Inaaya stretched her aching shoulder as she exited the car, a wide grin on her face despite the minor injury. Talisa smirked, laughing as Inaaya gestured for her to go alone to see Dielle. Inaaya enjoyed attending to the "vampire business" with Talisa, something Dielle disapproved of. There was no need to shove it in the woman's face that they were doing it regardless.

Rolling her shoulders back, Inaaya too walked inside the castle once Talisa had disappeared. This time, she had been much closer to the action. Though her injury lacked an action-packed story, sadly. She had acquired it by stumbling on her clumsy feet and tumbling down a couple stairs. Talisa had laughed for a few good moments, even when they were being chased. To say the embarrassment was real was an understatement.

As Inaaya turned a corner towards her room, Axel ambushed her. Something that really shouldn't have surprised her yet it did. It always did. He was so quiet and stealthy and fast. And he was always there, taking every opportunity to try and talk to her. Inaaya was putting up a good fight, though. 'Out of sight, out of mind' were the words she was living by at that moment. She attempted to circle around him but he stopped her once more.

"Inaaya, please, it's been three days," he nearly begged, a pained look on his face. This look was always there, always tugging at Inaaya's heartstrings. But her hurt was fueling her stubbornness more.

Axel ran his fingers through his raven hair, tousling them further. His light grey eyes were accompanied by dark eye bags, lips were slanting downwards in a frown and forehead was marred with worry lines. He looked exhausted. He always did, ever since that fateful evening in the library three days ago.

"Axel, I don't want to talk right now," Inaaya murmured, turning away from him.

"You never want to talk. You always want some space. Always need time to think," he whispered, voice getting fiercer with each word. "When are we going to sort this out, Inaaya?"

Inaaya's nostrils flared as she felt a surge of anger course through her. "Yes, I do. And sadly, I always need to demand it. If it were left to you, you won't think it important for me to have a say, now would you?" she bristled, snatching her wrist from his hold and walking past him, deliberately knocking his shoulder with hers. Though in retrospect, it only proved more damaging for her already bruised shoulder.

"You're hurt," Axel suddenly burst out, causing Inaaya to turn around. His face was masked with worry as he walked closer, eyes zoning in on her bad shoulder. Inaaya wondered how he knew, then the realisation that it was probably because of the mark made her anger flare up all the more. Her dislike for this mark was bordering on hatred now. 

"Not as much as I am emotionally."

Axel clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth, seeming to be holding himself back. Good thing too because Inaaya was in a mood to brawl. "If you don't want to talk to me, fine. At least don't go risking your life with Talisa."

Inaaya walked closer to him, tilting her face upwards to meet his eyes. "I will do as I please," she stated slowly, giving him a mocking smile, "Believe it or not, I do like to exercise my right to control every little detail of my life. It would be better if you don't try to interfere more than you already have." She mimicked Axel's pursed lips and narrowed eyes before turning around and walking towards her room. Gratefully, Axel didn't stop her this time.

Once outside her temporary room, Inaaya was ready to slam the door shut when Talisa popped her head out of her own bedroom. Inaaya had shifted in the vacant room next to Talisa's the night she had found out about the marking. She couldn't bear to be near Axel. Not when she was fuming and he was relentless in his pursuit.

"I thought it was you! Come on in, Dielle's here too." Talisa's lips curved upwards on one side of her mouth, her dark eyes twinkling with mirth. It was an unsaid understanding between the two that Inaaya was avoiding Dielle. Inaaya forced a smile on her face and nodded, knowing Dielle would have heard her if she had declined.

Inside the room, Inaaya settled against the headboard of Talisa's bed beside Dielle while Talisa went into her ensuite bathroom. There was an uncomfortable silence before Dielle broke it, rather uncomfortably too. "So... did you happen to see Axel?"

"Why? Did you send him?" Inaaya seethed and Dielle was taken aback at Inaaya's outrage. Inaaya sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. "I'm sorry, Dielle. I didn't mean to snap at you. I've just had another altercation with him," she mumbled, wringing her fingers in her lap. Dielle was about to comment when Talisa entered the room again, a first aid box in hand.

"You got hurt?" Dielle asked Inaaya in surprise, a slight worry lacing her voice.

Talisa gestured at Inaaya's shirt and Inaaya's hand clutched at the collar of it. With her mouth and eyes wide open, she stared at Talisa in question. Talisa rolled her eyes. "It's not like we haven't seen you in your bra during training every morning."

Inaaya snapped her mouth shut, cheeks pinkening. "It was a sports bra," she mumbled, beginning to unbutton her shirt and pulling it down over her shoulder just enough to reveal the bruised skin. The training sessions had become rigorous and exceptionally heated, especially when surrounded by warm-blooded wolves. It also helped that the regular training had made her body more toned and her more confident about it.

