I wore the same clothes Daniel gave me yesterday, when Sanna showed up at my place. It was still early in the morning when we headed to the canteen, and I must admit I felt really nervous about the fact that there will be over three hundred sets of eyes gawking at me - scrutinizing my every move.

As we stepped out of the elevator in the commons, I already saw a crowd of people headed in one direction, no doubt to get some much-needed breakfast for a hard day ahead of them.

When we've finally arrived at the end of the massive place, I saw a big open room with numerous rectangular cream-colored dining tables, with at least eight chairs placed on each side. The room was almost already full, with few people standing in line, carrying empty trays. My shoes effortlessly slid across the glossy light grey porcelain tiles as I moved around, assessing my surroundings. Three decorative cylinder-shaped metallic pillars, with emerald LED lights integrated in them stood right in the middle of the space, providing a modern touch to the decor.

I tried not to squirm as I became painfully aware how the room went quiet.

"All right!” Sanna broke the silence. “I rarely sit with the warriors, mainly because we each have a different business to discuss, review daily plans and so on," she grimaced. "But we do mix at least two times a week. This is you," she pointed at a big table surrounded by large bodies. There sat Daniel and Traxx, each had at least one girl sitting on their lap. Ria was slouched in the corner next to Traxx, mauling a big sandwich. There was also a pretty blond who was glaring at the giggling girls on Daniel's lap and a few others I haven't met or seen before.

"Or you can sit wherever you want," she said hurriedly, upon noticing my hesitant expression. "But I would recommend that you get to know them better," she nodded toward the group of warriors. "Left side of the room is reserved for warriors and IT team, right for scientists and medics. But like I said - we mix anyway so that is not relevant," she turned to point at the different table. "That is the table where I usually sit at," Sanna smiled at the dark-skinned guy with neatly combed brown hair. "That is Landon, my boss and the head of the IT sector. The others are my co-workers. And of course, you already know Elliot. He sits with us a lot," she beamed at him.

The company nodded, greeting me, but only Elliot smiled widely, giving me the impression I was completely welcome here. "How are you feeling Korina?" He asked politely.

"All right, thank you. I am adapting... Slowly." I responded honestly.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Ria wildly waving at me, gesturing me to join their table. Daniel noticed me too, discreetly pushing the girls off his lap. Both were voluptuous redheads with big pouty lips, their long, fiery-painted nails digging into his arms as they whined for him to take them back onto his knees.

"You’re right, I'd better go introduce myself," I said sighing as I would much rather stay with Sanna and Elliot.

I forced myself to gather courage and headed to the table where I was meant to sit at. I truly hoped I won’t embarrass myself as I cleared my throat and quietly spoke up. "Hello. My name is Korina Varga," I nodded at the faces I didn't yet have a chance to meet. "Can I join you guys?"

"Why are you even asking? Make room guys! Someone give this lady a chair! Or... You can join the party if you want?" Traxx wiggled his eyebrows and gesticulated at his knees, which were already full.

Daniel glared at him, making disgusted noises.

"Thanks, but I am going to sit right here," I said, grabbing a chair next to Ria's. I ignored the inclination to hide under the table and forced myself to look each and one of them straight in the eyes, giving them a polite smile.

"Good choice," Ria murmured with low voice, smiling.

I avoided Daniel’s all too intense golden eyes as he fixedly stared at me. To break the awkward momentum, I turned my attention to the blond girl sitting across from me.

"Hello, I believe we haven't met yet," I said to her and offered my hand, all the while I tried to ignore her accusing eyes filled with disdain. What was that all about? Have I done or said something wrong?

"Samantha," she said abruptly, not necessary rudely, yet still - she bluntly ignored my extended hand and turned back to her meal.

Ria sighed, shaking her head. "Sam here is a mage, although humans prefer the term witch. They have various magical powers. Usually, they have a basic control over all the elements, but long usage drains their energy," she explained. "They aren't physically powerful like us, but they are very successful in medicine – like Elliot, or other sciences. The older they get, the more magic they have in them."

Samantha gave her a half-hearted nod and quickly looked away.

As I assumed that probably all races had enhanced hearing, I didn't risk to ask Ria, what the girl’s problem was. Her behavior indicated she wasn’t the happiest I was sitting there, but I couldn’t pinpoint why she disliked me so.

"And I am Kellan," said the guy with hair so bright, it almost appeared white, even more so than Daniel's. "Leader of the Skinwalkers. And this is my friend Liam," both nodded at me, with smiles on their faces.

