With shaky fingers I try to button his shirt upon my skin, but it feels like an impossible task at the moment. The stupid thing smells like him, his wooded, delicious scent and I want to rip it apart. Just. Like. His. Head. He's hanging around the room, uncomfortable, pretending to check out some weapons, the state of the mats, the stupid lamps...

"Stupid-brainless-fatuous-dumb-crazy alpha." I grumble while working on the second button.

I hear him shift awkwardly and I know his attention is on me even though he pretends otherwise.

"Rotten-narrow-minded-weak-feeble-dull puppy." I go on as the entire situation is suddenly getting on my nerves.

'Don't forget short.' My wolf snorts as aggravated as I am for once.

"Impotent wolf."' I spat next.

I hear the deafening sound of hard wood breaking and heavy objects falling resounding in the silence of the room. However he doesn't say anything. I turn around slowly to see a cabinet broken in two on the left side of the training room, its contents displayed on the floor.

Someone's got issues.

I smirk. I hit a nerve. Anything to make him pissed. That'll definitely making me feel less depressed. My fingers seem to be working better and I do three buttons up at once.

"Stinking-ugly-twat--nut-ass codger."

He closes the door behind him as he flees the place before I finish my sentence.

"Coward."

Too bad, I was just getting started.

I'm finally alone and decide to take some time to think about everything. I stand up and whiff at the fabric of the shirt, shuddering involuntarily. I roll my eyes at myself. This is pathetic. The guy just humiliated me. Me. And not two seconds later his scent makes me weak in the knees, waiting for my next fix. I need to get a grip.

I walk to the weapons scattered on the floor and start throwing them, one by one, without a definite target. I actually take my time aiming for every white-new-clean wall. Putting as many dents on them as I can. I don't forget to grab my knife and pocket it discreetly before pulling axes up and starting my stretching exercises again. I am particularly happy to throw an anvil to the far right corner of the room.

Alright, so this might not be my best idea so far, seeing as the wall outright crumbled in its path leaving a hole behind it and a very shaky young man on the other side, sitting behind a marble desk and no more windows beside him, his glasses completely ajar on his nose.

"Oops." I smile. "Well, look at it that way, at least now you have as much fresh air as you want." I try to joke but I can see him getting paler by the second.

'One roasted chicken that he's gonna faint.' My wolf bets.

Two that he won't. I over bid.

My wolf and I started betting food a few decades ago. I know it's silly since we are the same person but sometimes it's not about logic. In fact we both have our own accounts, so that we can both spend money on what we want. After all she's the one that ransacked and ravaged villages, that money is hers, not mine. Plus food is the most important thing in the word. And it's still better than the time we'd bet kills. I won the biggest one, with two thousand kills when I guessed the number of fish in the pond in 1235 but we decided to change the wager. To much hassle. I had to kill them all in one afternoon as the bets are not refundable and can't be delayed. So now it's about chicken.

The man in front of me starts to tremble, his eyes still on me, thunderstruck, mouth open, his hair a mess. I can even smell and see a little bit of blood on his hear.

Damn, that was a close one !

The doors of the training room burst open revealing an angry Jared with an anvil in his hands. His eyes land on the hole and then on me.

"That wasn't me." I shrug.

"Out." He orders between gritted teeth.

I gladly oblige, skipping out of the room with a small wave to the lost wolf in his office. Jared lets the stony object loudly hit the floor and follows me in silence. His stance and the menacing power emanating from him let me believe he is not happy, not happy at all.

"Did you need me for something ?" I inquire pretending as if I didn't just destroy a part of the castle.

Give me a little more time and there won't be anything left standing.

"I was finally able to take a five minutes break from the beta duties. So imagine my surprise when a piece of rock -I clearly remember neatly laying in the training room and usually used as a seat- came crashing down as fast as a meteor, almost hitting one of my fighters in the process."

