It was late in the evening; the sky had darkened to a black shadow and the street lights illuminated the dark pavement. The night was quiet and so was the taxi. No music played, just the hum of the engine filled the interior of the cab. Zero sat in the back with Severin by her side. They had returned to New York and had arrived at her house.

The cab driver pulled up at on the driveway to the front door of her home.

Zero opened the door and stepped out first. The cab driver popped the trunk open and Zero grabbed the luggage. Severin helped as he grabbed the suitcase from her. Zero went to the cab driver and pulled out her wallet. She handed him more than he was owed to send him off, but the cab driver stared blankly at the hundred-dollar bill and then at her completely confused.

"Just keep the change," she said because she didn't have loose change on her to pay the exact amount.

The man beamed at her. "Thanks," he said. "You have a great night." Like that, he rolled out of the driveway through the open gates.

Zero joined Severin on the top of the stairs and she unlocked the doors to the house. She let Severin go inside first, only so she could close the door and lock it behind her. Zero found it odd that Severin was standing in the middle of her foyer. He wore casual clothes, loose trousers and a knit sweater. But still handsome after a seven-hour flight.

"Wow, you have a beautiful home," said Severin.

"You sound surprised," she remarked, as she swung his bag over her shoulder and held her own in the other hand. Frankly, she was the surprised one here, because Severin brought such a little amount of luggage. She expected him to bring a truck-load of clothes.

"I am surprised," he told her. "I expected you to be living at a sky-rise flat."

"I used to live in an apartment," she told him, "but it got hard once my job demanded more of my time."

Severin frowned. "What do you mean?" he asked. "I think an apartment would be less maintenance."

Zero agreed to that, but Severin didn't know the whole truth. "You'll find out soon enough," she told him. "Come on, let me show you to your room."

Zero walked on ahead and he followed as his head shifted left and right; up and down looking everywhere around him.

"I have three rules which you will make sure to follow closely," she said as they reached the second floor. "First, never bother me when I am in the last room down that way-"

"Why?" he asked, as he followed her finger to the large golden doors at the end of the hallway. "What's there?"

"Second-" she continued without telling him. "Never go into that room." She pointed to the next double doors in the same area, just on the left side this time.

"I'm guessing you're not going to tell me what that is either," he remarked.

"Good, you're catching on," she retorted making him chuckle.

"And lastly, don't go into my room-" she faced him now with a stern posture- "My room isn't open... unless you want to die."

He laughed, but then, he frowned when he saw her unsympathetic expression. "Was that a joke?" he asked.

"No," she replied curtly.

Zero opened the door in front of them and she revealed the newly refurbished room. Severin stepped into the spacious room, she followed after him. The room was beautiful itself because she made sure of it. There were many guest bedrooms built in this manor so she could help anyone that needed a bed, although they weren't used up until now. For this room in particular, she remembered picking out the dark leather chairs, the navy-blue drapes and the massive bed framed made from antique oak. There was a chandelier on the high-rise ceiling and rich molding on the walls, that had pearl-white painting done. She picked this room for Severin since it had a fireplace too, she thought he'd like that. Severin put his luggage on the side and she put the bag on the seat for him.

Zero measured the width of his broad shoulders and the back of his head where his golden hair, which looked so soft glistened under the warm light. He really was here, in her house, alone with her. His scent that was enticing like roses and soothing as the autumn breeze itself, they both filled her senses convincing her that she was really here with him.

Zero cleared her throat. "Is it alright for you?" she asked. "I have other rooms, you can pick-"

"It's perfect-" he told her as he looked at the fireplace. Severin turned. "Where's your room?" he enquired.

Zero pointed with her thumb right behind her to the door across his. "There's no need to get scared. I'm right beside you," she said. "If you need anything just knock, I will help you."

"Thanks," he smiled.

Suddenly, a buzz went off and Zero stiffened. She ignored the ringing and tried not to be impolite, but it wasn't working.

"Answer it. I'm fine," he told her softly.

Zero huffed and pulled out her phone. "What?" she answered sternly as her eyes stayed on Severin.

"I'm at the location," informed Marcello. "Where are you?"