"It's very nice to meet you," I smiled politely, but I carefully tried to avoid Liam's eyes without appearing rude. He looked somewhat sickly to me, with skin that appeared ashen and clammy. His body was slouched in the chair as he picked through his plate, playing with his food but not really eating anything. Liam’s clothes were black, with his face almost completely disguised by the hood of his sweatshirt. He was looking at me with slow, lopsided smile and his charcoal eyes underlined with black circles were filled with arrogance.

The tension at the table was so thick one could almost cut it with a knife. To get at least a short breather, I stood to grab a sandwich and joined the busy line, waiting for their refill. I could feel the relief filling my body, my muscles instantly relaxing when the distance between me and the table grew wider.

I was curiously looking at the other tables, taking everything in as I sensed someone standing behind me. I whirled around to find myself staring straight into Daniel’s smiling eyes. Nervously shifting from one foot to another, I forced myself to give him a short nod. “Hey,” I ushered awkwardly.

"Hey yourself. Feeling better today?" He said, studying my face.

"Actually I do, thank you," his assessing stare made me even more fidgety than I already was.

"What do you think?" He said, nodding towards the table where I was sitting not long ago.

"Overwhelming," I released a long breath. "Ria I really like, but Traxx, well he is something else," I smiled.

"What about me?” I blinked with surprise as he inched closer to me, it was barely noticeable but he did move forward.

"I am still deciding on that, so you'd better act like a gentleman." I nervously smiled, uneasy feeling spreading in my stomach.

"And if I am no gentleman?" He said in all seriousness, but in the next instance his mouth curved back into a smile. "You don't have to be so tense around me. Like I said, I won't hurt you."

I almost snorted. That was only one part of the reason why I was tense, the other part was his disturbing behavior. His alternating hot and cold phases were giving me a whiplash.

"Anyway, I am glad you are looking better today," he said, lightly squeezing my shoulder. I watched him head back to his chair, completely perplexed, not knowing how to act around him.

Finally, I returned to the table, slowly nibbling on my sandwich, however not really tasting it. Samantha was positively glaring at me now, her expression sullen. I tried to ignore her, but it wasn't easy, considering her face was almost right in front of mine. Regretfully I turned toward Sanna's table - she was laughing, her eyes bright as she talked to her colleagues.

"So, excited to train?" Traxx asked me, hugging the giggling girls on his lap, who were clinging to him like leeches. I heard Ria snort next to me at the exaggerated display of affection.

"Yes, but whoever will train me, needs to be patient," people around the table laughed, except for Sam who looked livid. Her cheeks were stained red and her fists clenched tightly.

"Well, you can't possibly be worse than Liam. He sucked when we started to train him," said Daniel his eyes darting to the Skinwalker.

Liam smiled at us, but I caught shame and hostility radiating from his eyes.

"Well everyone can't be perfect at everything! Right?" Traxx grinned, leaning back in his chair.

"Right, except you?" Ria shot back at him and I couldn’t help but laugh when he playfully winked at her.

My comm suddenly beeped, announcing I had a caller. When I noticed Maximillian's name spread across the screen I hurriedly tapped at the device.

"Good morning Korina, I hope you're well rested. Yesterday I had promised you some answers, so if you are not busy, I would like to invite you to visit me in my chambers," his deep voice announced.

"I would really like that. How can I find you?" I asked, my head spinning with questions that started forming in my mind.

"I reside on the 5th floor. I will send my coordinates directly to your comm and the device will lead you straight to me. We will see each other soon Korina," was the last thing I heard, before he broke the connection.

The data he had send me immediately opened in some kind of a navigation app and I carefully examined the marked path. Eager to finally leave this awkward atmosphere behind me, I said my goodbyes and headed toward the designated location.

The fifth floor was even more amazing, with glass walls offering an exquisite view of the nature spreading below. We must have been somewhere deep in the forest, since there were no other inhabitants to be found. The green blanket seemed endless, seamless specks of canopies of every shade of green composed an artistic scenery of overflowing colors. In the distance, I noticed a high barbed wire fence, which I was certain was meant for trespassing humans. I had no doubt there was more sophisticated defense system installed to keep away any unwelcome magical beings.

In the distance laid breathtaking mountains, their steep sloping sides covered in white blanket that sparkled with the intense morning sunlight. The sharp ridges of the summits were rising almost menacingly above the serene green land below, invoking a deep primal calling inside me I had yet to discover.

Somewhat regretfully I turned around and stepped back into reality. I let my knuckles tap softly against the wooden surface of the doors, entering only after I heard his call. Maximillian was sitting on a high office chair, his head buried in paperwork as I slowly stepped inside.