Hey guys! Sorry it's been a while but I've been working on this chapter a little bit everyday. I just started my seasonal job again now that school is out but I will keep them coming. Here is a nice long chapter to make up for the wait! Please write a review after with your thoughts it would mean the world to me!

It had been a few weeks since the incident underneath the base but the events still plagued Victor. The memory of that decrepit fuck pounding at his chest still provoked him, plagued his mind until all he could think about was hunting the mutant down and slowly rip her from chin to cunt. The only person too ever trounce the male had been Jimmy, and even that was rare. Imagining wasn't enough to douse the rage Victor was feeling. So every morning after that night he had set out into thick forests in an attempt to let off steam with a good hunt. But what had been attempt to pacify his feral desire's only fueled it. Every once in a while a breeze would carry a scent through the trees.

The odor was un like anything Victor had ever smelled before, it was delicately floral but underneath that was a warm amber that caused an entirely different fire within him. All he wanted to do was cover himself in the scent. It only added to his frustration when he had tried to track down the smell but every time, the trail went cold. That is until one day he had caught a whiff of it when Zero walked in.

Week one:

Adjusting to the customs and technology of this day took time and an extreme amount of patience not just from Rhaella but from Aleesa too. At first Aleesa brought her to her room below base. It was agreed between Striker and her that she shouldn't be introduced to the team until she was comfortable enough with the environment, which could take months. However, Rhaella was determined and full of questions. The first thing Aleesa showed the timeless girl was the bed, nothing too advanced right? Then came the bathroom which to Aleesa's amusement, Rhaella was astounded by toilets that would flush, and the fact that any time of day she could have access to hot running water for baths and showers. She reached under the cabinet to pull out towels and a basket of toiletries.

"These items," she held up a tube of tooth paste and a tooth brush "Are to keep your teeth clean." Rhaella took them in her hand and examined them excitedly. She went through each item in the basket from shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, emery boards, body wash, and hair ties.

"Well what's that bit right there?" She asked softly.

"Oh, this right here is a razor and this is shaving cream." Aleesa picked them both up.

Rhaella's brows furrowed with confusion "What use would I have of those? I have no facial hair to prune."

Aleesa smiled and shook her head, "No, no, my dear these aren't for you face but for your under arms and legs." As soon as the words left her mouth, Rhaella gasped appallingly. Shaved legs were for harlots, no dignified woman would concern herself with the hair underneath he skirts unless a great deal of company would be paying visits there.

Rhaella was taken back, not realizing the incorruptness of the answer

''Oh is that what I'm here for? To be the bed warmer for all the soldiers in camp?!" If Aleesa were a man, she would strike her cheek for such audaciousness!

Aleesa regretted the words as soon as they came out of her mouth realizing the context and raised her hands up in defense before Rhaella could get any more false impressions.

"No! Oh God that's not what I meant at all! You see, It's become a routine part of feminine hygiene in this time to shave." She divulged.

Rhaella lip curled in slight surprise but soon relaxed as she realized her declaration was earnest. "Well," she breathed "if that is the practice of today's modern woman, than alright." She picked up the pink razor and eyed it distrustfully.

Aleesa placed both her hands on her shoulders reassuringly and her kind onyx orbs glistened as she smiled "Why don't you take a nice bath, wash up, and get some sleep. Tommorow we start with a little history class and some training."

Rhaella's eyes suddenly felt heavy, she hadn't realized how tired she was after a whole day of being alive again. She returned the smile with a small nod.

"Good, now do you need me to go over how to start the shower and turn it off again?" Aleesa asked

"No, I think I got the gist of it the seventh time around."

She smirked and made her way out of the bathroom and looked over her shoulder one last time at her new protégé, "I'll be here five in the morning to start are lesson, I've already set your clock to wake you up." And with that she turned and left the girl to her own thoughts.

