July, I groaned as it still hot. I was laying on the cold floor when Xenia was making something cold and refreshing for all of us. Zee was out, I feel bad for him, always in the leather jackets and clothing. My mom right now is at the doctors, so that's good. She's feeling better, I mean a lot. I am glad that Xenia took care of her and letting us stay in her home. I sighed as I felt the tiles get to hot so I moved to a different one. "Why is so damn hot in this damn house!" I screamed.

Xenia looked guilty, she lowered her head and just smiled, "All the power of trying to cool down the house, I think I might switch it off." She thought, "It's getting pretty hot in here, I can barely stand it." I glared at her. She is something else I swear. I groaned as I curled up into a ball.

"I hate you!" I told her.

She smiled, "Now, now, don't get the heat get into your mindset. That wasn't very nice of what you just told me." She teased.

"I don't care I just want this summer to end!" I screamed, pulling at my hair.

She sighed, "I know, you guys were too lazy to do Fourth of the July things, so we didn't do much. You didn't want to leave my room on your birthday saying it's too hot outside." She reminded me, "You were spoiled that day! We have to bring the cake upstairs in my room so you can enjoy." She told me, more of scolding at me at this point. I just rolled my eyes, ignoring her.

"I don't care! I hate summer with a passion!" I told her as I rolled over to another cold tile.

I could feel her eyes roll as my back was facing her, "I know, but it must go through. How about we go dip in the lake? I would put on the A.C in the car so you don't have to melt." She suggested.

I looked at her with a large smile. "Really?" I asked almost too excited to know I get into something cold.

She smiles and nods, "Really, really." I quickly got up to go to my room to change into a bathing suit. I hurrying as I could tell Xenia was really taking her time. I jumped up and down, then I stopped and wondered. Why is Xenia so calm about the weather, she is a cold person? I thought for a while and shrugged it off. I don't care at the moment I am getting into something cold, and refreshing. It's been so long since I've been to the hills. Our spot, down the hills. I was so happy I ran out of the room to see Xenia with towels in her hands.

She looked at me in shock when she made a small smile. "Someone is in a joyous mood." She observed.

I nod my head as I walked over to her, getting the towels. I don't want her to be working so hard, she has been relaxing a lot more lately. Working still, and fighting but one of must be there when she trains because sometimes she would tumble and make us worry to death. I sighed as I walked down the stairs to see no one was home. Zee was out somewhere, probably doing his rounds like always and mom... well, she's safe. I could hear the car running, and as promised the car was nice and cold making me relax into the seat. I waiting for her for a good 5 minutes until she came out with a bag full of extra clothes and water. She was wearing shorts and a crop top that said 'Wild Chick' in gold ink. I smiled.

"Nice shirt." She looked and chuckled.

"Thanks." She told me. She got into the car and I noticed her scars runs through her body, I stared. "You should take a picture, it would last longer." She winked at me, I blushed looking away.

"You tease too much." I told her, "But some of those scars are the ones I have witnessed and it makes me feel bad that you get hurt because of us."

She laughed, with a shrug she told me, "Don't worry about Tally, I really don't mind. That is what Alpha is for, to protect the pack and the ones we love." She whispered the last part, almost like she was debating it was the right choice of words.

I leaned back as she pulled out the driveway, "You know I am glad that I met you." I told her.

She took a glance at me and smiled, "Same here, and you have no idea."

I laughed, I looked out the window to see the trees go by like any other day, "Xenia, are you scared?" I asked her.

She looked at me and nervously chuckled, "About what?"

I stood silent, I turned my body around to face her. I sighed, dropping my shoulders I told her, "About the war."

She sighed, "I am scared, I am scared of you, your friends, my friends, and my pack. I am genuinely terrified, who isn't though?" She asked. She parked to the side as she put looked at me with a small smile, "I have called a few packs out of states, they will come if we need assistance." She told me with a comforting grin.

I nod my head at her words, I don't want her to be worried about my wellbeing, I sighed as we both exited out the car. Xenia slung the bag over her shoulder as we both headed to our river. I smiled as she tossed the bag as we ran into the cold, glimmering water. It felt so nice that I instantly went on my knees to feel the water rushing below my chin. The rocks where we sit at is just ahead of us, it's a nice place to relax and do nothing on hot days like these.

