The light was sifting through the branches of the trees and it smelled cold but beautifully clean. It was a magnificent forest without any traces of humans anywhere. That fact was a precious piece of information but not a pleasing one. 

There was no way in which she would run off into the forest at night again. The bite wounds had not been as bad as expected and vanished almost completely but the experience was still tormenting her. There were still times when she saw fangs and claws when she closed her eyes. A second time there would be no Erik there to rescue her.

Her mind was still foggy regarding what happened that night when Erik came out of nowhere and scared the wolves off. Did he shoot them? Or how did he do that? She couldn't recall.

It had been however a moment when she felt him close and was drawn to him despite their mutual dislike, like that morning when they woke up together.

New Year's Eve was going to be at the end of that week. She had to behave so that Erik's mood would be good and she could convince him to take her to that party.

"This place is beautiful," said Mila when they arrived panting at a lake. It was indeed. Everything was frozen now but it was still an enchanting view. "In summer it must be even more beautiful," she continued.

"It is indeed. The water is turquoise and it's full of moonflowers around it. Even the Go... " Michael paused.

"Who?"

"Nevermind. You wouldn't know who I am talking about," he said.

Mila looked at Michael, at his massive figure and masculine body. He was not a talker, but a handsome man in his rough way, blond and tall with striking blue eyes and a lot of muscles hidden under those clothes. Muscles... Mila's mind wandered again at the image of Erik that had just exited the shower. Something had shifted in her since she arrived in England; maybe it was the freedom that had changed her, but she never cared or was affected by these things back in Serbia.

"What is your actual business about?" she asked, to shift the subject in her mind to something milder.

"What do you mean?" asked Michael.

"Are you a mafia organization? I assume you don't all do day trading."

"I am not going to answer this question. You would not understand the answer anyway. We are an organization borderlines to illegality but we have no choice. Don't judge us too hard for that."

This screams mafia. Al mafiosos call themselves only businessmen. 

"What am I in this game?" she continued, seeing that he was finally talking.

"You could be the queen if you stop acting like a pawn, " said Michael. He was not smirking. Nothing; he seemed deadly serious.

Angel is certainly the yin to his yang. The guy is cranky.

Half an hour passed and Michael urged her to go back. They walked in silence. She had insisted for them to stay a bit longer but Michale couldn't be swayed. He was as stoic as an army general. 

Maybe he actually was one at some point. Mila recalled the photos from Erik's room again. 

Back at the house, exhausted from the hiking, Mila wanted to peak again in the medicine book while lying in bed. She read a bit and closed it again frustrated, not understanding that particular part she was reading. What a joke that was; she could never prepare on her own. But then an idea bloomed in her mind. Maybe she should actually listen to Angel. 

Stop being a pawn... I have to go to that damn party.

She stormed into the living room. Erik was nowhere to be found. Angel was there laying lazy on the sofa.

"Where is he?" asked Mila.

"Outside, with Michael."

"Ok, thanks."

"But brace yourself," she heard him saying, standing up from the sofa and running after her.

She was already out the door.

"To the right. There is the training ground," said Angel letting out a loud whistle. It seemed to be a signal for Michael and Erik.

Are they doing something shady? 

Twenty steps away, was another clearing in the woods and to her surprise indeed a training ground. Michael and Erik were both shirtless, glittering with sweat.  Dried blood and bruises were littered all over their faces and bodies.

"Oh... This is..." said Mila, not being able to take her eyes off them. It was like that damn morning. Now she could observe the tattoos on Erik's chest better. The moon phases surrounded by flames in different shapes everything converging into a full moon, where his heart must be. To her surprise, Michael bore a similar one.

"Uhu..." said Ángel from behind her. "It's like an accident; you just can't look away."

Mila left out a chuckle.

"What are they doing?"

"Brawling, in a more professional way," answered Ángel.

"They both look... Injured."

"They'll survive don't worry."

"I don't. I wouldn't be that lucky..." said Mila.

"Sweety, believe me, your life wouldn't be better if any of them died," said Angel in a severe and irritated tone that was so unlike him. "Erik is not the big bad wolf in your story, Mila, even if it might look as if he is."

Mila turned her back to the scene. His words rubbed her the wrong way

"I will come back later."

She went back to the house and observed from a window the entrance. Shortly after, the walked inside, still shirtless, dirty and bruised.

Acknowledging the time, she waited. 

An hour should be enough. He had plenty of time to shower.

Then, full of the courage if the desperate, she walked to his room. 

When she caught herself straightening her clothes before knocking, she couldn't help scoffing at herself. Her fist trembled again.

"Yes?" he answered after a few seconds, opening the door. The T-shirt he was wearing this time was green. It blended very well with the color of his eyes, though Mila unwillingly.

"Yes, Mila, how can I help you?"

"Can I come in?" she asked and tried to keep her voice from shaking. 

"Sure," he answered, gesturing her to enter with a hint of confusion on his face.

"What were you doing?" she asked more incisively than intended.

"Working..."

"Don't you have an office?"

"I did. Now you sleep there."

"Oh," said Mila. That piece of information caught her off guard.

"Angel said you can help me."

"Did he now? With what exactly should I help you, Milena?" he said smirking. It looked so good on him, so good her cheeks were heating up. 

Why was she flustered? She hated herself for being. She just hated that Erik was still intimidating her. The aim was however to play nice so that he would take her to that party.

"L... learning."

"What makes you think I can help."

"Angel told me you can. Not sure why," she said frankly.

"Okay."

"Okay, what?"

"Let's try. Bring your books and tell me where you are and what the issues are."

Mila obeyed wondering how that was going to unfold. She brought her books and notes. After considering a bit, she sat down on the floor not wanting to sit on the bed. Erik seated himself in front of her. She observed the ink shapes that disappeared under the sleeve of his t-shit and the shape of his biceps... the pleasant color of his skin, slightly tanned.

