The dark alley may have helped her hide from the pursuer, but her laboured breath was hard to control and she feared it could give away her spot.

Breathless and tired, she prayed silently that this alley was too far away for the boys that worked with her at the restaurant. They had chosen a target again, and tonight it was her for speaking out against their inappropriate behaviour. Better her than the other kids though.

Feeling her heartbeat slow down, she turned to survey the area only to face the boys in front of her. The streetlight illuminated lanky thin bodies and she caught sight of familiar sinister smiles. She cursed underneath her breath for being caged in like a prey.

"Finally, we caught you," said Tucker, as he held onto his knees for support. He was the precious son of Mr. Bernard; the restaurant owner where she had to work, just to keep food on her table.

"She's mine, boys," barked Tucker as he stood up. "I've waited a long time to teach this street trash who's in charge."

Tucker laughed and looked at his buddies who also laughed with him. But not her, he was just a filthy bully, and now, she needed to end his bullying once and for all. But how? she contemplated, as she stood against Tucker.

"What's wrong the cat's got your tongue?" Tucker teased.

"Just don't want to waste my words on a pig and his swarm of flies." She waved her hand at them.

"How dare you talk to me like," he seethed. Tucker lunged forward to grab her arm with his meaty palms.

However, she was faster. She launched her rough hand and smacked Tucker straight across his face with a fuck ton of force. Tucker lost his balance and landed in the puddle from yesterday's thunderstorm. The clothes he always gloated about were muddy and wet now, which angered him further.

"Grab her!" Tucker yelled to the other boys and they hurled themselves at her. She didn't run, so they easily held her down.

She was out of options; she had to finish this quickly or else her life was done right here. She looked at Tucker and even in the darkness she could see that he was pink in the face. She found herself amused at the thought.

"What shall we do with her, Tucker?" said a boy who helped him get up.

"Time to teach the street trash a lesson," sneered Tucker, as he took out the small switch blade from his pocket and walked towards her...

Zero jolted out of the memory when her name was called out. She looked to her side blankly, a maid stood beside her with a tray.

"Would you like more coffee, ma'am?" asked the maid.

"No, but thank you, Nancy," replied Zero. She put her cup down and seemed to have lost her appetite.

Nancy walked away to offer the others more coffee or tea, which people gladly took. Zero watched the way everyone sat at the clean white tables, each which had their own vases full with bloomed flowers. The massive yard laid out beside them and there were acres green fields. The trees swayed in the light breeze and the leaves were already crisp and golden. The Salvatore manor was surrounded by beautiful antique decor and the design was impeccable to fit that of royalty, but that was to be expected from Wayne Salvatore. The man had style; no one could argue that about him.

Unlike the others here today, Zero felt like a fraud sitting here amongst them. Her past would be enough to give Wayne and his guests nightmares for days. Zero's life wasn't lived off of a golden spoon. Quite the opposite happened, she ate to survive; even if it fell on the floor or had gotten wet in the rain because she didn't have a home with a solid roof. None of that mattered when her stomach was empty for countless nights and she had to eat to live another day.

Wayne and his guests had no clue what she had to do in order to ensure her survival. People praised her strength, her power too, but they never once thought what she had to do to get it.

Now, sitting next to Wayne at his table was a chance only some were blessed with. Everyone around her stared with envy, that they weren't Wayne's honoured guest chosen to be by his side.

Not that Zero gloated about these things. When she had met Wayne for the first time, she thought he was just an ordinary man with shitty luck. Zero never expected that the man she pulled out of a car would be the billionaire philanthropist Wayne Salvatore. It was a first that she made a friend while she hunted an enemy.

Zero smiled a little when she realized once again the games that fate always played with her.

"Zero, you're not eating much," said Wayne.

Zero lifted her head and now all those indigo eyes were on her. "Just not that hungry, Wayne," she told him.

"We can't have that," said Wayne. "I know how much you like to eat. So, I made my staff make it to fit your taste."

Zero smiled at him and he approved as she picked up her fork again. Wayne turned to his sons and made sure they were eating too. The three of them started bickering over the food and Wayne scolded them like a father would. Zero stayed quiet in the middle of them and just enjoyed their voices.

Wayne and his sons had a bond that she admired. They seemed like the family to enjoy dinner at night and always share how their day went. Maybe, they would have Christmas and a big dinner hosting a party too. Birthday parties for everyone and they'd even take pictures. She remembered seeing a lot of portraits hanging around the house from all different ages and times. Wayne once even showed her photo albums of his family, others probably didn't like looking at those, but Zero did. It was nice to see how others lived their lives without painful experiences.

Zero would love to do a photo album herself, but she never really got the chance to start. There weren't even any pictures of her as a kid. Sadly, the only one that knew what she looked like as a child was herself. That was the curse of being born on the streets, with that excuse she mended her heart.

