It took the entire morning to show Arabella around the pack house. She had thankfully not woken until after my moment with Asra. It took that entire moment, plus a dual shower until she stirred. If it wasn't for Asra telling me she was awake, I would've happily gone for a round two right there in the shower.

"This is really the dining room?" Her eyes were wide.

"It took me a lot to take in, too." I laughed, offering her a plate. "Everything is large. The people, the buildings, the wolves..."

She swallowed nervously, but nodded. The dining room was fairly crowded, and I noticed most wolves would glance curiously but would not let their eyes linger for long. I had a protective streak, and whenever someone so much as looked at my sister too long, I stared them down.

Arabella had done well to even leave her room. She was braver than I; being dragged around a large house after being here less than twenty-four hours. A house full of wolves too, ones who she had yet to realise can literally smell everything. Every. Thing.

"I can take whatever I want?" She mumbled, staring down at the lunch buffet.

I nodded, already helping myself to my food. "My favourite is pasta. Like, everything pasta."

She eyed my plate curiously before scooping some for herself and then choosing another. I laughed softly, leading her to my usual table. Eve and Mya were not here since it was barely past twelve, and I did it purposely so Arabella could have some more time getting used to the quiet of the place. She ate tentatively, taking small bites of each flavour on her plate before going back to the one she liked the most.

"There are a lot of different things." She mumbled.

"They change it every day. There's always an option."

"Who are they?"

"Asra employs maids and cooks." I shrugged, trying to act like it didn't annoy me.

"Employs? He pays them? Wolves?"

"Wolves, humans, half-breeds... There's a maid called Serenity. She helped me get a low down on the laundry and cleaning supplies." I mused. "She is half-wolf, half-human. Her father is called George. He drives the taxi in town and he's human."

"Taxi? That's another type of vehicle, right? I read them in my books and I can only assume it is some kind of car." She frowned.

Our lack of education really showed.

"Yeah, he takes you places, and you pay him." I nodded. "Doesn't make the journey any easier... What did you think about the car journey here, anyway?"

She chewed her food slowly, placing her fork down when finished. "I wasn't a fan of feeling out of control. But when I was asleep, it didn't matter."

"That's exactly how I feel. Being in the front made it so much worse because I could see everything. My friends here make fun of me for it." I pouted.

"You made friends?" She cocked her head.

I scowled. "I am capable."

"No!" she giggled softly. "I didn't mean it like that. I mean, who are they?"

"Mya and Eve, they are sisters. My best friend is Piper, but she was only here to visit." I sighed. "Just don't tell Mya."

"Why did she leave?"

"She is an alpha's daughter. She had to go back for her pack."

"Then why did she come if she could not stay? Surely to make a friendship, she was here a while."

"She was." I nodded. "They sent here her to befriend Asra to see if they could... bond."

"Bond?"

I clenched my jaw, awkwardly looking away. "The mate thing is real. They have these magical, ethereal bonds that link two souls together. Both her and Asra had not found their soulmate and their packs were growing desperate."

"So they were to wed?"

"Pretty much."

"And now... you are her best friend and dating her ex-boyfriend?"

I laughed at the look of disgust on her face. Arabella may only be sixteen, but she knew a lot more than her doe eyes let on.

"They never dated. Nothing happened more than kisses."

"Are you sure? How can you be comfortable with a kiss? I wouldn't be happy if the person I was with kissed someone else."

I smiled sadly. "It's just a kiss, Arabella. They had no bond, no true feelings. I was with Darius and I did a lot more than kiss him and I did not love him."

"But he forced you to do that."

"Their pack forced them to get to know each other to unite." I shrugged. "I cannot hold Asra's past against him."

"Has he been with another woman?"

"There are a lot of questions coming out here." I raised my eyebrows. "Curious, are we?"

"I want to make sure that my sister's new man isn't another Darius. If their bonds are so magical, then I'd like to know if he broke his bond before he met you."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, reaching out to take her hand. "Asra is not another Darius."

"How can you be so sure? He knew that vampire, Eris. He obviously has secrets in his past that he has not told you yet. You've known him for, what, four months? How do you know he is who is he says he is?"

I hesitated, insecure in my response. I wasn't certain of Asra's past and was going by who I knew him as today. So I told her just that. I told her it didn't matter to me.

"He is my soul mate, Arabella. They made him for me."

"How can you be certain? We are human. We do not have such things."

I shook my head in disbelief. "I love him."

"After four months?"

"Arabella..."

"How do you know he didn't just enchant you? How do you know this bond exists when he sunk his teeth into you before you could even feel a thing?"

I shook my head, my eyes closing with frustration that she wasn't listening. Everything she was saying was spinning around in my head, and the worst part was, most of it sat within me, telling me it's true. I only felt a pull to Asra at first. What if it wasn't real? What if it was just because he was a wolf and I was vulnerable?

No, I couldn't think like this. I couldn't let Arabella get into my head. From the time she was a toddler, Evermore had brainwashed her. I grew up with my father and I left school at a young age. They never got to my mind. They never filled it with such troubled nonsense. The only thing that became ingrained in me was the belief that wolves were bad, and who could blame me when they mauled my father?

"Arabella. Stop." I gritted my teeth. "Asra did no such thing."

"Okay, well then, explain Eris. Why hasn't he told you about her yet? Why did she think we were going to be a toy?"

"I don't know." I mumbled.

"How can you even be certain of the bond if you cannot be certain of his intentions?" She tutted. "How do you know it is real?"