Zero breathed deeply. "Give me five minutes," she said before cutting the line. Zero put her phone away. "An urgent matter has come up, so I need to go. I'll let you get settled. But I will be back before midnight," she told him. Severin's gaze troubled Zero. She didn't know why it told her to be careful, which never happened before.

Severin saw the straining lines on her face. "You really don't get to rest, do you?" he remarked but she couldn't give an answer. "Good luck," he simply told her, and then, he turned his attention away towards his luggage.

Zero left in a hurry.

She ditched the car in the garage and went straight towards the bike parked on the side. Putting the black helmet over her head, she drove out of the garage and through the gates with relentless speed.

Zero zipped down the city streets that were empty and quiet. The only thing the night heard was the engine of her slick bike tearing past everything in its path.

Zero took the exit off the highway on the right when she recognized her surroundings almost immediately. She stopped in front of a vacant building, that she knew all too well. This was the place she had recently freed those slaves from the cage fights. This was the establishment she closed down herself. Why did she get the address to this place? she wondered.

"You're here," said a voice.

From the scent alone, she recognized who it was. A man appeared dressed in a tailored grey suit, with a deep burgundy overcoat, that just rested over his broad shoulders and fell to his knees. Marcello Tricomi stood to an impressive height, which matched his strapping physique. Even this late at night, he appeared sophisticated with that lavish attire, and his dark blond hair was combed back and away from his attractive face. Marcello had sharp golden eyes, that had grown soft these past couple of months, which was the result of being happily mated. This man was undoubtedly a ruthless wolf who only strived for his own benefit, but that all changed when he met the love of his life.

"What's the urgent matter that it couldn't wait until morning?" she asked him.

Marcello walked towards her; his strict expression unaffected. "It's waiting for you inside," his cool tone was still the same. Good to know that some things never changed.

Zero looked at the massive building. No lights were on and only the lamps around the streets exposed the eerie property to them.

"I got a call from one of my informers," Marcello told her. "He came to shut this place down and clean it up after your mission was complete, so there would be no unnecessary investigation. But when he got here-" Marcello's voice fell and his dumbfounded expression told her something was very wrong- "Well, you'll see when you go inside."

She didn't need to go inside. Zero smelled it all the way out here from the way the breeze carried an awful iron odour directly towards her. The building was tainted with death, which sucked the very breath out of her. What the hell happened here while she was gone? she contemplated.

Zero looked at Marcello impatiently. "What are we waiting for?" she asked.

"He should be here," said Marcello looking down at his watch irritably. "I called him two hours ago."

Zero felt inside of her jacket to see if she had any weapons on her, but then she remembered that she just came from the airport. The only weapon on her were her fists. She didn't like being unarmed. Damn, she cursed. She should've grabbed at least her daggers before leaving the house.

"Where were you anyways?" asked Marcello, as they waited.

"London," she answered.

Marcello raised a brow. "There was a mission in London?" he asked her then.

"No, I was invited to a party-" Marcello just stared at her to explain more- "You know Wayne Salvatore?" she asked and he nodded. Of course, he knew Wayne, everyone knew the Salvatore family. "He is a close friend of mine."

Marcello raised a brow. "A friend," he astounded. "How'd that happen?"

"It's a long story," she sighed waving her hand for him to let it go.

Marcello didn't budge though. "Make it short then," he insisted.

"I saved him from a car crash," she said. "Huh, I guess it's not that long." Zero considered for a long moment if she should tell him about the 'Severin Salvatore' part and how he's at her house.

"Wayne is a man with hard rules," said Marcello. "Frankly, I'm not surprised that he chose you for a partnership. Wayne Salvatore definitely doesn't pick his associates easily. I believe he has two sons, right?"

"Severin and Thomas Salvatore," their names spilled out of her mouth like oxygen would, which she found strange since she barely knew them. Marcello saw the tremendous blaze in her eyes, despite her desire to hide it. Screw it all, she gave in. "Severin is visiting New York and he's under my supervision."

Marcello's face changed now. His gold eyes widened and he gaped at her. "Why didn't you lead with that?" he astounded.

"I didn't think it was that important," she mumbled.

He stared at her stumped. "Do you know who that man even is?" he asked her. "Severin Salvatore alone owns billions of shares in property. He is worth more than anyone I know, and so is his family."

