my ears were stilling ringing a year and a half later from the trauma.

Aella frowned when the behemoth of a man narrowed his gaze. He had the right to, considering Aella put the capital F in 'fucking lunatic'.

I think it was the only reason why Joel surrendered the plate to her with a defeated sigh, "Just remember to chew. I'm getting a bit tired telling you both to chew like little children. Even my kid eats better than the two of you combined." He grumbled.

"We love you too Joel." I added, swiping a pancake from the plate.

It was technically dinner time, but we had been eager for some of Jane's cooking. The only thing she had on hand were ingredients for pancakes since she planned to do her groceries tomorrow.

It wasn't the first time we came knocking on her door looking for food like a bunch of strays.

Speaking of knocking on the door, someone was there right now.

Joel excused himself to get it.

"Women, I need your help." Jane whispered once her beloved mate was out of earshot.

Aella and I perked up, sharing a glance. Those blue-green eyes sparkled with pleasure. It wasn't often Jane requested help.

"What can we do for you Jane?" I piped up.

"Well, Joel's birthday is coming up soon and I wanted to do something special for him."

"Definitely pull out the Victoria Secret lingerie." I blurted.

Jane's eyes widened as the apple of her cheeks pinkened. "Pen. I-"

"Yip, do a few twirls and maybe get a pole..." Aella added thoughtfully.

Jane looked at the both of us before she erupted into a fit of giggles, "You two are the worst."

"Ok, what is that you need?" I asked, my tone now serious.

"Well, it's his birthday soon and I just wanted to celebrate his birthday with him."

"That's great." I piped up.

"Let us know if there's something we can do." Aella proposed. I could tell she was due to see her mate soon. He'd been away for a few days.

The man was still an enigma to me but when Aella was in his sight, it was difficult not to notice the utter worship and adoration he had for his mate. They made a fantastic mating pair. However, it was absolute torture when they were in the same room together. The heat between the two could generate a furnace.

"Your mate has been munching away on my food." Joel's voice travelled down from the hallway.

"How much did she eat this time?" Jude's voice held laughter.

"Oh you know, just the whole pantry." Joel muttered.

"I would be careful if I were you, Joel." Aella spoke just as the two males entered the dining room.

Pleasure lit up Jude's face -gawd, the man was insanely good-looking. He made his way to his mate, stretching out his arms.

The man scared the tits right off of me.

Everyone in the Territories knew who Jude was.

His name was always spun in freaky tales, I thought the man evil to his core when I first stepped foot onto his turf.

Not much had changed with my perception of the man, aside from the fact that he did carry a heart somewhere in his big chest because only someone with the softest heart could make my friend smile so wide.

"How is my fairy?" Jude's voice was gruff as he slid his lips across her temple.

"Good. Really good. Want some pancakes?"

"No thank you. I'd rather have you." He whispered.

Cue in mortified gags.

"Alright, I'm going to leave before things get kinky." I stood up, hugging Jane and Joel, despite the man scrunching up his face. I turned to both Aella and Jude who were now standing. Aella was tucked so deeply into his side; I didn't have the heart to pull her out of there for a hug since she looked so comfortable. "I'll see you two later." I instead offered a wave.

They nodded.

I embraced Jane, thanking her for the meal. Joel reluctantly put his arms around me. I snorted when he huffed out a sigh but squeezed me in for a brief hug before I left.

The night air was cool as I headed home. I hunched into the warmth of my fluffy jacket, rubbing my arms as a bird squawked in the distance.

Kian and I had received our own places once we officially entered the Pack. Aella immediately moved in with Alpha Slater, but we weren't too far from the Pack house.

My little house was a five-minute walk from their place, which was convenient.

It was still strange to me that I even had a place to call my own. Jude had ordered it to be built. I would have hugged the man if he didn't intimidate me so much.

It was a small bungalow, with cherry-stained wood and black accents that went perfectly with the green backdrop of towering trees. There was even a little porch fashioned in front of the house with a decent fence that curled around the place. Earlier in the month I had purchased a few lanterns to place along the rails. Some had already emptied and needed a desperate refill. I fished out my keys from my satchel and stuck it in the keyhole.

The inside screamed comfort and safety, exactly the things I craved since my childhood years. I loved that the focal point of the room was the big fireplace. Two plump bean bags slumped in front of it, sitting on a round, colourful rug produced from spare fabrics I scrounged up from my old pile of unwearable clothes. There was a low coffee table in the middle, with two stacks of books haphazardly loaded on top of the scratched mahogany.

The scent of peony and jasmine lingered in the air, it brought a smile to my face.

I couldn't see myself getting used this all of this. It still felt too good to be true.

My room was only big enough for me to fit everything I needed, which wasn't much. My clothes all fit onto one rack because most of the time, I was swathed in E.S gear from head to toe.

I had a single pair of heels, only because Aella had purchased them for me. I hadn't even worn them once, because they looked so pretty sitting there next to my pair of combat boots. I promised myself I would don them one day.

I stripped off my clothes and dumped them into the washing basket in the corner of the room. I was practically sleeping on my feet as I trudged to the bathroom, twisting the shower knobs. The pipes rattled as water rained into the small cubicle, fogging the glass.

All I needed was a good, long shower before I collapsed into bed.

Once I felt refreshed, I slathered on some lotion, brushed my teeth, and slipped into my velvety robe.

Bed never looked so good until now as I crawled along the silk, fluffing my pillow.

Despite the aches and bruises along my body from a hard day, I was still grinning.

This was home.

This was my life now.