As soon as she heard the door click close, Rhaella turned on the shower with ease slipping out of her smallclothes and into the warm water. She massaged a hand full of shampoo into her hair scrubbing years of build up off her scalp and then exfoliated layers off of her skin. After rinsing the blanket of foam off herself she worked the conditioner through her cream blonde locks. It had grown back incredibly thick and long, nearly brushing her bottom. She reached for the razor and began shaving her legs attentively. Occasionally she nicked herself but the cuts healed before she could even notice. She debated leaving the comfortable warmth of the water but if she stayed a minute longer she was afraid she might pass out from exhaustion.

She stepped out into the cool air and dried herself thoroughly. For the first time in years she saw her reflection in the mirror. 'Even after centuries, I don't look a day older' running her hands over her body examining the taught cream flesh until a glimpse of her nails came into view as well. Unfortunately everything else has came back as well. Most woman would dream of looking young forever, but at what cost? By taking the lives of innocent men?

No, she blinked back the memory, afraid that images of slaughtered men would haunt her dreams. She combed back her hair and knotted it into a braid before slipping under the thick covers. But as much as she tried, sleep would not come. She brought the cover to her chin and stared at the ceiling wondering if agreeing to this folly was a wise decision.

If she were to leave where would she go? With no money and not the slightest sense of direction surely she wouldn't last a day off the base. Even if they let her go it wasn't just those things that trampled her freedom, she also had no idea what the customs were like, if women's hygiene had surprised her God knows how many other things have changed over the years. Being a woman out of time may have been one slight against her but having claws that, no matter how many times she had tried to clip them would keep coming back, would guaranteed ostracism.

As much as her gut told her not to trust Striker he really was right. Damn him for brining her into this situation. But She was here, she was alive, and there was nothing she could do about it. Locking herself away had only been a temporary "fix" if you could call it that. It didn't fix anything just made her life harder now that she would have to catch up to a new era. If she would have known the attempt on her life wouldn't have worked she didn't know what else she could do. But the past was already written, the ink dry. She would do what she did best, adapt, and Aleesa would see to it that she did. Aleesa also mentioned that there were other people like her, feral's with animal urges inside a human's body. If that was true Rhaella might not feel so alone in a strange world as long as they were more human than the one she had seen so many years ago. The thought made her hands ball up tightly around the sheets. 'Striker said I would be with my own kind, he wouldn't group me with them if he didn't think it would be safe...would he?' There was only one way to find out and that was actually finishing this training before she could meet her team of oddities, and tomorrow would be day one. Soon sleep enveloped her senses and her body softened into the bed.

The next morning a screeching sound ripped Rhaella out of her peaceful rest. The sounds of a thousand burning souls from hell sprung from the electric clock at the side of her bed. In a panic to rid the horrid ring from her sensitive ears she tried to calmly press every button possible on the alarm clock but resorted to slapping the box hard enough to break it. She let out a huff and turned her feet out of bed and walked over to the drawer. The clothing Aleesa had provided her were strange pants of a soft but sturdy, flexible material and a sleeveless top that was tight and thinner than she was used to. As she examined herself in the bathroom she assessed 'women of this era wore very few layers', she adjusted the strap on her shoulder 'and pants were not exclusive to men anymore' but after walking around the room in the comfortable garment she decided she definitely approved of the fashion evolution.

A soft knock came from the door and she turned from her mirror to open it. Pretty black eyes met her on the other side.

"I trust you slept well?", Aleesa asked softly as most of the people in base where still asleep.

Rhaella nodded and forced a smile as she opened the door wider to let her new teacher in. Aleesa slid inside taking in the room and turned to examine Rhaella in her new clothes. Her eyebrows raised ever so slightly trying not to look too surprised at how Rhaella had managed to make simple sweat pants so feminine. They stood in each others company in silence as Rhaella began to feel slightly uneasy being analyzed.

'Do I...Do I, uh, look okay?' The question sounded so ridiculous after it left her mouth. She squeezed her eyelids shut kicking herself mentally for being worried about something so trivial like her appearance.

Aleesa realized she was staring and it was making Rhaella uneasy

"No, you look fine," she smiled reassuringly. "In fact, I brought you some shoes you'll need to break in today" as a box appeared in her arms.