As Talisa tended to Inaaya's bruised shoulder, Dielle pursed her lips, unhappy about being ignored. Inaaya knew Dielle wouldn't be able to keep her judgement to herself for long and she was soon proven right.

"I just don't think it's safe," Dielle began, giving Inaaya a disapproving look, "You going with Talisa, that is. This is only a minor injury but you could have gotten seriously hurt, Inaaya."

Inaaya groaned. "Not you too, Dielle. I've already had this discussion with Axel and I'd rather not repeat myself."

"So it didn't go well with him today either." Dielle's words sounded more like a statement than a question. A rather displeased statement. "You really need to talk to him, Inaaya. At least hear him out. You have got to."

Inaaya glanced at Dielle, clenching her jaw then turning away. Even though Dielle agreed what Axel did was wrong, she always seemed to be on his side. Always pushing Inaaya in his direction. It was another reason that pushed her to go with Talisa— to get away from Dielle and her support rally for Axel.

"She hasn't got to do anything," Talisa muttered, placing an ice pack over Inaaya's shoulder.

Taken aback, Dielle stare at the vampire as if she were a woman scorned. "It's not your place to decide, Talisa," she said, fingers steepled over her knees and jade green eyes narrowed stoically. She was the picture perfect of an alpha. Calm and composed.

"Nor is it yours, Dielle," Talisa mimicked, though her dark eyes carried a note of amusement and a clear challenge.

"Don't hold Inaaya's relationship prisoner to your personal grudges."

A muscle in Talisa's jaw ticked. Dielle had managed to strike a nerve and Talisa wasn't afraid to strike one right back. "Don't hold Inaaya ransom for relieving your guilt."

There was a silence then but neither showed resignation. They stared at each other, ready to claw at old wounds. Wounds, that if festered, would damage their friendship incurably.

"Bas isi ki kami thi," Inaaya murmured to herself, roughly pulling her shirt over on her shoulder and snatching the ice pack out of Talisa's hand as she stood up. When she had successfully gathered the two women's attention, she said aloud, "Guys, please stop talking as if I am not here. Indeed it is my relationship and neither of you gets a say."

The two women pursed their lips, eyes unwavering from Inaaya's. 

"Dielle, I'm grateful that you care about me but you need to stop pushing me. You don't know me that well. You don't know what I've been through. And so, you don't know what I want my relationship to be like. For three days now you have only been talking to me about Axel. I'm afraid it might cost us our friendship." A relief surfaced inside Inaaya's head as she finally let out the frustration she had been holding inside for long.

"As for whatever your tiff with Talisa is, I can assure you she hasn't been influencing me to not talk to Axel. It's my own decision. We don't talk about Axel when we're out. I go with her to get away from him, and I'm sorry to say, but sometimes you too. So, please, stop while there's still time. I'd hate to lose a friend like you."

Dielle had the sensibility to look apologetic. Dielle knew Inaaya was right, of this Inaaya was sure. She offered the woman a small smile and Dielle returned it, making it known that things between them were fine.

"Thanks for sticking up for me. I'll see you in an hour, then?" Inaaya asked Talisa, nodding her gratefulness.

Talisa simply nodded, even though Inaaya had previously opted out of that meeting. In the past three days, Talisa had come to understand Inaaya better than anyone in the pack. For that matter, anyone in the world— given that the only two people who knew her that well were both dead now.

Inaaya walked into her makeshift bedroom, slamming the door shut and resting her forehead against it. A weary tear spilt out of her eye and she didn't bother wiping it away. Axel and Dielle both behaved as if Inaaya wasn't affected by the distance. But she was. She obviously was. Though, forgiveness didn't come easy when the person you were falling for did the one thing you didn't want them doing. The one thing you were afraid of suffering through.

Axel being jealous of Jermaine, marking her without asking her, attempting to stop her from going with Talisa and on top of it all, his whole seemingly unapologetic demeanour. It didn't quite elevate her confidence.

Frankly, it reminded her of her father sometimes. There were never any questions in her parents' relationship, only orders, given by her father to her mother. Till her mother's last breath. When she had passed away, he had tightened his clutches around his children. Inaaya had spent the better part of her life trying not to anger her father. He had done horrible things and she had been forced to forgive him. Now that she was free of him, control or forgiveness, both were tough pills for her to swallow.

Inaaya hadn't realised when she had slid down to the floor, sitting cross-legged with her back resting against the door. Her cheeks were wet with silent tears. She was afraid. Afraid of what she had gotten herself into. Afraid of how things with Axel will play out. Afraid of what she'll stand to lose this time. There wasn't much left for her to lose.

