AN i have double updated, pls read 32 first! 

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I woke the next day, disgruntled.

Completing my morning routine, I found dark splotches running along the length of my jaw and a few along my cheekbone. I was lucky I didn't have a black eye, my jaw taking most of the impact. There were other bruises that littered my skin, but most of them didn't hurt. Being so underweight as Maya called me meant I bruised easier, anyway.

My brain itched to cover the sight, but I didn't have makeup here. I was so used to hiding them. I was afraid of the reaction it would get in a place where the people healed in a matter of hours. I already got sniffed and stared at when on my monthly, so imagine the rare sight of a black bruise.

Do wolves even bruise?

Instead, I sighed and styled my hair so that a large part of it cascaded down my face. Having no other choice, I dressed in a simple t-shirt and shorts again, deciding inconspicuous was my best option of hiding my injuries. My legs had a few scuffs, but I didn't care too much about them. Everyone had minor flaws, but the bruise on my jaw was an eyesore. Literally.

Waiting for the elevator, I once again came face to face with Piper. She grinned at me, her bright brown eyes wide as she pulled me inside the death box.

"Ailia! I have been meaning to talk to you about the other day!" She beamed.

"Hey..." I smiled softly.

"You going down for breakfast?" She wondered.

"Yeah, I was going to do a grab and go." I admitted.

She giggled, hitting the ground floor button. "Don't be silly. We will have lunch together on the porch!"

"Oh, okay..." I muttered.

She wrapped her hand around my elbow and pulled me tightly against her side. Her perfume tickled my nose, as I turned to scan her attire to see what kind of day she had planned. Besides the flawless skin, her hair was in a high ponytail and she wore a pink, short summer dress. It barely scraped her thighs, so I can only imagine how short it was in the back.

Piper was well built. I suppose being an Alpha blood gave her the blood boost over other wolves to be stronger. She had slight assets, toned and firm, that had me envious of her confidence. She raised an eyebrow when she caught me staring at the thin heels on her feet, and I cleared my throat in response.

"You're dressed nicely... What are you doing today?" I wondered.

The elevator pinged, and Piper led me through the double doors, greeting a wolf who stood there.

"I have a meeting later, but other than that, I just like to dress cute."

"So wearing four-inch heels is for comfort?" I hummed.

She laughed at me; her spare hand coming to tap my shoulder. "Oh, I would love to give you a makeover."

Raising an eyebrow, I pursed my lips. "Are you trying to say something there?"

She shook her head. "I don't mean it like that. I would just love to see you in heels and a tight dress."

"You would?" I teased.

Her hand tightened on my arm, her eyelashes fluttering. "Of course."

It was my turn to laugh at her attempt at whatever that was, and her face brightened at the sound.

"Goddess, I love your laugh."

"What?" I snorted.

"I laugh like a dying cow."

"No, you don't. You laugh like a princess," I pointed out.

She grinned. "And I love how blunt you are with me. It's a pleasant change, Ailia."

"Compared to the Alpha's presence? That's not so hard to beat."

She shook her head, smiling still. "He isn't that bad when you get to know him."

The conversation died there as we entered the kitchen. Piper's arm disconnected from mine as she made herself some toast.

"Want some?"

I shrugged a yes and watched as she placed four slices under a strange metal looking thing. It rolled the bread down a tunnel where it disappeared for thirty seconds before popping out of the bottom a clean brown colour. She smothered hers in strawberry jam as I coated mine in butter, and together, we grabbed a drink and made our way to the front porch.

Sitting down on a chair, I sighed. "This place is so dreary."

With a mouthful of toast, primed and proper, Piper frowned at me. "What do you mean?"

"This porch," I gestured. "It's so dull. Not exactly welcoming."

She snorted. "The pack is not the most welcoming."

"That's not the point. They could still make it look nice for themselves, at least." I muttered.

"You are a part of the pack now. Why don't you suggest something?"

"I don't have any money," I shook my head. "I doubt that it'd get anywhere under-funded."

"I will fund it myself if I have to, Ailia." She smirked. "But I'm sure there is more than enough money in the pack accounts to spruce up the outside."

"Pack account?"

"Yeah, every pack has a generalised bank account for things like this. House repairs, transportation, furniture..."

"Bank account?" I cocked my head.

She paused, blinking slowly. "You don't know what a bank account is?"

Frowning, I shook my head. Chewing on some toast to pass the awkward belittling I felt, I contemplated keeping my mouth shut.

"I don't mean it in a bad way, Ailia. I forget you are not from around here sometimes. It feels like I've known you longer than this," Piper soothed me, reaching her hand out to grasp my knee. "A bank account is a place where money goes to keep safe. It's digital; you can transfer money from account to account and each account has a balance. From that balance, you can pay for things digitally or take money out as cash or coins."

"I see..." I murmured.

