It was only two hours later when the thunderous knocking on my door woke me up.

"Open up you little shit!"

I groaned and rolled off my bed. I'm not proud to admit that I may have had a little fight with my sheets since they were tangled around my feet. I limped to the door and peeked into the little hole where I saw Jace lingering on the other side.

The amount of anger in his eyes made me keep the door closed. His wolf was bristling beneath a thin layer of control and a Bennett in their wolf form was a dangerous wolf.

"What do you want Jace?" I asked tiredly, hoping he had the wrong door.

"Open the damn door!" He made a point of beating his fist into it. Again.

"No."

"Get the fuck out here!"

"I would rather stay here inside my room thank you."

"Open the door-"

"Get away from her door. Sheesh! Can't I just have a peaceful morning without hearing you go off like some kind of spurned lover? Why are you even interrupting my morning with this crap?"

Thank goodness for Pen.

She looked tired and rightfully pissed the hell off. She was donned in her simple striped pyjamas and her hair was a colourful mess of pink highlights and dark locks. She was squinting while simultaneously trying to wake herself up from her semi-conscious state.

"Piss off Rogue, this doesn't concern you."

"My name is Pen!" She argued.

"If you remember, I didn't ask. Piss off."

"No. That's my friend's door your hammering your fist against. I'll like to know why my morning didn't start with Mozart's Springtime but your annoying yelling!"

"Do I know you?"

"Argh, I'm seriously contemplating choking you with your own balls."

"Well, first you'd have to get near them. Last I checked, I didn't fuck Rogues."

"Who in their sane -very sane- mind would want to fuc-"

"Okay, guys." I swung my door open, interrupting their heated quarrel. "It's nice that you two are getting along out here but if you're going to start pulling out knives anytime soon, I suggest the field with the long grass. No one goes there. Dead bodies would be hard to find too."

"You!" Jace growled.

I leaned against the door frame with a carefully blank expression. "Yes. It is I."

His right eye twitched ever so slightly.

"Tell me how you did it?"

"Did what?"

"Don't act ignorant. Ace is going home." He announced, curling his fingers into tense fists.

Although the news was surprising, I felt little shock from the claim and since Jace was at my door, I knew he blamed me. Typical. It didn't seem to seep into his thick head that I held no responsibility for Ace's departure. Sure, it was a genuine surprise they had chosen Ace to leave but that was on him, not me.

"I have nothing to do with his dismissal."

"The hell you do-"

"What is this commotion?"

Seamus appeared from the staircase dressed in a newly pressed shirt and black bow tie. "Are any of you going to answer or are we going to play the guessing game?" He asked wryly, looking far too unimpressed by the situation.

"No need. This potato head is harassing my friend, accusing her of his brother's dismissal from the E.S training." Pen replied, blowing a piece of her hair away from her eye when she ended her tirade with an annoyed huff.

Seamus seemed to take in the scene with a calculated look as he tapped the side of his jaw, "Is that right?"

I made a sound in the back of my throat, neither a clear yes or a no. I didn't need Jace going around claiming I'm also a snitch on his long-lost list of what-I-also-hate-about-Aella.

Jace pinched his lips in consternation. I didn't blame him. The way Seamus stoically examined him was enough to make one squirm in discomfort.

"Is there something wrong here?" Seamus asked.

"No." Jace responded.

"Then why are you here?"

Jace blew out an air of indignation. I could see he was trying to find a way to get out the mess he'd created or at least find a way to stop Ace from leaving but there wasn't anything he could do. They had chosen Ace to leave. Sure, he did mention it was possible to appeal but anyone would be a fool to confront any member of the Elite Syndicate.

"As much as I do enjoy quiet time, I'd like to know why you're here." Seamus tapped the tip of his Gucci footwear against the chipped cement.

"Nothing." Jace repeated and left.

I was surprised by his compliance. Usually, his Alpha bloodline reigned in favour, but Seamus viewed us all equally- like unqualified pre-schoolers who needed to be babysat every hour of the day.

Before I could thank Seamus for getting rid of Jace, he took on that busy look as he dusted the length of his shoulder. "There is something I need you both to do tonight."

