Page 33

"A lright, that's it. I will march into that tower myself and confront your leader. I can't take this anymore. He has a lot to answer for, alright!" Sandra rose from the old couch, staring pointedly at the wall clock resting on the wall opposite the couch.

Eline was only smiling. Sandra has been like this since morning. "I want to make dinner. What do you want to have for dinner?"

"You ain't even listening to half of what I'm saying, are you?" Sandra glared at her new friend, "I have not seen my best friend since yesterday evening! I am worried to hell about her."

"I already told you countless times that Ismena is fine and she will be back home whenever she wants to."

"Well, I don't think so. What if your Alpha King has killed my best friend and stuffed her body someplace to hide evidence from the world?" Hands on her waist, she threw her chin up, "What are you going to do then!?"

"Whatever is giving you those bad thoughts that the Alpha King would kill his own woman?" Eline asked incredulously.

"Have you seen my best friend? She's one tiny, little woman.

And if your Alpha King is as huge as Alphose is and if his sexual appetite is half as large as the rumors I heard the night before insinuated they are, then, I have every reason to worry about my best friend!

" A pause, "Plus those cougar women told us that he was injured too.

All the more reason why he'll devour my poor little friend. "

The night had been so beautiful last night, Eline had taken her out to the heart of Naturiah to hang out with the others who'd come out to enjoy the night too.

"And her cellphone is here, so there's no way to reach her either. Damned girl! She lusted after him so much she'd lost all common sense. Staying out all day and not even a word sent to me to have me stop worrying about her!" She cussed at her best friend.

"Well, in Ismena's defense, I'm sure she never expected you to be worried. Especially since you're worried over nothing."

Sandra was barely listening to her. She shook her head, puzzled, "Damn, I've been disillusioned. This was NOT the way my books go."

"Your books? You mean those books you've been reading which you said told stories about my kind?"

"Yes. They are paranormal romances. My favorite kind of romance." A smile touched her lips, and she seemed to forget her cause momentarily.

"I do not know what they write in there, but those things are not real. This is the reality."

"Well, reality sucks balls! I want to see my best friend and I wanna confirm personally that she is fine! So, you either take me to his home, or I'm going to march there by myself!" She declared .

Eline shook her head, amused. "No way you are putting me into that. You can go alone, I will wait right here for you."

"Oh, you pussy. You are so scared of him!"

"That, and I know Ismena is fine. So, I do not want to bother with your cause."

"Why are you so scared of him anyway? He's flesh and blood like you and me. Also, he's dating my best friend." Sandra scoffed, "Mena is the most fearful person I know amongst us, so if she is with this male like you say she is, then he's harmless. You gotta have to grow a pair of balls too, Eline."

Eline laughed, unable to help herself.

"Oh, you naive human. You do not know what you are talking about—" she paused suddenly, looking at the door. "My alpha is here."

"Your Alpha...?" Just then, a knock came on the door.

Eline went and opened the door. She smiled at Alphose, "Good evening to you."

"Good evening to you too." He returned her warm smile with an affectionate pat on her shoulder. Then, he directed his stare to a very fluttered Sandra.

Sandra stared at him, at a loss of words. His presence has practically robbed her of speech. Since he'd dropped her off here in Eline's house, this was the first time she was seeing him again. It's as if he'd been avoiding her, even though Eline had assured her that that wasn't the case.

"Kassandra," he drawled, walking closer to her.

Sandra shivered involuntarily .

Never, did she ever think hearing her name from someone's lips would be sexy as hell. It's not her name, but the way he says it. Her eyes took him in again and her belly fluttered.

"Woah, for the first time, Sandra seems to be at the loss of words. You should come over more often, Alpha." Eline snorted as she disappeared into the kitchen, giving both of them some privacy.

Sandra barely heard her. Damn, the man got more handsome. No man should ever be allowed to look this handsome, ever! It should be a federal offense.

"How have you been?" Alphose asked at last, in a low voice.

He was doing his best to keep a stronghold on the cougar who'd gone berserk inside him the first moment he stepped into Eline's house. The unique, feminine scent Kassandra produced was not making it any easier for him either.

"F-Fine. I've b-been fine." She cleared her throat, "How have you been?"

"Fine too." He lied.

No, he hasn't been fine at all. He'd been dreaming of her, longing for her since she stepped foot into Naturiah. He'd kept his distance because he'd hoped a few days in their home will bring out the scent of the potential mate in her. It hadn't.

Silence descended between them. Openly, he took in every inch of her within sight. She was just too beautiful, he thought. She was dressed in a simple, green, long dress that covered her down to her ankle, hanging loosely on her body and hiding her attractive curves.

But, even with that, he loved to see her in that gown because it's the clothing of his people. He loves seeing her in the changeling world, in changeling clothes .

"So, what brings you here?" Eline's voice broke whatever connection they'd created openly staring at each other like that. They broke apart and stared at her.

"I came to take Kassandra with me to the castle." His eyes returned back to the woman in question.

"To take me...?" Sandra asked, confused.

"The Alpha King has summoned her?" Eline gasped in surprise.

"Yes," To Eline, he said, "Don't worry, I already explained everything to him." A look passed between them.

Eline nodded in understanding.

"Explained what to him? Why does he want to see me?" Sandra did not understand anything though.

"He knows that there is a new human in Naturiah, so he wants to meet you." He excluded the part about her being his mate because Sandra does not have that knowledge yet. He thinks it better not to tell her until he was very sure about it.

"Oh?" Sandra gave it a thought, "Oh, okay. Things worked out well, I wanted to see him too."

"You do? Why?" Alphose asked in surprise.

"Oh, don't even ask. The lady is ridiculous." Eline answered with a snort, "She wants to confront the Alpha King about his intentions towards Ismena."

"Eline thinks I'll quiver and shiver in fear in front of the King." Sandra scoffed, "How ridiculous."

"You won't?" Alphose was bewildered and it showed .

"Of course, I won't. In Oklahoma, I'm a very capable journalist. I've single-handedly investigated drug cartels, armed robbers, and serial killers before, just to get my stories.

These are very dangerous people, you know.

If I can take on them, I can stand fearlessly in front of your Alpha King and have a conversation with him. " She stated matter-of-factly.

"That seems fair enough." Alphose nodded. He swallowed his displeasure about her nature of work and the dangers they seem to present.

He and the cougar do not like the thought of her putting herself in danger at all. "Freshen up, let us go to the castle."

"I'm definitely getting ready too. I am not missing this for the world, Alpha." Eline smiled and headed for her bedroom.