Dinner was an interesting event with the Vasiliev siblings. Tatiana suggested an early dinner, considering the duels would recommence tonight. I had tried to get a hold of both Aella and Kian, but both were busy. I assumed they were preparing for tonight's duels. I was nervous for both of my friends; I hadn't been able to think about much else.

I knew that my friends were more than capable of keeping up a good duel. They were good. Ace and Jace would be no match for them.

Returning to the present, I watched as Alexei sprinkled salt into the boiling water on the stove top. Although Alexei commanded the kitchen, Sascha was most definitely his sous-chef. She hung around him, obeying each instruction with enthusiasm. I noted Sascha had the ability to make Alexei smile a lot. There was a certain way he held himself around the youngest Vasiliev. When Alexei asked if she could bring the butter from the fridge, Sascha skipped to it, took out the item and handed it over to Alexei. Alexei in return, gave her hair an affectionate ruffle and side hug. Sascha accepted the touch naturally, leaning into his side as she avidly observed her big brother slice up a slab of beef into small strips.

It was evident that Alexei took on a fatherly role with Sascha.

Tonight's menu was beef stroganoff, which Sascha had requested as it was her favourite.

"Hey, can I talk to you?" Tatiana had quietly slunk her way to me. She had swapped out her violet outfit and settled with a pair of loose joggers and a simple white tee.

I turned to her, slightly panicked, although I didn't manifest the expression on my face.

I had no reason to be intimidated by her, but it was inevitable. She appeared to be the most closed off Vasiliev in the room.

"Sure." I nodded, despite the sudden need to stay close to Alexei and Sascha.

"Kotya, I'm just going to go outside and catch up with Pen." Tatiana informed her siblings.

Alexei and Sascha glanced up. Alexei caught my gaze, searching. I knew he was trying to figure out whether I was comfortable with being alone with Tatiana. I offered a small smile. There was no way I was going to tell him that having a chat with his sister was scary business.

"I'm here if any of you need anything." Alexei responded after a few, protracted seconds.

"Of course. We'll be quick." Tatiana flashed a grin, taking my hand.

She led us to the front door and down the stairs, on to the grass where we had a perfect view of the sky. "I'll never get tired of a view like this." I told Tatiana when she made no move to speak.

"It's beautiful. No wonder my brother loves it here." She whispered.

We watched the endless sky for long minutes until I felt Tatian's gaze on the side of my face. I peeled my eyes from the sky, acknowledging her stare.

There was an indecipherable expression on her face as she studied me. I kept still, wondering what thoughts were running through her mind.

"Do I make you uncomfortable?" She asked.

I blinked. I hadn't expected her to ask such a question. "Not necessarily. I think what makes me uncomfortable is that I want to make a good impression, but I don't want to come off to you as 'fake' or trying too hard to impress you. I feel like I should make a good impression because you're Alexei's sister. You're someone important to him. I want you to like me, but I can't force it. So, the situation makes me a little uncomfortable, but you don't."

Her lip curled a little as she nodded.

I waited for her to respond.

She peered up at the sky again, thinking. "Do you know that my babushka is an Oracle?"

Surprised, I shook my head, "No, I didn't."

"She's one of the best the Pack has ever had. She's seen a lot of things."

"I would like to meet her."

"She would like to meet you." She turned her gaze on me. "I'm still marvelling at the fact that Alexei has a mate. I thought he would've told us."

"It really happened out of nowhere. Even now, I don't quite believe we've been matched by the Moon Goddess."

"Tell me about yourself Pen."

Caught off guard by her sudden change of topic, I processed her question, "What do you want to know about me?"

She tucked her hands in the pockets of her track pants, observing me closely. "Anything that you're willing to divulge to me."

I liked that she didn't demand anything that was not her choice to share. There was something about Tatiana that made me want to trust her. "I'm going to be honest; I don't exactly know where I was born but I grew up in an orphanage."

Tatiana blinked, "You grew up in an orphanage?"

If I wasn't mistaken, she appeared to be worried as she assessed me anew.

"It was a long time ago." I shrugged.

"You must've felt so alone."

I didn't deny or affirm her words. There were a lot of things I didn't want to particularly reminisce about my past but the precious memories I did keep close to my heart were pieces of me that I didn't want to share with anyone else.

"I didn't know any better than the life of a Rogue until I entered the Shadow Hunters Pack. This place made me crave for more."

"Then I'm glad for you." Tatiana expressed, "I hoped that the journey you had to get here was worth it."

I nodded, "Every bit."

"I guess you already know why I wanted to speak with you."

"You want to warn me away from Alexei." I stated.

Tatiana blinked, glanced back at me, then erupted into violent laughter. I watched as she hunched over, wrapping her arms around her middle while she continued to laugh.

I frowned. I didn't know what to do, or if she was being serious. I glanced over her shoulder, seeing the kitchen space visible from the windows. Light shone outside. I could hear wisps of Alexei and Sascha's laughter filter through the air. It was a sweet sound.

Tatiana wiped beneath her eye, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I didn't realise we were on two different pages."

I raised a brow. I intended to speak but the words got lost in my throat. I was still trying to figure out what Tatiana was trying to communicate to me.