Zero rolled her eyes at him. "Stop fangirling in front of me," she grumbled.

They were interrupted by another roar of an engine, that rolled up beside them. It was a snow-white Tesla roadster with tinted black windows. The flawless car gleamed under the darkness after it slowed down and parked before the bright headlights turned off. The door opened and a man stepped out of it. Another formidable wolf shifter, that reformed his infamous days of being in the mafia to being a dutiful husband to his mate now. King Vitiello had arrived.

"What the hell do you want with my life in the middle of the night?" King asked irately.

"You're late," complained Marcello.

King rolled his sapphire-blue eyes. "You're such a bore, Marcello," he remarked, as he strode to them.

King's powerful demeanour didn't hide behind all the black that he wore. He was dressed rather casually in rugged dark jeans and a loose silk shirt, which the buttons were left open revealing the dark ink over his bronzed skin. He had layered a thick leather jacket over top; the zipper left open too. Unlike Marcello, King's jet-black hair was tousled and raked with his fingers only. He still fixed the stubborn strands now, and every time he had, the golden band on his finger glinted in the light. He never took off his marriage band and his mate didn't either.

"I called you like two hours ago," chastised Marcello. "How are you late?"

King smirked. "I was... occupied," his voice was dripping with amusement and that slick hot tease which always made King charismatic. "You know how it is, Marcello," King confided to the man who scowled at everyone all the time. "You're mated yourself, so you know how I feel."

Marcello sighed deeply. "Fine, whatever," he gave in because he did know what happened to someone when their mate was in the room. One couldn't help but become distracted and lose track of time.

Zero watched them two and realized how much they've changed. She knew when both of them were rogue wolves trying to kill everything and anyone. They both even attempted to take her down; Marcello even shot her once, when he was trying to get King killed long ago. Those days even came and went. And now, after both of them mated, they had improved themselves to being better men and helped her with a worthier cause.

"How are the packs?" Zero asked them.

"All good on our side," King said first. "Gabriel sends his regards as usual."

"Delivering messages for him now," Marcello mocked.

"Shut up, jackass," King answered curtly making her laugh. "Don't act like you don't do the same for your pack."

Zero grinned at Marcello. "Did Isaiah send his regards too?" she asked.

Marcello pierced his lips together, like he held his answer back but then he gave in. "Yes, he did," he brooded making her laugh.

Suddenly, the air chilled and Zero's entire body grew on high alert. "Boys," she cautioned, as she turned and her eyes darted around them. Surveying the entire area, Zero saw nothing but she certainly felt the eyes on them.

King and Marcello already had their hands on their weapons. "Klaus is going to kill me if I get a single scratch on that car," said King, as he realized the Tesla was in the crossfire if a shoot-out did begin.

"I would love to see Klaus kill you," added Marcello.

"Don't make me use your ass as a shield for the car, Marcello," grumbled King.

Zero snapped her head and glared at them. "Cut it out. Geez, you act like four-year old's together," she scolded.

King and Marcello glared at each other. "If I'm four, then he's like two," added Marcello under a deep breath.

"Oof, Maya," Zero shook her head and prayed for patience. "Get inside the building right now," she ordered and they cooperatively followed her command.

They walked through the broken doors into the vacant area. The ceilings were high and the lights started to flicker, which didn't sit well with Zero. After crossing the main passageway, the three of them arrived near the end doors where she knew that it opened up to the enormous hall. However, before Zero sensed any danger. She sensed death in the air and a putrid scent, that made her stomach lurch. In the distance, she heard the buzzing of flies and the rotting odour filled her nose.

"Fuck, that smells disgusting," carped King. "Damn, instead of being in bed with my mate, I'm here with you two," he grumbled. "Don't you two take a day off?"

"No-" they both answered.

Marcello and King moved on ahead. But Zero put her hand up, stopping them in their tracks. She stepped forward and stood in front of the closed doors. King and Marcello stuck close beside her. She unfastened the heavy metal doors, swinging them both open and then the room was revealed... she lost all words for what she saw next.

"What the actually fuck?" astounded King.

"Glad I called you now," Marcello remarked to them, but mostly Zero.

