Chapter 8 Let me have her and everyone is free

• Seeing her determination, Xena gave in. She couldn't allow Godiva to roam the whole pack in search of the gym. She would have to take her there and await whatever consequence befalls them. "It's alright, I will show you," she gulped down a cup of water and said.
• Godiva sighed. Somehow she was just bluffing. How tedious it was going to be for her to locate the gym on her own. Then she wondered how they maintained the pack. She never knew the source of income of Alphas and their pack members. "Another question? What does he do for a living?" Godiva asked and Xena knew she meant Rock. She wasn't ready to tell her about their businesses in the city. There was just so much at hand at the moment.
• "You will know all that. Rock is usually very busy. He took time off because of you. I think you should appreciate that fact," Xena threw a hint but Godiva understood differently. She didn't understand the level of sacrifice Rock was making for her but gratitude would always be suppressed when the root of the problem was always traced to the saviour.
• "Appreciate that fact you mean? My life is in danger and the mark meant to protect me also disappeared. What would you do in my shoes?" Her eyes were teary when she spoke. Godiva didn't know the time another set of Alphas would come around and what if Rock wasn't there to protect her? Xena didn't know what to do at this moment and casually said,
• "Just be patient. Rock will find a solution." She knew that Rock would but the matter of urgency was the time. How long was it going to take for him to find the solution? While they kept talking, they reached the large arena that seemed like an auditorium. The vastness was unexpected. Godiva only had in mind a standard gym but this wasn't even a gym, it was the size of a theatre. "How many people train? It's so big," Godiva commented, lost in the enormousness of the gym.
• "A lot. Every man in the pack trains. The women focus on education. Well, the men are also educated. Most of them live away from the packs but they still come for training," Xena explained, leading her on as she asked, "which pack did your father belong to before moving away?"
• Godiva was at the loss. She never recalled leaving among any pack members. "I don't know," she said.
• Xena suddenly stopped at a large door. "What's the matter?" Godiva curiously asked. Xena's sudden change in demeanour awoke her anxiety.
• "This is the furthest I can come. The rest is up to you. I wish you all the best, Godiva," Xena's voice shook slightly when she spoke, increasing Godiva's curiosity as she walked away.
• Godiva's heart blew to what awaited her behind those doors. Since she was already there, she wasn't going to turn back. She held the two handles of the double door, pulling them open together. Thousands of eyes met hers, she was clad in unease. All her courage instantly fled out the window as she stood stiff at the doorway. Hunks in black leggings and black sleeveless body fitted tank tops with their biceps exposed espied her in different ways, she felt her legs wobble. They were engaged in some kind of warm-up.
• Solace flung her when she heard a familiar voice, "Godiva, are you alright?" It was Steel, who spoke as he walked up to her in his gym clothes and trainers, that revealed his toned, muscled body. His hair was pulled back with a hairband, which gave him a fierce appearance but his gaze was blended with worry.
• "Rock. I need to see him." The whole gym buzzed with low grunts. Two offences: she barged into their training and called Rock by his first name without any title. They observed with expectation, to see what Rock would do.
• "Mmmm." She was startled when she heard Rock's grumble behind her.
• Steel instantly turned to Rock with pleading eyes. He had no idea what had happened earlier. "She doesn't know the rules," he began pleading with Rock, who still had darkness in his eyes.
• "She does," Rock coldly said, hitting Godiva with an intent gaze, she felt her face scorch red. She stumbled and reverberated to Rock. She needed to toughen up to him if she was going to be with him for the rest of her life. She won't accept intimidation. "Xena told me but I had to see you," she maintained a level of calmness that earned her admiration from the fighters looking on. They kept murmuring among themselves but Godiva couldn't make out what they were saying, with all the lustful gazes pinned on her.
• "For what?" Rock maintained the coldness In his tone. For a moment, Godiva couldn't spell out her real reason in front of all those gazes piercing her. She felt uncomfortable talking about her problem in front of all those people and rather said,
• "Breakfast. You left the food untouched," she forced a smile. She heard chuckles from onlookers, who stopped as soon as Rock shifted his cold gaze to them.