"I apologise. I did not realise you assumed that I wanted you to away from my brother. That is not my intention."

"I'm confused." I replied.

Tatiana unfolded into her full height, placing her hands on her hips. "You and Alexei seem to carry your pasts on your shoulders. Sascha doesn't really sense it because Alexei is a damn good liar in front of her. He just doesn't like unloading the dark things with Sascha. I guess we both agree to spare her from the dark details of our lives. You on the other hand, if I wasn't good at reading people, I wouldn't pick out how similar you and Alexei are in harnessing your pasts like impenetrable shields to keep people at a distance."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Denial is the first step." Tatiana cocked her head to the side, examining me. "Coming to an acceptance is not easy Pen."

"Is this your thing? Reading people?" I asked.

Tatiana shook her head, "I don't try to. It just happens. I can't help but feel like there's something holding both of you back from..."

"From?" I prodded her, waiting.

Tatiana threw her hands in the air, "I don't know. I'm just worried about you two. Look, I don't want to make this a bad thing, but Alexei hasn't told any of us about you. Sascha and I are happy that he has a mate, but we can't help but feel like there's something going on that we don't know. I know it isn't my business, but Alexei tells us everything. He isn't a tight-lipped person. Babushka would have been down here already if she knew Alexei had a mate. If Sascha and I hadn't come in for a surprise visit, I don't think we would've known about you."

I contemplated her words. Sure, there was discomfort knowing that Alexei hadn't told anyone in his family that he had a mate. I hadn't approached him with it either just yet.

Alexei's laughter in the breeze didn't sound as nice anymore. I didn't know what to feel, knowing that I was some secret Alexei was keeping.

"Alexei may have his reasons. I apologise if I have overstepped." Tatiana gave me a small, cautious grin. "I just worry for him a lot."

I was glad that Alexei had a supportive family.

"We should head inside before Sascha demands Kotya to make something else." Tatiana began to walk towards the steps, but I stopped her.

She turned; her smile uncertain as I tried to conjure the words onto the tip of my tongue. I battled the idea, but I had to know. "Is there a reason you think Alexei hasn't told you about me?"

Tatiana studied me for a long second, taking in my words silently. Something flickered in her gaze, but she was unwillingly to say. Instead, she surrendered a brisk shake of her head. "You need to talk with Alexei Pen. I'm not Alexei, so I don't know what exactly he is thinking."

I nodded, "Ok, I will."

"Let's have some stroganoff." Tatiana lightened her tone. I knew she only did it for my benefit.

Inside the kitchen, Sascha stood over the pot, pouring portions into four ceramic bowls. Alexei had already set the table, wiping down the cutlery. "I hope your talk went well?" Alexei paused his task and peered at his sister with words coated in suspicion. There was a slight warning in his tone, but it was masked with humour. Tatiana chose to ignore him as she strutted by, flicking her glorious locks behind her shoulder. "Kotya, you must remember that I'm not intimidated by you."

Alexei chuckled darkly, "Oh, you acknowledge that I can be intimidating?"

Tatiana scoffed, helping Sascha balance the steaming bowls to the table. "Never Koyta. Never. At least not me considering I knew at a point in time where you used to pick your nose and rub your snot on me."

Alexei erupted into laughter, "Careful, I may have not grown out of that phase yet."

Sascha pulled a face, faking a gag." That's disgusting. Please don't say stuff like that when I'm about to eat."

"Alright, I'll censure myself." Alexei approached me, linking our fingers together. He led me to the table, pulling out a chair without a word but a quick kiss to the back of my head that I felt all the way to my toes. I took a seat, watching as Tatiana elegantly took her place opposite me. Sascha took the seat next to her big sister while Alexei settled beside me. He was close enough, his thigh brushed along mine. I felt the heat of his hand a second later, spanning my knee in an affectionate touch. "This ok?" He asked, stroking a thumb along the curve of my limb. I had to tame myself not to shiver at the light touch. Alexei had a way of affecting my body, without doing much.

"More than fine." I replied.

He squeezed my knee and returned his attention to his sisters who had been effectively caught watching us. I dared say no one had blinked since Alexei sat down.

A small grin danced along Sascha's lips before she concealed it behind her glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. I didn't miss the way she nudged Tatiana in the side, as if to say if she saw the interaction between Alexei and I.

Tatiana cleared her throat, dragging our attention to the meal Alexei and Sascha prepared. I could smell the hints of caramelised onions and scorched mushrooms emanating from the bowls. My belly rumbled in response.

"Thanks Alexei, it smells so good." Sascha was the first to plunge her spoon into the fluffy rice, dragging the seasoned bits of beef onto the cutlery. When she took the first bite, her eyes widened. "Thisissooooooogood." She mumbled around the spoon.

"Speak properly Sascha, without the spoon in your mouth." Alexei gently chided her.

Sascha yanked the spoon from her lips, gulped and repeated her sentence. "I said the stroganoff is good."

"I know. I made it." Alexei took his own spoonful of the food, scooping it into his mouth. Unlike the youngest Vasiliev, Alexei didn't verbally communicate the pleasure he felt eating his own food. He just continuing eating while his sisters praised him for another delicious hit.