"Hey, do you want to come train with the warriors and I?" Seb walks into my bedroom. I can barely see him through the darkness with the curtains pulled and sealed from outside.

I sigh looking up to the ceiling, only to shake my head no. "Willa, come on." He grumbles coming deeper into the room. "You can't do this to yourself. Greyson and the rest can handle themselves, this isn't the first time they've dealt with this."

He throws the covers off of me, shoving my lifeless body.

Ever since Grey linked Seb and I with an update, my body shut down.

There's a Plant Umbra outbreak. Over half of the pack is addicted. Five attacks have already been attempted on Grey and Koda, yet they've managed to somehow come out unscathed.

And that was only their first day there.

It might be a few more days before they come back and they're in danger every second they're there. Not to mention the warriors we're giving them. They're in danger too.

If they get even one cut from the infected, it could be a game over.

I'm just lucky that in my case, Jared was cooperative. I don't want to think about him, or that plant anymore.

But every time I close my eyes, every time I have a silent moment to myself I think and picture that day. The day I killed Jared, and it just makes me worry even more about the pack members in Bahee's territory.

My head rolls to the side with Sebastian's push. "If I didn't hear your heart beat, I would think that you were dead," he states annoyed. "Now get up, and stop wallowing in worry. Take your mind off of it."

He pushes me again, making me lazily move my head to the side so I can look at him.

The small smirk that was on his lips slowly fades into a frown. He slides his hand into mine, pulling me up.

Once I'm sat up he pats down my hair so it's not sticking up everywhere.

"You're coming, even if I have to carry you there."

For the first time in hours, a small smile cracks at the corner of my mouth. Rolling the kink out of my neck, I sigh.

He's right, I need to get my mind off of this.

"Carry?"

Seb's frown quickly turns into a smile as he starts chuckling. "I shouldn't have even offered," he turns around slowly so his back is facing me. "Hop on," he groans offering a piggy back.

Stretching my arms before I stand on my feet. The mattress dips from my weight, but I quickly grab onto his shoulders climbing onto his back.

He wraps his arms under my knees before he starts walking out of the dark and dreary room.

"God, you're like a feather." He hikes me up quickly before jogging down the stairs as if I'm not riding on his back.

Smiling softly I rest my head on top of my arm, "Well I am like half of your size."

He just hums, shaking his head softly at me.

It's funny, I feel like I've known Seb my whole life. It's like he's an older brother of mine.

We bicker and argue like we're siblings, anyways.

It's refreshing, honestly. Growing up an only child I never got to experience the personal bond between siblings. But, I feel Sebastian fills that space.

"You've never been back here, have you?" He speaks up suddenly which makes me raise my head in response.

"Where? I thought I've seen the whole territory?"

When he turns his head to peer at me, I reel my head back watching a smirk raise on his lips.

"You have, we're going outside our territory."

Seb quickens his steps, jogging further into the woods.

Um, what? Why did we have no knowledge on this?

"Outside?"

"Yeah," he groans. "Grey doesn't like you to wonder out, so that's why he never mentioned this since this is a potential danger."

I mirror his groan. Sometimes I think Grey is too protective.

"Does he know you're taking me?" I lay my head back on my arm. When I watch Seb turn his head, I doodle circles on the back of my hand while they link around his neck.

"No, our secret," he nods giving me a smile.

It's a good while before Sebastian slides me off his back. The sun dipping far beneath the horizon, the only thing I can see illuminating is a dull latern way in the distance.

A chill runs through me as the breeze pick ups, whipping my hair onto my skin.

Without words, Seb continues forward.

I follow silently, observing the hills made of stone starting to become clear the closer we get.

It doesn't take me much time to barely make out double doors in front of those rock walls.

"That's it?" I whisper once I come face to face with the cold, metal doors.

Shivering again, I pull my jacket unimaginably closer to me. "Yup," he nods putting his hand on the knob. "It's warmer in there," he smirks slightly.

Nodding for him to continue, I watch as he slowly opens the doors. Instantly, loud music pounds in my ears.