***

I couldn't believe what I was doing.

The rosy-cheeked baby in my arms stared up at me with wide brown eyes. I was shocked it hadn't bawled as soon as he was placed in the cradle of my amateur arms. His chubby fingers clutched my hair, yanking it to the side.

"Ok little fella, no pulling-"

He pulled again. Hard.

I winced and ignored the ache. "Okay. Pulling is fine but let's not make Aella bald by the time she's twenty."

The baby babbled and for a brief moment I thought we connected. That was until he yanked on my ponytail, harder and cracked up showing his pink gums.

He sounded like an angel but the way his fist pulled on my hair was more of a devil's move.

Pen was tied up with the other toddlers. They were painting her in different colours. She held still the whole time, shooting her big round eyes at me for help. I shook my head and motioned to the baby in my arms, "You were the one who wanted the toddlers."

Pen sighed and flinched when one kid jabbed the paintbrush into her eye. "Hey, watch where you stick that thing."

"That's what she said." I blurted, simply because I couldn't help myself.

"Shut up Aella."

"Sorry." I laughed until the baby pulled my hair again. I was fine with the hair-pulling because if he wasn't, he'd be sobbing his eyes out. That wasn't something I was fond of.

"Why did he leave us here with these little animals?" Pen asked.

I gently rocked the baby in my arms just in case he decided to cry his little eyes out. I never held a baby before, and I wasn't going to let this experience be my first and last.

"Seamus said something about a Pack run so essentially we're the babysitters while their parents go for Pack bonding time." I summarised, walking around the nursery, appreciating the art pieces attached to the wall made by toddler hands.

"Couldn't they have just taken them along?"

"Nope. Too dangerous."

"We're not even in their Pack. Do they really want us around their young ones?"

"Well, some do." I gestured to our obvious situation.

Pen made a weird noise in the back of her throat, "Yeah after Seamus threatened them."

I chuckled at the memory when Seamus dragged us into the nursery. The mothers were appalled by his suggestion. We were too. Seamus dismissed their worries with a simple flick of his wrist, which was enough since they reluctantly left their kids with us on the condition Jane supervised.

Hence our babysitting duties.

Before Seamus left, he did leave a warning. If one little hair on their bodies was harmed or gone, we'd be dealt with. Severely.

"How is our little Milo?" Jane suddenly appeared at my side, gazing lovingly upon Hair-Puller's face.

"Milo? His name is Milo?" I asked.

Jane nodded as she brushed his delicate hairs to the side of his head. A soft, dazed expression blossomed on his face as he gripped her finger sweetly. "Guh. Guh."

"Oh, he's so cute." She cooed.

Milo fluttered his lashes.

It seemed liked I had a little playboy in the making.

I snorted, while trying so hard not to fall for his charms. Although we only met two hours ago, he easily was my favourite Shadow Hunter member. If he stopped with the hair-pulling, maybe our relationship status would be upgraded.

"I haven't seen you in a while." Jane commented.

"There hasn't been time." I replied.

"There's something different about you." She blurted out.

I carefully arranged my features into a calm facade. There was no way she would know. My heart hammered in my chest as I licked my lips. "How so?"

She scrutinised me from head to toe and repeated the move, slower. "I don't know yet, but something is different. Did you trim your hair?"

"Ah, no. Maybe it's the way I styled my hair?" I offered.

She eyed my hair but nodded anyways. "Yeah, I guess that's it." She did a poor job of showing that she was convinced but she didn't pry.

"Dammit kid, that's like the fourth time you stabbed me in the eye with that thing." Pen whined from the centre of the room, holding a hand over her injured eye.

"No. You keep moving." The boy retorted, trying to put the end of his paint brush back to the corner of her eye.

"Ah, no kid. It's either you're blind or you have bad hand-eye coordination. We can argue about it."

"Whatever."

The peace in the nursery made me feel oddly comfortable and secure. Maybe it was their openness and their judgement-free attitude that eased my nerves. Even baby Milo was a calming balm despite his hair-pulling ways. I glanced over to Pen. She too looked at ease with the children circling around her, painting her skin in every shade of the rainbow.

