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"Well, is she?" Alphose asked, suspiciously. After everything he'd already heard today, he would not be surprised to hear that too.

"No. Amelia almost died giving birth to that child, a year after everything happened. We never tried to have more children after that."

Alphose let out a deep breath, "But, those monsters don't know there's no child. And they will keep hunting for Ismena because of that."

"Even if they find out there's no child, they will keep hunting her. They will...want to bring her to the labs again, especially Beloca. She was the only woman that got pregnant of all the women that were used in the labs."

"Of course, she did. She was paired with her mate, that's why. Even if they pair her with other men, they'll never be able to get her pregnant because they ain't compatible with her."

"That, and the fact that she is no longer physically capable of bearing a child. My poor daughter..." Alfred closed his eyes and a tear spilled. "If only they knew, so they can leave her alone."

He glanced at Alphose, "That was why I was relieved when I saw you during Tina's surgery. I recog...nized you as a change...ling instantly. I had no idea how it happened—how she was suddenly hanging out with your kind—but I was happy because I knew my daughter was safe."

"The leader of the Wolfhunter team that attacked the hospital that day went missing. You killed him right?" Alphose questioned, even though he already knows the answer.

"Yes. I had to protect my family." He took shuddering breaths.

"Maybe you should stop talking for now, you seem to be having a hard time breathing." Alphose did not care much about the man, but he did care about Ismena.

Alfred smiled. It wasn't a 'happy' smile.

"We all know how this will end. I know my time is up, I can feel it...in my bones. I just wish I told my fam...ily sooner. Maybe then, they will be by my bedside in my dying time. In the past few hours, only the doc-tor and nurses have been in here...wasting their time."

He sniffled, tears swimming down his face. "I brought this...upon myself. It was all my f-fault."

"The human doctors are not wasting their time. They said you still have a chance, so try to get some rest." Alphose turned towards the door, ready to go out when the man's next words kept him rooted at his feet.

"There's a Ring. They used it to track Tina to the hospital, I don't know how they did it—"

"The Throne's Ring. It belongs to Wolfaraine. It has been in the Alpha King's family for many centuries, it's a special ring. It can track changeling or any human that has really associated with us...any human we left our imprints on. If it tracked to the hospital, it wasn't because of Tina but because of Ismena. What happened to the ring?"

"I took it...from the leader." Alfred told him the exact place it is, "I hid it there and promised myself that I'll give it back to the owners. I'm g...glad I got to...do it."

For all the man's past and everything, he does not seem like a bad person. At least, the ring has been found. One happiness amid ten winds of sadness.

"Thank you, Alfred." He said before walking out of the door.

Alphose searched for Wolfaraine everywhere, but he was unable to find him. Even the cougar couldn't sense him.

His Alpha King does not want to be found.

He was worried, but he didn't let it show. Instead, he went out in search of Ismena and her family.

But, on the way out, he'd seen the doctors and nurses rushing towards Alfred's room. The doctor was shouting orders, while the nurses hurriedlywheeled him out of the room. Through his enhanced senses, he heard the loud beeping of the monitor that was connected to Alfred.

He'd gone to the doctor and asked what was going on. The doctor had told him.

Minutes later, Alphose walked out to find Ismena and her family. They were still in the backyard. He found them all seated closely together, holding each other together. Even Kassandra was seated with them.

One thing Alphose observed very well was that his Kassandra has been a very good part of this family for a long time—they treat her like one, and she treats them like one too.

Your Kassandra? Careful there, genius. That might be your twin brother's mate.

He gritted his teeth at the unwanted inward voice. They saw him coming, pulled apart slowly, and looked at him with swollen, red, tired eyes.

It's been three hours since Alfred made his confessions and it's been three hours since they've been out here.

"How are you all holding up?" He asked gently, walking down the few stairs to stand in front of them.