In the massive room were tall wooden spears fixed upright and on each sharp spear was a head. The sharp wooden beam had been impaled straight through the middle of the skull and that wood held the head up high. The thick blood pooled all over the mucky floor, there was so much that there wasn't any place to put her feet. Zero had never seen such a horrific sight, but she hadn't shown any expression though. Being surprised wasn't a luxury she had, because in her line of work scenes as horrifying as this were expected.

Zero saw that on the first head right in front of her, there was a white parchment paper in the man's broken mouth. Zero grabbed the note careful not to dirty her hands. She peeled the paper open and saw neat writing scratched across with black ink.

'For Zero. Now, it's just you and me.'

That's all it said. Zero looked up at the horrible scene and realized that someone did this to get her attention. Reaper, thought Zero.

"Someone is really hoping to get your attention," remarked King.

"We already know who it is," added Marcello.

Zero stood in front of the massacre and had a feeling there was more to the scene than she was gathering. And when Zero realized the message Reaper left for her, she felt her skin crawl from the nasty intent.

"These were my targets," Zero revealed. 

"Why would Reaper kill for you like that?" King asked.

Zero looked down at the note. Now, it's just you and me. "He cleared the field," she mumbled.

"Wow, how gracious of the asshole," scorned King.

"He's planning on keeping Zero's attention to himself," said Marcello. "Zero, what are you going to do?"

Reaper was the adopted son of Menza who she killed off when the Plague association started in Rome years ago. Marcello was the one who told her, that Reaper was coming to seek revenge. He wanted to kill her, just like she had killed Menza. Revenge wasn't a new notion to her; she knew what she was facing. Zero turned and left the building. She stepped out of the sick smell and into the night so she could finally breathe.

"Zero," Marcello called out. "What will you do about Reaper?"

"What I always do when I face an enemy," she told him. "I kill them." Marcello and King exchanged a wary look behind her; she knew they did, she felt it.

"It doesn't seem that easy," claimed King.

Zero surveyed the perimeter and noticed that the eyes on them before had vanished. "A man's eyes masked with revenge are blind and that is always an easy target for me," she told King when she heard his allegation.

"He may be blind but he's determined," believed Marcello. "Desperation inside Reaper has led to a lot of pain, Zero."

"I know," she said.

"He already killed everyone, so you wouldn't get distracted from him," continued Marcello. "He seems obsessed with you."

"I wonder why?" questioned King.

"He's a twisted result of Menza's influence, that's why," she gritted out.

"What's our next move?" Marcello asked her.

Zero faced them now. "Go home and be with your mates. Leave this to me," she ordered.

King and Marcello didn't look convinced at all. "This isn't the time to procrastinate, Zero," said King. "What do you need us to do?"

Zero regarded the two men. "Like I said, go to your packs and warn them," she said. "Reaper is coming for me alone. You two, and everyone can else stay out of it."

"Zero-"

She shot Marcello a hard glare shutting him up. "I don't like repeating myself," she said.

Eventually, King and Marcello got in their cars and drove away leaving her alone on the street.

Zero knew she needed help with this, but she wasn't going to ask people who had families waiting for them. She needed someone fast and efficient to help her and who will stick by her side. Another set of eyes, that could hide like the shadows with her. A partner who she could count on to guard her back with unwavering loyalty. With that lingering on her mind, Zero drove back to her house to get the nasty scent of blood, that clung to her clothes off her.

-Severin's POV-

It was late at night when Severin had finished unpacking the rest of his stuff. He had already called his father and brother who were both waiting for his call. Severin told them that the flight was fine and he was comfortable where he was staying. The only thing he didn't share was that Zero had left to a mission. He didn't know why he kept it a secret, but it just felt like the right thing to do. Zero's business was her own, even though Severin was dying with curiosity.

Severin took a shower last and walked out of the bathroom refreshed, even though jet lag was creeping over him. To beat the sudden headache, he opened the balcony door to let in some fresh air. When he had, Severin realized that this room was facing out directly in front of Zero's entire territory.

The impressive manor was surrounded by trees and acres of land. Severin stepped out and leaned onto the railing to see himself standing under the starry night sky. The silver crescent sat amongst the stars and he felt the strength seep into him.

