Page 35

O h God, please, let it just be my own imagination! Sandra pleaded with herself.

Let it just be an imagination inspired by fear because there is no way I just peed on my panties!

But then, she heard the sound of Eline's startled laughter, before it suddenly cut off like it just escaped out on its own.

Then, dread joined the feeling of terror.

By the gods of the Greeks, she really did it!

Indeed, she had peed her panties standing in front of the Alpha King of Naturiah.

And, the worst part is that they know. These changelings must definitely know. Alphose!

Sandra looked up at him from behind. If he knew, he certainly wasn't making any indication that he does, and for that, she'll eternally be grateful to him.

Wolfaraine could smell the female's terror. She'd peed herself too.

He was not really surprised. It was not the first or the thirtieth time a person has reacted like that out of fear in his presence. He'd seen worse too.

Her fear was so thick in the air that for a moment, that was the only scent he could get from her body.

His other-halves—due to their predatory nature—loves the scent too much that the cougar which has been growling and scratching at him all day—even after he'd ran the forests—was purring like a cat.

However, the male took few steps back from the female to alleviate her fears. He was not even surprised—knowing really well that he inspires such reaction from both changelings and humans alike.

"I can smell your fears, female. Alright, I will give you some space. Alpha Alphose can remain shielding you if it helps your fear." He announced finally, walking back behind his desk, he lowered himself on his chair.

Sandra had no idea she was holding her breath until she heard the slightest noise that indicated him sitting back on his throat. She cleared her throat, "T-Thank you so much, A-Alpha King."

God, she'd peed her panties.

Devil of the easts, she'd peed her panties out of fear for this male!

"I am so sorry...!" She cut off, so embarrassed she wanted the earth to open up and swallow her whole. She'll gladly become one with the mud at this unforeseen stage of her life.

"It is okay, dearie. I can practically hear you panicking and beating yourself up. Don't kill yourself, we've seen worse." Alphose whispered to her in encouragement .

For some reason, those words only made her feel more embarrassed. She shifted closer to his back, pressing her forehead deeper to his lower back. She'd have marveled at how great he smells if not for her dilemma.

"This is Kassandra, Alpha King. She is the lady I told you about." Alphose spoke up loudly then.

"Kassandra." Wolfaraine tasted the name on his lips, "What a beautiful name. It is a pleasure to meet you, Kassandra. I am Wolfaraine Daminor Throne, the Alpha King of Naturiah."

Even his name dripped power, Sandra thought. His deep voice was too compelling that she found herself stepping out a bit from behind Alphose to stand in front of him from afar, of course.

Remembering the way Eline greeted him, she bowed her head, bending to the waist. "The p-pleasure is a-all mine. I h-have heard s-so m-many g-great things about you."

"I am glad. Welcome to Naturiah. How are you enjoying your stay here?"

"R-Really well, Y-Your Majesty." Your Majesty!? Really, Kassandra, really!? A voice squeaked inside her.

Oh, shut up, Voice.

Of course, you're the one to judge. You ain't the one standing in front of the Mountain Man Of Death.

"Eline, I hope you have been taking her around town and telling her all about our people?"

"Yes, I have, Alpha King." Eline bowed her head.

"Good." To Sandra, he said, "I heard that you are Ismena's human best friend? "

"Y-Y-Yes, I am." She bit her lips from blurting out that they've been best of friends for more than ten years now. Nope, the less she says, the less she'll fumble.

"Ismena has been here with me since yesterday. I hope you have not been worried about her whereabouts or how she is doing?"

"No, no, no," she denied instantly, shaking her head repeatedly, "Of c-course not, Alpha King. M-Mena is w-with you, so she i-is in great h-hands."

Mentally, she apologized to her best friend for denying her like this. Even if Ismena is tied up and gagged at a hidden part of this tower now, she wouldn't want to know. That's how bad this man terrifies her.

Hell, she wanted nothing more than to run far away from this tower, and at least shower and change into a new pair of panties.

As if he heard her mental request, the Alpha King announced that he's done seeing her—scaring Jesus' garments outta her. Well, those weren't exactly his words but it meant the same thing to her.

"Thank you f-for b-being kind enough to see me." Sandra bowed again, while wondering if this is how every visitor of Naturiah has to stand before the King and be welcomed by him?

Damn, no wonder they have no visitors. Ismena, her best friend, has officially become the bravest woman she knows in her life.

"I hope we see again soon." He added in a soft note.

Eline took it as her cue to walk forward and gently urge her to the direction of the door .

Sandra was all too grateful to follow. She was done having balls where these people are concerned. It's obvious those balls are as useless as rain in hell. They do her no good at all.

As they walked out, she noticed that Alphose was not coming out with them.

Silence descended after the two females left.

Alphose stood there trying so hard not to look as hopeful and dreadful as he felt. The fact that Wolfariane’s face had remained unreadable throughout his encounter with Kassandra and the part where he's being too quiet now was not helping him at all.