"Milena?"

"What?" she asked shaking her head.

"I asked what chapter you are at?"

"Three. And I have many questions." Mila blinked, trying to compose herself. 

That has been quite embarrassing. 

"Your English is very good."

"Where does that come from?" she asked irritated.

"You don't have spelling mistakes in your notes," he answered half-smiling.

"Were you supposing all immigrants are idiots?" The irritation just wouldn't leave her. 

"If I would have, I had to think that about myself too," he answered slightly sarcastically.

"What? I thought you are born here. You speak so well and you don't have any prominent accent," she said.

"I had a lot of practice. I moved here many years ago."

"Where are you actually from?" asked Mila genuinely curious.

"I was born in southern Germany."

"Really? You don't look very German. Micheal, he does look German but you don't."

"My mother was Italian and Moroccan. But that's a big cliché you just exposed, Mila."

"Indeed. It still fitted."

He smirked. He seemed to like whatever was happening. Good.

"These answers are wrong. Neurons do not regenerate. Rookie mistake," and he continued going patiently through all her notes and questions.

Mila was astonished. He actually knew the answers to all questions, the explanations were clear and made sense.

"Where do you know these things from?" she asked.

"I studied them," he answered simply.

"When?"

"Some time ago."

"You studied what? Medicine? I thought you do day trading."  There was still a hint of sarcasm in her voice. 

"I studied to be a doctor, I just don't practice often, but it has always been a part of me. Day trading works better with the material needs of my life. I need to be flexible and work from anywhere."

"While you do criminal stuff?"

"Aha..." Erik huffed exasperated.

Mila leaned in closer but couldn't help finding herself ridiculous. She was well aware she didn't know how to seduce a guy.

What would Dasha do? 

She tried to channel her inner Dasha and put a hand on his arm leaning closer.
His expression was surprised and mistrusting.

"Erik..." she said looking into his eyes.

Oh yes, that was so Dasha. She would be proud.

"Yes..." he answered confused.

"I want to spend more time with you," she said, trying to make her voice sound alluring. 

But it was not the right line because he stood up abruptly.

"No, you don't. That is a lie and you are a bad liar, Milena. I will not take you to that party."

"Why not? I was invited."

"It doesn't matter. Go to sleep."

"You really make it impossible for me not to hate you," she said exiting and slamming the door, overhearing him sigh in the distance.

For the next four days, they avoided each other. He only came to the house to sleep and one day not even to do that. Mila was wondering what he was doing and where he was going when he was not there.

The morning of New Year's Eve came and she accepted the fact that she was not going to attend that party and had no plan whatsoever.

The strange bodyguards came again signaling that Michael and Angel would be gone too that evening.

She felt sad and hopeless and just spent the day in her pajamas.

Erik came around noon and got into a screaming match with Michael. She could distinguish even from her room a few words, so she opened the door and tiptoed closer to hear better.

"He is here. How is that possible?"

"I don't know; he is defying you. Do you still want to let her here? We cannot stay. It would be an offense to Dahiru to cancel last minute."

"Yes, it would."

Afterward, she heard steps coming up the stairs and closed the door fast hurrying to the bed.

Angel came in.

"Go shower and get dressed. We are taking you to the party after all."

"What if I don't want to come?" asked Mila raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, I beg you don't make it more complicated. Do you want me to get into trouble? I will have to drag you there."

Mila smiled and stuck her tongue out. In the end, fate gave her what she wanted.

She showered and put the dress on that Angel had gifted her for Christmas. It was very tight, short, and cut off in the back. That was a detail that was unsettling to her since she had some scars that would show.

She didn't have any other dress so she just put on a trench coat, the most elegant piece of clothing she possessed, and decided to not take it off during the venue.

Nobody would care anyway, but without it, she would feel uneasy and exposed.

She had no makeup and no adequate shoes so she just brushed her long straight hair and put on her black sneakers that stood out like a sore thumb.

Angel laughed when he saw her.

"Oh dear lord, we will have to make a detour and buy you some shoes. I will tell Michael and Erik to go ahead and we will meet them there."

To Mila's surprise, Michael came with them though and so did a big bunch of bodyguards.

They drove into what looked like a small town.

"What size do you wear?" asked Angel.

"What? Can I not come in and choose myself?"

"I can take a photo if you want and you can choose but you are waiting in the car with Michael."

Michael gave his nod of approval and Mila rolled her eyes.

"Five. choose whatever."

And that was what Angel did, but Mila regretted her words a bit when she saw the high heels that he bought.

They were what one could call a classic beauty but certainly high and probably very improper to run in.

They arrived an hour later at a house on the coast. Mila cursed in her mind; she expected and hoped for a town or village at least but there was nothing for solid twenty kilometers.

That preference must run in the family.

Despite that, the view was captivating, million stars and a perfect half-moon were reflecting in the waves. Mila had never seen the sea before and she noticed, even at night it was just how she imagined it, if not even more beautiful.

The night was cold and it was snowing lightly but the party seemed alive. Even from afar, you could see light and it was like you could almost feel that that gathering was exhaling some mystic power.

There were at least twenty luxury cars parked outside the vila and Mila cursed again in her mind the fact that she couldn't drive. Her parents never thought her that, and she never had money to attend driving school. Who would have considered that her life would depend on that one day?

Michael opened the door for her and lead her inside. To her surprise the car with the bodyguards only escorted them and left, not entering the grounds.

"Why do they leave?" she asked without thinking.

"They are not allowed in here," said Michael.

Ha, I knew it. They are some sort of mafia organization after all.

Michael went ahead. Angel was walking by her side.

"Please do what you are told tonight. These people can be dangerous, especially for you," whispered Angel.