Hello everyone! Here I am with another update.

This chapter is unedited.

Enjoy reading!

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Jackson's session started at 5 pm. Anna entered the room that looked like a large gym equipped with various machines, punch bags, barbells, dumbbells and other supplies she didn't recognize. What caught her attention were tall figures standing at the far end of the wall. They looked like robots with hair and skin like humans. This camp surprises her more and more every passing second. She stood beside Lillian and Diana who were chatting about who knew what. She was tired and hoped the last training of today will end quickly so she can rest her sore body.

Her gaze darted towards Hunter who was leaning against the wall closing his eyes and seemed trying to relax. A happy feeling crossed Anna's heart since he was alone and not with Tatiana clinging to him like earlier. Anna was confused by his attitude, one minute he was by her side and claiming himself as her protector and the other minute, he was ignoring her and didn't even look at her.

Anna was snapped from her thoughts when Jackson made his appearance and stood in the middle of the room. He was the only Salviatti who smiles all day even if it was a smirk more than of it being a smile.

"This is our first session in the camp so I will go easy on you little kids," he spoke with his cocky tone and Anna could swear the look in his eyes contradicted with his words. "At the beginning of each training session, I will choose two of you to spare and I will evaluate them so I can know their level in fighting and according to the results, I will pick which art of self-defense I will teach you. For the time being, I will introduce you to the basics of fighting and self-defense. Do you have any querying?"

When no one expressed any signs of asking questions, Jackson nodded and clapped his hands.

"So, I will announce the first two who will fight against each other."

Anna felt her heartbeats quickening and prayed to heavens he won't pick her.

"Hunter you will......" Jackson was interrupted by Lillian.

"I will fight him."

Lillian words got everyone in the room intrigued, even Hunter moved from his position against the wall and raised his eyebrow in question.

Jackson laughed wholeheartedly knowing very well his sister has hidden intentions and wouldn't be afraid to express them openly. He nodded his head in approval and gave them the sign to start.

"Lillian and Hunter, to the center of the room."

With a sigh, Hunter moved to the center of the room waiting for Lillian to walk there. The two stood facing each other. Lillian was shorter than him and her bone structure weaker than his but he would never underestimate her. The girl is fast and knows how to land hard and well-located hits. Hunter was confused about why Lillian was adamant about fighting him but knowing his crazy cousin, he will find out pretty soon. He didn't want to be the first one who took action. So he stood in a defensive stance waiting for her to attack.

Anna watched in fascination as Lillian moved so quickly and tried to land a punch in Hunter's stomach direction but as if he was expecting her action, he dodged it skilfully and slapped his assailant's hand soundly. Lillian moved a few steps back and glared at her cousin. Then with renewed energy, she attacked him once again. Anna wasn't an expert in fighting skills but from her observation, she concluded that Lillian has a good strategy by tiring her opponent and distracting him by her fast movements, then waiting for the right moment to hit him hard.

On the other side, Hunter seemed unmoved by Lillian's tactics and was successful in avoiding every blow until Lillian got close enough to his ear, and whispered something that caught his attention and proved to be enough distraction for her to punch him in the stomach.

Hunter fell on the matted floor and clutched his stomach. He looked up at his cousin waiting for her to add another blow, but she just stood facing him with her hands on her hips and a scowl from hell on her face. She bent down until her face nearly touched Hunter's.

"If you hurt her again Hunter, I promise, my fist will make a connection with your pretty-boy face." Lillian threatened with her dark voice making sure he was the only one hearing her and then returned to her full height.

Hunter recovered quickly from his position on the floor and looked at his cousin with his eyes becoming a darker shade of blue. But before he can voice his thoughts, Lillian raised her hand and spoke loudly.

"I give up."

Jackson looked between the two of them confusedly then shook his head and smiled.

"I think we have a winner here. Hunter won the first fight in our class. Now let's move to another lesson. I want all of you to gather around the figures at the back of the room." Jackson ordered and waited for his students to move.

