*The media pic shows what Penn's pale blue eyes might look like.

Well, this was the end of her time with the pups, Penn surmised as she followed Alpha Troy down the corridor. There was no doubt in her mind, despite his calm demeanour, that he'd come that evening to send her on her way after she threatened to make the cook cry earlier in the day. She was puzzled that he'd waited this long to kick her out of the pack, but she was also glad he'd given her one last day with the pups, whether that was intentional or not.

Penn consciously worked on keeping her shoulders from sagging and her feet from dragging as she walked to the cafeteria where an escort was likely waiting to whisk her quickly off Orthos territory. Part of her was glad that the youngest children were all tucked away in bed and would be spared the knowledge, at least for tonight, that she'd been sent away. But, part of her felt distraught that she wasn't going to get a chance to tell them what special little pups they all were and what a pleasure, and an honour, it had been getting to know them.

Her heart constricted and it was a little difficult to breath. She pressed the heal of her palm into her breast bone for a moment trying to get a little relief from the pressure there.  She had to get her feelings under control or she was going to fall apart before Alpha Troy's team even got her out of the cafeteria.

Breaking down was not an option under any circumstances she warned herself.

Penn worked diligently in the next few steps to push all thoughts of the children and pictures of their lovable faces out of her mind. She scolded herself for being fainthearted and told herself to toughen up. The bitter truth was that the pups were better off without her, and she knew all along that this day was coming. So, there was no reason to succumb to sentimental thoughts and feelings. There was no reason for her heart to ache and her eyes to burn with tears.

She blinked rapidly and tried to take some deep, calming breaths.

Penn sniffed the air as they neared the cafeteria's double doors. She couldn't make out any unfamiliar scents. Perhaps the wolves who would escort her off the property were waiting outside. The cafeteria had a door that spilled out onto the stone deck behind the pack house and maybe her escort was there.

Penn couldn't begin to understand what Alpha Troy's strategy was, but, perhaps, he didn't want to put her on her guard just yet. Maybe he hoped, this way, she'd go quietly. She had always planned to go quietly. So, he had nothing to worry himself about.

She let out a small sigh as he pushed open the cafeteria door and motioned for her to walk through ahead of him. Penn sucked in a quick breath and held it as she walked through the doorway bracing herself mentally and physically for what might be on the other side.

 She made a quick scan of the room and even let her eyes scope the grounds outside through the glass doors and windows. The backyard was lit by a number of decorative lights this time of night that would have easily exposed anyone waiting there. But, there was no one around. The cafeteria and the grounds beyond held only herself and Alpha Troy. Penn felt confused. She didn't know whether to be relieved or on her guard.

She looked back at the Alpha, who was quietly shutting the cafeteria door behind them, and acknowledged that he was a bit of a mystery to her. He could have run her off from day one, and yet, he had exercised wisdom, understanding and great restraint where she was concerned. It was all for the pup's benefit, Penn knew, but it was still remarkable.

"Please," she heard him say with a polite and respectful tone, "have a seat anywhere."

Feeling mildly surprised by the invitation, Penn simply walked to the closest table and sat down. She watched him follow after her and sit down with ease directly across from her. What did he want, she wondered. If he wasn't going to kick her out of the pack that night, then what was all this about?

Up until that moment, Penn had felt the invitation to talk was just a ruse. While nothing had been said all evening, and the atmosphere had been light-hearted and easy during the night's visit, Penn knew intuitively that the arrival of the Alpha, Beta and the Betas' mate that night was no happy accident. She knew in her gut that they were there to address the morning's incident in the cafeteria with the cook, just as surely as she knew the cook had not kept the incident to herself.

The idea that Alpha Troy sincerely wanted to talk to her had never really occurred to Penn before now. Was it possible that he actually wanted to have a legitimate conversation with her? Penn could hardly say. She didn't know how to read the situation - to read him.

Penn looked at him with veiled anxiety. She could not comprehend his friendly manner. What did it mean? Was he sincere? Could she trust him? Or was he going to turn on her? If he was cold or indifferent she would know just what to do and what to expect. But, she wasn't the least bit qualified to assess and understand a kind and generous Alpha.