Strength. Severin thought that he knew what strength was, but then he met Zero. The woman carried herself in a suave manner that Severin had never seen before. Zero's actions were sharp like lightning and her word was just as reverberating as thunder. The whole world heard her if she decided to make a calculated decision. Confidence wasn't the right word for it. That word fell short to the regal attitude she possessed.

Even her house, Severin stared out at the entire property and he had an eerie response slithering up his skin. The house felt alive to him, like Zero's essence was in every brick and stone of this place. The golden manor was perched like a formidable fortress that stood attentive to guard its master.

When they first arrived here, Severin thought he made a mistake when he saw the black gates which surrounded the estate. They were open when they arrived; open when Zero left; and they were still open right now. Severin stared out to the massive black gates that swayed slightly in the breeze, the metal clanked, and it forbade anyone with evil intentions to beware. The house was just like its owner. Resilient and unequivocally magnificent.

Severin grinned as he realized where he stood right now. He stood in her house, under her care, which probably never happened before. He wondered why she agreed to something like this when it was clear that she wasn't the type. Maybe, she knew about the bond between them. Or maybe, she had an entirely different reason. Severin would get to the bottom of it nonetheless.

But where was she? he wondered. It was almost midnight and they hadn't even had dinner yet.

Suddenly, from the distance he heard the sleek hum of an engine. He knew before he even looked that it was Zero.

From the road ahead, that was paved with tall pine trees revealed a motorcycle and its agile rider who rode straight ahead without stopping, and right through the open gates.

The dark pheromones that she had carried through the air and cascaded over Severin. His body thickened, his skin grew hot and so did his blood. Right then and there, he knew what it was that he felt so intensely when he saw Zero. Mate... he thought of that single word which had such a deep meaning for a lone wolf like him.

Severin's heart hammered and he grasped that this wasn't some fleeting admiration, which would go away after a week or two. This admiration would grow like wildfire the closer he got to Zero. And right now, all he wanted to do was be with her.

Did she want the same? he thought about that as he saw Zero park her bike in the garage and then she came up the stairs entering the house. Well, it didn't matter if she fought against the bond. Severin wanted her and he'd get his mate, that had already stolen his peace of mind.

Severin turned onto his elbows and he looked inside his new living-quarters, which were to his liking. Through the silence in the house, it was easy to hear Zero's subtle movements. She had closed the door, then walked up the stairs and now she stood in between his room's door and her own. Both of them took a second to realize that they sensed the other's breathing.

Severin would've opened the door and asked about her evening, but he held back. He'd give her some time to settle in before he asked further details.

In the silence, a grim thought crept up like a ghost. Do you really want a mate after what your father went through when he lost his mate? Severin asked himself. I thought I made a promise not to do that.

But do you really want to live your life without experiencing what they had? his wolf spoke up now.

Severin's heart squeezed, as if a fist held it with no wish to let it go. What if we lose her? he asked his wolf. Severin's wolf rarely gave his attention to anything, but right now all the beast was focused on was Zero.

We don't know what's going to happen in the future, his wolf replied. All I know is that if we don't mark her, then we already lost her.

Severin stood in silence after his wolf went quiet. The only thing that ran through his head was the image of his father when they had lost their mother. Wayne Salvatore was a formidable businessman who owned billions of dollars' worth of properties and corporations. Severin took pride to call him his father, but when they had lost their mother to cancer. Severin had never seen such a powerful man fall like their father had.

Their father had lost all interest in work and life. He shut himself off for months. He barely ate and he never cracked a smile after that. Severin was sure they had lost their father the day they lost their mom.

However, now Severin knew how he got his father back. It was Zero that had brought him back to life. The day she rescued him after the car crash, their father had changed back to his normal self. He started to love working again and attended meetings too. His father ate his meals, joined in on afternoon walks or tea. Tom and Severin just thought at the time, that maybe their dad had a revelation of some sort. But little did they know, that it was Zero who brought him back to his feet.

Severin wished his mother was still alive so she could meet Zero too. But that was impossible now, his mom wasn't going to come back no matter how much he thought about her. The pain in his heart from her loss wasn't going to be erased either. But did he need to make it worse by pushing his mate away from himself when he finally found her.