Rhaella smilled and lifted the lid to reveal a pair of Nike running sneakers and a pair of black leather army boots. Aleesa lifted the sneakers out, "These ones you should wear today since we'll be doing some physical training."

Rhaella's scowled in reflex at the thought of physical training. The most excursion she had ever done was mostly walking and horseback riding, and she didn't think that was what her teacher had in mind. She took the shoes and went to her bed and put them on.

Aleesa giggled softly as Rhaella tied the laces delicately. She turned her head and smiled curiously

"What is so funny?"

"Sorry, I mean no offence but...I've never seen someone tie their shoes so ladylike."

She covered her mouth trying to stop laughing. Rhaella felt no offence and began to laugh with her "Yes," she nodded "I suppose old habits die hard." She stood up and checked out the way the shoes looked and took them for a ride around the room as Aleesa watched amused. "These are extremely comfortable!" She exclaimed watching her feet as she strode towards her. "I thought you might like them."Aleesa made her way over to the door and opened it "Shall we begin our lessons?".

During that first week Rhaella developed a routine of Aleesa picking her up at her room for their morning lessons where Aleesa would go through a decade of history from the time she "died" to present day. Even though Aleesa thought most of the content wasn't very important, in fact probably weren't talked about in the curriculum of todays schools, she never did anything half assed. As Aleesa was a very effective teacher, Rhaella was an eager student asking as many questions as possible.

After lessons the pair of them would go for a run through trails in the woods and around the lake before dinner time, which they shared with eachother in the makeshift classroom. But every now and then Aleesa would surprise her by leaving a pile of glossy magazines on her bed to give her an even better idea of 21st century culture and gossip. By the second week Rhaella had gotten to know more about her teacher Aleesa Hazdhal Skylark, daughter of two archaeologists in Tunisia but studied at Oxford University in London and worked in Egypt most of her early life before she found herself working for Striker.

Although she enjoyed her time getting to know Aleesa, Rhaella couldn't help but wonder when she would see someone else's face besides her. After all, she was supposed to be working with a team. Okay, she understood that the culture shock might make it difficult to be on the same page but Striker did say they where mutants like her. That should at least give them some common ground to build on. She decided that going on another week in the dark, not knowing the answers would be intolerable. She was dead set on asking Aleesa what was going on the next morning. But by the time Rhaella was ready to answer the door and get straight to the point Aleesa beat her too it

"Todays going to be a little different," she began.

She looked at Rhaella who was a little surprised but nodded for her to continue.

"Instead of doing our lessons today we're going to the gun range"

"Gun range?"

"You're going to be working with men who aren't just mutants but mercenaries."

An uncomfortable feeling built up in the pit of her stomach at that. Striker was never very clear about who she would be working with or what exactly she would be doing besides the fact that it was a team of mutants. But now she wondered if even that had been misunderstood. She was being thrown into a team of not only highly skilled killers, but a team exclusively of men. For the first time in a long time Rhaella felt out of her depth. She hadn't even met a member of her team but she already knew they where going to chew her up and spit her out.

"I-I didn't know-Striker didn't tell me this" she said shakenly, and ran her claws through her hair looking at the ground.

Aleesa folded her arms "Hmph- of course he didn't" she sneered looking away angry but not very surprised. "If it's one thing Striker loves, it's keeping people in the dark about shit until the last minute, ugh" she looked back at Rhaella who's face was now buried in her hands

"hey-" she pulled her hands away from her face but Rhaella refused to look at her, maintaining eye contact with the floor.

"You. Can. Do. This."

"I'm no mercenary-"

"You've killed before. We both know what you're capable of."

Her emerald eyes shot up at her, she knew that was a very sensitive subject but Aleesa did not back down.

"You don't remember this, but you've met two of your team members before."

Rhaellas brows furrowed together in confusion, "What? How? You're the only one I've seen in this place since I got here."

Aleesa shook her head slowly "You don't remember them, but they haven't forgotten you." She had Rhaella's full attention now, she sighed and continued.

