DIMITRI When our training began, Lynexia was so bad, I often felt like tearing my hair out. But for four days, she has improved more than my expectations. Not only that, she has also begun to warm towards me. Lynexia's sneers and biting remarks, though still there, have reduced. It's as if she secretly enjoys my presence. Though, I know I'm just being delusional, a part of me cannot but hope that maybe we are not broken beyond repair after all. Even more surprising is the sight of her genuine smile. Though she quickly masks them with a scowl, I can't help but savor the moment she lets her guard slip as fleeting as it is. As usual, we went through a series of drills today which Lynexia is very obliged to do. She is determined to learn combat and I'm proud to see it. Though some of the training sessions have been hard, and it's been hard to see her struggle for anything at all but that hasn't made me go lenient with her. Knowing Lynexia, she will claw my eyes out and feed the

My body stiffens as the man halts in front of us, my hand going to the silver blade hidden within the folds of my dress. Thank goddess my dress is a flare. It makes it easy to draw out the blade. The man's crooked nose twists as he speaks, his gaze fixed on Maia. "The boss wants you now."The boss? Who is the boss? Maia licks her lips nervously, her eyes, heavy with panic. "I'm sick at the moment, I'll see him some other time." The man hisses, his voice holding a heavy stain of disdain. "That is what you said, yesterday. You can't escape this time." I watch their interaction, my confusion mounting. Why will a random man demand the Luna of a pack to come meet him? "I have a guest and I'm giving her a tour," Maia says shakily. The man hisses again. "She is sick. Tell the boss or whoever he is that she won't be able to meet him." I sneerThis is when the man turns his attention to me. He sizes me u

LYNEXIA When I and Dimitri get to the Richards family house, a small crowd has gathered in front of the house. Dimitri didn't want to bring me but I insisted, leaving him no choice. As Dimitri and I exit the car Gavin and Seraphina approach us. Dimitri wastes no time. "What happened?" He asks. Seraphina side eyes me as if wondering why I am here but I pay her no mind. "He was slashed in the throat with a knife. Just like Julianne." Gavin's voice is strained as we emerge into the Richards family. "Where is he?" Dimitri asks. Gavin's expression is enough answer. He didn't survive it. "He wasn't as Lucky as Julianne. When it happened, it was only him and his six-year-old daughter that were at home." "Did she witness it?" I blurt out. My stomach grumbles at the idea of a six-year-old watching those horrors. Gavin's face is enough for me. "Oh my goddess," I whisper, my hand covering my mouth at the shock. "Where is she?" "With her mother. She hasn't said a word to anyone.

LYNEXIA Dimitri is seated behind the desk, asleep while Seraphina stands in front of him, blocking the sun out with her hands over his face. My left hand balls beside me and a dark swirls soaring inside of me at this sight. I want to barge in and shove her hand away as she begins to trail her finger down the length of his face. How tired does he have to be to not realize someone is touching him? When I can't take it anymore, I clear my throat loudly. Seraphina flinches away from Dimitri, turning her startled gaze towards me. Her expression looks like a deer caught in front of a headlight. She gulps visibly before she walks across the room and outside to come to meet me. "Hey, Lyn." She says with her usual unfriendly face. "What are you doing here?" "What can't I do here? I'm going to be the Luna and Dimitri is my Alpha." My throat scratches to say but I hold. That sounds like I'm jealous which I'm not. I don't care about Dimitri or if Seraphina has a silly crush on him. I

DIMITRI "Go call them back in," I instruct Wren who nods and turns towards the door. Cradling Lynexia's face in my hand, I gaze deeply into her hazel eyes. How much I miss them so much. "You did good," I say and pull her head to my chest. She relaxes into my touch easily as if she has been waiting for my hug but I know better than to read too much into it. When my trainee instructors enters, Lynexia tries to withdraw but I hold her close, my thumb drawing circles on her cheek. If they are shocked about how I'm hugging Lynexia's head to my body they don't show it. Their attention is on the rough sketch. Zarek picks it up first, exhaling heavily as he studies the rough sketches. I caress Lynexia's soft cheeks. "Is the database ready?" My question is directed to Seraphina. "It is," Seraphina says arms crossed over her chest. "Though it is in its earliest stage." "But we can do a background check, right?" Caspian chimes in. "We should be able to." Seraphina nods. "What