In the end, they were all sitting around in the living after the numerous times Severin objected to the idea and demanded they go to the hospital. But when did Zero ever listen to anyone. Damn, this woman was stubborn. She said that her wounds weren't extensive, but from the way Elijah was digging into her shoulder in search of the bullet looked plenty harmful to Severin.

Tom returned from the kitchen with a bowl of water that Elijah requested. "Here," he said as he passed the basin.

Elijah grabbed it. "Thanks," he muttered before dropping in a white cloth to clean the blood off her arm.

Zero had a glass of scotch in her hand as she idly sat and let Elijah patch her up. She was quiet, too quiet and it honestly unnerved Severin. It was clear from the deep frown between her brows, her emerging fangs and fiery eyes, that her mind was still reliving the incident on the road.

Frankly, Severin didn't forget it either. He kept seeing the image of the man dead on the floor with his lips stitched shut. Who would do such a heinous act? he wondered. But then he knew the answer to that too, it was a man named Reaper who had sent his team on a suicide mission. Severin's gut twisted just thinking about it. And if Zero hadn't saved them, they all would have been road kill.

"Seven," Zero muttered as she poured more scotch. "Seven men were willing to die for him, especially that last one. Reaper has a far reach, farther than I expected."

Severin locked eyes with his brother who was just as shaken up and curious of what happened tonight.

"Who is Reaper and why is he after you?" asked Severin.

"I killed his father long ago," Zero told him and the others. "He's been seeking revenge since."

The three of them grew silent wondering what that was all about. But they didn't ask anything further.

"The bullet's hard to find," complained Elijah.

"That's because you're prodding it like it's a damn paper cut," muttered Zero.

"Which was why I suggested that we go to a hospital," groused Severin.

"There's no need," she repeated for the hundredth time.

Zero grabbed the metal tweezers from Elijah and pushed it into her shoulder for the imbedded bullet. She pulled it out and dropped both the bullet and the tweezers in the bowl. The blood oozed off the bullet and her puncture wound, that burned crimson on her pale shoulder.

Elijah then cleaned the wound and stitched her up. He used the white bandage and secured her wounds.

"You're quite good at that," praised Tom. "Did you work in the medical field?"

Severin saw the paled look on Elijah's face. He was about intervene and stop Tom, but Elijah answered instead; "I used to patch-up injuries in the cage fights I was in," he told him bluntly. "A lot of us had to do it ourselves, but kids never learned, so I helped out." Elijah picked up the bowl and walked off to clean his hands.

Tom looked at Severin and his eyes filled with guilt. A moment only passed, when Tom took off in search of Elijah.

Zero poured herself more scotch, she grabbed painkillers next to it and threw them back, swallowing them before she rubbed her eyes shut. She whispered a few words to herself, but Severin only heard their goddess's name.

Severin understood now why Zero was so afraid to commit to the bond. He never expected that people openly would attack her and shoot her. She always only helped, why would anyone try to hurt her? Severin came up with no answer.

Zero looked pale from blood loss, beads of sweat coated her forehead and she was breathing heavily, although she held it all in and stayed cool. But Severin saw her pain, even felt it in his own heart.

"Stop worrying," she alleged.

Severin gritted his teeth together. "My mate just got shot and threatened," he rebuked. "So, no, I won't stop worrying."

Zero opened her blue eyes, and surprisingly, she had smiled. "I'm stronger than I look," she said. "Bullets don't hurt anymore, sweetheart." She drank more scotch with a chuckle.

"How are you laughing in a situation like this?" he astounded.

Zero shook her head. "Because if I get angry, a lot of people are going to die," she laughed some more.

Severin frowned when he realized. "Are you drunk?" he said more than asked.

Zero held up her fingers telling him maybe she was drunk a little bit. Severin sighed in defeat, he was at a loss.

Elijah returned from the kitchen, when Zero announced; "We start your training tomorrow."

Elijah stiffened and looked at her with stern blue eyes. "Yes, ma'am," he replied before he went up to his room.

Tom ran back to them then. "Where'd he go?" he asked.

"Bedroom," Severin told him.

Tom ran a rough hand through his dark hair. "That man keeps running away from me," he grumbled as he looked at the stairs. "Does he not like me or something?"

Severin really didn't know how to answer that. "Elijah doesn't hate anyone," he guessed. "He's just shy, so-" Tom ran up the stairs ignoring his big brother- "what do I do with this wild group we have going on?" Severin took a deep breath.

Zero tilted her head, her hair falling around her face. "Don't frown," she said. "You're too pretty for that."

Severin's mouth dropped open at her unusual blunt tone. He spotted the medication bottle and lifted it to read the side-effects, which clearly stated in block letters that it will cause drowsiness. Now, Zero's honest tone made sense.

"You think I'm pretty?" he asked her.

Zero put her hand on her mouth and she shook her head denying what she just said. Severin got up from the chair and closed the space between them. He sat on the table in front of her, her legs opened and he fit to her regal figure. He put his hands on her thighs and focused her attention on him. But he didn't need to try hard, since the alcohol and painkillers were making her sincerer than ever before.