I don't bother replying. Especially since everything I'm thinking right now is along the lines of "Almost ? Then what's the problem ?" or "I didn't even hurt a single person, I'd say thats a slow day." and "You've got time on your hands ? Want to practice some more with me ? I find throwing heavy, deadly objects really entertaining, you should try sometimes."

I'm not meant to be surrounded by this many people. I know I'm the biggest danger to them. So maybe it's time for me to leave. Maybe I should just get my car and drive to the next race, the next adventure. That's how it's supposed to go for me. I never stay this long without a reason. And a mate that constantly rejects me, ignores me and insults me is not a valid one.

He's lucky he's still alive.

I can have my stuff ready in five minutes, and I always keep a spear key to my car in the glove box of the dashboard. I stayed because I wanted to. Now I've changed my mind, it's not worth it. This is not my home, I don't belong here, I've got nothing to do here. We walk outside, in the garden and the fresh air clears my head, making my decision easier. I am a beast of the wild, I belong in the forest.

Jared starts to rub his hands on his face, clearly bothered by something. I don't see how a few holes are that big a deal.

"Come on Cerberus, what's gotten your pants in a twist ?" I joke.

After making it known he didn't like the nickname with a glare and a roll of his eyes, he starts to sigh.

"They aren't talking." He mumbles.

"What ? Who ? Your pants ?"

Another eye roll.

"The rogues."

"Ah." I answer evasively. "Rogues don't really talk much though."

"But they won't say a word." He complains.

"Did you ask nicely ?" I mock.

"Sure. I brought them tea and scones. They are resting in my room right now." He answers sarcastically.

I see Nate get closer to us but ignore him, he's a ghost to me. Just air and a blurry image, not worth my time.

"I just heard about an anvil ?" He starts in an exaggerated tone.

"Did you at least change the sheets ?" I continue as if we didn't get disrespectfully interrupted.

"We're not a five stars hotel. They are in a cell in the basement." Jared responds observing me.

"Alright. Then did you torture them ? Threaten them ?"

"No, not yet. I wanted to give them a chance first."

"Why the hell am I being ignored ?" The handsome plonker demands beside us.

"They didn't seem very strong to me." I go on unfazed.

"To me either. But I don't know, it feels like they are hiding something, like they know something we don't. I swear I thought they were waiting for something to happen earlier."

"Do you want me to try ? I can be really persuasive."

The bastard on our right is getting more frustrated by each passing minute, his eyes darkening at being ignored so much. I get closer to Jared, almost touching him, showing fake concern on my face and I hear him growl in warning.

So I do the only sane thing I think of. I take another step and place my hand on the upper arm of the beta, getting fully in his comfort zone. I can see he's amused by my antics but he keeps sending wary glaces at Nate.

"You know I'm there for you." I overdo my act in a sweet, sugary voice.

The next second my hand is firmly enclosed in a strong, warm grip while Jared is sprawled on the grass five feet away from us. Nate turns me towards him but I don't let our eyes meet.

"Don't touch him and stop ignoring me." He orders like a child making a tantrum.

"Jared, are you okay ?" I exclaim, feigning to try and go to him.

I could get him off me but his touch is sending shivers down my spine and I dont wan't it to stop. So I stay were I am.

Jared gets up, wobbling from the strength of the impact.

"I'm alright ! Everything is alright !"

He shots his arms up checking his limbs and I want to laugh. I try to contain my smile with great difficulty. He stops a few meters away to avoid another round. His creased eyebrows show concern. I can see he doesn't understand what's going on, neither do I. But I have an inkling the alpha is a little too possessive, like I am one of his toys and he doesn't want to share me. I wouldn't mind if he wasn't avoiding me like the plague every other minute when I'm alone.

I guess I'll try to be more sociable with the rest of the pack.

In the meantime I'll try to help Jared with his problem because I'm genuinely curious as to why they attacked the pups.

"I really think I can make them talk." I tell him.

"You are not going anywhere near them." Nate interrupts in an I-am-the-big-bad-alpha-who-decides-and-you-can't-say-anything-about-it tone.