"That night you escaped, Striker sent his two deadliest down to stop you. Two ferals, like you, they're brothers and even they could barely grab on to you without getting torn to pieces"

Rhaella couldn't believe it, she had went face to face with not any men but feral males. She blinked out the ridiculous thought and shook her head "No I don't believe that, I wouldn't win in a fight with an old lady let alone two grown ferals!"

"You are an old lady."she reminded her and chuckled.

"Yes, which is exactly why I don't believe this," she threw her hands in the air and went to sit on the edge of her bed. Her palms ran up and down her legs trying to soothe out the tension. Felt the mattress sink next to her and glanced over at Aleesa calmly smiling back at her. "Believe it." Her voice stern, "Your power and strength is why Striker sought you out in the first place, 'The werewolf' they called you. They called you a princess who slept with the devil and in return was marked as a beast."

Rhaella looked to the ceiling and chuckled "Oh, how I used to enjoy the terrifying legends when I was a child. I always believed in them, now that I am one myself I see how they are all made of lies"

""Ful ofte in game a sooth I have herd saye!". Aleesa quoted the Cook's Tale by Chaucer. Yes there is truth said in jest, this is God's big joke and I'm not laughing at the punchline. She looked down to see Aleesa's hand moving towards her own. As much as she wanted to pull away she didn't. Aleesa tightened her fingers around the clawed hand.

"There is a lot of good in you, I can feel it. It's your human side." He hand remained tight around Rhaella's as she looked into her emerald eyes. "But the beast within is capable of a lot more than you think. To control it you must stop denying that it is there."

"I'm not a killer, I never wanted to be."

Aleesa raised an eyebrow and tilted her head with a smile. "Killers can do a lot of good in this world." Her hand left Rhaella's and cupped her cheek like a mother would, adoring their child. "Striker sees something in you, and I do too. You can be great, we will train you to be." Aleesa got up from the bed and went to open the door, and turned back to Rhaella "and today is target practice with Agent Zero."

He squeezed the bullets into the clip one by one, laying a dozen magazines out on to the felt tabletop. After the last bullet clicked in he shoved it back into the gun and looked at his watch '8:58 am' the new recruit should be here any minute. 'She better not be late' Zero hissed to himself. He wasn't looking forward to meeting his new team mate, and was more annoyed that striker would throw some little girl into their team. Worst of all a girl with absolutely no training, who he would be stuck instructing like some low rank Drill Sargent.

The doors swung open and in walked Dr. Skylark and the girl who was a few inches shorter. Zero looked at Skylark and nodded "Morning doctor."

"Good morning agent Zero," she said cheerfully "I'd like to introduce the newest member of your team. Rhaella this is Agent Zero." His eyes left Aleesa and went to the girl next to her. His face remained passive but he was surprised that looked exceptionally good looking compared to the state they found her in. By the looks of her he never would have guessed her a day over seventeen. She extended a hand out too him.

"It's nice to meet you Agent Zero"

Looking at her hand brought him back to the reality that she was a feral. The small claws where her nails would be made him more uneasy than he would like to admit but shook her hand non the less.

He looked back and fourth between the ladies "Shall we get started?"

She nodded softly and followed him toward the table with guns of all sizes laid out. To be honest the weapons did intimidate Rhaella a little bit but she had seen them before on the television she watched with Aleesa.

"Now, have you ever shot a gun before?" Zero asked uninterested.

"Well, I did shoot my father's hunting rifle once." She explained with some hope that it would count for something. Zero did his best not to roll his eyes and bit back a scoff. 'so that's a no' he snickered to himself. But the girls delicate face turned to the side and her cream blonde locks swung to the side innocently waiting for approval with deep green eyes.

"Alright lets start with something easy," he pointed to the smaller black colt on the table "pick it up like this." He showed her, keeping the index finger away from the trigger and along the side. She copied him exactly and waited for his next command. "Never point at someone unless you plan to shoot, always point down range." She nodded and he handed her some earmuffs. She put the on snug while zero sent a target out in front of her on the wire.