Hunter scoffed at the words the man's words and made it his point to bump his shoulder hard against Jackson's while passing him to join the others. He knows Jackson was making fun of his situation and announcing him the winner was purely an act to mock him.

When Lillian made it back to her group that consisted of Anna and Diana, she found the two of them looking at her strangely as if she was a lunatic woman.

"What on earth happened there between you two?" Diana was the first one to speak.

"Nothing happened. I wanted to prove something and I did."

"You were able to win the match but you decided to stop. Why?" Anna asked incredulously.

"I was getting tired and I knew that my remaining energy won't be enough for me to win against Hunter. So I gave up. It is better than getting bruises on my pretty face isn't it?" Lillian answered nonchalantly and walked to the gathering forming around the figures Jackson pointed earlier.

Diana shrugged her shoulders and followed behind her cousin as if nothing happened. Anna forced her legs to join them. She concluded that people around here were unpredictable and can surprise you at any moment.

"You see those pretty robots in here? They are designed specifically for your training in this camp. Every move you learn in here, you will practice it on those figures. They are programmed on a certain level in fighting and I can adjust it based on your skills. Also, they are constructed from flexible metal so you won't get hurt if you landed a direct punch or kicked them. As for now, we will start with light stretching then, I will teach you the first technique in defense."

Anna didn't think she would enjoy anything in this camp but the session with Jackson proved her wrong. The man was very helpful and gentle. He would correct anyone's mistake without striking them. He made fun of their struggles with hard moves which make the air around them lighter. Even if the exercises were tiring and energy-draining, Anna felt achieved doing them correctly and what made her even happier was the praises she received from Jackson.

"As I said before, you will learn your first move in self-defense. This is a basic one and I am sure most of you know it already. For the ones that didn't hear about it before. It is called "THE EYE GAUGE" and it is considered one of the best hand to hand combat moves." Jackson spoke to his drenched in sweat audience.

Anna tried hard to mask her flinch at the name of the move. But a look of horror crossed her face when Jackson whirled a basket full of plastic heads.

"I will hold one of those heads in my hand and you will try to scoop their eyes altogether or at least crush it with your hands. A little tip their eye's structure is the same as a human being." Jackson smiled impishly. "Who will volunteer and be the first one to demonstrate the move?"

Anna was shocked as Aiden her new brother that didn't talk to her yet stepped forward and looked at Jackson with a smile. She didn't think a sane person would willingly do a gruesome activity like this one. But again, the people here are generally insane.

She had to shut her eyes tightly when Aiden circled his arm around the plastic head and pushed two fingers in its eye. She felt someone nudging her shoulder to get her attention. When she looked up she saw Hunter shaking his head disapprovingly at her.

"you need to watch the way he did it so you can do it when your turn comes."

"You say it like it is a normal thing to you seeing people blinded by fingers." Anna countered back.

"you are wrong, darling. It is not normal for me to see people blinded by fingers. What is normal for me is seeing men's skull broken." he spoke darkly.

Anna felt goosebumps covering her arms sending shivers down her spine. She stood rigid beside him and didn't comment on his last sentence.

"Keep your eyes open," Hunter ordered sternly.

Anna tried very hard to abide by his commend but like the first time when Carl's fingers targeted the inner corners of his helpless enemy eye, she shut them again.

This time she felt an iron grip on her wrist. She opened her eyes to make eye contact with Hunter's burning ones. She didn't understand why he was angry with her but she won't allow him to order her around like a rugged puppy. So she struggled to set her hand free but all her attempts were in vain as his grip grew tighter and tighter.

"Let go of my hand. You are hurting me," Anna made sure to emphasize each syllable she spoke while looking him dead in the eye.

He gave her a glare of his own which was one thousand times icier than hers.

"If you want me to let you go, Anna, you need to look at them doing the exercise and make sure you do it correctly." He spoke to her while his warm breaths hit her face.

