✧

I finished my self-portrait quicker than I believed I would. I thought I would struggle but it came easier than expected. The brush practically drew itself over the canvas and I sat back and let it.

In the painting I'm smiling. Not beaming. Just a simple smile, to remind me of how times used to be. I was happy in my pack house, not necessarily content but definitely happy. I had all my closest members to me.

Nate must be so worried. I haven't spoken to him since Haze let me go outside their magic to contact him. I pray that he's not going crazy because in fact, I'm actually okay. I'm not suffering like I thought I would be.

"Knock, knock," a voice startles me and I turn to face Aurelia who has a hand tucked behind her back. "I thought you'd be in here."

I shrug. "Not anywhere else I'd rather be."

Her lips slant to the side in a frown. "Well, I thought we could do something else today whilst the pack rests and Haze deals with the trespasser in the cellar."

"What's that?" My eyebrows widen with intrigue.

Aurelia removes the item from behind her back to flash me a box. "I remember our conversation before and you said you wanted to go back to your natural colour. Well, we can strip away this darkness and we can reunite you with your past self. What do you think?"

I reach out to take the box and I twist it around to read the back. I don't want to admit it but my heart sings with relief. "Goddess, yes. I'm sick of looking in the mirror and not recognising who I am."

"Let's go," she grabs my hand and drags me towards the bathroom.

I perch on the edge of the bathtub and let her do her thing. I don't know why I put my complete trust in her but I believe deep down she's not a nasty person—and besides, she has perfect blonde hair of her own, she must know what she's doing.

"So the trespasser," I clear my throat. "Anything for you guys to worry about?"

"Not sure," Aurelia sighs as she coats my head and hair in the liquid. "Haze wasn't in a good way this morning."

I glance over my shoulder at her. "Is he recovering okay?"

Aurelia frowns and pulls her hands away. "What do you know that I don't?"

"Oh–" my throat tenses. "Nothing. It's nothing."

I didn't realise when he said he didn't want to go to the infirmary, he probably meant he didn't want anyone to know about his injuries. Why? It doesn't make him less of a person. All of us have experienced injuries from this life—it's who we are.

"Spill it," she gasps suddenly realising that I have gossip.

I chew on my lip and stare back at her eager face. "I don't know if I should."

"Oh, please," she waves a gloved hand at me. "You're protecting him now? Tell me!"

"No. It's just–"

"Just what?"

"He was injured," I blurt quickly. "He didn't want to go to the pack doctors. So I had to pull the silver out of his back and patch him up, he's probably exhausted from it. He didn't want anyone to know."

Aurelia rolls her eyes. "Oh my Goddess, that man is insufferable."

"Was he okay this morning?" I ask.

She narrows her gaze at me and pulls back. "Are you worried about him?"

"No," I shake my head, adamant I'm not but I've never been good at hiding my emotions. "Just curious."

I don't want to admit seeing him covered in his own blood and grunting in agony didn't make me feel good. I despised seeing him in pain and in denial about his recovery. I might not like the guy but I meant what I said, I don't want him to die.

I'll never be able to live after that. So I need him alive—as much as that might disappoint me. I'm not a violent person although I wish our circumstances were better. I might have been naive to expect prince charming in this crazy world but a girl can still dream.

Instead I'm mated with a psychopath.

"Mm hmm," Aurelia hums as if she's not taking any of my shit. I don't want to talk about this anymore and I'm relieved when she continues with my hair again. "But to answer your question, I think he's fine. Just a little pissed off that someone came onto our territory when our security is sky high."

I remain silent for a moment. "I miss home," I blurt.

Aurelia pauses what she's doing and I glance at her in the reflection, her face dropping into a look of sadness. "I know, I'm sorry. But once all of this has blown over, I'm sure you'll be able to go home. I want that for you more than anything. Haze shouldn't have done what he did, you deserve better than that."

"Nothing I can do about it now," I sigh. "I just know that my brother and father will be worried sick about me, trying to find me. I feel awful."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not being tortured or abused. They're probably thinking the worst but actually...I'm okay. Things could be worse. Haze could be worse."

"Doesn't mean you should settle," she laces her fingers through my hair. "He's got a lot of grovelling to do."

