Two weeks of hard training passed. My body had finally recovered from the injuries and I was feeling stronger, but in exchange, I had gained endless muscle pain.

Added to all this was the constant presence of my wolf who kept asking me to get closer to my mate. It didn't matter how much I tried to explain to her that I wasn't interested, she kept pestering me with her cries.

We were better without him. Why couldn't she understand that?

In short, I was exhausted and ready to explode. I needed to eliminate some of my energy in some way, any option that freed me from the constant tension was useful. However, all I did was train, train again and sometimes talk a little with the group members.

The rogues ended up being nicer than I thought. I could tell by the way they looked when they went out on a mission or how they fought that they were deathly, but between them they acted like a weird family; a strange one but ten times better than my family.

"Artec is on a mission now, he asked me to take his place," Darla told me as soon as I entered the training room.

She was sitting in a chair by the door, filing her red nails, probably waiting for me to arrive so she could intercept me.

"Thanks for the help, I appreciate it," I answered as she stood up.

Since I started my training, Artec had never missed one of our sessions, when Zaziel had told me that the gamma would be happy to help me he wasn't lying. Artec always found a new way to make training challenging and somewhat entertaining, anyone who trained with him could tell how much he enjoyed doing it.

Having a different instructor than Artec made me nervous, Darla could be more demanding or less understanding than him, although if he had chosen her, she surely wouldn't be a bad option.

"There isn't much time left before you have to face the trials, Artec told me that you are decent at hand-to-hand combat so today we are going to focus on handling weapons," she explained to me, walking towards the door that led to the next room. "At night you are going to go hunting with Artec, you have to get used to hunting in your wolf form."

I nodded, keeping the situation as professional as possible. Darla didn't try to get off topic either, instead, she headed straight to the rack full of knives and picked out some for me.

"Let's start with the lightest ones, let me see what you learned with Artec.”

She watched me throw the knives at different targets, from time to time she gave me some advice about my posture but she didn't congratulate me either.

Frowning, she handed me the next knives and made me repeat the process.

To be honest I wasn't doing a good job. Most of the knives missed the target even though I tried to copy the stance that she and Artec had taught me. My copy must be defective because no matter how hard I tried I couldn't improve.

"Are you even trying?" she asked me.

I turned around with the knife still in my hand to argue her words when a delicious scent distracted me. Instead of defending myself I ended up focused on the door that was opening.

Zaziel walked into the room and my wolf started begging me to run to him. There was no way I was going to do what she asked, no matter how good he looked in his jogging pants and the black t-shirt that showed off his muscles.

"I'll try again," I told Darla before approaching the target area to retrieve the knives that were still on the ground.

A string of insults came out of my mouth as I bent down to grab the knives. Of all the times he had to enter the room, he chose the exact moment when I was in trouble.

The damn idiot was probably going to laugh at me and then put on a show to make me look bad.

I was still crouched, focused on my task regardless of the magnetic scent approaching me.

Don't fall into his trap, I repeated to myself, ignoring the shadow that enveloped my body from behind.

"Do you like the floor that much?" Zaziel asked me, standing next to me.

"I'm trying to train," I replied, trying to sound threatening.

"Get up," he ordered me. "I'm going to show you how it's done."

I didn't move an inch. "I don't need your help, I already have someone to train me."

"Really? It looks like the room it's empty to me, poor Darla was already tired of your horrible aim." Zaziel grabbed my arm and lifted me off the ground. "And no one else is coming to help you either, I locked the door so we can practice in peace.”

He had to be determined to get under my skin, it wasn't enough for him to always be within my reach to drive my wolf crazy with his scent but he also had to ruin my training.

That's why I hated alphas, it must have been part of their instinct to always demonstrate their superiority. Cocky bastards, it's not like they were going to explode if they spend more than five minutes without giving orders and treating everyone else like their personal servants.

Every one of Zaziel's actions was meant to show that he was in charge. The rules didn't apply to him, whatever he wanted, he did, and he expected the others to run after him.

I was tired of him calling the shots for me. However, what I needed most at that moment was to train.

"No games," I warned him, releasing my arm from his grasp. "I really need to train."

He raised his arms in surrender. "I know. I talked to Artec, I'm not heartless enough to send a potential recruit to their death. I'm trying to make sure you know the basics before I set the date of the trials."

"The stories I heard don't say the same." I walked away from the target with all the knives in my hand.

"Alright, what I meant is that I'm not always that ruthless. Maybe I rushed  one or two recruits to accept the challenges and that led to their deaths but this time it's different."

"What makes it different?"

Zaziel stood in front of me and caressed my cheek. "You're fun and I'm bored. I don't want to lose you so quickly.”

Wonderful. I've been upgraded from servant to personal toy. Destiny liked to play with my feelings, making me believe that my salvation had arrived just to be transferred to a new owner instead.