"Now aim down range and fire," she hesitated at first put pulled the trigger and held the gun tight as it kicked back in her hand. She missed the target completely.

"This is going to be a long day," Zero grumbled, sure that Rhaella couldn't hear him through the earmuffs but Aleesa elbowed him.

"Be patient she's a fast learner."

"Maybe, but I don't see why I have to do it when there's a fifty other people on base that could teach her."

"Because Striker wanted you," she reminded the obedient sidekick. "And besides he only wants the best of the best training her," She winked at him. Zero could always be persuaded if you could feed his ego enough, just like any other man.

Rhaella pulled the trigger again only to here a click instead of a shot. Zero showed her how to reload again, she pointed to the target and this time when she pulled a hole appeared in near the bullseye. Rhaella turned to him with her brow cocked and a triumphant smirk. Zero gave a small nod of approval. "Good now keep going until you hit it every time."

The dark smoke clouded bar was where the team usually had their dinners rather than the mess hall buzzing with greenhorn soldiers. The hole in the wall was much quieter and offered more food for the heavily built mutants than the rations at base. Aside from the atmosphere Victor liked that it was one of the few places that would serve up his steak just the way he liked. The rest of the team stayed for their poker nights.

"Surprised Zero ain't here yet," Jimmy remarked taking another puff from his cigar befor shuffling the deck some more. Victor was picking the remnants of steak from his teeth with a claw while the other men made themselves comfortable around the table. "Let's see," Wrath squinted at his wrist "one minute past eight. Shit, he must be dead" he said with false worry earning a chuckle from Dukes and Bradley. Meanwhile Victor was still being nagged with the thoughts of that night he let that bitch cut him. 'She's gone' he reminded himself 'Probably dead or in some dark shitty cell Striker threw her in, and rightfully so.' He pushed the resolved issue in the back of his mind but another one sprouted in it's place. He still couldn't find out where that smell was coming from and it annoyed him more than the thoughts of his attack.

"Well, seeing as it's 8:02 and Zero ain't here looks like you guys need a seat to be filled!" Wade chimed in from across the bar excited like a kid waiting in line for a ride on a rollercoaster. But before Wade could make his way over to the table the saloon doors swung open and in strutted Zero accompanied by a smell so strong and mouthwatering Victor nearly choked. His nails uncontrollably digging in to the arm rest. Jimmy's nostrils flared and beat Victor to it "Where have you been?" He asked and took another sniff "Who were you with?" jimmy emphasized the last word heavily.

Victor's dark eyes flickered to Zero waiting eagerly for the answer he'd been looking for, for a week. Zero saw the slight uneasy atmosphere around the brothers and smirked. He realized they were more desperate to know the answer than they were letting on. For a second he basked in the fact that he had a slight leverage on the two hulking ferals and wondered if he should refrain from telling them.

"Well," he started " if you must know, the reason I'm late is because I've been training our newest member." Zero sat back in the chair satisfied with himself and began stacking the pile of chips in front of him. Wade strode over, curious to hear more. Everyone at the table stared at him wondering if this was the same mutant Striker had showed them two weeks ago, everyone but Logan and Victor who had been left out of the loop since day one.

"Another mutant?" Logan mused without concern as he was dealin out cards around the table. "Hopefully the guy's not a talker like the last one we got" his eyes moving to Wade.

"Oh like you wouldn't love having two of me around." His arm's ran up and down his figure flirtatiously.

"Ohhh I assure you they're nothin like Wade" Zero teased.

Wade leaned in between Zero and Wraith, finally asking the question the others were wondering "So, what's she like?"

"She?!" spat Victor who had been trying to restrain himself and gripping the chair since Zero blew up the room with the sudden odor.

Wraith, Fred, and Bradley didn't say a word but only looked between themselves.

"When did this happen?" Logan asked.

"Oh, I forgot. While you tomcats were out having a fiesta on that mission boss brought a stray home." Wade winked and added "an old, skinny, flea-infected, destructive, stray."