Anna felt uncomfortable with their proximity and tried to create a small distance between them only for him to bring her closer to his chest.

"Will you do as I said, darling?" he asked.

Anna wanted to respond but his scent surrounded her and made all her senses go to a jumble. When her eyes landed on his lips, she felt heat rush to her face and was sure her cheeks were red. She remembered their kiss last night and the softness of his lips against hers. She didn't expect a hard man like him would possess such gentleness. She felt the urge to run her fingers against his soft black locks but Hunter's voice snapped her from her daydreaming.

"Do you like what you see, darling?" he smirked at her smugly.

If her cheeks were red later, Anna can feel them burning now. She was going to step away from his caging arms but he stopped her once again.

"You didn't answer my question, darling. I don't like my questions ignored." He spoke in her ear.

Anna nodded her head hoping he would release her and accept the answer she gave him because honestly, she didn't trust her voice at the moment. But to her disappointment, Hunter shook his head and commended.

"verbal answer, darling."

Anna raked her head furiously trying to remember his question but her mind came empty every time.

"I don't remember your question." She admitted softly.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. What will I do with you? You weren't paying close attention to my words. We can't have that, can we?" Hunter taunted.

It was the first time Anna was thankful when Jackson broke their awkward moment.

"I am sorry to interrupt your moment love birds, but everyone took their turns and it's yours now."

Anna wished for the earth to split in two and swallow her when she saw all the occupants in the room looking at them.

"Go on, take your turn before me." Hunter shoved her lightly in Jackson's direction.

Anna looked at him with pleading eyes hoping he will change his mind and go before her but unfortunately, he just smirked at her while leaning down and whispering in her ear.

"It is your punishment, so deal with it."

Anna felt the anger bubble in her chest and wished Jackson would hand her Hunter's head so she can pop his eyes from their sockets with her fingers.

She vowed to herself to show him she can be brave and took purposeful steps towards Jackson who looked amused by their antics. When she stood in front of him, he smiled at her warmly.

"To succeed in this move, you need to slide two of your fingers under the eyeballs and try to crush the eyes inside the skull. Also, you need to apply a little bit of force or it won't work." Jackson explained gently.

Anna built all the courage she can get and circled the head of plastic with her arms like she saw Aiden did earlier. She slid her fingers under the eyeballs and squeezed with as much force as she can. She felt the eyes crush and sticky dampness covering her hands. She retreated her hand back and looked at it. She felt bile rise in her throat and fought hard not to vomit right there. Jackson patted her shoulder and congratulated her.

"Good job Anna, you passed the first test in my class."

Anna nodded at him and walked to where Lillian was standing.

"You did very well, honey. I am proud of you.." Lillian hugged her tightly and despite Anna's wariness of the situation she returned the hug and felt happy she proved her point.

Hunter was the last one to do the exercise and proved unbothered at all. It took him mere seconds to complete it and return to his spot without even flinching. He took a damp towel and wiped his hands clean from the sticky substance. When he caught Anna looking at him from across the room, he winked at her and was beyond satisfied when her cheeks turned a beautiful shade of pink. And what made him more amused, were her attempts at acting normal as if he didn't affect her.

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The first day of this camp was successful for Anna even if the last part of it was a little bit disgusting in her books. After a relaxing bath and a little nap, Anna woke up and found the bed beside her empty. She stretched her sore muscles and rose from her bed. She changed her clothes and wore dark jeans and a red tank top with her black snickers. She let her hair flow freely then headed out of her room and towards the cafeteria.

She entered the chaotic space and headed to her usual table waiting for Lillian to join her. Anna didn't spot her since their session with Jackson ended and started to worry.

Moments later, the girl in question came rushing into the room. And when she saw Anna she ran to her.

"You need to come with me quickly," Lillian said between gasps of air.

Anna looked at her friend like a crazy woman for the second time that day.

"What is happening Lillian?" Anna asked concernedly while rising from her chair.

