"I..."

The ringing of a phone cut her off mid-sentence. Natsha clicked her tongue and fished out the phone that was frantically notifying its owner.

She let go of Lorena and answered the call.

Taking advantage of that moment, Lorena walked straight into the bathroom.

By the time Natsha finished the call and turned around, Lorena's figure had long disappeared. She let out a breath.

"I'm heading to the film set! We'll talk another time!" Her voice echoed through the wooden door, carrying into Lorena's ears inside.

When there was no response, Natsha simply turned and left. Lorena never responded to her anyway.

Lorena stared at herself in the mirror. She truly didn't know what she should do. Just now, if that phone call hadn't interrupted her, she really would have said it.

She ran a hand through her hair, tugging at it. Lorena didn't know anymore. Staying silent wasn't an option. But if she spoke, what kind of future would be waiting for her?

//////////////////////////

"Lorena, have you gained weight again lately?" The coach looked at her and asked.

Lorena's figure was nearly perfect any slight change would be noticed immediately.

The corner of Lorena's lips twitched. No matter the gender, weight is a sensitive topic, okay?

"I didn't gain that much!" She retorted.

"Mm. Just keep it within limits." The coach said, rubbing his chin. "Don't overindulge. You're already thirty, you know!"

Lorena swore that if the man standing in front of her weren't the coach who had trained her for years, she would have already lunged into a fierce fight.

Oh, God! Since when had she developed such violent tendencies? No, no! That's not it!

Lorena shook her head.

"Are you disagreeing with me?" The coach asked suspiciously, staring at her constantly shaking head.

"I'm just shaking my head to stay alert." Lorena forced a smile and replied.

She really didn't know anymore. Lately, her violent streak seemed to be getting worse. Lorena was also far more easily provoked by words she would normally brush off.

////////////////////////////////

Natsha looked at the wide-eyed baby lying in the cradle and couldn't help but sigh in admiration. The child really did look a lot like that beta.

Emily walked out of the kitchen, carrying a glass of water. She handed it to her. Natsha took it and thanked her.

"Thank you for everything during this time." Emily said.

"What are you thanking me for?" Natsha smiled. "It's been mutually beneficial."

Emily tapped her fingers lightly against the side of the glass.

"You and that alpha... how are things?"

Natsha wasn't startled at all at being found out about her relationship with Lorena.

"You could say the proposal failed." She clicked her tongue. "That person doesn't even like me."

Emily narrowed her eyes and voiced her thoughts.

"You're not a beta, are you?"

Natsha's crescent-shaped eyes turned toward the transparent glass door.

"Did I ever say I had to be?"

Emily lowered her head, the corner of her lips lifting.

"I think... that alpha doesn't exactly dislike you."

Natsha tilted her head and looked at Emily. Emily found her attentive expression genuinely amusing. There was something oddly innocent about it. Even though she was already twenty-nine.

"That day, why do you think you were beaten?" Emily asked.

"Because of deception. Morals and dignity were violated!" Natsha replied clearly.

"Not wrong." Emily crossed her arms over her chest, leaning back against the wall. "But not enough."

"Alphas always have a strong sense of possessiveness. It's their instinct. And you..." Emily pointed at her. "...are making that person feel threatened in terms of 'territory'."

Natsha pointed at herself.

"Me?"

Emily nodded firmly.

"I don't know exactly what you are, but an alpha would usually 'assert dominance' in front of someone who invades their 'territory'. But that alpha hit you instead of hitting me!"

The memory of those blows instantly flooded Natsha's mind. She shuddered slightly. Oh God! If it weren't for her own gender, she definitely would have been hospitalized for months. Not just a few weeks of soreness.

"And the fact that you can still stand here after taking a beating from an alpha with such superior physicality." Emily laid out her "data." "Makes me guess that you don't fall within the three conventional genders."

Natsha didn't refute it.

"Alphas care a lot about 'face'. And the ego of an elite alpha is even bigger. You know that." Emily reminded her of a crucial trait.

"I have that too, don't I?" Natsha raised a brow at her.

Emily pressed her lips together. Natsha's pride really was enormous so when someone hit her, she just stood there and took it.

Natsha noticed that although Emily didn't respond verbally, her expression said everything.

She cleared her throat and coughed a few times.

"Alright, I'm heading out!" Natsha waved her hand. "Let me know when there's a schedule!"

Emily nodded and walked her out.