My eyes widen when I peek inside seeing many bodies sparing each other. Many others training independently, doing different tasks to enhance their skills.

"This is our training facility," he yells over the music. "It's more private in here, and let's us focus more. Music helps," he continues to scream. He sends a smile after knowing how over whelming it probably is.

Glancing upwards it seems as if the bottom level isn't all, multiple levels hang above us. This is huge, and yet I never knew about it.

Tucking a stray piece of hair behind my ear, my eyes glance around looking at all the people training. I watch them carefully, figuring out their tactics and strengths.

My head snaps behind me when the music suddenly shuts off. "Everybody come to the entrance!" Seb yells. Which then causes footsteps to rumble around as they obey Sebastian.

It only takes a second for at least one hundred people to group around us.

Seb comes to my side crossing his arms. "We have the privilege to host the Luna tonight for some training." I smirk once a few whistles screech. "But first things first. Are you guys okay with watching her and I go one on one?"

"One on one?" I instantly turn to Seb not realizing him and I were about to spar.

He nods once the warriors cheer us on.

Their cheers start to light the fire in my gut. It's been a while since Seb and I have gone against each other. I guess this could be fun, we have an audience this time.

The more the merrier. They'll see that we can kick their best's ass.

The music starts pounding once again as I stand still, putting my hair up. The shortness of it barely going into a ponytail.

I bite my lip trying to suppress the smirk on my lips. It feels likes it been forever since I've sparred. It's exhilarating and gives me enough adrenaline to last a week.

The mat we're on is large, way bigger then the circle right outside the house.

This'll be interesting.

Tilting my head, I watch Seb mirror my movement. "Ready?" He links me from the other side of the mat, too loud for him to yell over.

Only then do I steady into my stance, "Always."

Just like a blur of a human, he rushes to me.

No countdown, no warning, nothing.

But I guess that was my fault since I told him I'm always ready.

He rushes into my middle, wrapping his arms around me and easily lifting me in the air. The cheering combined with the music deafening in my ears.

It's almost discombobulating. But I shouldn't let it get to me, even if Sebastian is used to it compared to me.

My face sets into a serious straight line as I jab my elbow into the side of his neck. This sends him staggering enough so I can get my feet to touch the ground.

Once my feet land, I spin and duck under his hold. I'm quick to throw a punch, it finally starting to become second nature for me once again.

Bringing my fist behind my body, I use the momentum to land my knuckles across his cheek bone.

The bone connecting to bone causes me to shake my hand out from the prickles shooting up my arm. It's been a while, I forgot what the sensation felt like.

In the moment of my unfocused haze of pain, I don't notice when his foot swings around. The top of his shin coming into contact with my head.

If my ears were ringing before, they're absolutely buzzing now.

I don't even know if I can hear out of my left one at the moment.

But alas, we continue throwing punches and kicks.

My nose is bleeding now after many different hits. But I've split his lip open, so we're even.

I've ran to the opposite side of the mat to collect myself. My breathing heavy, a thin layer of sweaty sheen rising onto my skin.

I forgot how equal our abilities are. He was the one who taught me everything, so that probably has to do with it.

Heaving out a breath, I brush my nose with the back of my hand finding that my nose is still in fact bleeding.

Damn.

And now he's running at me again, great.

I follow his lead, running as well. Cranking back an arm I miss the side of his face as he leans back from it.

But without warning, his hand grasps around my neck.

It's not exactly a hard grip, but it is enough to make it tougher to breath.

It's also enough to make my mind trigger back into past experiences.

Even with Jared gone, he still scars my brain.

Earlier with the plant umbra numbing and freighting all of my senses. Now, taking me back to the the right hold on my neck that almost killed me when I first got here.

Before I register what's happening, I'm already on the ground. Sebastian's hold on my neck still there.

"S-Stop," I wither out feeling my breath quicken.

Sometimes I forget about the past and how fragile I was, and once I remember I become that same weak girl again.

Instantly Seb raises his hands, scooting away to give me space.

Just as he goes away, my hand slaps around my neck rubbing it softly.