The day went on slow, she was just relaxing in the water like I was. Sitting down in the shallow water, we were just relaxing feeling unbothered. Xenia relaxed almost laying down but leaning against the rock having the water travel around her. I was on the other side doing the same just letting my arms float freely. I sighed as I looked over at her to see her eyes are closed. I smiled as I leaned back. "Isn't this great?" I told her.

She hums back as a response. "Yeah, I hate hot weather. I feel like I am melting and I am usually very tired, but I guess you're here I have a reason to move around." She shrugs her shoulder like it's no big deal.

I stared at her for a while as she just sinks into the water, "So you're like a house cat on rainy days." She glares at me as I just laughed. "It's true!" I couldn't hold I anymore that I had to hold onto the ledge.

"That wasn't funny, I am a big bad Alpha!" she told me with a joking glare.

I laughed, "Right, that what every Alpha says," I told her, she looks at me and smiled, "What? Why are you smiling? Stop that!"

She shook her head, "I wish you were in my shoes, all of this would have been easier." She tilts her head, "But I don't want that because if I did you wouldn't be here. Sitting next to me talking about the pack, and I personally am thankful for that." She smiles at me.

I looked at her in shock, "I think so too."

August, came along and people are moving into the bunkers because of the announcement that Xenia made. I led my mother to back since she is qualified to be there. People are moving in because they have been receiving threats from the other side, sometimes it has gotten bad that people showed up dead in the middle of streets. Xenia told anybody who had children or is medically ill to head down the bunkers asap. I could tell why she is worried, she wants everybody safe so that is what we are right now. Near the end of August (like two weeks) and we are already getting inside the bunkers. "Tally will everything be okay?" My mother asked as we walked towards the back.

I look behind me to see Zee following us, he made sure to come with us since he had nothing to do but I think otherwise. He has been on my tail for a while, sometimes I could hear him and Xenia fighting and not just verbally. For some odd reason, I didn't like it too much, Zee is always the one to be far from us and not near us. I don't know what is up with him. I sighed as I put mom on one of the bed, this would have a huge impact on her. "Mom we will be okay, I promise. Xenia got everything under controlled. Zee here isn't doing a god damn thing." I growled at him, making him step back out of my way.

"He's just protecting you, sweetheart." She smiled as she put her hand on my cheek, I leaned into her warmth.

"It's weird and I don't like it." I honestly told her.

She smiled, "I know."

I looked over to Zee and glared at him, "Can you at least be helpful and not just stand there like a dumbass?" I told him.

"Tally!" My mother smacked my arm, I flinched.

"I am sorry, it's just he's getting on my nerves," I growled at him as my mom pulled me down beside her. "I don't know why something is up. Xenia is acting strange, Zee is acting strangely, and so am I!" I told her. Zee tried to take a step closer but I gave him a warning growl, "Don't think about it."

My mother sighed looking down, then back up at to Zee. With a warm smile "Can you go get Xenia." She asked.

Zee just nods his head, I could feel his pain but right now I didn't care. Nothing between us happened but something inside of me just didn't want to face him. After an hour or so Zee came back with Xenia in front of him. "What happened?" She asked concerned. Her eyes roaming at us for any sign of injuries.

My mother informed her, "She's been really aggressive with Zee lately."

Xenia took a gasp, "Already?" She whispered, she shook her head, "No it can't be. Zee how come you didn't tell me before." She growled at him.

He raised his hands up backing away, "I thought it didn't matter."

She huffed, "Is it something bad?" I asked her, I want to be with her today. No Zee, not my own mother, not my friend, I just want to be close to her. I felt my self-shrinking just thinking about it.

Xenia just looked pained and lost, she didn't want this, neither did we. "Alright, Zee can you stay with Ms. Lane and Tally come with me, I don't want you two fighting. Clearly I know who is going to win but still, I don't think it's a wise choice on my part." She told us. We all stood still, she looked back to Zee and I. "Well come on!" I got up as we both switched places.

"Take care of my daughter, will you?" My mother yelled as Zee sat next to her staring at me.

Xenia just laughed, "Will do. Don't worry I'll just take her around with me. I'll teach her the way of the Alpha!"

I could hear my mom laugh, "Good luck with that!" We walked as we talked, I felt better than I am around her. I felt at ease and she seems to be too.

"I guess you missed me." She nudges my shoulder.

I rolled my eyes at her response, "I guess so, but seriously I don't know what is going on with me, do you?" I asked her.

She just sighed looking around, "I don't know. This is all so strange."