Instead of feeling relieved by his behaviour, a sense of trepidation took over her mind and body filling her with a new kind of tension. She was on unknown ground here. She couldn't understand his body language. She didn't know what he wanted. It made her nervous in a way she had not been for longer than she could remember.

As the silence between them dragged on a bit Penn wished the Alpha would just tell her whether to stay or go and relieve her of all this confounding uncertainty. She let her eyes devour every nuance of his facial expression and body language as she waited for something. When he took in a big breath she felt positive that she was about to get her answer.

Troy exhaled slowly. They had been sitting there a few minutes now in complete silence and he was just stalling. It was very unlike him. In life he was all business all the time. But, when he faced this strange, beguiling woman with the lightest eyes he'd ever seen and perhaps the most refreshing scent he'd ever encountered, well, he simply wasn't himself.

The truth was, there were a thousand other questions he'd like to be asking her that had nothing to do with the morning's incident. The more he looked at her the more lost in thought he became. It seemed a pity to waste the very first meaningful conversation with her on finding out if there was any truth to the ridiculous rumours he'd heard all day.

Still, he was the Alpha and he had a job to do - a pack to protect. Straightening up his back, he pushed every personal query from his mind and concentrated on the business at hand. And, as his mind turned to the morning's events, Troy realized that the direct approach was probably the best approach to take with Penn since she was not accustomed to dealing with social situations anymore.

So, without further delay he said plainly, "I've been told that there was an altercation between yourself and the head cook – Carmen - today."

Troy looked her directly in the eye but she gave away nothing. She didn't look angry or sheepish. So, with no indication one way or the other he continued by asking, "Did you get in a fight with Carmen this morning?"

Penn was surprised by his manner. He wasn't accusing her. He wasn't demanding she fess up. He wasn't cornering her into a confession. Instead, he'd come right out and asked her point blank what he wanted to know. She admired that and so responded in kind by simply saying, "No."

If she'd fought the cook, the woman would be dead.

Troy was disappointed with the one syllable answer. He was hoping for more. However, he was glad to hear from her that there had been no altercation. Now, just to find out what did occur to make the head cook quake with fear. He nodded at Penn and then asked, "Can you tell me what happened this morning in the cafeteria?"

Penn tipped her head slightly to the right and wondered why he wanted to know her side of the story. Was he going to defend her? Would he be willing to take her side? It seemed unlikely and yet here he was asking her what happened.

Whether it was his dark eyes or his relaxed manner she could not say, but she did feel like talking to him. For the first time in her life she felt that explaining herself would be wise. She felt like the Alpha's gentle eyes would listen to her and hear her. So, almost without thinking, Penn found herself leaning forward and re-telling the morning's conversation.

"The children were having a rough morning. They were feeling emotional and they didn't have an appetite." Penn paused here, sighed openly, and then continued saying, "The cook – Carmen – was not happy with them. She belittled them and tried to bully them into eating. So much so that they began to cry." Here Penn stopped and looked directly at him as if to emphasize that last statement 'they began to cry' .

Suddenly, things were unfolding much differently in Troy's mind. The story he heard now was nothing like the ridiculous tales that had come across his desk that afternoon. This story was making sense. Clearly, she had been defending the pups. It was just as Lucas had said it would be. Troy nodded, indicating Penn should continue.

"Carmen told them they were not allowed to cry at the table and if they wanted something to cry about, well, she would give them something to cry about." Here Penn made a scoffing noise before continuing on, "So, I stood up, which got her attention, and told her I would give her something to cry about."

Here Penn stopped and looked the Alpha unapologetically in the eye before saying, "She didn't like the idea and suggested the children were free to eat as much or as little as they pleased. Then she returned to the kitchen."

No sooner was the tale out of her mouth then Penn began to  wonder if she'd been too candid. The whole situation just reminded her so much of the countless times she was needlessly humiliated as a child that she could hardly control her feelings on the subject, which were all stirred up even now.

Penn frowned. She needed to clamp back down on her wayward emotions before things got out of hand. She doubted this display of feeling towards one of his own pack members was going to ingratiate her with Alpha Troy. 

And suddenly Penn regretted that she'd been drawn in by his open and compelling eyes. It was probably all a trick. He most likely disarmed people all the time in this fashion just to get them to open up and make themselves vulnerable. She cursed her own foolishness and did her best to push her emotions behind the mask of indifference she was so practised at wearing.