Victor and Logan's faces twisted in confusion at the indirect comment, but realization soon dawned on them. The twisted little feral Striker had begged them to take down; she was supposed to be their new team mate. Victor's claws itched as the flames of anger built up in his core. "You mean to tell me that decrepit cunt that killed thirteen soldiers is supposed to be with us?"

"Uh, yeah!" Wade said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Victor stared at him darkly. "Good" he snarled "I'll make sure she knows her place" his voice a threatening growl.

"Perfect, cause she'll be here in a half an hour." Zero smiled and looked back down at the cards in his hands.

Rhaella sat at the table cleaning each piece of the disassembled gun exactly the way Zero had taught her. She had always been a very observant person as a young girl at court. During the times she would spend with her father, he would teach her the ways of politics and negotiations since he did not have a son to follow in his footsteps.

"there are many telltale signs of a traitor," he started "the way they sit, if they shift uncomfortably in their seats when confronted with questions. The movement of their eyes, yes you must always look into their eyes, that is where the human soul is left exposed." When her powers took over after that fateful night, she had discovered other ways to recognize the trustworthy from the untrustworthy all by herself. Every time a man would lie she could hear a change in his heart. Some men, you could smell it on them. Every emotion gave off a sent, and if she focused enough she would know how people felt. Fear was sharp and fresh like spearmint, anger smelled like charcoal or a fresh fire burning wood. Happiness was a pure simple smell of sugar, sadness smelt like heavy rain, and deceit although not an emotion smelled sour.

"The most important sign, my flower, is the feeling you get in the pit of your stomach, your instinct."

Although Rhaella knew Zero was part of her team her instincts pulled her back no matter how hard she forced herself to listen and follow him. He wasn't deceitful, she concluded. No he was quiet the opposite; he was very loyal, and straightforward. But how could someone so honest feel so false? She set down the gun she put back together and leaned back in her chair to see Zero and Aleesa talking across the room near the door. With her heightened sense of hearing she could've easily listened in on their conversation but she didn't really feel curious. From the looks of things they seemed to be having a small argument. Zero seemed to be asking Aleesa something she didn't want to do. But Aleesa stood rubbing her chin in deep thought and gave a slow nod. And turned toward Rhaella.

Aleesa gave Zero a smile before motioning her to follow her out of the room. Rhaella got up and gave Zero a nod of acknowledgement and left to follow her mentor. As soon as they left the range Aleesa turned around and looked a mischievous smile.

"What is it?" She asked

"We're going out tonight."

Rhaella wasn't sure what she meant. "Out? Like, for a walk?"

"Nooooo..." Aleesa shook her head with her coy smile on her face.

"I'm not sure what you're up to..."

"Zero invited us out to the bar in town!" She squeeked. Rhaella mouth open in surprise and the corners over her mouth turned up happily "Really?! You mean you're taking me out? Socializing? Am I ready?"

"I wouldn't have agreed If I didn't think you were, besides it's a pretty small place, not too busy so it will be a good place to start."

She nodded excited about the fact that she would finally be meeting other faces and actually being out in the world for the first time "Alright, so what does one do at this bar? What is it?"

"Oh it's pretty much a tavern or pub, as you would've known them." She tried to explain.

"I didn't exactly spend much time in those places you know, It wouldn't have been appropriate at all for a noblewoman to mingle with the townspeople..."

"But I'm sure you had a place where you enjoyed drinking with your friends? Maybe playing cards? The rest of the team should be there actually, it is poker night."

Rhaella's enthusiasm vanished from her face and was soon replaced with unease. She was nervous to meet the men on her team for a while now. Mostly because she now knew how dangerous they where, and she had in her mind that she would not fit in.

"The team...the whole team.." Then she remembered that included the feral brothers she had a run in with... "what if they don't like me? Especially those brothers you mentioned, they won't take to kindly to the person who attacked them."

Aleesa knew she was probably right, and in fact now that she mentioned it she was a little afraid for the girl herself. But she couldn't let Rhaella know that, she reassured her by waving her hand as if the idea was nonsense "I'm sure they've gotten over it, they have to understand you weren't yourself."

