There's a huge smile on Mark's face as we sit on the rooftop of the house Alpha Luggard gave to us and watch the sunset from afar.

There's still some leftover chicken from the breakfast he had. He left it in the refrigerator when he got filled up and we decided to have it for dinner instead of the soggy noodles that they gave us.

“I like the color of the sun, so pretty,” Mark says and I smile before I pat him on the head.

“Your sister won her fight today again, aren't you going to tell me congratulations?” I ask him and he just pouts his lips with a grown etched on his face.

“I don't know if I should congratulate you or if I should be scared,” he says and I can't help but wonder why he's scared.

“What's wrong Mark? Why would you be scared?” I ask him and he looks at me, his eyes are filled with tears and I felt my insides twist with agony on seeing him like that. He shouldn't be crying, he should be smiling like he was just seconds ago.

I quickly drag the sleeve of my shirt into my palm and begin to clean his eyes.

“Mark, why are you crying? I told you I'll keep you safe. You don't have to be scared”

“What if the Alpha decides that you're ready to go undercover and be a spy? Who will be with me? I'm going to lose you too? Just lose your fights for me so that he will think you're not good enough and then we can be together” he cries out and I don't even know what to say in response to my wailing brother that's just scared I'll leave him due to the compulsory mission I must carry out for Alpha Luggard.

“Mark… Of course, I'll always be with you. I'll be right here with you even if I'm not here physically” I say and point at his heart before I continue.

“And I've promised you continuously that I'll eventually come for you when I'm done fulfilling my mission. That's the promise that I made and I must keep it Mark. Just know that I'll always love you and I'll always be here for you, I'm not going anywhere” I say to make him feel at ease and he closes his eyes for a while, while I clean the tears streaks left on his face.

He then pulls me in for a hug and I smile as the gesture melts my heart. I hug him too and we remain like that for a pretty long time as the sun still setting illuminates his reflection on our faces.

I didn't want the moment to end.

***********

I grab the hamper that's filled with my and Mark's clothes and empty it into the washing machine before I turn it on and set the timer. I drink a glass of water to fully wake up then I dress in my training clothes; the black color this time and check on Mark who's fast asleep one last time before I leave the building and head for the training ground.

It isn't snowing that seriously this time and I'm relieved that I don't have to use too much of my energy to generate warmth in my body.

Chris isn't at the training ground when I arrive and I wonder why he isn't present to train me.

I come across Luca and I expect him to glare at me too like the rest of the members of the Bluemoon pack but he actually smiles at me and then pats me on the shoulder.

“Nice match yesterday Hera. You won but it was fun… Been a while since someone knocked me out here”

He said and I couldn't help but laugh.

“Are you telling me that even Chris couldn't win a duel with you?” I ask and he chuckles.

“Chris and the Alpha are an exception. No one has ever won them before in a duel”

“And have they fought each other?” I ask him curiously, it kind of feels nice to discuss with someone apart from my brother. Luca laughs at my question and looks at me.

“The duels never had an end, they just fought on and on until they got tired and then decided to call off the duel but then the Alpha won a duel with Chris one day. Crazy right?” he replies and I nod.

“Yeah, sounds crazy,” I say back to him with a chuckle.

“Um, I'm going to go now. I'm done with my training and I need to get checked by the physician because you did a number on me yesterday” he says and I laugh while he winks at me and leaves.

I'm alone again as he's gone so I go to the gym and just busy myself with doing little gym activities here and there at the gym on the training ground when the door suddenly bursts open and I see guards marching towards me.

My heart skips a beat and I stop whatever I was doing as fear creeps into my heart while I wonder why they were coming for me.

“You've been summoned by the Alpha and you're to appear before him immediately,” the most buff guard who was also leading the rest behind him says with a deep voice and a stern face and I raise an eyebrow in question.

“Didn't he order me to train here? What's this with summoning me now?” 

“That is a business between you and the Alpha. You'll know everything once you follow us”

“Well tell your Alpha that I'm busy training like he told me to. So if he wants to summon me, he should come and talk to me himself” I fire and sit down before I give him a daring stare but he doesn't even react. Seriously, is this man made of rocks?

“Since you're being stubborn, you leave us with no choice but to take you with force,” the guard says and before I can react, he's already grabbed me by the waist and has me slung over his shoulder.

I've always known I have a small stature but on this man's shoulder, I feel tiny.

“Put me down!” I growl at him but he doesn't reply. I begin to pound him hard on his back as I yell but he still doesn't react and I come to a conclusion; that this guard is indeed made of stones or rocks.

Soon we arrive at the Alpha's private chambers and I'm kept in an empty room on a chair where they strap me to and they leave. Great! Now I'm tied up to a chair against my own will. I'm going to make this Alpha Luggard or whatever he calls himself pay once I'm loosened from this chair.

The guard comes back again and cuts the rope  he used to tie me then he flings me over his shoulder again and takes me to the throne room where Alpha Luggard is seated on his throne with a descending look in his eyes. 

I'm dropped to my feet and I glare at the Alpha while he smirks arrogantly.

“So, I heard you won two of my warriors two days in a row without even receiving any training from Chris,” he says and I scoff.

“Like what your warrior, Luca said… It’s just a piece of cake so for me, It was just a piece of cake winning them” I reply and he scoffs.

That pisses me off as I wonder what he was scoffing at when I won two of his warriors.

I remember Luca's words; when he said no one has ever won Chris or the Alpha and I decide to play with his temper to see how he's going to react.

“I heard no one's ever won you in a duel,” I say and Luggard gives a vain smile at my statement.

“That's right, no one has ever won me because I'm the best in this pack and as the Alpha, it's my duty to be excellent at everything I do. Now, why are you interested in that?” He interrogates me and I give a sly smile.

“Are you sure you can win against me?” I tease him and I watch with satisfaction, how his face morphs into anger.

“How dare you?” he roars and I just double over in laughter, clutching my stomach as I laugh on and on until I'm satisfied then I look at him and the look on his face is priceless.

“Why are you so angry, almighty Alpha? Are you embarrassed that I'm challenging you? Or you’ve never experienced this before?” I stop and put my hands on my waist then I turn my face blank, emotionless, and meet his eyes, daring him to do his worst. 

It seems he gets the message as he stands up, fury burning in his eyes and he nods toward the guards.

“Hold her in place” he orders and two of them rush towards me. They force me to my knees and press me down with force, preventing me from being able to move.

“Get your dirty hands off me you scumbags” I yell at them as I struggle but they don't budge. They just remain like that, until the Alpha reaches my front, and he holds my head up to look at him.

He slaps me across the face and I taste blood at the tip of my lips. 

“Tomorrow at dawn, we'll duel. Let's see who gets embarrassed” he says and walks away while I seethe in anger.