Perhaps I was being dramatic, the rogues gave me a place to live, the opportunities to learn to fight, and I could even join them if everything went well. Besides, most of them treated me with respect, some even saw me as their equal, something that would never have happened in my old house.

"Why don't you find a hobby?" I asked him, taking a step forward to escape from him. “I’ll be more entertaining than me.”

"Are you trying to convince me to let you die?" Zaziel approached me once more. "Because it's what I am understanding."

"You only understand what you want."

"Show it then, your desire to win the trials. If you really want to survive, let me teach you," he said behind me, offering me his hand.

Should I accept his offer? He was the alpha, which made him the strongest among the rogues and after what I saw during their attack on my uncle's mansion and the training he was an excellent fighter. Yes, he was annoying and his presence made me nervous because of the mate bond but I wasn't in a place to deny his help.

I took his hand. “Alright, but I really meant it, no funny games.”

“Let's start then,” he squeezed my hand carefully. “I won't be showing you how I do it because it won't work for you, no offense but you suck at copying postures.”

“What do I do then?” I asked, confused about his plan.

“Put yourself in position and I will correct your posture. I’m gonna need to touch you, with your permission.” He smirked at me.

“Don't pretend like you never touched me without my permission.” I grabbed one knife and got ready to shoot.

"I guess I'm guilty of that." Zaziel came up behind me and put his hand on my back. "You make it hard to resist me."

My breathing stopped for a second, his touch left an electrifying sensation as he moved his hands to my waist.

"Turn your torso a little more to the left," he said close to my ear. Then he moved his arm so he could touch my stomach. "Keep your abs tight."

"Like this?" I asked, ignoring the warmth that had taken over my body.

"Yes, just like that."

Zaziel moved the hand that was on my stomach to my right arm, he took his time caressing me in the process.

After adjusting my arm he pressed his body against mine, I could feel his muscles pressed against my back and I began to doubt that my mind could stay focused on the training.

"Try it now," he instructed, taking a few steps back.

I threw the knife. For the first time since I started training I hit the target. A smile escaped me without being able to hide it, my attempt to pretend that I didn't care was quickly ruined.

"I did it," I told Zaziel as he returned to his position behind me.

"Good girl." His voice sounded deeper than usual. "I knew you could do it with a little help. Why don't you try again on your own?”

Being careful to maintain my stance as he had taught me I threw the knife again, this time it hit closer to the center than the first time.

I turned around, meeting Zaziel's gaze. Even though I reminded myself that he was an asshole, a part of me sought his approval. It had to be my instinct, the mate bond's pull that called me to earn my mate's compliments.

Zaziel motioned with his hand for me to come closer to him.

"You did great, with the proper guidance you are a fast learner." He put his hands on my shoulders and pushed them back. "Just a small detail, next time pay attention that your shoulders don't go so far forward."

We were very close to each other, an unnecessary distance for training, although with Zaziel it was difficult for me to have personal space.

He looked me in the eyes and one of his hands went up to my neck. Without saying anything, he caressed my chin with his thumb. My heart raced and a warmth arose in my chest that I had never felt before.

I couldn't escape anymore, my desire took over my mind and the only thing I could think about was the captivating scent of him in which I wanted to immerse myself.

"I can smell your desire, pup," he said, bringing his nose to the base of my neck. "Tell me what you want. Remember that you are the one who decides."

I could feel his breath against my skin. "And the security cameras?" I asked.

"What about them? Leave Klaus to see." He squeezed my waist. "Let's give him a little show.”

"I want you," I confessed.

Zaziel raised his head and rested his nose against mine. "Excellent choice," he said, pulling my body against his.

Our lips were millimeters apart, our breaths hitting each other. I took courage and tried to get closer but Zaziel put his fingers against my lips.

"No, no, little mouse, I don't do kisses. It's too sentimental for me," he explained to me, "but don't worry, I can do other things."

My breath hitched in my throat when Zaziel slid his hand to my butt and gave it a squeeze. At the same time he held my chin, lifted my head, and started kissing my neck.

"This has to be the best flavor I've ever tasted," he said before pushing me against a pillar.

Our scents mixed together, making my wolf howl with happiness. I didn't have time to worry about her when Zaziel started sucking on the skin of my neck.

I moaned and grabbed his hair. Zaziel's hand that was on my waist went under my shirt and began to caress the area under my breasts.

"Fuck," I cursed.

My body seemed to be on fire, each contact of his skin against mine was so intense that it took my breath away.

Zaziel moved his head towards the junction of my neck and shoulder. He sank his teeth into it and a mixture of pain and pleasure spread through my body.

I wanted more, I needed more.

But Zaziel had a different idea.

"That'll do for now," he whispered before pulling away from me.

I looked at him confused as I tried to catch my breath.

"Don't make that expression, pup, I have other matters to attend to but there can always be a next time." Zaziel fixed his hair and turned around. "By the way, don't think about hiding your neck, it would be a shame if my work was wasted.”