Page 52

Here we go. Ismena climbed him like a tree before her arms reached his shoulders. She wrapped her arms around him, holding on tight.

"It's a pity that Sandy is gonna miss this ride, all because of her stubborn ass." She mumbled to herself.

"You okay?" He growled, swiveling his head a bit to catch a glimpse of her.

"Oh, yes." She adjusted better, pressing closer to his soft furs. Being on his back made her miss Wolfaraine all the more. She couldn't help remembering how great it had felt to have him piggyback her in half-shift, twice.

Oh, God, she misses him too much. His touch, His always-frowning face, his deep voice, the feel of his body on her… In her.

Alphose inhaled deeply and stopped suddenly. The sudden movement—or lack of—jerked Ismena out of her thoughts.

"Do not think about the Alpha King now, Ismena." He groaned gently, his voice deeper, "I can smell you, and it is not helping me at all in keeping my hands off your friend."

"Oh...!" Ismena's cheeks went warm, "S-Sorry." Shit. Damn changelings and their big noses.

"I understand." Was all he responded.

"Y-You can go now..."

Alphose nodded.

Then, he took off in a dead run.

NEW YORK CITY.

A week later.

"I have signed the documents, Mr. Throne." The CEO of Yatch's Farmland announced, handing over some pieces of documents across the table.

Wolfaraine Daminor Throne reached across the table and took the documents from him. In the silence that followed, he signed them too.

"Thank you for giving in to our offers, Mr. Dior. You will not regret doing business with us." Wolfaraine stated, handing the documents over to Degar who was seatedbeside him.

"I know I won't, Mr. Throne." He rose from his chair at the same Wolfaraine did the same thing. "It still baffles me why a big company like yours would want those lands, but then again," he shrugged, smiling, "The offer is great for us, so..."

Wolfaraine did not return the smile, but he politely took the hand that the older man extended. They shook hands, spoke more casually to each other before Wolfaraine announced that he would be leaving.

Both teams bowed at each other respectfully. Then, Wolfaraine turned towards the door and made his way out of there, leaving his men to follow.

His leg throbbed as he walked. And, he was trying to leave the conference hall without the profound limp he'd developed over the week, which made the pain worse. With each step he took, it feels like there's a hot cutlass embedded in his left leg, which is insistently sawing at his wounds. It was that bad.

Over the cause of the week, the pain has increased to an unreasonable amount. so bad that Wolfaraine was almost sure that it has become infected.

He made sure to hide it well from Degar because the Leopard Alpha was already too worried about him. He has been on his ass over the last week for them to go back to Naturiah to get his leg treated—even if it means forgetting about their business plans.

The leopard Alpha will freak out if he gets the slightest inkling that the wound has become infected. And with good reasons too.

A rhodium wound is a bad thing. An infected rhodium wound is an extremely bad thing.

Outside the conference room, the pain got to him and he almost lost his footing. Degar was instantly hovering behind him but he did so without touching him.

"Do you need help, Alpha King?" Degar asked worriedly, knowing their leader all too well, and how important it was for him to ask first.

"No. I am fine, Degar." He resumed walking, but this time, the pain was too much that his limp was back.

Degar noticed too. Unable to do anything, he just followed the Alpha King with the rest of the team trailing behind him.

"Alpha Cronus?" Wolfaraine called.