"come on, move now, and ask questions later."

Anna sighed heavily and started walking with her lunatic friend.

Lillian led her outside the cafeteria and to a largely hidden staircase at the back of the building. Anna took careful steps on the squeaky wooden stairs that looked like they can't support her weight. Then they came to a stop in front of a small red door that led them to the roof of the building. Anna was taken aback by the beauty of her surroundings that she didn't hear the steps coming behind her.

"Do you like the view from here, darling?" said a gruff voice behind her.

Anna turned so quickly she was sure she has heard her neck snap.

"What are you doing here?" she asked Hunter who was standing in the same spot Lillian occupied earlier. She looked around her and spotted a table for two filled with various plates of food and two Cristal glasses filled with water. The little vixen played her and set her up.

Hunter smiled at her widely and said with a shrug of his shoulder.

"I am here to have dinner with you."

Anna prayed for patience and watched as he took his seat and started eating. She stood there for a few seconds then made up her mind and stomped to her seat. If he was going to play this game with her, she was more than happy to join him and make sure to win every round of it.

"I didn't know what you would like to eat so I prepared different meals in hopes you will like one of them," Hunter said while putting a piece of meat in his mouth.

Anna looked at him with her mouth wide open.

"You said you prepared different meals. You mean you cook them?"

"yes." He replied nonchalantly.

When Hunter didn't hear any movements, he looked up at Anna who was looking at him strangely.

"Why are you looking at me that way. Is there something on my face?"

Anna shook her head negatively.

"No, I just didn't take you for the type who can cook."

"why, what type did you take me for?"

"well, the killing type maybe," Anna said sarcastically.

Hunter laughed at her comment.

"You are right. I am the killing type but add to it the cooking type." he winked playfully at her.

Anna rolled her eyes in annoyance and unfolded the white napkin on her lap. Then picked up her knife and proceeded in cutting the steak in front of her.

It looked so good and mouth-watering and the moment the taste hit her tasting buds, it took her a great deal of self-restraint to stop a moan of pleasure.

Hunter observed her as she closed her eyes and savored the taste of his food. He felt pleased with himself and resumed eating. It was a long time since he cooked anything and the fact he still remembered the steps of making a decent dish brought him so much satisfaction.

"I see that you loved my cooking." He said arrogantly.

Anna put her fork down and gave him a heated glare.

"If your ego gets any bigger, I am sure you won't fit through doors in here."

"You know you have a smart mouth. Don't you?"

Anna ignored his question and asked him curiously.

"Who teaches you cooking?"

Anna watched as the smile slipped from his face and a fast look of hurt passed his eyes. She was sure if she wasn't focusing on him, she would have missed it. When he didn't answer her and kept silent, she said regretfully.

"I am sorry. I didn't know it was a personal question. Forget I asked in the first place."

"My mother was the one who taught me how to cook," Hunter answered her with a distant look in his blue eyes and a sad smile gracing his lips.

"Your mother?"

His face broke into a wide smile.

"You are one of a kind. Did you think I don't have a mother? I thought you learned in biology how children are conceived. If you forgot, I would be happy to remind you."

"No, no. I know how children are brought to life and surely I don't need you to remind me." Anna shook her hands wildly with her cheeks tinted a deep shade of red.

After Hunter was able to control his laugher, he asked.

"Then why were you surprised when I told you my mom was the one who taught me cooking?"

"It is just I didn't imagine you have a mother."

"What?" Hunter asked her with shock evident in his voice.

"I am sorry. I know it came wrong from my mouth but it just did," Anna dropped her gaze to her lap and face palmed herself. How could she ask such a question? Why does she always make such weird comments?

She was happy when Hunter took pity on her and changed the subject.

"So how was your first day here? Did you enjoy it?"

"I won't lie to you, it was hard for me. I am not used to this intense training but I enjoyed it immensely and I will make sure to do better in the upcoming challenges." Anna answered honestly and returned her focus to her food.