Troy gave her a little smile. He could see that she had been quite honest with him but was now sealing the door back up. Her face, which had just been full of expression a moment ago, was now a stone wall giving away nothing – no trace of feeling. He waited a moment in the hope that she would continue her story despite closing off herself but she did not.

Undeterred, and wanting to hear everything she had to say, he asked gently, "Is there any more?"

He watched her shake her head no. He nodded and then looked at the door they'd come through while he tapped a few fingers on the cafeteria table. He looked back at her and asked, "Did you flash your canines at her, show her your claws or climb over the table and grab for her?"

He was feeling a little puzzled by Penn's account. There didn't seem anything in it at all to warrant the tales going around about her. He sighed with frustration when she shook her head no. He went back to looking at the door and tapping his fingers while he was in thought.

Penn watched Alpha Troy with interest. His expression was perplexed and a bit troubled she thought. On top of that, Penn had the distinct feeling that he wanted to be fair with her and that maybe he was even trying to give her the benefit of the doubt.

None of her previous experiences, besides her encounters with the pups' Luna - Lara, had been anything like this. This Alpha was always behaving in ways that were not in keeping with her understanding of what alphas did and said. She wasn't sure whether to be happy about this or cautious.

It probably would not pay to get her hopes up. In the end, he had to do what was best for the pack. She knew first hand that keeping a rogue around for any length of time was not going to go over well with the rest of the pack. But, perhaps, Alpha Troy wasn't quite ready to throw her out.

She wasn't sure why it mattered so much to her. Its not like she needed his approval, and she certainly didn't need him and his pack to survive. Still, she had an overwhelming desire to see the pups settled and a strange desire to please this Alpha, who had been uncharacteristically kind and respectful towards her.

Penn imagined it was only natural to want to return kindness for kindness and respect for respect. But, did that explain her strong desire for him to find her agreeable? She wasn't so sure herself where this impulse was stemming from. Yet, she could not deny it was there. 

A moment later the Alpha interrupted her thoughts by saying, "You frightened Carmen considerably. Are you certain you only spoke the one phrase to her? Did you say or do anything else?"

Troy watched her keenly as he tried to read her nearly expressionless face. She simply shook her head 'no'.

It was disappointing. He wanted to solve the mystery behind Carmen's account of the morning incident for Penn's benefit. Whether anyone would understand his feelings or not, he wanted Penn to be at home here even if she was just staying temporarily. He still felt like he had to make it up to her after his Second Beta had tried to kill her that first day. What kind Alpha was he if he couldn't keep an invited guest, rogue or not, safe on his own territory - in front of his very self. He had a lot to prove to the woman sitting in front of him.

Feeling frustrated with himself and the whole situation he sighed and looked once more over at the cafeteria doors as he let his fingers tap out his discontent.

Penn could see his frustration but she wasn't going to lie and tell him some story that would help make the hysteria about her make sense. She let out a sigh herself. There was nothing more to say. Nothing more to discuss. She told him everything. He would have to figure the rest out on his own and decide for himself what to believe.

Not seeing any reason to sit there any longer, especially since it didn't seem like he was ready to send her packing, she stood up and stepped away from the table. The interview was clearly over. He had nothing new to ask and she had nothing new to tell him.

Alpha Troy got up as well, but, instead of following her out, he reached out and took hold of her left hand. Troy did not know what possessed him to take hold of her hand. It was an impulse or perhaps some kind of instinct. In either case it happened faster than his rational mind could comprehend and perhaps that was just as well because the moment he'd made contact with her a strange warm sensation began to pulsate up his arm and down through his entire body.

It was a pleasant feeling and very hard to describe. He enjoyed the unfamiliar sensation for a few minutes uninterrupted because she never moved a muscle, never looked at him, never asked him what the hell he was doing touching her.

Penn had frozen stiff the moment his warm hand came in contact with her fingers. She was so shocked by the unexpected contact that she found she couldn't move a single muscle. Her mind was reeling. What on earth was he doing touching her? She felt alarmed and didn't know what to do.