I often forgot that Pen was a Rogue. She rarely exposed her vulnerable side and when it did come out, I ached for her. She would've been young when she became Rogue. Her bearing was a little rough and edgy when you knew what you looked for. It was the only sign you knew she was a Rogue, aside from her scent.

A few hours passed in which the children fell asleep one by one. I tried to put Milo in a crib, but he brimmed with tears every time I attempted to lay him down.

Jane and Pen began to lay out beds with pillows and blankets. The pups quickly stumbled upon them when it hit eight.

It wasn't long before all the kids were asleep aside from Milo who was gnawing on my finger with determination.

"Here, let me try and help him sleep." Jane tried to take him.

Milo shifted in my arms with a loud squawk.

"Oh, he likes you." Jane muttered.

"How do I make him sleep? I've been rocking him for so long, I feel like my arms will fall off."

"Did you try laying him down?"

"He gets teary eyed as soon as I do."

Jane nodded sympathetically, "I think he just wants to be close to someone. It's normal. He seems to like you a lot."

"I'm not sure about that." I eyed his little fist that was suspiciously holding firmly onto my lock of hair.

I wasn't sure how long Pack runs went for, so I settled into the rocking chair positioned to face the wide window. It was slightly open as the lace drapes danced in the cool breeze. Baby Milo gazed up at me expectantly.

"Ah, did you want me to sing little guy?"

Milo blinked.

"I guess I'll take that as a yes. I don't really sing but for you, I'll try." I cleared my throat.

Milo yawned but blinked up at me, waiting. He made it feel like I was performing in front of a crowd.

I hesitated since I only knew one. Closing my eyes, I began to hum the soft melody.

The clock chimed at 11.00 PM, just as Jude walked into the nursery.

I double-checked to see if my eyes were deceiving me, but they weren't.

Jude Slater had just entered the nursery and the only adult in the room was me considering Pen and Jane went to take out the bags of trash.

He abruptly came to a stop mid-step as he realised I was in the room.

His gaze drifted to Milo who had been half-asleep but was now wide awake and staring at Jude with curious round eyes.

His sudden appearance was a shock to my system. I felt myself greedily taking in his appearance, noting his damp hair. When he didn't speak, I swallowed the uncomfortable knot in my throat and offered a small smile.

"Ummm, this is Milo." I awkwardly offered.

Man, I was pathetic.

"I know." Jude replied, blank-faced.

"Of course, you would. You're the Alpha." I nodded.

He didn't conjure a response as he assessed the room, seeing the mess the kids made out of the coloured papers, paint equipment and toys.

I wanted to ask why he was here, but I didn't want him to leave just yet. It'd been weeks since I last saw him, and it felt wrong to ogle him when I held myself away from him.

He was partially dressed in khaki shorts that seemed as if they had been cut off at the knees by blunt scissors. The shirt he wore was a pale blue button up, but all the buttons were loose, exposing his golden chest and abs. Interestingly enough, his feet were bare.

"If you're looking for Jane, she'll be back soon."

"No."

"You wanted to see Pen?" I hid my confusion.

"I needed to speak with you."

"Me?" I blinked, caught off-guard.

He nodded as his gaze diverted to little Milo. I stiffened when he lifted his little fist and opened his hand towards Jude in an expectant gesture. He even made that cute baby sound.

I tensed when Jude unstuck his feet from the spot he stood and came forward. I didn't think I was breathing when he gently scooped Milo into his arms and pressed a kiss on his forehead before cradling him in his big arms. I shouldn't be surprised since Jude took care of his Pack, but I was. Jude was big compared to the little vulnerable bundle in his arms. Milo looked completely at ease as Jude carefully brushed his lips against his cheek in a show of Alpha affection.

I was busy staring at him to notice that baby Milo finally drifted into a deep sleep. I only snapped out of my trance when he placed the hair-pulling bundle into the crib in the corner of the room. He whispered something to the little guy, but I was too far to decipher the rough whispering of his voice.

When he suddenly straightened, he gestured solemnly to the doors, "Outside."