Over the last week, Eve's training had progressed in much the same manner as the first day. She would wake up early and run up the mountain each day. Despite the short time that she had been training she was sure that she was getting quicker - it was certainly easier.

After her run, Curtis would instruct her to strike the tree with the mat. Each day he would teach her the technique for one or two new moves adding to her knowledge of fighting techniques. After seven days of this he was beginning to give her more complicated sequences of moves to practice.

Occasionally, he would remind her to stay light on feet or he would scold her for being too slow or too weak with her strikes. If he found her slipping, he would punish her. Her least favourite punishment so far had been the core exercises. She knew that her abdominal muscles were her weakest group, and she ought to train them more often, but she always hated doing it.

That particular morning, Eve had been distracted and as a result she ended up doing an ungodly amount of crunches and she spent way too long in the planking position. But eventually, Curtis announced that they were finished for the morning, although, he was annoyed at Eve's lack of discipline.

He briskly walked back to the house leaving her outside on the ground. She was exhausted. Partly due to the new training schedule and exercise that her body was still adjusting to. But the main culprit of her tiredness was a lack of sleep. Every night when she went to sleep, pain would rip through her body as she felt Adrian have sex with whoever he was hooking up with. She tried not scream out in the night, but she was almost certain that Curtis knew what was happening. After all, she had accidently shredded a blanket in a fit of pain one night. Regretfully, she had presented the torn piece of fabric to Curtis with an apology. The two had not discussed what lead to the blankets end.

With groan, Eve rolled over and slowly limped into the cabin as her muscles called out in distress. Once inside, she hastily had a shower to remove the scent of sweat form her body before making her way to the kitchen. Curtis always made breakfast and she always made dinner. On a particular day, either one of them could end up making lunch. Eve enjoyed this task though - she enjoyed the responsibility that she had been given. Plus, cooking always reminded her of Joanne.

Just as Eve walked into the kitchen, Curtis sat down two plates of food on the table. There was a mixture of grilled vegetables accompanied by two slices of toast. Eagerly, Eve sat down and began to shovel the food into her mouth. One of the side effects of all the training she had been doing was the dramatic increase in food that Eve needed to consume in order to be satisfied.

In the blink of an eye, all of the food on her plate had disappeared and she made her way to the kitchen to begin cleaning up the dishes. Curtis remained seated at the table as he ate his breakfast in a much more dignified manner. After a moment of consideration, Eve spoke up.

'Um Curtis. Is it alright if I ask you a question?' Eve said gently.

He grunted in reply which Eve took to mean 'spit it out'.

'I told my mum I would call her when I was safe at Alpha Ian's pack and well that clearly didn't work out. Do you have a phone I could possibly borrow?' Eve practically cringed as she spoke.

'No.' Curtis said before continuing to eat.

'Oh okay. Never mind, I guess.' Eve said disheartened as she turned back to the dishes.

'I'm going to the human town this afternoon. Usually, I would not need to go, but I did not plan on having a house guest, so I don't have enough food. I'll need to stock up. You can come with me and use a payphone.' Curtis said as he stood from the table and placing his dirty dishes on the kitchen bench. He turned and retreated to his room as a wide smile came across Eve's face.

The rest of the day went agonisingly slow as Eve tried to distract herself with a long list of chores. She prepared everything that was needed for what she had planned for dinner. She climbed up onto the cabin roof and cleared all of the leaves out of the gutters and off of the solar power panels. She used a small axe to chop up large pieces of wood into usable sized chunks for the fireplace in the living area of the cabin that was adjoined to the dinning and kitchen area. After that she swept the floors throughout the majority of the cabin only avoiding Curtis' room and office. She tended to stay out of his private spaces - she was already invading his home, she did not want to become even more bothersome.

After completing those tasks, she whipped up a sandwich for her lunch and left another in the covered on the bench for when Curtis decided to emerge from his office. She wondered what he was doing in there, but she was not nearly curious enough to go and disturb him.

As she finished up, Curtis walked into the kitchen and began to chomp down on his lunch.

'Go grab a coat and your shoes. We are going to leave after I finish this.' Curtis said before chomping down on his sandwich again. Jumping up, Eve ran to pull on her shoes and jacket before barrelling back into the kitchen.