Severin had to laugh when he knew that his mother would never approve of his actions. She would probably smack him on the head and tell him in her rigorous voice to get it together. Severin looked a lot like his father, but he knew he was more like his mother.

"Never give up when what you want is right in front of you." Severin always followed her words. So, it was only right to do it again.

However, seducing Zero into falling for him wasn't going to be easy. Not impossible though, which was good. Severin just needed to find what made Zero melt and fall straight into his arms. Although, it was clear that his usual tactics weren't going to work. Zero wasn't one to be impressed by a single date to a restaurant, with bouquet of roses and a diamond necklace. Severin would have to do what his dad did, which was learn everything about his mate and make her open that guarded heart. Make her feel as if she's in control when really it was Severin who held the reins.

Frankly, Severin was worried about his safety if this didn't work out. Would Zero kill him? he thought, and his answer was that she most likely would. And she'd probably bury him in the backyard somewhere.

Hold on, thought Severin. Zero may be a stoic alpha-female, but even she couldn't hide her desires. He just needed to get her eyes to glow like when they had the day he bought her a leather jacket. Zero was never hostile towards him, she always stood beside him and that just told Severin that she was in fact charmed by him, just like he was for her.

Severin looked up at the round clock on the wall over the plasma screen and saw it was half past twelve. Late dinner was a bit much, but he was starving and he was sure Zero was too, since neither of them ate for the past nine hours.

Leaving his bedroom, Severin used his keen senses to track Zero in the large manor. He had to walk quite a while before he found the end of her scent trailing behind large double doors. The room was quiet but he clearly heard the sound of water and a warm scent of sandalwood and roses.

Severin knocked on the door, but there was no reply. "Zero," he called out, as he opened the door and saw a mesmerizing room.

It was a spherical gold chamber with a domed ceiling made of marble, thick molding twisted around the extravagant room. Dead in the centre was a pool, the water appeared golden since it was reflecting the tiles around the room. Steam rose from the water and leaned back against the massive pool was Zero.

Her piercing blue eyes opened, and although surrounded by steam, Severin still found her eyes. Her hair was raked back, wet and messy. Her arms were laid out beside her, she wasn't naked, it seemed that she was wrapped behind a silk cloth.

"You broke a rule on your first day here," her voice resonated through the chamber like an echo.

Severin walked in closer, his shoes reflected on the golden tiles. "I never knew there was a room like this," he astounded.

Zero laid her head back like she wasn't bothered by him at all. "There are a lot of rooms you don't know about here," she said. "Can I help you with something?"

"You keep to yourself a lot, don't you?" he claimed.

"My line of work takes me where there are a lot of people," she said. "So, when I'm at home, I like to be at peace."

Severin understood that she was telling him to leave, but he wanted to keep talking to her. "Will you be joining me tomorrow when I go to the company?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered right away. "Your father wants me to keep you safe, so I will be taking you to work."

"You're quite adamant on following my father's demands," he goaded carefully. "You don't seem the type to me that would."

Zero's eyes lifted, her eyes stared at him through the steam. "You must not understand friendship then," she remarked. "He did not give me any demands, it was a request which I will honour."

"Why?" asked Severin. "What do you need to prove?"

"That I'm different from the people I kill," she told him.

"Is it really that important?" Severin asked after.

"It may not be for you or anyone else," she said. "But to me, my honour and my word is my identity. Now, if you don't mind. I'd like to soak in silence."

"Alright, but just answer one more question," he looked at her sweetly, so she gave him a silent nod. "Will you be having dinner with me?"

Zero looked genuinely surprised he asked that. "Would you like to order take-out?" she asked.

"I can prepare something," he offered. "I'm a great cook."

Zero got out of the pool shocking him a little. The silk cloth clung to her wet body but she didn't care about modesty at this point. Well, he was to blame for being here in the first place.

"I'll be down with you in a minute." She left behind another single door on the right side.

Severin smiled, he was beyond amused and fascinated by this woman. "Time to get cooking," he ushered himself to the large kitchen, that surprised him of how lovely it was kept.

He opened the fridge doors and saw how neatly packed it was. He wondered what he should cook for her, his head plotted ideas and a lot of them. But then he went with his signature dish, that his mother taught him.