My eyes twitch involuntarily at the command in his tone.

He's got to learn he can't order me around at some point.

"And why would that be ?" I ask him directly in an irritated voice, finally deciding to acknowledge his presence.

When my glare meets his eyes I stop breathing. His face is the mirror of thousand thoughts ; anger, worry, fear, lust, curiosity, challenge, dominance, frustration, happiness, disappointment, interest, unease, confidence...

Dude, pick one already.

This is preventing me from forming coherent thoughts.

"Because I'm the alpha." He proclaims proudly.

"But that's where you're wrong, you're not my alpha. I don't need to listen to you. I can go see these rogues if I want to and I can leave too."

"No." He protests his jaw clenched.

I shrug and turn back to Jared who doesn't seem ready to interfere in this conversation.

"Lead the way." I tell him with a swift movement of my hand.

Hesitantly he starts to walk in front of me and I follow in his footsteps with Nate hot on my trail. We quickly move away from the pack house and into the woods to a second building, rougher, entirely made of concrete. We enter it and I can feel the cold stagnant humidity in the air right away. I smell the dust around, it's not used often which either means that this pack is really strong or that times have change and there are no attacks anymore, only a few here and there. However this facility was made in a different era, when rogue attacks were a daily routine. There are at least a dozen cells on the first floor and I can easily guess there are more underground.

We turn a few corridors and get deeper into the building before Jared suddenly stops in front of an old door embedded with claw marks.

"I need to go in there alone." I inform him when he grabs the handle.

"I'm going too." Nate stubbornly adds.

I grit my teeth and count to ten.

"They might talk if there's only a weak girl in front of them."

'What's weak about you ? You just kicked their asses, I'm pretty sure they won't trust you.' My wolf laughs.

Concussion. They won't remember me.

I don't need to see it to know my wolf is rolling its eyes at my simple thoughts.

"The only way this is going to work is if I go in there alone." I keep going.

That's true but I especially don't want to be in the same confined room with him.

"Alright." Jared agrees warily, taking the lead faced with an indecisive alpha. "But we're staying right outside the door. If I hear any sign of danger we're going in.

I nod and get inside the cell. I have to be careful about how I handle this, I can't let anything slip about my true identity. I look around the room, the two rogues are comfortably chained on each side of it, with a mattress and a bottle of water. I do a double take. They even have new clothes and a heater.

What the... it IS like a five stars hotel.

Nobody would talk like that. I could even see myself resting a few days here.

I concentrate on the first one, already observing me. He's the one that attacked the pups first. I get closer and kneel in front of him to be at eye level.

Unbelievable. I'm the one sitting on the floor while his ass his cozily sitting on a mat.

'Who made this crazy place ?'

Maybe they go insane from all the kindness.

'I would.'

"Hey there." I smile sweetly. "Remember me ?"

He growls at that.

'No concussion, too bad.' My wolf smirks.

"I take that as a yes. So, I have a few questions for you." I start but the glare he's sending my way tells me he won't be a big help.

"Why did you attack us in the clearing ?"

No answer.

"What did you want ?"

Still nothing.

"Are there others waiting for you ?"

When he still doesn't give me anything I roll my eyes.

Well, I tried to be nice...

"What made you think you could win, that you could do anything actually ? I" taunt him. "I mean I kicked your ass in five seconds. Me. And you thought you could win against their fighters ?"

"Of course I would."

"But you're so weak." I amplify the last word on purpose and his jaw tightens.

"Unchain me and we'll see who's stronger." He shouts, I can't help the smirk that appears on my face.

"Foolish pup, you would lose every time." I tell him as I see red.

He gasps and his body tries to move away from me on impulse. He's glued to the wall as if it could magically open to let him escape.

"What... who"

"I'm the one asking the questions." I inform him threateningly. "Why did you attack them ?" I repeat myself.

"Because I hate the packs. They are so full of themselves."

"What did the pups do to you ?" I demand menacingly.

"They breathed." He spats.

I glower at him and he wimpers.

