Are You Willing to Trust?

Chapter 28: Strength Test

The others turn to stare at Axel before turning back to me. Unable to help myself, I step forward and allow the male to wrap me into a gentle hug placing a kiss on my cheek. For the first time in five years, I could almost feel myself completely relax.

Lost in the past, I am quickly jolted back to real life with a deep clearing of a throat and both of us pull away. Taking a moment, I finally take in the others standing besides him.

The first two that caught my attention, besides Raven, were the twins. Identical, I began searching for any minuet differences but after a few moments I couldn't help but smirk. There were no physical ones which only made me think that they must have an easy time trading spots. Allowing my eyes to glide over the last male, I couldn't help but focus on those beautiful eyes before looking directly at Axel.

"It's good to see you again." I state glancing at his team once more. "Congratulations on your own team."

"Thank you." He states his attention fully focused on me making me shiver slightly. Fuck he was so tempting. It was as if nothing had changed but I could sense that something was off. From the second that I had met him, almost five years ago today, Axel radiated self confidence. But now, something seemed different. It had been five years but for some reason he seemed off in a different way.

Frowning, I start to ask when I hear the panting sound of the others and quickly shut my mouth. There goes any chance of getting in my own practice. "You are here on a job?" Axel question also having noticed the breathy movements from a little whiles away causing me to sigh.

"Yes," I state unhappily and glance behind me for a moment before turning. "Paired up with the Blackbourne team." All of the male's eyes widen in recognition. "Guess you know them then?"

Frowning, Axel picks up on my distaste. "They are known for being very professional and easy to work with. Cory has worked with Victor a number of times and everything has gone smoothly." I smirk rubbing my shoulder.

"Seems that I must be the problem then." I state blatantly and glance to the others for a moment.

"Well you were always the wild card." I smirk glancing to Axel and elbowing him.

"Hey now. It wasn't just me that was fucking wild. You were always the one calling the shots." I roll my eyes thinking of all the different situations that we had been put into.

"Axel," pulling me of my thoughts, I glance to the twin whose eyes have narrowed on me.

"Brandon, Marc, Raven and Cory please meet-" Axel begins and I quickly cut him off.

"Angel. Call me Angel." I smirk at the confused looks from the others.

"I will call you what ever the fuck you want," Raven states under his breath but I cant help but smirk at his comment. I could think of a number of names he could call me but now definitely wasn't the time.

"Not Sarah?" Marc questions trying to figure out why Axel called me Sarah originally but I wasn't going to offer up any other information. Fuck, how does one explain that I rarely tell anyone my actual name. They wouldn't be able to verify it anyways.

"Yep. Angel Black." I turn to Axel smiling and nod to the cource. "Doing some training I see. Up for a race?"

Axel smirks and looks back at his team before nodding. "You're on."

Ten minutes later, I lay on my back panting unable to control the laughter bubbling in my stomach. With a little convincing of the guides, we were able to race side by side through a half mile obstacle course that included hurtles, ropes, ladders, and different mazes. I of course came in first and of course the bragging rights were great but I definitely enjoyed the looks on the guys faces when the guide announced I had won.

"You are a quick one." Marc states surprise still plastered on his face. Shrugging, I lay on the ground trying to catch my breath.

"Motivation is necessary in order to do your best." I state as Cory appears in front of me offering me a hand. Taking it, I pull myself to my feet and quickly stretch out when I spot a frowning Blackbourne at the edge of the activities.

Frowning in response, I begin to move when a hand slips around my wrist causing me to stop. "Wait for us little Crow." Raven whispers his voice deeper then before and the entire group moves with me to meet Blackbourne.

"Mr. Toma." Blackbourne states in greeting raising a hand for Axel to shake.

"Owen." Axel states back as he shakes his hand a small smile lining his lips as he drops the formalities. "Good to see you."

"Good to see you as well. Do you know Miss. Black?" He states glancing toward me which only makes my blood boil. Fucking hell this boy was getting on my nerves fast. If he wanted to fucking know something then he could just ask.

Blanking my face, I look to Axel who is studying me. Frowning, Axel looks back to Blackbourne and smiles. "S- Angel worked with me a while back. Before I actually had a team. She was one of the instructors at the Academy for a while." His last words hang in the air and I can feel myself struggling to swallow.

It had been five years ago that I stopped being an instructor. Axel and I were asked to pair up with an all bird team and lets just say things didn't end well. I rub the bullet scar on my shoulder as it throbs in remembrance...Fuck bad memories.

Glancing up to a stunned Mr. Blackbourne, I quickly glance away not wanting to get caught in his silver gaze when I spot an exhausted Victor struggle to hold onto some cables and climb up a vertical wall with no spotter.

Stepping around Mr. Blackbourne, I glance around for the others when I spot Silas coming in from the bathrooms. "Sarah?" Axel questions forgetting about my name change but I don't get a chance to respond because I hear the sound of cables snapping.

Taking off as fast as I can possibly move, I begin to yell. "Silas!!" Instantly the giant is alert and looks to me as I point to the vertical climb. "I need a boost!" I bite my lip hard as the male looks at me in confusion but then must realize that something is happening because he moves with haste to the bottom of the wall.

Pushing my legs harder, I brace myself as I jump onto the bent over giants back and I am propelled up into the air.

The vertical climb that Victor had been on was a timed obstacle. If the male didn't reach the top of the wall in under five minutes the cables became useless and would release what ever tension that had. All members were supposed to wear a harness incase of falling but from what I could tell, there was no guide around to explain.

Grabbing onto the top of the wall, I grab tight to the cable just as the tension is released. "Angel?" Victor questions confused and another part of the cable releases causing me to grunt.

"Vic you need to climb fast. Its timed to give out." I grunt again as another section is released. Feeling the male struggle to climb faster, I hold tight to the cable as the last bit of tension is released and I am left with dead weight.

My arms scream in protest as I grab onto the side of the pillar that is holding up the wall. Taking deep breaths, I lock my arms as I spot the scared male hanging a couple of feet down. "Keep going. I wont let you fall." I grunt and the male quickly rushes up the rest of the cord.

As soon as he is sitting beside me, I release the cord off to the side. "Thanks." Victor whispers his breathing heavy.