Rhaella still looked at her unconvinced. "They're men Rhaella, they fight with each other all the time it's what they do, I'm sure they won't hold it against you, in fact they might just respect you for it. Showing your strength, and that you can keep up with them and that you belong on their team."

She did have a point. Maybe they wouldn't have started off on the right foot, but at least she did prove her strength against them. Even if she had absolutely no control or memory of it.

"I don't have anything to wear," was her last excuse.

"Don't worry I have just the thing," she smiled deviously and grabbed her hand taking her back to her room.

Rhaella slipped on the dark wash jeans that hugged her curves perfectly. Aleesa had lent her some black lace underwear and a bra that gave more emphasis on her breasts. Ontop of that she wore a simple white shirt with a deep v-neck to expose just the right amount of clevage in Aleesa's opinion. Aleesa had a slim figure, but watching Rhaella fill in her clothes with the curves she lacked did make her slightly jealous.

She didn't have much makeup that would've matched her skin tone, but apparently perfect complection was just another part of being feral, again Aleesa was jealous. So she just stuck to using a sultry brown eyeshadow and eyeliner that brought the green out. Rhaella simply ran a brush through her ice blonde waves ending at her low back.

"Now just some final touches" she said applying some lip gloss on her full lips. "There! Now just rub them together." She motioned pressing her lips together and Rhaella copied. "Perfect!"

She went to her closet and threw a black leather jacket over to her along with some leather boots. Rhaella quickly slid them on and the two left in an excited hurry.

Rhaella and Aleesa walked through the front door to be greeted by a wave of cigar smoke mingled with the smell of men and hard liquor. Country music twanged in the background while a few Televisions played the latest sports games.

Rhaella looked around and tried not to make it obvious that she had never been in a bar before. She couldn't help but look over at the few men playing pool near the door. They where normal sized but had beer guts and long facial hair. She realized she caught their attention too and the catcalls and winks began. She quickly turned and caught up with Aleesa who was now making her way to the back other the room.

The men around the table where in the middle of their game when it was halted as soon as a few of them saw the girls walk up. Victor didn't have to look up to know they where there but Jimmy shoved his arm either way. A low, slow, growl vibrated through his chest when he smelled her. He was about to snarl when he looked up, expecting to see that wicked little bitch with wrinkled skin, red eyes, and wiry grey hair. But he was taken back when instead he saw a girl who could maybe pass for 18, with long silvery blonde hair that curled to her waist. His eyes now looked over every curve of her body and made their way up to her lips and then those green eyes that looked back at him only for a second.

Duke, Wraith and Bradley stood up ungracefully quick from the table, trying to remember their manners in front of a lady.

"Men, I'd like to introduce you to you're new team mate, Rhaella." Aleesa began. Most of the men smiled sweetly.

The dark skinned man wearing a hat was the first to reach his hand out. Rhaella took it gracefully making sure her claws were short enough not to touch him. He didn't seem to notice them, "John Wraith miss, but you can call me John." He smiled completely enamored by the presence of a woman joining their group. "I'm very pleased to meet you John, call me Rhaella" she smiled revealing her ever so small canines that could be kept unnoticible if they were short enough. She was greeted with another hand as Bradley moved closer. The short mousey blonde spoke up "Chris Bradley, welcome to the team." He said. She shook his hand and then her eyes moved towards the goliath blonde making his way over. He was a mounted of muscle and towered over her, she craned her neck to look up at him. The man couldve broken every bone in her body with one blow but instead his hand held hers gently "Fred Duke's ma'am" he said with a southern twang in his voice, and he bowed his head to the side. "Wonderful to meet you" she marveled at him. But was soon interrupted by an 'Ahem'

Rhaella turned to meet the handsome brunette with big chocolate eyes. He was no where near as muscular as Fred but he had a very lean and carved build from what she could tell through the sleeveless red shirt "and you might be?" She smiled.