Severin took a minute to find the creams, cheeses and butter which were irrefutably important for this dish. He never thought he'd actually find heavy-cream, but there it was on the side and it was a full carton. He was glad that the fridge was stocked up and Zero actually cared about her diet. It was clear from her tall stature and lean built that she ate abundantly and took care of her health.

"What are you cooking?" Zero's voice surprised him.

Severin looked over the fridge door and saw how she stood assertively in beige slacks and a loose camisole. "Fettuccine Alfredo," he told her. "Uh, where do you keep your pots?"

Zero went around the table and straight to the tall and large cabinetry. She revealed a whole space with every type of pot you'd need in a kitchen. Severin reached over and saw what he required. Zero took it from his hand and helped him when he needed to grab the colander.

"I've never made Alfredo pasta before," she told him.

Severin almost dropped the colander on his face when he heard her. He turned and gaped at her. "Why not?" he asked.

"I'm not really good at making it," she shared.

"Well, you have me around now," he said, "and I cook the best pasta."

Zero chuckled at his assured tone and she took a seat on the stool near the island. Severin went to the stove and put the water to a boil, and just like that, he got himself busy.

The kitchen filled up with the cozy sound of the pasta boiling in rushing water. Severin had started the sauce in another pan and it was kept on low heat, simmering and making the cream thicken and rich in flavour. Zero had grated the cheeses and he put that in last, since he liked the cheese to stay on top. Once the pasta had cooked in the salty water, he strained it all out and dropped the long noodles into the sauce. He stirred them all in, until every noodle was coated in the ample sauce and cheese.

"Did you call your family?" Zero suddenly asked as she watched him stir the pasta with the sauce.

Severin was a bit surprised that she cared about that. "Yes, I did," he told her. "Why?" he looked at her now.

"No reason, just curious," she responded.

Severin noticed that her hair wasn't wet anymore and it messily hung around her. She was leaning against her counter with her back and her eyes on the food only. He wondered why she was so reluctant to look at him, when all he could do was stare at her. That irked him and made him want to tease her. Maybe, he should use the food as hostage until she did look his way. But something told him if he took the food away from her, he'd lose a limb.

"Dad asked about you," he told her.

Still, she kept her face forward. "What'd you say?" she questioned him.

"I lied to him, since I didn't know where you went," he said and after a moment, he dared himself to ask her; "Where did you go?"

"If I told you then I'd have to kill you," she countered.

Severin looked at her bemused. "I can never tell if you're joking or not," he remarked.

Zero turned over and looked him dead in the eyes, which wavered him beyond understanding. "You'll know when I'm being serious," she stated, as her blue gaze fell from his eyes to his lips. "Let's eat already. I'm starving."

Severin closed the stove and used the plates Zero had already taken out to put them both a hefty serving of Fettuccine Alfredo. Zero went to the dining table and put her food down. Severin joined her on the square table and sat beside her rather than across. It was just the two of them, so there was no need to sit so far. Severin noticed that the dining table was decorated with candelabras and table cloth. The red contrasted against the dark oak of the table, making it appear as lush and cozy as the rest of the kitchen.

"You have matches anywhere?" he asked her.

"Cupboard over the stove," she told him.

He went over and Zero wasn't at the table when he came back. He peeked back in the kitchen and she was rummaging through another cabinet. Severin let her do her thing, when he used that minute alone to light the candles.

"White or red?" Zero asked when she returned, but she froze when she saw that he lighted the candles.

He saw the two wine bottles. "Red," he said and grabbed the bottle from her. "Let's eat." Severin poured them both wine in the glasses that were already at the table.

Zero came around and sat at the head of the table, which he guessed was where she sat even if she was alone. Severin got a sick feeling in his gut when he thought about her being alone in such a big house.

Sitting at this table, he felt himself being drawn to her. She sat, her eyes on the food and she seemed immersed to it, like it was the most important thing in the world.

"Thank you for cooking dinner," she spoke softly to him.

Severin grinned over the rim of the glass. "You're welcome," he said.

Zero wasn't one to shy away from eating it seemed. She picked up the fork and ate without taking a break. She'd occasionally take a sip of her wine, but she refrained from drinking too much.