My jaw tensed, and I looked down, frowning at my half-eaten dish. The table fell quiet as my little sister's words got taken to heart. I couldn't help but tune into them, my ego latching onto anything that may make this fantasy world fall apart.

I couldn't even mark him. Surely, if there was such a great bond, I could bite him. It would be engrained in me, human or not, right?

"I don't know." Picking up my plate, I sighed. "I'm going to my room."

"What about me?" She squeaked.

"You know the layout. You have a bubbling personality and a brain. Figure it out." I grunted.

I had been looking forward to my little sister being here with me. I had got immense relief about her safety, but the moment reality felt a little too easy, it reminded me of how much we didn't get along at times. She had always been mother's favourite, and her mannerisms were so similar to hers. Mother shaped her from a young age.

Getting a five-year-old to understand particular mannerisms was a lot easier than a nine almost ten-year-old.

"Ailia!" she called after me.

After depositing my half-eaten plate on the side, I ignored her and continued my way out of the dining area. Just as I entered the hallway, I could hear her hurried footsteps running after me. She shouted out my name again, and I gritted my teeth with annoyance.

"Arabella, please." I hissed, turning around to glare at her.

Passing wolves hesitated, sensing something was up. I was aware of the eyes, unsure if Arabella had even noticed as she skidded to a stop a few feet in front of me. The wolves would see Arabella as an intruder and defend me, and I wondered if she realised that.

"I didn't mean to offend you." She blurted.

"Well, you have." I snapped. "I brought you here to save you from everybody in Evermore because I was worried sick about my little sister! But all she can do is give snarky comments about the life I have found for myself. You insulted my feelings when all I have done is find someone that cares for me."

"I didn't..." she trailed, widening her eyes.

"The Bambi look doesn't work on me, Arabella. You are in wolf land; everyone will see through your crap." I glared. "I do not fall for your plans much like I never fell for Mother's."

Her eyes hardened, and she crossed her arms in defence. "I wasn't doing that."

"Its second nature to you, Arabella. You always have to suck up to someone. You never stand up for yourself. If you are to live here, you need to understand that your past doesn't matter anymore. Nobody gives a shit. Who you make yourself now is who you will be." I explained, matching her stance. "Whatever mother taught you to believe, forget it. Whatever you think of me, forget it. I brought you here, risked my life and other pack member's lives to bring you here because I love you. So please fucking respect the bond I have formed with Asra."

Her eyes widened slightly as she glanced around me. She was losing the sibling battle, and I could see that she was scrambling for something to say.

Hesitantly, she shifted her weight when she spotted the beasts a mere foot away from me.

"It seems you have done more than tame a wolf."

Clenching my teeth, I glanced behind me to see both Rio and Caleb. "They are my pack, and packs look out for one another."

"But you are human, Ailia. You cannot be part of a pack, you cannot have a soul mate. None of it makes sense..." she insisted, and the wolves grumbled.

"Arabella!" I snapped, and the room fell silent. "I've had enough! You need to stop it, please, just stop it. I get your life has changed and you don't want me to end up like I was before, but I won't. Not with Asra, so you need to trust him as much as you trust me, okay?"

She nervously bobbed her head, swallowing her nerves. "O-okay. I will."

"And enough criticising me, you sound just like Mother." I sighed. "You have been here less than a day and we have already argued over stupid shit."

She was silent again before her gentle voice had my spine relaxing. "At least it's not the duvet this time..."

A soft laugh escaped me and I groaned, grabbing my sister by her shoulders and pulling her to me. "You drive me insane. Mother really had made you hate the world."

"I don't hate the world."

"So you would not run away from Evermore the moment you left school?" I rose an eyebrow, looking down at her.

She smirked, unashamed. "I don't know what you mean."

"Arabella, I have bat ears when I want to. I know you hated that place as much as I did." I poked her dimpled cheek. "Just try to relax. Go explore the gardens or something. It's a full moon tomorrow, and you will need to feel comfortable with the sound of wolves."

"I don't mind the wolves..." she muttered.

"It's overwhelming. When you are ready, I will introduce you to some people. I am sure there are some girls your age here." I squeezed her, glad the furry beasts didn't scare her.

She smiled softly before linking her arm through mine. Together we walked toward the elevator and I passed by a confused and uncertain Rio and Caleb. Rio's stance was alert, watching the two of us, but Caleb was confused, his head cocked as he scratched his jaw.

"So, are we angry or not?" Caleb wondered.

I laughed, shaking my head. "We're fine."

"But you were about to rip her head off." He pointed out.

Arabella tensed, but I snorted. "She's my sister. I will always want to rip her head off."

The elevator dinged, and we stepped inside with soft giggles.

It was true. We got on like a house on fire; half the time we embraced each other and the other we battled against each other's strengths. Thankfully, the fights rarely happened. Arabella was usually a peaceful person, not taking her chance with words. She kept her head down and accepted her workload.

I understood, though; coming here was scary and confusing. It must've felt like a daydream. Nothing would make sense and it would mess my emotions up. Today she was just overwhelmed. Evermore restricted you. She was still a child; a teenager trying to understand what was going on. Darius thankfully didn't get completely into her head, but she still had a warped way of viewing things.

If someone took me away in the middle of the night into a whole new world, I too would think it was bizarre.

But that was just it. Tension rose in strange situations. We could fight like cats and dogs, but after all, she was my sister at the end of the day.