She leaned forward and made a sweet sound when his touch caressed higher up her hip. Severin's own arousal heightened and he sensed her wolf emerging towards him, like she was making him face her. But Severin knew that Zero's wolf was protecting her since she was in a compromising state.

"I won't hurt you," he whispered to Zero and her wolf.

Zero's cheeks flushed to a bright pink. She lifted her hand and caressed his cheek. "You're not capable of hurting anyone," she muttered. "Maya made you too pure."

Severin grinned at her. "How many times will you compliment me tonight?" he asked.

She laughed softly as her hand shifted from his cheek to his tousled hair. She combed through the short strands, her fingers memorizing the feel like she never wanted to forget. Severin felt a chill crawl down his back. Normally, he didn't like people touching his hair, but the way Zero sank into him and watched every single thing about him, she was the exception to anything. He'd let her have her way with him for anything.

"I wanted to touch your hair," she confessed. "It's softer than I thought it'd be."

Severin's cheeks hurt from smiling too hard. "What else do you want to touch?" he goaded.

Zero's blue eyes looked into his, a little lost and a little shy. She took her touch down and brushed her warm fingers on his lips. Severin's breath stopped in his throat, he never thought she'd admit this to him. Maybe, he should get this woman drunk more often.

"If you wanted to kiss me that badly, you just had to ask," he smirked at her.

Zero's gaze lifted to his amused eyes. "Kiss me," that desire fell off her lips like a whisper, but it shuddered through him and was as loud as a siren.

Something snapped inside him.

Severin's mouth found hers and he swallowed her desperate moan. A fiery and eager kiss was what that they've been waiting to share all this time. They were both hot and feral with a eager need to possess the other. Zero arched into his touch and he never wished to be anywhere else other than next to her.

Their tongues twisted together in a heated dance, both intoxicated from their taste that heightened their lust for one another, she gasped with Severin and he abruptly pulled away, but just a moment later, his mouth reconnected with hers. He trembled when she raked his hair and intertwined her fingers into his silky hair.

Severin's rough hands held her hips and his fingers dug into her skin. She didn't hold back anything from him and that exhilarated his body even further. The hint of alcohol hypnotized him, like he was an addict to her taste. The deep, sweet taste made him yearn for more and as he lifted off the table closer to her, he realized that nothing stopped him from taking more.

Zero shifted onto her knees, allowing him to get closer. Her arm rested around his neck and she kissed him back with the same passion. Severin wrapped his own arms around her waist and secured her against his body, she melted into him and the heat from her arousal seeped through his clothes.

Suddenly, Zero let out a sharp wince. Severin felt the sound before he realized that she put too much strain on her wound when she tried to lift it.

Severin pulled back and looked down at her. "No more kissing until you get better," he reprimanded.

Zero glowered but didn't argue. She fell back on the chair, when he saw the way her hair was tousled by his hands, the blush coloured her cheeks red and her thoroughly-kissed lips made her look irresistible.

Severin pulled himself together. "Let's get you to bed," he said.

Zero finished the last sip of scotch before she got up. Severin watched her move around the chair, her hand still gripping the backrest. He was afraid she might just fall face first on the floor. He went to her and didn't waste a second before he hooked his arm under her knees and around her back.

Severin swiftly lifted her off the ground and took her upstairs. She didn't object, and simply laid her head on his shoulder and let him have his way. She must be really drunk or tipsy to allow this when it was clear that she would never on a normal occasion.

Severin went to her bedroom door. "Can I go in?" he asked her but she didn't answer, not that he needed her to. "Yeah, I can. Okay, thanks." He pushed the door open and took her to the bathroom first.

Zero fumbled out of his grasp and went to the shower alone the moment he turned the lights on. Severin left her to freshen up and sober up too. Although, a drunk Zero was a lot of fun. He was never going to let her forget this happened. He should've made a video of all the things she said because she wasn't going to believe him tomorrow.

Severin left to his own to room to bath and change too. He was done quickly and went back to Zero to make sure she was alright. When he returned to her room, she was out of the shower and in a t-shirt that barely reached her thighs.

"Ready to go to bed?" he asked her.

Zero's eyes were a little unfocused. "With you?"

Severin bit back his smile. "If that's what you want," he said. "But in that t-shirt, it'll be a little dangerous."

Zero lifted her nonchalant gaze, like she wasn't aware of what might happen if she got a little too close. She closed the space and stood in front of him, her curious gaze on his neck and he almost kissed her again, but he gave in and let her explore.

Zero brushed a hand on his arm, the sensation crawled over him. She leaned closer, getting onto her tippy-toes to match his height. Severin's heart leaped out of his chest when he felt her satin lips on his neck, he swore she could feel his pulse too. She kissed down his neck, when she hovered over the crook of his nape and licked the skin with her soft tongue.

Severin hadn't realized when his hands had gripped onto her waist, the frail shirt twisted under his grasp. He caressed up her thigh, that was strong under his palm. He kneaded her flesh and pulled her leg up to anchor around his own. The arousal festered inside him as he eagerly anticipated what she'd do next. Would she mark him? he thought.

