The Barracks, as they were so aptly named, were a set of apartments renovated from what had probably been the old barracks when the Blades of Veldt had been rising to power hundreds of years ago. Lyra stared at the building, mulling over the little history she knew as Rylan led her towards the third building. They had been constructed in a U-shape, a large pavilion in the centre of them – and it was across that pavilion she was led on her way to her new home. The walls were a mix of charcoal grey stones, just like the castle's walls though they were less intimidating thanks to the less than grandiose design.

No one was there to greet them, much to Lyra's relief, and they passed silently through the corridors until they reached her new accommodation. It was a small apartment bearing the number 54, on the second floor of the last of the three buildings. Cautious, she made her way inside, eyes scanning over every inch of the place as she took in what was to be her new home.

"Does it suit your tastes?" Rylan asked, leaning against the doorframe as she looked around. "If not, there's always space in the castle for you."

"I like it," Lyra grumbled quickly. She didn't particularly want to get dragged back to the castle she had just escaped from. There it felt like she was trapped, and Lyra had never liked that feeling. It suffocated her, just like that cell had – but those memories were better off left in the past. She was free now, and that was how she'd stay.

His shoulders sunk in disappointment ever so slightly, but a soft smile soon formed on his face even as she glared at him suspiciously. "I'm glad," he said, though Lyra was fairly certain he'd have preferred it had she opted to stay within the castle itself. It was written all over his face, and that spoke volumes about the kind of mate he'd be.

He was definitely the possessive type. Lyra sighed, partly in annoyance and partly in relief – even if he wanted her to be by his side he was at least respectful of her wishes, and Lyra could appreciate that. "So," she mumbled, looking anywhere but his face. "Are you going to let me get settled?" She wanted them gone so she could find some peace and quiet. She wanted to enjoy her newly found semblance of freedom. Even if she was forced to stay there in order to be monitored, she wasn't in the clutches of Omega Taurus anymore. That was a freedom of sorts, and she'd take that.

Her eyes darted over to where he waited, furiously looking away when he noticed her stare with another gentle smile. Huffing, she folded her arms, staring determinedly at the wall opposite her. She had even found her mate – something she hadn't expected in the slightest. Rubbing at the hand he'd held, she scowled. Years of being reminded to never show weakness had made forming relationships rather hard. Plus...

"I like you..."

Clutching at her chest, she rumpled the shirt she wore as she remembered the cooling sting of the blade that had pierced her so soon after those sweet words had been uttered.

"Well we need to take care of your wardrobe issues, and you'll be joining us for lunch and dinner given the lack of anything in your fridge," Thorn said, flicking on the power supply to the refrigerator and freezer in the small kitchen. "I'm sure Rylan will oblige to take you grocery shopping tomorrow."

"Why not today?" she demanded, glaring at the food compartments like they had offended her.

"Because there are other things to be done – so I'm afraid you'll have to suffer through eating with us at the castle for today," Blu said grumpily. "Surprisingly enough our lives don't revolve around you."

"It turns out there's a lot of paperwork which comes with being an alpha," Rylan told her, handing her the keys they'd used to enter the small apartment. Though it was far larger than the sole room she'd used to stay in, not that she would've complained if it hadn't been so. Freedom was enough for her. "You'll probably be handling some of Arrow's paperwork tomorrow," he continued, chewing on his lip as he glanced between her and the door. "If you'd like I could show—"

Thorn sighed deeply from further inside the flat. "Please tell me"—he peered around the archway, staring withering at her mate—"you are not trying to make a date out of paperwork, Rylan."

"I was just going to offer to show her the ropes, that's all!" Rylan complained, fidgeting under the red-eyed glare.

Thorn snorted in disbelief. "Sure. Keep telling yourself that."

Rylan glanced helplessly over at Blu, who merely shook his head and rolled his eyes. "It was a date invitation," he said flatly, and her mate leant against the wall. His cheeks were a bright crimson, and he desperately looked as though he wanted to vanish into thin air. "If you want to have a date with her, then just ask," Blu muttered. "You're an alpha, and you're our king – stop acting like some scared schoolboy with his first crush."