• "You came here because of breakfast? We don't eat before training so if he made breakfast, then it's for you and Xena," Steel explained. Rock always ensured Xena had eaten at home before leaving for school. He always took responsibility for making breakfast while Steel made lunch if they were home but with supper, whoever got home first could handle it and it was usually a training moment for Xena. She always tried to make super to enhance her skills, since they didn't match that of her brothers. Now that Godiva was here, he had the responsibility of satisfying her and Xena.
• "That food was too much for two girls," Godiva tried to defend herself, seeing her little fib wasn't entirely helping. She wasn't that gullible. She knew that Rock was upset when he left.
• "Just go and eat. He will see you in a few hours, training just started," Steel said but Godiva wasn't going to leave till her purpose was accomplished. She had come too far. Besides, waiting for training to be over was tantamount to missing school since it was quite a distance from the pack.
• "I have to go to school," she announced. Rock stiffened, "No school," he responded.
• Godiva was upset and she didn't hide it. Gritting her teeth, she said, "I can't spend my life locked up in a pack. I need to improve it." 
• Seeing Godiva match up to Rock and gaining his attention and not a reprimand, murmurs filled the air. Rock stared at Steel but Steel was only focused on Godiva. "Steel!" He called and nodded his head, his eyes on the fighters. Steel instantly understood, moved away and began organizing the team. Godiva didn't realize it when she was yanked to a room with the door locked. Only after regaining herself did she realize it was a locker room.
• When Rock stepped closer to her, he didn't carry the same warmth he did when he marked her, which scared her but he still traced his hands around her neck gently, instantly withdrawing it. A line of sadness crossed his eyes, instantly replaced with regret. How could he have known that he was cursed after what he did in his past?
• "No school," he repeated, this time gently. Godiva wanted an explanation which he wasn't giving her therefore she said,
• "Fine. I will just stay and watch you train." She had come to realize that she could only get her wish satisfied if she was able to put Rock in a tight corner. The niche of Rocks' lip thinned with her attitude. He thought it appealing but for her safety, he needed to be strict. He couldn't allow the mate bond to mess with his head. "Not allowed," he said firmly.
• His response was quite expected therefore Godiva wasn't upset but she recalled when he stormed out of the kitchen. "Can you explain something to me? Why did your mark disappear? Is it because you aren't my mate?"
• She soon regretted the question when she saw him ball his hands into fists. His eyes turned midnight blue.  "To your room," he bellowed. His countenance was something she had never seen but her insane ability to tame him wouldn't let her barge.
• "Not until you give me explanations," she balled her hands into fists, gritted her teeth and said. Rocks' reaction was so unexpected, Godiva turned speechless.
• "Please," Godiva felt her heart soften hearing him say please for the first time. "After training," he concluded.
• Godiva nodded slightly but just as she took a step, she felt his grip around her wrist as he led her through the back door to his room. He didn't utter a word before he left, ensuring that she was safe. Godiva could tell that he cared therefore she didn't put up any stunts. Xena brought her food to her room and she ate like a good girl. When Xena left for school since Rock didn't approve of her absence, Godiva went to have her shower and changed her clothes.
• After waiting patiently for what seemed like hours, she got bored after exploring every bit and corner of the room she shared with him. For someone like him, she was surprised to not find any weapons. On his shelf were books of economics, business, thriller and a few horrors, none of which piqued her interest. 
• Godiva was tired of waiting. She didn't have her phone to play any games and it was too warm to light the fire. She thought of making lemonade for everyone to while away the time and decided to make her way to the kitchen. As soon as she opened the door, she saw strange faces in the living room. They seemed to be in some form of meeting with Rock and Steel. The expression on Rock and Steels' faces meant it wasn't going well.
• She contemplated going back to the room or joining them. Before she could decide, one of the eyes glued on her. "There she is, let me have her and everyone is safe."