"Do you know someone here ?"

"No."

I believe him. His accent is European and he doesn't smell like the woods around here.

"Then why would you come here ?"

"Never asked why it had to be this one." He mumbles disdainfully.

I take mental notes without showing anything on my face.

As I thought they had orders. They are just pawns.

And this one is plain stupid, he only wants to take revenge on the packs. He is proud and vindictive. Just a fighter.

Small fry.

I don't think he'll be of any more use so I unceremoniously get up and plant myself in front of the second wolf without another glance for the first one. As I noticed before in the clearing he's smarter than his sidekick. He's not saying anything, calmly observing me, thinking before he talks and acts. I'm sure he knows more about the attack than his friend but it'll be more difficult to get information from him.

Even though I sit in front of him, showing a sweet toothy smile.

"I'm Ivy." I lie. "You ?"

He smirks.

"Nice gigs you've got here." I say next almost whistling.

I still can't believe how well they are treated. There is a plate of todays lunch on a side table for crying out loud. They aren't even starving them.

He looks around too as though he's as amazed by the situation as I am.

"Never had this kind of place when I'd get caught." I tell him in confidence.

If I want him to talk I need him to know I'm the same as him.

'You're not chained to the wall.'

I don't have his nice clothes.

He seems to think the same as my wolf as one of his brows goes up to support his smirk.

"If you tell them what they want they might let you go." I offer.

'I wouldn't.'

Tell me about it.

He still doesn't budge so I try to shake him, get him out of his comfort zone.

"Are you ready to die for someone else's idea ?"

I see him waver before he gains his composure back.

"Why do you think they sent you and didn't come themselves ?"

"Because I'm expendable."

"At least you know why you'll die." I sigh and get up. "If things were reversed, do you believe they would do the same for you ? Because I don't think so." I tell him as I leave the room.

I know he won't say anything else. Not yet. First he needs to get scared. I close the door behind him. Nate and Jared are waiting outside. I stare down at them.

"I think I'll rent one for myself." I inform them like I would if I was interested in renting an apartment.

I can't help rolling my eyes.

"If you want them to talk start by separating them. Bring them underground so they can't see the light outside and leave them in the dark during the day and with the lights bright on during the night. Stop giving them new clothes, cut the food ration by half and don't give them a mat. And for the love of god cut the heater off. They are prisoners, not guests."

"But." Jared starts.

"They tried to kill your pups." I remind them aggravated by their lack of concern.

I wouldn't want them in my pack.

'Things have changed. The world is nicer.'

Not when it comes to protecting your pack it shouldn't.

"Do you treat all your prisoners like that ?"

"You beat them on your own. We thought they weren't that much of a threat."

I roll my eyes. These guys are so naive...

"That's why you're still pups. All of you."

I hear Nate growl and even Jared tenses at the insult but I don't care.

"Did it never occur to you that maybe, just maybe, I'm actually strong and that without me you would have lost a lot today ?"

"Sure. I mean I know you're strong, you beat two of them alone. And you're good with weapons. But we are men, wolfs, fighters. We can handle a little rogue." He keeps going.

Okay that's it.

I look at Nate, who, for once, isn't saying anything, his lips tight, his brows creased as he listens to our banter. I think he is catching up on the gravity of the situation. The rogues attacked under orders, orders they will blindly follow without a second thought. And there are probably more of them out there.

"You need to be taught a lesson, pup." I notify the beta.

"Stop calling me 'pup'." He grits his teeth, his voice low and menacing.

"You, me, outside."

"I don't think this is a good idea." Nate intervenes

Now he is concerned.

"I wouldn't want to hurt you, girl."

"First I'll kick your bratty ass, then I'll take on all your trained fighters." I challenge.

"Guys, come on." The alpha tries to appease us.

'Are you sure this is a good idea ?'

They need to know there is always someone stronger than them somewhere.

'But if you beat them they'll never trust you.' My wolf warns.

I won't stick around to see it anyway.

"You're on rogue." Jared growls.