I laugh quietly. "I don't think Haze even knows what grovelling is."

"He'll come to his senses sooner or later."

"Mm," I murmur.

"Right," she steps away. "Let's let this sit and we wash it off and see what it looks like underneath. I also have a toner we can try."

My head turns and I look up at her gratefully. "Thank you, Aurelia. Honestly, thank you. I really appreciate it."

"Don't thank me yet," she laughs. "I might have royally fucked up your hair."

✧

The pack house is quiet in the afternoon and I take myself outside for some fresh air. I walk through the training grounds until I come across a target with three knives embedded into the thick wood.

I glance around but I'm alone. I walk towards the target and remove the knives. I twist the handles between my fingers and stare at the hand crafted patterns on each. There is one thing that my father taught me and that's how to throw knives.

"Viola, if you can't fight, I'm going to need to teach you how to kill someone with a single knife. It might just save you."

My father's words replay in my head. We practised for hours, days, months. I've never liked the idea of a knife because one wrong slip and you can be the one with a grave injury, but I found myself becoming better and better as the sessions went on.

It's been more than a few weeks since I last practised but I doubt I've lost my spark. I hope not anyway. As I continue to stare down at the knives I begin to walk back to the drawn line and I aim, throwing one at the target.

It hits the outer circle with a sharp thud and I hum. At least I didn't miss.

I suck in a breath and focus. I try again, this time moving closer to the middle but not dead on the bullseye. I huff and tighten my jaw, shaking out my shoulders. It's been a while, I'm bound to be a little rusty.

"You've got this, Viola," I whisper to myself.

I pull back the knife and when I'm about to throw it another knife flies through the air and hits the wooden target with slick force. I jump back and turn around to find Haze prowling towards me with his silver eyes and broad shoulders.

My throat tenses at the sight of him. Now we're alone and out in the open he seems bigger than he ever has. I frown at his appearance. I was enjoying my alone time and now I have to put up with this asshole? Screw my life.

His eyes scan my entire body before he strolls effortlessly to the target and plucks his large dagger from the wood. I hold my breath as he turns back to me and the corners of his lips twitch up in a smirk.

Then he's walking straight towards me. I grip the knife in my hand and let it rest by my thigh. I don't let him intimidate me as I tilt my head to meet his ridiculous height. His head tilts to the side as he continues to analyse me.

"There's my blonde haired girl."

My nose wrinkles at the same time a chill runs down my spine. I should not enjoy the way he says the last word. I should not be letting my walls down because he's got this effect over me.

"I'm not your girl." I grumble.

"Yeah you are, sweetness. Don't even try to deny it."

I exhale a frustrated breath and turn to walk away. A hand grips my wrist and stops me before I can even take a step. My skin bursts into flames and pimples cover my entire body at his touch. I attempt to use my lungs but even they're betraying me. I bite down on my tongue because I don't want to argue with him, not after the nice day I've had.

Haze drops my wrist and draws his fingers up to my cheek, pushing it back towards him. Then he drags his hands through the ends of my hair, his eyes flaring at the blonde strands and curled ends.

"You went back to your natural colour," he comments.

"Yes. What's it got to do with you?"

He draws his teeth over his lip and I wish he didn't look so good at this moment. He knows exactly what he's doing and it annoys the hell out of me. "Easy. It looks good, sweetness. No need to bite my head off."

"Trust me, you'd know if I was biting your head off."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah. I'd bite a lot more than your head."

Haze's brows raise and his expression glimmers with amusement. "Sorry, are we fighting or flirting?"

I flinch from his statement. "I am not flirting with you." Even if I feel hot all over.

"I beg to differ."

My hands throw up in defeat. "This conversation is pointless. I'm just trying to mind my own business."

"Wait," he grabs my wrist again and I close my eyes to calm my breathing.

"What?"

"I saw your target skills."

"I don't need any advice."

Haze chuckles deeply. "I wasn't going to give you any."

"Then what?"

"Where'd you learn how to do that?"

I narrow my gaze at him. "My father. He wanted me to learn how to protect myself in other ways than just my wolf form."

"Ah, the father who was also an asshole to you?"