"He practically is, though," Thorn yelled, having vanished even further inside the small apartment. There were only four rooms in the place, and going by the creaking of wood, Lyra would happily guess he was making himself at home on her new bed. "He's never dated anyone in his life – so I'm sure Lyra will be pleased to hear his virginity is still intact!"

"THORN!" Rylan hissed, cheeks and ears flushed a bright red as he stormed towards the bedroom, and Lyra looked on. She felt oddly eager to witness, or at least hear, the drama about to unfold. Alphas had always been some mysterious, regal figures in her mind. Now though... Lyra sniggered at the sounds of pillows being wielded as weapons. Alphas were weird, each different from the next, but then again that could be said about any number of werewolves.

Thorn chose that moment to sprint out from her room, charging towards the doors which opened out onto a narrow balcony. Lyra could only blink as he sprinted towards the railing, vaulting over it seconds later. Rylan was hot on his heels, pillow in hand as he made the leap down. Blu sighed yet again, shaking his head at their antics. "Well then, they will both be occupied for the next fifteen minutes," he said, walking towards her, grabbing her by the arm as he walked towards the door. "You're coming with me to get some of your business sorted before tonight, so I do not want to hear any complaints. I'm doing this for you. I get no satisfaction out of it."

"Of course you don't," Lyra grumbled, glaring down at the hand closed around her arm. It didn't feel the same, she mused, walking forwards as he dragged her back towards the castle. "You can let go of my arm, you know," she said, casting her eyes back over towards where her mate was seemingly trying to dunk the other alpha in the nearest fountain. Thorn fell in with a loud splash, and she smiled at their antics.

Blu scowled. "Idiots. They're going to trek water into the house for one of the rest of us to clean up," he grumbled, walking that much faster, still refusing to loosen his hold on her arm.

Lyra felt her shoulders sink as the looming walls of the castle grew closer. Maybe things would have felt different if it had been Rylan leading her by the hand. She clenched her empty hand, the memory of her mate's warm touch still burnt into her skin there.

"Keep up," Blu sharply reminded her. "We have plenty still to do."

"Of course we do," she grumbled, feeling ever so slightly more comfortable about the taciturn blue-haired alpha. He was gruff and likely boring, but he hadn't hurt her yet. His grip was firm, but not tight enough to bruise, though she would have preferred it if he wasn't holding onto her in the first place. "Could you let go of my arm already?"

"I have not forgotten what your gift is," he said, bright blue eyes boring into her brown ones as he glanced back at her, opening the door to the kitchen to let them in. "Should I release you you'd be able to get away faster than I could send you to sleep."

"Sleep?"

"It's my own ability," he began, glancing down at his hands. "Convenient for when I'm dealing with troublesome individuals." The such as yourself, was solely implied. "But enough about me. Today is more so about yourself."

"What other information could you possibly need?" she questioned, not wanting to answer another whole set of questions which would make her want to shrivel up and die in the corner. Lyra hated being reminded of everything which had been stolen away from her by that accursed rogue group.

"Anything which will help us put an end to that damned rogue group. They've been a thorn in our side, just like Libertium was to our predecessors." He pulled her through the corridors, far away from the delightful scents of the kitchen. "Any other information about yourself would also be helpful in tracking down your previous home, as well as your family. Like I said before, this is solely for your benefit."

"I don't know all that much," she muttered. "I wasn't in the Upper Echelon, so I wasn't privy to anything important."

"Upper Echelon?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"It consists of anybody important..."

Blu edged closer towards her, prompting, "Such as?"

"I only know of one." Shivering at the memories related to that man, she wrapped an arm around herself. She could remember the vivid snows and the icy waters he'd dragged her through on the assignments she had been forced to share with him, and his laugh... how she hated it so.

"And their name?"

Lyra shrugged, letting her arms fall back to her sides. "I don't know if it's his real one or not..."

"The name," Blu said pointedly, pulling open one of the numerous doors in that particular corridor. "It doesn't matter if it's real or not. If you and the others of Omega Taurus knew him as that, then it's likely other people use it as well. So, what was the name?"

"Frost."