Damn, the world really had moved on without my home even realising. Or perhaps they did, and we didn't have the access to the digital stuff? But maybe, a darker part of me thought, the self-loving rulers didn't want to share. A few coins a day for hard work was nothing for people like Darius.

"Ailia, I do not know the extent of you life..."

Oh, here we go again.

"But you can ask me anything and I won't judge you. I will just give you the answer."

Hmm, perhaps not what I was expecting.

Smiling gratefully, I nodded. "Thank you, Piper."

She grinned, removing her hand. "So, what is the deal between you and this pack? In particular, my supposed to-be mate?"

"Supposed?"

She shrugged. "We coupled up since my mate died, if you remember me saying, but he's suddenly called it off about a week ago."

My eyes widened with shock. A strange hum of excitement built up inside of me. Why was I getting my hopes up? I wasn't sure. He was not mine!

"He did? Did he say why?" I wondered.

"He did not," she paused in her answer, cocking her head to stare at me. "But I think I have an idea."

I blushed, shaking my head. "It's not like that."

"Are you sure?" She teased. "You wore his shirt the other day, and he gave you his blood."

"So? I was injured, and the shirt was just a joke."

"He let you join in the pack training."

"That was just because I wasn't supposed to be there and I wanted to show him something." I pointed out, sipping my coffee.

"He brought you to his pack after you were injured!"

"It was instinctual."

"Ailia, he never looks away from you." She sighed, shaking her head. "You have to realise that."

I didn't.

"Piper, it's not meant to be."

"What makes you say that?"

I sighed, dropping my head to stare up at the dull porch roof. "He's an ass. He talks like crap and treats me like a peasant."

"You're not a peasant, Ailia." She tutted. "You are as much of this pack as anyone. Most of them already see you as a member. Do you not feel it? The lack of hatred or judgement?"

"No, I don't. Everyone's always got their nose in my business!" I grunted.

"How do I put this..." she murmured.

I waited as she contemplated her next words. My agitation was already growing, so I was glad she knew I may snap if she said something difficult.

"They are going to be like that because you are human. Humans are naturally weaker," she explained, and I narrowed my eyes. "They want to make sure you are okay. We are predators, we use our nose and eyes a lot. It tells us all about everything going on inside."

"But sniffing me when I want to be private?" I snapped, glaring at her.

"They want to make sure it is not blood from injury and see if you are in good health! Gosh, dammit, Ailia, stop shooting this down. This is a good place, a good pack who will treat you so. You are protected here; you never have to go back to whoever hurt you again." She exclaimed.

I clenched my jaw, dropping my gaze from her as my emotions hit me full force. The extremity of what she said hit me like a tidal wave. Mya and Eve had been trying to say the same thing for a week or so now, but I just couldn't see it. Something about Piper, her strength, her charm, drew me in, and as our strange friendship blossomed, I became comfortable around her. So, for her to use the term 'someone' instead of 'something', made me more emotional than I expected.

I felt safe here. I just couldn't admit it out loud.

I wasn't a fan of the company, but looking back on it, I realised they all were not that bad. They gave me my distance otherwise, and I could see what Piper meant. They were animals, and I was a new member of a different species. You don't send a dog into a wolf's den without expecting there to be a few tussles.

"Look, I'm sorry to drop it on you like that, but you need to hear it from somebody on the side-lines." She sighed.

I sniffed, shaking my head. "No, I get it. I appreciate it, Piper, I do. You are right. Here is safe. I know it is, I just..."

"Can't accept it? Living with the wolves?" She smiled softly.

I shakily laughed, swirling the coffee in my mug absentmindedly. "Maybe one day."

"I can accept one day," she smiled.

We fell into a comfortable silence from that moment on, finishing our cold toast and coffee as the birds sung in the treetops. I was growing to accept Piper as a friend now. Although her beauty was distracting, and her power could be overwhelming, her honesty was something I valued as a companion.

Placing my empty mug on the ground, I turned to face her fully. "Piper?"

"Hmm?" she wondered, looking at me with a smile.

"Thank you for being honest with me."

She grinned lazily, pushing a strand of loose hair behind her ear. "Honesty is the best policy. Now I need you to be honest with me about something."

"What is it?" I wondered nervously.

"Asra is your mate."

It wasn't a question, but I hesitantly nodded, which caused her shoulders to relax.

"Okay."

"Okay?" I frowned.

"Okay," she shrugged.

"But I thought you two had a thing?"

"We did. An arranged thing," she smiled. "But I have never truly loved him that way. There was always something stopping me from falling in love with him. Maybe it was my past; that it would feel like betrayal, or maybe it was his future; that I would prevent him from happiness."

"But we aren't together... I cannot stand him, frankly."

"Oh please, I have read all the romance books. You will end up together. You are destined to be."

"You must have read very few books," I shook my head.

She giggled, light and airy. "Oh, Ailia, please never stop being you."

I hope so too...