Zero didn't stop eating, but her stomach still felt empty. She looked down at her hands, they were ice-cold as she held onto the fork. Taking a deep breath, she put the fork down and reached for a round loaf of bread, that sat on a plate in the centre of the table. Spreading a bit of warm butter on it, she took a bite and chewed slowly.

Zero lifted her eyes and met Severin's gaze first who was busy talking to his brother. He was amused again, like he had been all day with her. There was a depth to him that he hid from everyone, she wondered what it was. What was Severin hiding behind that charming smile that never faltered? she pondered.

Zero sat on the opposite end, but she felt every part of his presence. He held himself with an elegance that called her to him. A strong pull was what he had within those indigo eyes that appeared purple under the brilliant sunlight. His blond hair, wind-swept but perfect still for that chiseled face. His strong brows framed those deep eyes and were heavily surrounded by brown lashes. He had a straight nose, like his father and a pair of smooth lips.

Severin had a linen shirt on that was tucked into a pair of white trousers. She hadn't noticed before, but the buttons of his shirt were open and his skin gleamed under the white. Zero noticed that he was clean; too clean with no scars or a single injury. Unlike her, every part of her body had a past.

However, Severin wasn't like her. He had a perfect childhood with parents, a loving brother and a roof over his head all his life. He probably never had to fight for food or a place to sleep or even for his own safety.

Severin sat in the chair next to his father, leaned back and his legs crossed at the knee. He was smiling at his brother who talked about Thunder. As Zero watched him, she realized that he always listened to the person talking. He was careful with his words and kind to everyone around him. He was a lot like his father in that sense.

From the opposite end of the table, Zero kept her eyes locked to the way his smile made his eyes shine. They had a mesmerizing glow that had her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know why a possessive hunger grew inside her body. It clearly told her to hide his smile for no one but for her to see. She swallowed that urge and looked away from him.

Zero brushed her hand over the brooch pinned on top of her heart. When she was mugged earlier this morning, she was less worried about the thugs and more about the pin. Severin gifted it to her and she had already ruined it. She knew it was childish to think like that. Frankly, she never cared about things like this before. But a gift was special, it always was to her. And Severin gifted her something precious to remember this day. However, fate played that joke again like it always did. Fate told her to remember no matter what she got, it was bound to be sullied in filth. Darkness surrounded Zero and she didn't feel the need to drag Severin into it, he didn't deserve that. No one did.

Zero's wolf emerged through the dark void in her head.

You don't have a choice anymore, said her wolf.

Zero sipped the remainder of her coffee as her wolf menaced with a deep growl. Severin can't be with us, Zero retorted back.

Her wolf glared at her. My mate will be with me, she gritted out. Only we can protect him.

Zero's whole body grew rigid and cold as ice. A storm brewed inside her as she felt her wolf bonding herself to Severin without his permission.

You can't do that, Zero snapped at her wolf. He is better off without us. Zero's wolf ignored her and continued to guard Severin.

He's what I've been searching for all this time, whispered her wolf. He's the light to our darkness.

Zero reeled back the urge to mark Severin to the point that she had to chew on the inside of her cheek. She knew the moment she looked into those indigo eyes that she wouldn't be able to stay back. Zero was possessive and her wolf was even worse. This was bad, she thought to herself. Wayne was sending his son to New York to keep him safe. Not to be marked by her. For god's sake, what trouble was she getting into?

"I was just talking to Zero yesterday about your trip to New York, Severin," said Wayne suddenly.

Zero refocused on Wayne and not her agonizing desires.

"Zero has gladly agreed to keep you company in New York for your trip," continued Wayne.

Severin looked surprised.

Zero met his gaze, that mischievous gaze melted her icy core. "For your trip, you'll be staying at my house," she told him sternly. "I will escort you to work and make sure your stay is comfortable."

"I don't want to be a bother for such a busy person like yourself," said Severin.

She made the mistake to look at those eyes again. "It's no bother," she replied. "Wayne has the address to my house. You can come within your scheduled time-"

"No, I'll go with you when you return-" interrupted Severin. "We shouldn't waste any more time."

Wayne looked stunned. "You agreed to that pretty fast," he said to Severin. "Usually, you give me such a hard time."

Severin put his hand on his father's shoulder. "Do you want me to give you hard time again?" he goaded.

"No, I rather not deal with that," Wayne swatted his son's hand away. "Anyways, you're not under my supervision anymore. You have her to worry about -" Wayne gestured towards Zero- "and she won't deal with your attitude like I do."

Severin gaped at his father. "You're going to sell your son out like that," he remarked, acting as hurt as he could. "You wound me, father."

"Dad, don't hurt Severin," jested Tom. "He's too fragile, he might break."

Severin glared at his brother. "Don't think dad likes you better because you're a lawyer," he retorted.

"No, he likes me better because I'm his favourite child... and I'm a lawyer," spat back Tom.

"Okay, you two, stop it," Wayne interjected because he recognized when his sons were about to fight it out.

"Dad, tell him that you like me better," demanded Severin.