"Did I take it too far? I'm sorry I didn't realize-shit I forgot about what Jared did to you," he links setting a hand on my shoulder.

I back away instinctively. "You know, I'm just going to get air. I'll be back in five," I breathe knowing that I shouldn't let this affect me as much as it is right now.

Jared is gone, he's gone. I made sure of that. My mind needs to stop going directly to him. He needs to stop getting to me.

Pushing out of the doors I let the coldness slap my face, hell I'll I embrace it.

It tingles my senses and urges me to snap out of this weak episode.

Sighing I put my hands behind my head trying my hardest to get a lot of air into my lungs.

You're strong. You're not who you used to be. Now go back inside and demand a rematch with Sebastian.

Growling to myself I slide my hands down my face listening to my wolf. Reluctantly of course.

Once I turn to go back inside, I hear rustling from the shrubbery next to the facility.

My head snaps in the direction trying to focus my eyes on the moving branches and the constant cracking of the fallen leaves.

I take a step forward to investigate, but as soon as I do a figure bursts from the foliage.

Jumping back I quickly realize that this scent is unfamiliar and they're heading straight for the pack territory.

Instinct takes over and before i know it, I'm sprinting after.

I curse under my breath repeatedly as I think of the consequences that could happen if I didn't catch them.

They could be dangerous with an intent to kill, they could be a rogue, or an enemy. The possibilities are endless.

And at the moment it's up to me to make sure nothing bad happens.

My head lowers once I see them start to show down like they're losing energy, which is perfect for me.

Before they can get any further, I pounce.

In a flash I have them pinned down to the ground, while I press my elongated finger nail to their neck threatening to spill blood.

"Please, please don't hurt me!" He screams for mercy making my head tilt finally getting a good look at the boy.

Yes boy, he looks very young. Younger then me.

"What're you doing here? Why're you running towards my territory?" I smell his adolescent wolf radiating off of him as he raises his hands in innocence.

He shakes his head closing his eyes, "Please help me. I smelt other people, so I ran as fast as I could. I haven't seen my pack or any people in three months."

"You're a rogue?" I interrogate him. But when he stutters with an answer I press my finger nails deeper into his neck causing him to quiver.

"No, I-I'm not. I lost my pack."

"Why can't you just link them?" My body starts to automatically become less rigid sensing that this boy can't do harm.

"I can't. Ive never been able to," he relaxes as I return my nail to it's less lethal shape. "Please help me. I know I'm an outsider asking for a lot, but you're the first person I've talked to in months. Not to mention it's hard living off of rabbits."

Shifting my body off of him, I realize that he does look like he's in rough shape. His skin filthy and covered in dirt. His clothes shredded and discolored.

I mean, why would he be lying?

"How old are you?" I question him finally.

"I just turned 17 before I lost my pack," his dark eyes flicker up to me as he sits up slowly making sure not to make his movements too fast.

Groaning I rub my face, pushing back my hair quickly.

I can't just tell him to go fend for himself. It's not like he chose this lifestyle. He didn't choose to be a technical rogue.

He's lost, and in search of somewhere safe.

I'd be an absolute evil person if I told him to leave.

But I know if I let him stay, nobody will like it.

God, Greyson is going to kill me when he finds out. If he find out.

If is good.

He's kept so many secrets from me, including the training warehouse. So why don't I keep this one thing from him?

"Follow me," I flash a smile nodding my head in the pack house direction.

There will be no guards because they followed me to the warehouse, and they're still inside.

This would be the perfect time to sneak him in. We have plenty of extra bedrooms to hide him in.

"W-Where are we going?" He asks softly staggering to his feet.

His petite frame deflating as he starts to follow me.

"Shelter, running water, food," I glance back at him.

"You're letting me stay?"

I shake my head quickly. "Not forever. Just until we find your pack, but until then-yes."

But what I don't expect was for him to sprint in front of me, and envelope me into a hug. He squeezes tightly as his shoulders raise and fall with emotion. "Thank you, thank you so much."

I can't help but smile slightly as he pulls away. "I'm Willa," I introduce.

He drops his arms from around me, offering a hand to shake. "I'm Isaac."