Suddenly, he felt the sharpness of her teeth and his gut twisted, but to his disappointment she didn't bite down. She merely kissed the skin and suckled as hard as she could. Severin closed his eyes and hugged her closer, his aroused body to her own.

Zero slumped onto him, her body growing sluggish in his grasp and he noticed that she had fallen asleep. Well, that was to be expected, she had quite the exhilarating day. Severin shifted her in his arms to a more secure position and noticed the faint scars that brushed her skin around her throat; some longer than the others.

Severin's heart broke for her. She was brave and undoubtedly kind to everyone but herself. She worked day and night to save others, but who helped her. Yes, Elijah and Severin and Tom were here now. But for decades she was alone, fighting and facing enemies like Reaper.

Severin assessed her pretty face and lost himself to her dark fragrance. "Marked or not," he whispered what she told him, "I'm already yours."

Severin moved back with her in his arms to get her on the bed, when suddenly, Zero turned as his foot slipped and they both hit the floor, Severin quickly shifted his body. She groaned in her sleep and he shielded her with his own body hoping her wound didn't open. They were both on the floor just beside her small bed.

"That could've been bad," he groaned as he slumped onto the ground with her beside him.

Severin stayed on the cool ground, he turned and faced her eased face realizing that she didn't mind the hard floor, in fact she looked comfortable. Severin brushed her hair away from her face.

Severin was stiff on the floor in Zero's dark room. "I'm not comfy," he told her. No response. "Zero..."

"Hmm?"

"You know, I have never slept on the floor before," he said.

Zero extended her arm and motioned him to put his head on it. "Sleep," she murmured.

Severin grabbed the blanket off the bed and put it over them. He moved closer, putting her arm down and giving his own to her. He pulled her right against him, not caring what she'd say tomorrow. He closed himself around her and positioned his leg through hers. This wasn't the most comfortable, but they wouldn't fit on her bed and he really didn't want to break her sleep by moving her again. So, he swallowed the stiffness and fell asleep with her...

Severin didn't know how long he slept, since he was in and out of it most of the night. Eventually, through the small barred window in Zero's room he saw the first light of daybreak. The black turned into a shade of azure-blue and the room's temperature dropped to a chilling draft.

Severin opened his tired eyes, only to see himself on top of Zero. His head on her chest, his arm over her and his legs caged to her. He looked as if he held her down so she would make a run for it. However, Zero looked comfortable in this position.

Zero shifted and Severin closed his eyes again hoping she hadn't caught on. Severin made sure to not move any limbs, otherwise it'd be obvious he was awake and most likely he'd be kicked out.

Zero groaned softly which was probably because of her sore arm. She moved, when suddenly, she froze and gaped at the sight of how he was asleep with her again. He almost expected her to wake him up and send him off, but nothing happened. He wasn't woken up nor had she argued. Instead, he felt a strange stillness from her.

It was unexpected, when he felt her hand push the strands of his hair back, her touch felt just as good as it did last night. Zero shifted and kissed his cheek before she got off the floor and went to the bathroom. He knew he was in the clear when he heard the shower turn on.

Severin's eyes opened and he couldn't stop his lips from lifting into a smile. His heart still fluttered in his chest as he covered his face. He looked over the blanket and still heard the shower on, so she wasn't coming back yet.

"Heart calm down or else she'll hear you," he whispered.

The shower turned off and the door opened.

Severin closed his eyes quickly and pretended to be asleep. He heard her feet padding around the room, first a cupboard opened and then another drawer. Severin peeked and it wasn't clear what she was doing.

She suddenly turned and came straight to where he was. First thought was that she caught his fib. But she hadn't said anything to him yet. She picked up something off the bed and brought it to him.

"Severin," she whispered.

He tried his hardest to not give a reaction.

"Your neck will get sore," she said. "Lift your head a little so I can put the pillow."

He didn't move, but then he felt her warm hand lift his head on her own. She slid the pillow under him and rested his head back. She fixed the blanket before she got up and left the room.

He wondered where she went so early in the morning, but that question was answered when he heard a thud of the far door down the hall. She went to the temple she built here. He let her be, even though he didn't want her being alone. But maybe, she needed Maya's company more than anyone else.

Severin lifted off the ground with the pillow and blanket and dropped onto the single bed. He had just laid down on the soft mattress when his drowsy eyes closed and he fell back asleep, until the sun rose and the new day had begun.

Severin showered hoping his stiff back would get some relief, but it didn't work. Sleeping on the floor was a big 'NO' for him. Never again was he going to do that. He didn't know how Zero was perfectly fine after that. He barely had the strength to put his shirt on or go down the damn stairs for breakfast, which was definitely being served since he woke up later than everyone.

Eventually giving up and pulling on a knit sweater he bought yesterday, he went downstairs groaning all the way down. He found Tom sitting at the table eating oats and cranberry cereal and Zero was peeling an orange.

"My back is killing me, Zero," Severin complained out loud.

Tom's curious eyes lifted. "What'd you do?" he asked over his cereal bowl.