"I can't tell you that," retorted Wayne.

"Ha! see," Tom intervened with a chuckle. "He does hate your guts."

Severin gasped at his father, his hand over his heart like it was broken. "Dad, is this true?" he asked desperately. Zero knew he was kidding, but Wayne was starting to panic for sure.

"No, no it's not," panicked Wayne. "Tom stop teasing your brother." Tom snickered and continued to enjoy his cappuccino.

Zero couldn't hold it back any longer and she laughed. She forgot everything and just laughed, surprising them for sure. But even for a second, Zero forgot her past and just enjoyed this time with her friends. The three of them laughed with her and she felt like she was a part of something pure for once.

"Wayne," a voice interrupted them.

Wayne looked up to meet the person who approached their table. "Steve, what can I do for you?" he greeted him with a friendly smile, but Steve didn't look as if he was in a good mood.

"Can I have a word?" he requested sternly.

Wayne frowned and sensed the air around the man. Zero did too. "Sure," he said. Wayne pushed his chair back and got to his feet to join his guest.

Steve was a stiff man; tall and lean with light-brown hair and overly sharp grey eyes. His face clouded with wrinkles and he appeared rather stringent in his demeanour. He wore a suit even this early in the morning, his tie matched his eyes and his ensemble was black.

Zero sat at the table with Tom and Severin who talked about this man Steve Sanders and his unbearably dull nature. However, Zero watched the way Steve held himself and walked with that arrogant air, that made him grow even taller than he already was.

Steve had pulled Wayne away to a secluded area near the large vases full of hydrangea. Steve held a deep frown and his lips were moving fast as he spoke with Wayne. And from the way Wayne's indigo eyes darkened, Zero sensed that something was wrong.

"Zero, are you okay?" Tom asked.

"What business does Steve Sanders own?" she asked them.

Severin's eyes lost that sparkle of amusement and turned rigid. "He's in real estate, like us," he told her.

Steve occasionally stole glimpses at her and since his frown deepened every time, it was clear that he talked about her to Wayne. Zero tapped her fingers on the counter as she watched Steve talking nervously to Wayne.

"What else?" she asked.

"Overseas trading and just some annual fundraisers," Severin continued.

Zero knew what all that meant. "So, he buys land to use and sell unknown products to unknown places and then loiters money disguising it as fundraisers," she said sternly, as she leaned back and crossed her legs.

Tom and Severin gaped at her blunt accusation. "How do you know that?" Tom asked her.

"I know a criminal when I see one," she told them.

Zero watched Wayne and Steve a little longer. This time Wayne was doing the talking, and she was sure he was convincing Steve, that she wasn't going to hurt anyone.

"Is Steve part of an elite club or a private membership?" she asked next.

"Yeah, he is," replied Severin. "He's part of the same club as our dad. The Gold Committee-" Severin looked at her and she nodded for him to explain further- "The club just consists of our company's board members and a few other prominent figures."

"And are all the members here at this party?" asked Zero.

"Yes, they are," said Severin. "What's this about, Zero?"

"Your guest Steve Sanders is making a request to throw me out of this party," she revealed and that alarmed Tom and Severin.

Zero and the others went quiet when Wayne made his way back to the table with an agitated expression. He huffed and sat down at the chair, his brows furrowed and he looked ready to break the table.

"Dad," Severin called out. "What did Steve say to you?"

"Nothing important," said Wayne crossly.

Tom and Severin shared a worried look. "Dad?" prompted Tom.

However, Wayne looked up at Zero first, which told them all they needed to know.

Zero's tapping stopped. "It's your decision, Wayne," she said. "You want me here or not?"

"Of course, I want you here," said Wayne. "Those posers can leave if they want. I don't owe them anything."

"That's bizarre, even for Steve," added Tom.

Zero sat at the table, her eyes lifted and she looked directly at Steve who was sitting with a few other men. Steve froze like a deer in headlights when her eyes locked onto him. His frightened stare and sweaty palms just told Zero, that he was afraid of her and of what she could find out about him. But little did he know, that she didn't need to find out anything about him when it was all so clear. A guilty conscious showed through his eyes; through that slight trembling and that anxious scent which Steve and the other men had.

Zero didn't understand why Steve went to Wayne when it was clear that Wayne had no authority over her actions either. He was her friend- a great friend, but that was all. Zero never budged simply because someone was getting nervous around her.

"Excuse me," she said as she stood.

"What's wrong?" asked Severin, his frown clear between his brows. "Zero?"

Zero rounded the table and went straight to the men huddled together that used Wayne to target her. As she neared, the more they stood to guard and fixed their suits. She could tell that they thought they were superior simply because they wore expensive attire.

Zero only saw filth. She saw the trash that they truly were- she always did. Whether it was in a lavish mansion or in the slums of the streets, she could always spot the revolting character many concealed.

"Steve Sanders," she called out his name, standing in front of him.

Steve's eyes widened. "Er- good morning, Zero," he said.