"For you? Who ever you want..." he kissed her hand and she smiled awkwardly, not expecting such flattery. Zero who didn't acknowledge their arrival, rolled his eyes "This numbskull here is named Wade Wilson-" "The one and only" he chimed in. "But please, feel free to call him whatever you feel like at the moment, that's what we do." Zero finished.

Aleesa put a hand on her shoulder, "I'm gonna get us some beers ok?" Rhaella nodded, feeling comfortable enough to be left alone with the boys. They moved to make room for her to sit down and when she did, she noticed two other men she completely forgot to acknowledge. One of them took out the cigar from his mouth as he analyzed her. He was lean like wade but much older, and his hair flowed effortlessly back. Jimmy realized this had been the feral that had attacked him with such ferocity. The woman who's claws had dug into his lungs and sent him into a wall. For that, he would've told any man or woman to fuck off if they had tried to shake his hand after. But he realized that the little girl smiling innocently back at him, was not the same person. He sighed and took the cigar out of his mouth and gave her a pained smile. "Logan" he nodded towards her and slowly extended his arm across the table. her hand took his and his eyes wandered down to it. If he hadn't seen those claws, those claws that looked so damn much like Victor's, he wouldn't have believe this was the same feral. The soft gentle smell coming off of her told him she didn't pose a threat. "Rh-" she started but was cut off "We know who you are." Creed growled softly.

Rhaella looked towards the deep harsh voice. She saw him, the broad man, with dark cropped hair and muttonchops. His face was handsome, but the look in his eyes...maybe dark would've been a good word to describe them, but they where so much more than that. His shoulders were broad and equally muscular to his arms. She saw his fingers spreading out onto the table, and her heart stopped when she saw his claws. He knew she was looking at them and allowed them to extend threateningly. His thick yellowed claws were much larger than her own. After taking him in she realized this was a man born to end lives, and all at once she felt that the center of this man's attention was a very bad place to be. Rhaella felt his eyes scrutinizing over her too, but refused to cower. When their eyes met she could hear a low growl vibrating from his chest. The tension was so thick she wondered if everyone else could hear it too. Logan murmured something to his side that only Victor could hear.

A tall glass of cold beer clanked on the table in front of her, breaking her eye contact.

"Making friends?" Aleesa asked taking a seat next to her sipping her own beer.

"I wouldn't pay much attention to the overgrown fleebag Rhae, he's just a dick to everyone." Wade leaned over to her. "Give him a saucer of milk and Vicky here will be your best friend, that's why we're so close right buddy?"

"Fuck off"

"Alright then."

Rhaella took a sip of her beer letting the hoppy drink soothe any nerves that were on fire right now. She was thankful for Wade's input, distracting the burning stare Victor had been giving her. "You know we were all pretty disappointed when you first came here, we were all really looking forward to a zombie apocalypse. Buuuut looking at you now, you are b-e-a-u-ti-full." Aleesa rolled her eyes expecting Wade to be the first person to hit on her, but she couldn't blame him at all. Rhaella had no idea what a zombie apocalypse was , she would ask Aleesa later. "Thank you Wade you're too kind, Striker found me in a...sorry state to say the least. They brought me back, I'm not sure how... but whatever it was completely took over and I apologize for everything I did while I was recovering." She looked at Victor and Logan. Victor knew she was being earnest, but innocent or not the alpha male would put her in her place. Jimmy on the other hand narrowed his eyes thinking over her words and took another puff from his cigar. "We don't break so easily kid, if you can still kick ass like you did that night, I think you'll fit right in." He gave her the ever so slightest smirk. "Now tell me kid, you know how to play poker?" She smiled back "as a matter of fact I do."

"Woah you told me there wasn't anymore room." Wade objected.

"Nah Wade, we just didn't want you to play" Wraith laughed.

"Yeah, yeah, you're all just scared I'm gonna clean you out!"

"How you gonna manage that? You can't even keep a straight poker face."

The men went back and forth, while Rhaella spread the cards within her hand. She couldn't help but feel Victor's eyes on her, she breathed deeply and looked boldly back at him. He was still looking at her as If he would snap her neck and very much enjoy doing it.