Chapter 59: 59

Chapter 58

"I'm telling you that ain't a good idea."

Salt was against their initial plan to meet their 'other' teammates here at school.

He said that they might think of it as an 'ambush' since there was a possibility that they weren't prepared to associate themselves with them just yet—especially in this manner.

"Ambush?" Pepper crossed her arms, pissed at her twin brother. Why does this person always have to antagonize her ideas? "Come on now. You're overreacting. I think you're not just interested in becoming friends with them, and that sounds like a personal issue to me. You can't keep that attitude if you want our next mission to be a success, okay?"

"Hearing that from you doesn't really help." Salt wouldn't budge from his spot. His sister had been trying to pull him along, but to no avail. He stood by the flagpole, and continued to ignore her desperation.

Amber took this opportunity to cut in. "I… I think he has a point. We'll meet them later anyway." Many squad leaders, including the Alpha, will see them off. Social interaction, therefore, can't be avoided.

"You're taking his side now?" Pepper asked in a small voice. She finally let go of Salt's arm, and marched over to her side, frowning. "Do you find it hassle, too? Interacting with potential friends?"

Salt fixed the hood of his jacket, and looked at her. "For the record, I never said anything about it being a 'hassle'. I don't understand why there's 'too' in that question."

"Don't talk to me. I'm pissed at you."

Amber shook her head to clear up the confusion. "It's not hassle. I… I just don't think they'd feel comfortable if we were to show up suddenly right in their faces." She stroked her back apologetically. "I'm sorry for backing out on our plan."

"You made that plan with her?" Salt muttered in disbelief. "I'm amazed you actually agreed to do it with my sister in the first place."

Pepper went to smack his head, but he had anticipated that, so he managed to avoid her violence.

"You made it sound like my idea was stupid right from the start. How could you consistently get on my nerves every day?"

"I could ask the same thing. How does your head consistently come up with crass ideas…"

The twins began yet another squabble with each other. Unfortunately, Salt wasn't mature enough to yield to his sister's statements. That's why the word 'ceasefire' will forever remain as a foreign word to them.

Unless somebody breaks that toxic cycle, the two of them will have to argue on a daily basis.

Meanwhile…

Amber squinted her eyes in attempt to fully recognize the guy who caught her gaze. They literally stood too far away from each other, and she's not even sure if he's that Jay person.

She scratched her eye, and strained her nerves to get a better view of him, but when she looked ahead… he was no longer in the same spot where she saw him earlier.

Huh…?

Were her eyes deceiving her?

"Let's go, Amber. I'm giving up on the plan because I think you're right when you said that we'd get to talk to them either way—and not because Salt had claimed that my proposition was stupid," Pepper gritted out, rolling her eyes. She linked arms with her as they both started heading to the car park.

But before they leave…

Amber looks behind them one last time. If her guts are nagging her like this, it means that she can't be hallucinating in that moment.

Besides…

She saw another familiar figure besides Jay.

But the connection between them never made sense.

"Are you upgrading your duffel bag for this mission, Amber?"

Amber snapped out of her silly thoughts, and faced Pepper. "No, it's the same as the previous one."

Pepper leaned closer to her ear, glared at her brother who was watching, then whispered, "I saw you put some questionable items in your duffel bag while we were readying our stuff last night…" She then pulled away, and mouthed the words…

'Poison… darts?'

Amber's eyes widened a little. She didn't think she was being watched.

Pepper laughed teasingly. "Don't look so alarmed. I won't tell a soul."

Besides, what they carry legally on missions is a much more dangerous item—silver liquid.

A poisoned dart should be nothing in comparison.

Salt raised a brow at the two. Pepper was still loud even when she was speaking in whispers, so he knew that the two were being sketchy.

"The Alpha knows."

"Wait, what?"

"I have permission. I wasn't trying to hide them from anyone in the first place. If I was, I wouldn't commit a rookie mistake like getting caught." Amber was telling the truth. Indeed, she was taken aback at first—but that's only because she was surprised to learn that her friend actually tried to observe what she was trying to put in her bag.

She was under the impression that professionally, they should mind their own business.

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Well…

It's not like she has anything to hide.

"Eh?" Pepper screeched, disappointment washing over her face. "I was so thrilled, I thought you were going for a bad girl image. You know what I'm saying? Being sneaky and all."

Bad girl image…?

Sneaky…?

Amber had certainly done things beyond her friend's imagination.

She doesn't sneak prohibited things in and out, but she did sneak into the underground prison by herself, and without the Alpha's permission.

Does that contribute to what Pepper considers as a bad girl image?

Salt opened the backseat's door. "Get in."

"At least, you don't lose your manners even when you're angry." Pepper showed her tongue at him, and slammed the door closed after Amber got inside. "I'm pissed at him," she told no one in particular.

Their driver glanced at them from the rear-view mirror. "I was advised to drop you off the training grounds. I'm afraid we can't stop by your house first."

Pepper gave him a thumbs up. "An order is an order. Please don't mind us."

Salt buckled up, and turned to the driver. "I suppose there's a short meeting before we go?"

The driver smiled. It seems like there's no need for a longer explanation. "I was just about to say that."

The assembly room was annexed to the training grounds. Originally, it was built as a correctional facility for both trainees and pack warriors who always got themselves in trouble, and were likely to cause a commotion during training. Of course, if there are decent people… there are also troublemakers who can't live a day without having a row with anyone.

Though those people have matured both in mind and spirit now.

Training sessions are no longer as chaotic as before.

So, eventually, the small room has changed its purpose, too.

Amber took a quick nap on the ride because once they arrive at the pack, there's no turning back. The leaders will check the status of each participant, and make sure they're all in good physical condition before they go. There was a case before wherein a pack warrior suffered greatly from intense trainings, and hid his injuries so that he could still participate in the mission. The higher-ups are trying to keep that from happening again.

"We're here. Please head straight to the assembly room."

The whole process was done in five minutes. Amber sat on a desk while she waited for the twins.

The assembly room is full of people. Level 1 trainees outnumbered the tenured ones, and everyone looked excited. Perhaps, many of them have received their mission for the first time. Many of them are probably a walking ball of nerves deep down, too.

Amber feels the same way.

She may look calm on the outside, but deep inside… there's a hollow space in her stomach that makes her feel restless.

"Amber?"

Amber quickly stood up as soon as she recognized the person. "Sir Gin," she uttered, surprised. "I hope you're doing well…"

"I am. You're on to your next one right away, huh? They should let you take a break."

Amber smiled briefly. She refused to comment on that. "Will you be performing another recon…?"

"Yeah, it has to be done regularly. It's to watch out for possible threats lurking in many areas surrounding our pack."

"Please be safe…"

"I should be the one saying that to your squad. I heard that there was still no hierarchy in your group. I suggest you decide on your leader now. It's very important to have someone who calls the shot for the squad. If the three of you fail to reach a consensus, especially in dire situations, the team will fall apart."

"I… I'll ask them later if they wish to appoint one now."

"How about you? Have you considered it at all?"

"No, Sir."

"I see," Sir Gin laughed. "Still stubborn, huh?" He squeezed her shoulder lightly. "By the way, this may be long overdue, but… on behalf of Cataleya, me and all the squad leaders in our pack would like to apologize for her recent actions. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive her—if not today, maybe someday. I'm sure she's repenting, too."

Amber felt the corner of her eyes becoming warm. "Thank you for saying these things, Sir."

Finally.

An apology.

Not from Ms Cataleya.

Not from the Alpha.

But from a group of people who were completely unrelated to the incident.

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