Chloe felt the watchful eyes of a strangers gaze on her as she woke. The basic human response, one that a year ago she would've acted upon, made her tense in control. She mustn't make a noticeable movement, or noise, she chanted in her her head as she attempted to relax her body. Chloe's body was turned away from the prying eyes of the unknown spectator. Her plain white covers wrapped tightly around her, that any movement would be startlingly noticeable. She shouldn't have felt the need to cower, especially since she's in her own room, on the top floor, with loads of professional security workers. But she did. She felt the unmistakable feeling of fear because two Mai's had pranced into her humble home without the buildings security trailing behind them. Chloe screwed her eyes shut as she focused to keep her heart rate at a patient speed. As her body relaxed she used her Mai abilities to sniff out the intruder.

Suddenly Chloe's nose filled with a sweet, musky scent as she zoned her heighten sense of smell on the intruder. A delightful combination of woodsy aftershave with a hint of his lightly sprayed cologne. It was intoxicating, the smell was one that Chloe found herself inhaling deeply every chance she could when around him.

When around Alek.

She groaned in frustration. She was extremely annoyed with her blonde house mate. She turned around, pulling the blankets down from around her torso and allowing them to flop around her hips. Chloe lifted herself up with her elbow, and arched a perfectly done eyebrow.

"What?" She half growled.

Alek smirked down at her, shaking his head. He found some type of amusement in her angry question. He was standing there a full six feet tall, his arms crossed in front of his chest. In the deem lighting she could make out a flash of silver on his wrist. Squinting her eyes, and leaning closer she found that he was indeed wearing a silver band around his slim wrist. Chloe took in the rest of his outfit with curiosity. And than an over powering realization hit her.

She flopped back onto her queen size mattress in frustration. She had fallen asleep on one of the most important days. The party. Her mind had been racing with thoughts of the inevitable kiss, and her strange and confusing feelings towards Alek had tired her out. Fuck.

She cracked open one eye, awhile later, to find Alek still hovering. Chloe turned her head to the side to look at the red numbers of her alarm clock.

11:50 pm, the blaring red florescent numbers read.

She opened her mouth to ask if it was to late to attend the party held in their honor. But Alek quickly spoke, bashing her thoughts with, "way too late Chloe."

She rolled her eyes, and trudged out of bed and towards the kitchen. In exhaustion she only noticed once she stepped onto the cold tiles of the kitchen floor that her dress, which she had slept in, was bunched up higher than what she would deem appropriate. Her cheeks instantly flushed a scarlet shade when she heard Alek's deep rumble of a chuckle.

She flicked him off while walking towards the fridge, not glancing back to show off her red cheeks of embarrassment.

"Chloe I don't know why you think it's necessary to hide yourself, you've got beautiful legs. Perfect to wrap-" he began.

Chloe quickly spun around her cheeks flaming as she smacked him at the back of his head. Hard.

Alek reached behind him, and rubbed his neck. "Damn Chloe you don't have to resort to abusing me if you wanted to touch me, I'd gladly let you."

Chloe snorted but chose not to verbally spar with him especially because Alek never seems to run out of everyday innuendos. She hardly wanted to blush again in front of Alek. Twice was enough for the day.

Chloe's heart soared with that thought. Alek was throwing innuendos, and smirks her way. She was forgiven or at least the argument was forgotten.

"What are we going to do?" Chloe asked once Alek settled on one of the islands stool. She turned away from him one hand reaching for two mugs, and the other one pulling down her dress that seemed to enjoy climbing up her legs.

"I canceled," he said, "I said that it was a rash decision on my part to order a party to happen so close to me biting you. I explained that we needed some time." He coughed. "Alone."

Chloe choked on her laughter as she filled the mugs up with water from the tap.

"Of course you did," she said turning around. He flashed her a toothy grin. "So did they get mad?"

Alek sobered almost admittedly. "Yes."

"And?" Chloe asked putting the mugs into the microwave. She was too lazy to put the kettle on.

"Okay Chloe don't get mad."

Chloe tensed up. He usually said those words when he did something wrong. She remembered a time when she was welcomed home from a trip with her mother by a red faced Alek with a fake smile plastered on his lips. "Chloe don't get mad." Was the first thing he said to her, and it ended up that he had felt the need to wash her clothes, ones she specifically told him to leave in her personal hamper for her to do when she got back home from the weekend trip with her mother. He had bleached them.

"Listen, I had to agree." Alek told her walking around the island. "We skipped a party thrown for us."

"Spit it out," she said frustrated with his dreary attempts at soothing her.

"Alright, alright." He huffed, he was now mere inches away from her. A close distances Chloe thought, if she needed to swing her arm back and punch him. "Max, that man who came into our lavash home uninvited, swore at me. He made me promise to go to the next party thrown for us."

"And that is an issue because?" Chloe asked sighing. Alek could be so over dramatic sometimes.

"It's in West Virginia." He told her calmly. Chloe took a step back, and rubbed her hands down her face in aggravation. She detested leaving their state to go to others especially if it were for Mai reasons were she usually wasn't allowed to bring her mother. It was a horrifying feeling to be up in the air while her mother was at home. Even though the Order was scarce there was still many wanting to hurt Chloe in any way.

"Why?" She asked, she was clueless as to how that would sway her opinion into choosing a different pride. Although the party would be classified as a celebration of sorts, it was a disgusting way the Mai's could get a hold of Chloe and attempt to bring her into their own pride.

"West Virginia, has the smallest pride up to date. Many larger prides, those not as tight knit as ours want to get rid of some Mai's. Some might cross over to the West Virginia pride, it's a good tactic." Alek smirked down at her. She could tell he was trying to ease the pressure.

"Than I guess we have to start packing."

A/N: Reviews fuel muse. Thanks for the support!