"I don't want to talk about him with you," I shake my head.

Haze takes a step back and drops my wrist. "You reckon you could hit the bullseye with your last throw?"

"Yeah," I say instantly with fake confidence. "I was just warming up."

His brows raise. "Wanna bet?"

"Bet?"

"You hit the bullseye, you get to have something. Anything you want."

Anything I want? I know going home is off the cards but I can definitely work this to my advantage.

"But if I hit the bullseye," he smirks. "I get anything I want."

My eyes narrow. "This sounds like a trick to me."

"No trick." Haze shrugs. "Unless you think you'll lose. It's okay to admit that you'r–"

"No," I stand my ground. "I'm not backing down to you."

Those silver eyes dance with a challenge. "Go on then, what do you want?"

"If I win, I get to see my brother," I say with boldness. "Even if your pack are in danger, I'm sure there is something we can do so that you can stay protected and I get to see him."

Haze nods once. "Fine."

I blink in surprise but attempt to cover it within seconds. If he's agreeing then I'm not saying a single thing to ruin this opportunity. I'm going to do everything I can to win.

"I don't even want to think about what you want." I murmur under my breath.

"No?" He laughs.

"Enlighten me," I place a hand on my hip.

His lip quirks into another smirk that does something stupid to my stomach. I mentally scowl at my wolf for being so hypnotised by his good looks. He takes a step forward and clutches my chin between his fingers. A soft gasp escapes my lips when he swipes his thumb across the curve of my jaw.

"How about," he says gruffly as he towers over me. "When I win, I get to taste that sweet pussy of yours."

My entire face lights up with flames. I gawk at his words and how casually he spurted them. "What?"

"You heard me, Viola."

I blink over and over, my brain playing catch up because there is no way he just said that to me. I subconsciously press my thighs together and the friction already beginning to burn there.

A sudden spark of confusion erupts in my mind. He wants to please me rather than asking for something for himself. My head spins and for a moment I feel dizzy.

His eyes dart to the growing blush on my cheeks and I cringe as he grips my chin tighter, making it impossible to move away.

"Unless you think you'll lose?" He says with smugness that only makes my determination shine brighter. I can't let this slip through my fingers. I can't let him between my legs.

"I'm not going to lose," I hiss through my teeth.

Haze breathes out with a cunning smile. "So it's a bet?"

"It's a fucking bet."

He holds out his hand, I take it in a rough shake.

"Let's go." He beckons.

I remove the two knives from the target to leave it empty. Haze has his arms over his chest as I walk back to the line and I avoid his eyes at all costs. No distractions. No distractions. This might be my chance to see Nate and to tell him that he doesn't have to worry.

I raise the knife and I zone everything out.

Breathe, Viola. Breathe.

Haze stays silent behind me which I appreciate because I don't want to lose focus. I channel all my lessons with my father and every time I've hit bullseye without even looking. I can do this now. Especially when it matters the most.

The knife flies from my fingers and hits the board, an inch off the centre of the bullseye. I exhale a breath. I still hit it. I still could win.

I gulp as a line of sweat drips down the centre of my spine.

Before I even have the chance to look at Haze his dagger slices through the air and lines up perfectly next to my hit. Exactly where the middle of the bullseye is.

Oh hell fucking no. No. No. No. No.

Haze's thick laugh fills the air and I drag my heavy eyes up at him. "Let me know when I can come claim my prize," he drawls lazily but his eyes are alight with what I can only guess is thick desire. "I'll wait until you're ready, sweetness."

Then he stalks away as if nothing happened.

I can't catch my breath. What the hell have I agreed to?

My hand presses to my forehead as I try to calm my erratic heart beat. There is a sharp pulse between my legs and I curse myself for even feeling the slightest bit aroused from his demands.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I'm never going to live this down.

✧

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Author's Note

Well didn't this just make everything one hundred times more interesting. EEEKKk.😈😈😈

What did you guys think of this chapter?👉🏼

I love that Viola had her hair changed back to her blonde and that she's bonding with Aurelia

Haze really knew what he wanted, and that was a taste of Viola. I can't wait to share more!!!

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Love Savanna x

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