"You really do have a lovely home," he told her.

"Thank you," she answered.

"Does anyone else live with you?" he asked her. "Where are your parents? Do they live here or-" his voice fell when he saw the ease on her face fall away and twist into a cold disposition.

Zero's hand squeezed the fork's handle. "No one lives here with me," she said. "You are my first guest since I built the place."

Severin saw the gleam of pain in her deep blue eyes. "Don't you get lonely?" he asked.

Zero faced with a smile, which surprised him. "When you are born alone, you learn to live with your own company," she told him.

"I didn't know that you were an orphan," he said.

Zero shifted in her seat. "The whole world knows that I was born on the streets," she said bluntly. "Why are you so surprised to hear about it?"

Severin's heart softened to the burning ache inside him. "Because seeing you and what you do for everyone, I had already decided that someone great birthed you," he stated.

Zero twirled the fork in the pasta and he noticed that he was doing the same. "Mother... Father, I do not know those terms, Severin," she said.

Severin's face fell. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Don't be," she reassured him. "I may not know those terms personally. But I know what a parent is. I see it through your father, through others on the street, the people I save. I know what a parent should be." Zero avoided Severin's indigo eyes, that he knew gazed at her so intently. "A parent is the person who protects their child and gives them strength when they are scared. A parent is home to the child who-" her voice fell and something in his heart drowned with sorrow for her. Severin drew in a breath like she had- "wants to be somewhere safe and warm." Zero's eyes grew distant like she remembered a memory that only she knew.

"What was it like?" he asked her then.

Zero's darkened stare formed many questions in his head. "I spent my nights alone in a shabby hut, that leaked when it rained or snowed," she told him. "There were days when I worked for days just to earn enough for one meal-" Zero's gaze stared at him, like she tried to show her past through her eyes. And Severin saw it all. He saw the gravity of her agony, her distress and that streak of dignity- "A lot of times I had to stay awake after twelve-hour shifts because I knew that kids like me were abducted for slavery or the black market." Zero cleared her throat and drank some wine. "Unsafe... barely alive, I lived a lot of my life knowing nothing, but survival."

Severin and his wolf were pleased by her resilience to push through those hardships. "Yet, here you are, on top of the world," he praised. Some light returned to her eyes and he was glad.

They continued to eat and she was easy to talk to despite being the intimidating figure that this world had come to know. She answered his curiosity and he was surprised that she even cared. Never once was she rude or cut him off. She answered truthfully to him, like she wanted him to know what she had been through. It was clear to him, that she was trying to get him to understand that she was not only dangerous, but she was someone who came from a very different world from him. That didn't matter to Severin though. Learning about her was fascinating and he considered himself fortunate to hear her stories.

"The pasta was delicious," said Zero, as she finished off every bite. "You really do know how to cook."

Severin laughed at her. "I'm the only one that does. Tom and my dad suck at it," he told her. "If you need me to change anything I can."

Zero shook her head. "Just make more next time," she said as she picked up her empty plate, his too and went towards the sink.

Severin got up and joined her in the kitchen, as she cleaned the plates and put them in the dish-washer. "What should we do for dessert?" he asked her.

Zero thought for a good while. "I have ice-cream," she told him.

Severin went to the freezer and opened the large drawer under the fridge. He spotted a bunch of miniature Häagen-Dazs ice cream tubs. There were various flavours; chocolate hazelnut, raspberry cheesecake, vanilla, coffee and mint-chocolate chip too.

"Which one do you want?" Zero asked when she came up beside him.

"Cheesecake-" they both ended up saying.

Severin chuckled. "We're going to have to fight it out," he told her.

"Since this is my house, I would say buzz-off," she said, "but it's your first night here. So, I'll give in. You can have the cheesecake flavour." She picked it up and handed it to him.

"Are you sure you're not going to hate me later?" he asked her.

Zero laughed as she picked up the mint-chocolate chip. "No," she said, as she popped the lid of her own tub open and dug in.

Severin did the same, since he wasn't going to say 'no' to ice-cream. They both sat at the island stools and ate the cold dessert, which was the perfect way to end this night. Now, that just left Severin wondering what tomorrow would bring him with his mysterious mate.