The children touched her so easily, but no adult had ever touched her since she'd been exiled. It felt strange to feel the softness of his hand, the warmth from his fingers and the gentle pressure of them on her cold skin. Penn didn't know whether she should tug her fingers free or let him just hold them. He was being gentle after all. It wasn't like he was threatening her. She took a chance and looked up at him quickly. She was dumbfounded to find him staring at her kindly, gently, softly.

At the same time, Troy was dumbstruck by the strange sensation which grew stronger and more pleasant the longer he held her hand. He wondered if Penn was inundated with the same feeling. He grasped her fingers a little more securely in an effort to somehow grab hold of the strange pulse of heat that kept running up his arm at regular intervals.

However, Troy did not think Penn looked at all comfortable. He couldn't be certain, due to her relatively stony face, but some instinct told him she was feeling distressed and this alarmed him. He did not want to upset her in any way. He genuinely wanted her to feel comfortable and at ease - even happy perhaps – in his presence, in this place. Though he couldn't quite explain to himself why her happiness should matter quite so much to him given that she was a stranger and a rogue.

But, even when she turned her pale eyes on him, he wasn't ready to release her hand. It was selfish, he knew, but he just couldn't bring himself to break the strange connection. So, he tried to convey with his eyes just how little she needed to fear him.

When her expression went from impassive to puzzled he thought he wasn't getting much of anything across to her. So, he squeezed her fingers in a friendly gesture and said, just as he released them, "I believe you Penn."

He saw her eyes grow wide with surprise. He almost laughed but was wise not too. Troy was sure she had expected a very different outcome from their conversation. Wasn't that why she got up in such a hurry? He was certain he'd seen disappointment and resignation in her eyes when she stood up.

He liked the idea that he'd surprised her in a good way. It gave him a wonderful sense of satisfaction - like he'd done something very worthwhile. And yet, wasn't he doing worthwhile things all the time for the pack. Why should it matter to him if he did one more good deed for a rogue? But, he knew it mattered to him somehow and for some reason he could not fathom.

"W-what did you say?" Penn asked him in barley more than a whisper after he released her hand. She could not believe she had heard him right.

His face flushed with something like sincerity as he repeated easily and without hesitation, "I believe you Penn." He gave her a little smile. Just enough to encourage her but not overwhelm her, he hoped given that she appeared quite stunned to him.

Penn searched his face. She could find no pretense, no falsehood, no lie. He was in earnest. He did believe her. It struck her to the core and she felt tears suddenly build and burn at the back of her eyes. How had this happened? She hadn't cried since she'd been sent packing all those years ago.

Feeling overwhelmed and emotionally unstable, she turned her back to him and blinked back the tears as quickly as she could. She would never let him or anyone else see her cry. They would think her weak and vulnerable. Tears would make her a target for sure. She took in a deep but shaky breath and tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ears in a nervous action.

Then, she felt the warmth of his body at her backside and his heavy but gentle hand on her shoulder. His close proximity took her by surprise and she was shocked that she didn't leap away from him or attack him in self defence. She just stood there and let his thumb caress the bare skin at her neck as he squeezed her shoulder.

Penn knew she was in trouble – deep, deep trouble. The Alpha disarmed her and rendered her defenceless with just a look or a touch. Never, in all her years, had she met such a cunning adversary. Never, had she felt so helpless except when she was exiled.

The thought of her exile brought her too her senses though. She was a rogue. She was never going to be accepted into a pack. He was always going to side with his pack over her no matter how kind and how gentle he was with her in private. Penn gave herself a mental kick for being so foolish and for letting her emotions get the better of her.

She then slipped out from under his hand quickly and went straight for the door. He had to practically chase after her to keep up with her as she drove through the hallway and came out into the common room where the teens, Lucas and Jules were talking and waiting for their return.

Penn didn't know what he was up to but she would have to be on her guard from now on whenever he was near. Otherwise, she was at risk of making a fool of herself like she nearly did in the cafeteria just then.

Her heart was racing uncomfortably in her chest as she tried to put some distance between herself and him. His touch had a strange effect on her and she shivered just thinking about how vulnerable she'd been a moment ago. She'd never heard of wolves having any sort of supernatural powers before but wondered if this Alpha had a little warlock blood running through his veins. How else could she explain his uncanny ability to cast a trance like spell over her mind and limbs just by the touch of his hand? 

For the first time in a long time Penn felt truly anxious because she had no weapon against this kind of magic.