Page 87

"Yeah, you're right. I've been here for months, but I haven't heard of crimes around here. Well, except for those crazy changelings that attacked us on that night you were taking me out of the clubhouse in the cougar clan."

"Wild Ones. Changelings turn to Wild Ones when they cannot control their minds, their instincts anymore. They kill innocent changelings and destroy homes, so we kill them." He passed a group of women, who bowed their heads in greetings to him. He inclined his own head too, as an acknowledgment of their greeting.

Ismena fidgeted with his soft hair and avoided any eye contact whenever the changelings they pass look at her. Their Alpha King is piggybacking her through the woods. She did not want to see what they thought of that.

"You told me that Nalaila is locked up and in chains because she was on the verge of becoming a Wild One—" She cut off instantly, biting her lips hard. Oh, God, she shouldn't have said that!

He'd stiffened slightly. For a few seconds, only the crickets and birds 'talked' around them.

"I'm so sorry about that." She whispered, apologetically.

"It's alright, Ismena. My sister is not some abomination that shouldn't be talked about." He took a deep breath, "Nalaila has never killed anyone or she would have been put down a long time ago. But, she hurt people. We know it's only a matter of time before she killed, so, father locked her up. She's been there ever since."

Ismena felt sad, thinking of Nalaila. It hurt her a lot, thinking of everything he and his sister has been through.

"She's long overdue being taken out for a walk and a run. It's been two years. I am the only one that can take her because she is feral, but she refused to come out with me." He said calmly, trying to mask his pain from those rejections, "She'll bite and scratch and howl but she will not come out."

"Maybe, because she knows she will die if she stays much longer in there without the daylight, the wilds, and the night's fresh air.", He continued, "Nalaila wants to die. I've known it for years."

"I'm so sorry to hear that." She had to blink to keep the tears at bay. He was hurting too, no matter how cool he sounded telling her all these.

"I cannot let her go. I cannot give up on her. I know that and she knows it too. Hence, more problems we have. One of these days, I'll get around to bringing her outside again." Even if it means she'll bite, scratch, and tear at him—he vowed inwardly.

Afterward, to brighten the mood, Ismena started talking about the stars and the moon. It worked because he began telling her the history of the first bright stars to shine in the sky.

Ismena listened attentively and in complete relaxation. Changelings love nature a lot, and with him, she'd come to realize how much she loves it too.

They got to a place with more than a few changelings, and she saw a few other males piggybacking their women too. Seeing how it wasn't so strange here in Naturiah, helped her to stop being shy about it. Instead, she tightened her arms around him.

A walk with him was a memorable one.

And hours after, they returned back to the tower and she was feeling sleepy, he laid her on the bed and kissed her thoroughly on the lips.

He did not try to initiate anything of a sexual nature after that. Instead, he walked to his golden throne-chair behind his desk and began sorting through some papers.

She asked him some more questions about Naturiah and he answered pleasantly, without getting mad about her disturbing him.

When sleep eventually won, Ismena gave in to it with a smile on her face.

She'll never forget this night.

OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS

But, in the days that followed, his good mood deteriorated until there was no trace of lightness remaining in his features.

Just the usual; a face made out of stone, coated with heavy frown lines.

That look made him terrifying to everyone including Ismena, even though they didn't see much of each other.

He'd been busy with his duties, both the ones that concern Naturiah and the ones that concern the NAALC business outside of Naturiah.

Apart from that, Ismena had a hunch that he might—he justmight—be avoiding her too.

Her hunch only grew when he never slept beside her for the night. He didn't make sexual advances at her. It might be because she was still recovering from his sexual demands three days ago, but it bothered her that he does not sleep beside her at night either. Instead, he'd sleep in another bedroom.

Then, the next day, Marian arranged out the bedroom next to his and warmly informed her that it was her bedroom. She'd helped her move to that room too.

It was saddening to think that he avoided her so much that he doesn't even want her sleeping in the same room with him.