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She stood in shock watching the total transformation. A hand grabbed the edges of her skirt and tugged hard.

She looked down to see a small boy of about three-year-old smiling widely at her. The boy spread his little arms wide and piped, "Up, up, up, up,"

Instinctively, she knew the boy was asking to be picked up. Ismena can safely say that she avoids children because they cry a lot and she doesn't understand them. She's almost a stranger to them because she hasn't been around much of them in years.

But, as this blond little boy kept his arms spread, looking at her with big brown-eyes wide with trust and asking to be picked up, she couldn't resist bending to the waist and lifting the boy up. His little arms went around her neck, and he held on.

That gesture seems to be all the others, who were watching her warily before, were waiting for. They threw themselves at her.

She almost fell if not for the strong arm that shot out around her waist and steadied her.

"Easy." Wolfariane's voice filled her ear, the deep baritone causing a shiver to work its way down her spine. For a moment, their eyes met and the whole world fell away.

"Alright, that is it, children. Go away and let the Alpha King go. He just came back from a long journey, and he needs to attend to urgent matters." The new feminine voice came through, crashing Ismena back to reality.

The both of them looked at the female who was also approaching with a male. They were dressed in black leather cardigans and pants. They were armed with guns strapped to almost every part of their body, but they were smiling as they got close and inclined their head in respect towards Wolfariane.

Then, they turned towards her, their eyes barely hiding their curiosity. The woman stretched out her arms, "I am Sentinel Eline and you are?"

"Ismena Cranes." Shaking the hand she presented.

"Nice meeting you." She inhaled deeply. Surprise flashed in her eyes, "Human. She's human?" That was directed to the Alpha King and Degar.

Degar nodded, "Yes. Long story, but she will be staying with us for a while."

"Oh, okay. You're welcome to our home," Her smile was welcoming, which in turn made Ismena to relax. She'd come to expect frosty and rude welcoming from these people, seeing the way their Alpha King feels about humans.

"Thank you so much." She replied, before she swiveled her head towards the dark-haired man Eline came with. Her eyes widened, "You look so f-familiar... Have we met—"

"Nice meeting you again, Ismena Cranes," His lips curved into a smile, "My name is Alphose. The alpha leader of the cougar clan, all armies and the Alpha King's second-in-command. I believe we bumped into each other two weeks ago in Oklahoma."

"Woah! It's indeed a small world!" She gasped, shaking hands with him.

"Indeed it is." Alphose hid his surprise well. The Alpha King went out to retrieve his stolen ring, but instead of the ring, he came back with this woman? What is happening?

"You said something about an urgent matter." Wolfariane spoke for the first time. He was standing so close to her that Ismena can practically feel him behind her.

The smile faded from their faces, they were suddenly all business. "It's Nalaila."

He stiffened. Ismena felt him go rock-hard behind him, a chill went down her spine at the change that was so sudden.

"What happened to her?" His tone was flat, his face devoid of emotions.

"She's..." Alphose cleared his throat worriedly, "She's...out of control."

He was already moving, his strides hurried unless his usual steady strides. "For how long?"

Others hurried to catch up with him, including Ismena. Again, Alphose answered him, "It's been four hours. I called your cellphone but I was unable to reach you."

"We were under attack." He looked at the female sentinel, "Eline, take Ismena to your home, she will be staying with you for now, if you do not mind. It was a tiring night, she needs to get a good sleep."

"I don't mind, Alpha King. Don't worry about it." She reassured him, knowing that he has other pressing things to worry about.

At the Alpha King's answering nod, she inclined her head before she turned and led Ismena towards another route.

As they separated from Wolfariane, Ismena couldn't help wondering what was wrong? She couldn't help worrying about him.

He had the most stressful night, she could practically see the tiredness in his eyes as they'd walked through the forest Degar had called the wild forest. If anyone needed to rest it was him.