A knock sounded on her door before Talisa spoke, "You ready?"

Inaaya sniffed as quietly as she could, wiping her tears as she glanced at her watch. She hadn't realised when the hour had passed so quickly. "I—" she cleared her throat, standing up. "Give me a minute, I'll be done soon."

"Okay."

Inaaya got the feeling Talisa knew she was crying. Talisa was good at picking up on the smallest of clues. But she was also very good at picking the right moments for the right conversations.

Inaaya washed her face, reapplied her mascara and lip gloss before rushing out. Soon, they had reached Talisa's car. Silas was there already, lounging casually in the back seat. Inaaya laughed at him and he returned an amused smile.

Talisa had tried numerous times to get another Eta, a pack warrior, assigned to go with them but Silas had somehow managed to keep them company somehow. Though despite what Talisa liked to pretend, everyone knew she enjoyed Silas' company. Had she not, she would have gotten someone else, by whatever means necessary. It was simple as that.

As Inaaya closed the door to the passenger seat, her eyes met Axel's through the open window. Axel was standing at the entrance of the castle, arms crossed over his chest and eyes focussed on Inaaya. She glanced away, breathing deeply to settle her nerves as Talisa soon pulled out of the driveway.

☾☾◯☽☽

Inaaya sipped her latte, looking out the cafe window. It was such a beautiful town. Small and quiet. Even inside of the cafe was quiet. There wasn't a lingering soul apart from her. Though Inaaya had a sneaking suspicion this was done to ensure the privacy of the meeting Talisa and Silas were here to conduct. The locations of these meetings were often kept public but made rather vacant.

Inaaya didn't mind though. A place with a positive vibe and lots of quiet was just what she needed to put her thoughts in order. However, she strangely kept feeling as if she was being watched but looking around, she caught no eyes. Shaking the thought away, Inaaya looked back into her phone screen, completing her tasks for the marketing of the pack's fashion house.

Neither wanting to slack nor to stay at the pack house, Inaaya had taken to working on her phone when she accompanied Talisa. While Talisa and Silas were busy with their meeting, Inaaya finished her work and then, if the situation permitted, they explored the place for a while before returning home.

It still caught Inaaya off guard at times when she thought of the pack house as her home. Despite the disagreeable business with Axel, it was still home to her. God knew, this place was much more of a home than her own house had ever been, at least for the past six years.

Upon hearing footsteps approach, she turned towards the staircase leading to the terrace of the cafe. Seeing Silas' wide grin and raised thumb, Inaaya guessed she would be able to enjoy more of this beautiful town after all. Their meeting had been successful. Had it not been, they probably would have found themselves rushing to get out, for the second time today.

She held back a chuckle as Talisa gave a sideways pointed glare to Silas and he immediately sobered up. Talisa attempted to not draw any unnecessary attention towards Inaaya, so she could slip out unnoticed if things went south. 

Much like in a situation that seemed to be brewing now.

Talisa attempted to distract the two men with her, extending her hand towards a beautifully pale man standing beside her. The man, however, was disinterested as his dark blue eyes stared at Inaaya.

Inaaya stood up, pocketing her phone. She held onto the edges of the wooden table, causing her knuckles to go white. She breathed in deeply, trying to not let her uneasiness show. The man's eyes were trained on her in deep interest. Looking into his eyes made Inaaya want to run away and run fast. Momentarily, her eyes flitted across to Talisa, hoping to get some instructions on what to do next. Talisa wasn't looking at her though. She was looking at the man, speaking to him and trying to gain his attention back.

Inaaya moved her gaze towards the man once more but faster than she could blink, the man had crossed the distance between them. If Inaaya hadn't known any better, she would have believed he had teleported.

Suddenly finding him standing right across from her, rather close for comfort, Inaaya stumbled backwards. The back of her thighs hit a chair, making it crash to the floor. The impact echoed loudly through the quiet cafe.

The man smirked, his dark blue eyes shining with dangerous mockery. Slowly, his lips widened in a condescending smile before parting and revealing a set of sharp fangs. "Time for a drink," he spoke in his sultry voice.

A/N:

Hey, guys! How're you all? 

I'm well, thanks. My wifi, not so much. Hence, the lateness of this update by several hours. Sorry, sorry. :p

What did you think of this chapter? It's been three days. Should Inaaya have made up with Axel already or do you think Axel should suffer a little while more? And what did you think of Talisa and Dielle's little argument? 

Lastly, someone wants to drink our Inaaya's blood... Ready, squad? 

*brings out a pan*

Please don't forget to vote and comment if you enjoyed this chapter!