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After talking with Sandra, she'd called her mother the next morning just to hear from her, she'd asked about Valentina and her father.

Her mother had gone into details, explaining to her how everyone is; how her father's craft workshop has been doing so well lately, how Valentina has been following her father to the workshop while she waits for college to start in the next fall.

Her mother had also told her that Valentina complains about stomach pains but when she suggested they go to the hospital, her stubborn sister had refused, saying it's just cramps and nothing to worry about.

Of course, that only made their mother worry the more, which had caused Ismena to smile when her mother was narrating it all to her because she understands Valentina really well in that aspect. Their mother has always been a very paranoid person.

While growing up, Ismena had realized that little things got her mother scared. It's almost as if Amelia has been in a traumatizing life-threatening situation before, but if she has, she has never told them.

So, she and her sister had come to terms with it. This is also one of the reasons why it had worried her to death when the doctor had told her that she wasn’t responding to treatment and because of that, she only had three months to live.

These days, her happiness knew no bounds because her bad heart is obviously responding to a different kind of treatment.

She'd spoken to her mother for long hours before Amelia had hung up, with a promise from her that she will come to visit them one of these days. Her poor mother thought she's still in her apartment, being busy to the teeth with working for her ass of a boss.

If only her mother knew how much of a turn her daughter's life has taken these past few weeks.

For the rest of the week, she'd done everything that'll keep her mind away from the fact that she has not heard from Wolfaraine. She was not worried, he is out there for business after all.

But her traitorous heart couldn't help wondering if he was also thinking of her, the way she does him?

Over the week, she'd visited his tower twice—today makes it the third time. She comes to see Nalaila.

Thankfully, the wolf was asleep the times she'd visited. So, she only sits outside her dungeon, weaving tales and telling them to sleeping werewolf. It was also some sort of pastime for her too, spending time with the beautiful white wolf and telling stories to thin air.

Which brings her here again today. As usual, she dressed in light pants and blouse—the one she has on the day Wolfaraine brought her to Naturiah—and also wore the running shoes she purchased from the market. Just in case Nalaila breaks out of her dungeon to chase her in a rage.

In her dungeon-room, Ismena opened the door and walked through it. The white wolf was asleep again.

Although she was relieved, she also wondered if the wolf ever wakes from sleep? It worried her.

As usual, she took her spot at one side of the large room, lowering herself to the floor, and crossed her legs. She opened the book she brought with her today which she found in Eline's bedroom. The story of a fox.

She began reading it out loud. She stayed there until evening before she closed the book and rose to her feet.

"Till we meet again, Nalaila. I will come and visit next time." She said out loud. Already, she is used to speaking to the wolf even when she knows that the wolf wouldn't hear her, or appreciate it if she wakes.

Walking out, she closed the doors and took the stairs down the tower and out of it. She was outside when her cellphone rang.

When her mother's name came out as the caller ID, a smile split her lips. She picked it up, "Hello, mother? I—"

"Mena-aaa... You have to back h-home..." Came the hoarse voice of her mother.

The smile wiped from her face when she realized that her mother was crying. She was sobbing.

"Mother? What is going on?" She asked, panic filling her chest. Her mother is paranoid but she is also a strong woman.

If there is one thing she knows for sure, it is the fact that her mother willnotbe crying if the situation was not serious.

"I-It's Valentina. It's your s-sister, Mena." She sobbed uncontrollably.

Ismena knew at that moment that something bad has happened to her little sister.

CHAPTER 9. THE TRIANGLE OF COINCIDENCE, CIRCUMSTANCES, AND DOOM.

Her heart logged in her throat like a giant lump that wouldn't go down no matter how much she swallowed.

"What happened, mother? Stop crying and tell me, please." Her own voice sounded hollow in her own ears.