Curtis silently stood up and walked out of the front door with Eve hot on his heels. She practically bounced down the mountain behind Curtis - a few times she had to stop herself from crashing into his back.

Soon the ground began to flatten out and Eve was able to concentrate on her thoughts more. She could not wait to tell her mum everything that had happened since she had left in such a hurry. Although she though that she would omit the rouge attack and the scars it had left her with. On reflection, she considered it a small price to pay for her freedom and life. Most of all though, Eve wanted to let her mum know that she was safe.

Curtis stopped and Eve came to a halt at his side. Infront of them was a car covered by a dark green tarp. It was covered in leaves and clearly had not been moved lately. Curtis stepped forward and pulled the tarp back to reveal an old, beat-up ute. It had several large patches where paint had been chipped off and rust had set in. The passenger door had a rather sizeable dint and one of the side mirrors had a big crack running diagonally across it.

Without a word, Curtis pulled a pair of keys from his pocket and unlocked the car as he jumped in the front seat.

'Come on baby.' He whispered as he turned the key in the ignition. The engine spluttered to life after a long few seconds. Eve had been dubious that it would turn on. With a shrug of her shoulders, she jumped into the passenger seat as Curtis revved the ute. It let out a loud roar causing a smirk to spread across his face.

With that, the two of them started down a small dirt road the discreetly merged with a bitumen highway. Eve watched the landscape fly past them as she sat back comfortably in her seat. The two companions travelled in a comfortable silence for an hour before they reached a moderately sized town. It was certainly bigger than the human town near the Emerald Eye pack.

Curtis soon pulled into a carpark next to a shopping centre.

'Come on, we will go shopping first and then we can find that payphone for you to use.' Curtis declared as he jumped out and headed into the building.

After grabbing a trolley, the two headed to the fresh fruit and vegetable section. Curtis explained each time he came to grab supplies he liked to purchase enough fresh produce to last a week. Any longer than that, and the food would go off. He encouraged Eve to grab any fruit or vegetables that she wanted now because it would be another two months before she got the opportunity to eat fresh produce again. Quickly she bagged up any fruits that caught her eye.

As she dropped them into the trolley, she eyed a huge pile of potatoes that Curtis had picked out.

'What? They last good and I like them.' Curtis let out a huff and shrugged his shoulders at the curious expression Eve gave him.

As they moved through the fresh produce section, Eve eyed a small stand of plants and succulents that was situated to the side of a stand full of lettuce heads. Without a word, Curtis walked over to the stand and picked up a small, greeny-grey succulent with slender leaves. He walked back over to Eve and the cart pushing the potted plant into her hands.

'Is this one good?' He asked her.

'I mean yeah but why are you getting a plant?' Eve looked with her head tilted slightly to the side.

'You should get it if it is good.' Curtis reached out to take the succulent back and place it within the trolley.

'You can't buy that for.' Eve exclaimed reaching forward to take it out of the trolley.

'I can actually. Plus, I have been wanting some more greenery around the kitchen.' Curtis said as he blocked her from picking it up before moving on. Eve stood there stunned for a second. She then continued after Curtis's retreating figure with a light smile gracing her face.

Soon they moved on to pick up an insane amount of can goods as well as baking staples. After that, they headed to the register to pay. Eve cringed at the amount as Curtis pulled out his wallet. She felt terrible and like a freeloader.

Curtis brushed her off as they headed outside as she promised she would find a way to pay him back. He said not to worry, but guilt ate her up. He was giving shelter, teaching her to defend herself, and buying her food. Plus, the little succulent he had added into the shopping trip for her benefit. It was a little hard not to worry about.

After placing all of the groceries in the backseat of the ute, Curtis handed Eve a fistful of coins and directed her two blocks down where he said the payphone would be located.

'What are you going to do?' Eve asked him.

'I have a few things to pick up and I have to go past the post office to pick up my mail. But I will meet you back here in half an hour okay.' Curtis said prompting Eve to nod.

'Remember, do not tell anyone where you have been or where you are calling from. And especially do not mention me. All they need to know is that you are fine. Okay?' Curtis eyed her seriously trying to impart how important it was that she kept her mouth shut.

Eve nodded solemnly at hiswords. With that, she headed off down the street, excitement practicallyleaking out her pores.