Emma Pov

　　"Just one more push-up, Emma, and we're done!" Thalia says with an enthusiastic and determined voice, while I am on the mat, barely breathing, doing my thirtieth push-up.

　　I lay on the floor with my heart racing, sweating and breathing heavily, I look up with tired and angry eyes at Thalia, "You've been saying 'just one more push-up' since I completed the twentieth one, Thalia!" I complain, feeling cheated by my friend.

　　Thalia stands next to me, her brown eyes sparkling with amusement at me, her sleek black hair is pulled into a tight bun at the top of her head. My friend is also sweating from her forehead and neck, but she's not as out of breath as I am.

　　"And look how many more push-ups you managed to do, Emma. You're welcome!" Thalia retorts with cheerful humor, tossing my water bottle in my direction.

　　My arms are burning and I almost can't catch the bottle in time because they're so sore. I drink half the bottle in one gulp.

　　"You need to push your limits, or you'll never get anywhere. You'll never improve, Emma," Thalia remarks as she sits down beside me. "I push you because I like you."

　　"Imagine if you didn't like me," I grumble, which makes Thalia laugh.

　　I had to admit that Thalia was right. Since I started training with her and Gaya, my limits have been tested and surpassed. I stopped drinking alcohol since Ava's supposed death, not even at Alpha Matthew's birthday party a month ago, did I drink a single drop.

　　Every day I go running with Accalia, an hour as a human and then another hour in wolf form. It has helped clear my thoughts, maintain my focus. Besides the heavy training, I do with Gaya and Thalia.

　　"And your family, have they come to visit since the party?" Thalia asks suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts. I take a deep breath and focus on my now warm and very sore muscles, surely tomorrow morning, I will feel the pain.

　　"No. No one has contacted me yet," I comment with a restrained voice.

　　It's been a month since Alpha Matthew's birthday party when Ava was revealed and returned to the family. All the speculations and accusations about me killing her dissipated as soon as everything I explained, and Ava also explained, was proven true. However, no one from the Moonshadow Pack came to apologize, they just stopped accusing me, especially my family.

　　"You miss them, don't you?" Thalia comments, not as if she actually expects me to answer, but I do anyway.

　　"They are my family, I guess I can't help but miss them," I reply with a shrug, trying not to think too much about it.

　　"Family is complicated most of the time. It's their duty to protect us, guide us, and also teach us the way back home," Thalia comments amicably.

　　"They must be busy. My father, Robert, is the beta of the Moonshadow Pack. Like the alpha, he is a very busy man. They probably don't have time to"

　　"Pick up the phone and call you? Get in the car and come see you?" Thalia interrupts with a questioning tone, and I shrug, not knowing how to answer her.

　　The last time I talked to my brother James was months ago. And the harsh and accusatory words created wounds that still haven't healed. My brother didn't care that I was telling the truth, that Ava's supposed death wasn't caused by me.

　　Noticing my discomfort, Thalia puts her arm around my shoulder and hugs me affectionately. I control my emotions to avoid crying. We stay like that for a few good minutes, just in silence.

　　"Want to call it a day?" Thalia asks softly, and I nod.

　　"My arms will fall off by tomorrow," I comment with humor, making Thalia laugh again.

　　"That was the intention!" she retorts.

　　As I leave the training room, I bump straight into Alpha Matthew's body. My heart, already racing from the intense workout, turns into a blender when my body meets his. The alpha's firm hands hold me securely, preventing me from losing my balance further. By the goddess, how does he manage to affect me so much with a simple touch?

　　"Careful, miss. Do I need to carry you to where you need to go?" Matthew asks with a seductive and amused voice. I squint my eyes at him.

　　"Miss?" I ask curiously, ignoring his suggestion.

　　"I'm putting to good use the present you gave me for my birthday. I started today, miss…" Matthew replies sarcastically, and I laugh.

　　My birthday gift to Matthew was a book on manners. I can recall exactly the moment I gave him the present.

　　"Are you going to bed?" I asked Matthew when I found him climbing the stairs of the house. His body turned still on the steps, and a tired but lovely smile appeared on his lips.

　　"Yes, it's almost three-thirty in the morning. But do you need something, Emma?" he asks concerned, his forehead forming a charming wrinkle as he frowns.

　　I had my hands behind my back, holding Matthew's present. "I just wanted to give you your birthday present, I thought it would be better to wait until the party was over," I explained. Matthew's green eyes lit up at my declaration, and he came back down the stairs to stand in front of me.