"Say something, please." Alphose urged at last, when he couldn't take the silence anymore.

"She was too terrified of me." Was his first remark.

Alphose took a deep breath. He smiled crookedly, "I know, I smelled it too. Surprisingly, the cougar was being too quiet at that point. Probably because it knows that you would not harm her."

He nodded, rising from his seat. He walked to the window, crossed his arms and looked out of it.

The evening sun casted a long shadow to the ground. The sky was ablaze with the fire of the setting sun.

"It was strange. I could not scent the potential mate in her, nor did I smell your scent on her.

Only her feminine scent." He sounded confused too, "I allowed the cougar to the surface too while trying so hard to suppress its instincts to kill and destroy the human, but still, I could not smell them in her. "

"You too?" Alphose was more confused than him. Wolfaraine could always tell even when other changelings are unable to or having some doubts. Always.

He nodded once.

That nod killed all the hope in Alphose. "That means she is not my mate. Or any changeling's mate at all."

Wolfaraine heard the pain behind those statements. It was so loud like a gunshot.

"That is what it would mean." He responded truthfully, anyway.

As the silence descended between them again, Alphose walked towards him and stood beside him on the window. He was hurting and he did not try to mask that feeling.

"Except the part about your cougar, Alphose." Wolfaraine wondered aloud.

"What do you mean, Alpha King?" Alphose mused dejectedly.

"She wasn't the only one I tuned in on while she was here.

I tuned in on you too and I felt every emotion your cougar felt in her presence.

Its hunger for her. Its pleasure because of her presence.

The need to lick her. The need to hold her.

The need to mark her." He paused, "I felt your cougar's need to mate her and make her yours forever, Alphose. "

Wolfaraine turned then to face him, "The feelings coming from you, I can understand and wave it off for lust, attraction or even your ingrained need to find a mate which might have convinced your mind that she could be your mate.

But, those feelings came from your cougar too. That, makes all this more strange."

"So, what do you suggest I do?" He asked then, rubbing a persistent ache that has gathered on his forehead .

"I say you keep her in Naturiah for now. I'll advice to refrain from having sexual intimacies for the time being. Spend some more time with her physically, give it a few weeks. Who knows? Something might change."

Ismena has had dinner. She just finished getting off a phone call with her mother, which included speaking with her father and Valentina.

Her sister was discharged from the hospital few days ago and Ismena was glad her sister was having an amazing recovery and her voice has gotten stronger too. She was still smiling when the door opened and Wolfaraine walked into the bedroom.

Her heart raced, stalled, and did a summersault in her chest at the very sight of him. In those long, aristocratic robes he wears more often, he looked good enough to eat.

"You are awake." He effused in a cool tone, closing the door behind him.

"Yes," She searched for any trace of that smile she'd seem on his face on the night before but there was none. She consoled herself with the fact that he was not frowning either.

"I am glad. Have you eaten anything?"

"Yes. I just had eaten a large variety of foods fit to be called a feast. Mirian brought them." Her replied in a raspy voice.

"Mirian thought I'd killed you. She was beside herself all day, waiting for you to wake up." He walked closer to the bed and sat beside her. Blue eyes searched her face carefully, "How are you feeling now?"

"I feel good. Well, a bit sore and bruised up, but I'm feeling better after the bath Mirian ran for me. I have no idea what those herbs are in the water but I'll be forever grateful to her for them." She was trying not to babble and failing woefully. She was nervous and it showed.

He took her hand—the one that was holding tightly to the duvet like a lifeline—pulling gently, until she let go of the duvet. "You do not have to be nervous around me, Ismena."

"I guess, I can't help it. I'm trying not to be." Her eyes rested on her hand in his. He squeezed her hand a little and her heart fluttered.

"Last night was beautiful, Ismena. Thank you for giving me a night like that. But, at the same time, I want to apologize for being too rough for you." He paused, "I tend to lose control and become less civilized with you. I..."

At the silence that descended, Ismena knows he's having a hard time expressing himself. She wished he would say it, those words that seems to have caught on his throat but she watched him swallow them down.

She cleared her throat and went for lightening the mood, "Well, this time around I wouldn't tell you that there's no need to apologize because I do need an apology. Just look at me? All bed-ridden and sounding like a barn owl."

He didn't smile but his eyes lightened, "You still sound sexy to my ears. Even if you squawk like a peacock, you'll still sound sexy."

Her cheek warmed. Damn, she has to stop blushing like a schoolgirl where he's concerned.

"You are just saying that to patronize me. I sound like the devil attempting to sing in a choir and it’s all your fault," she muttered. Then, she raised her hand and rubbed her chest, "I'm seriously starting to reconsider this mode of treatment for my heart disease."

"Why? Does your heart hurt?" He asked, suddenly serious. She would swear she heard concern in his voice .

"No, it doesn't, which is weird. With the way you've been driving me hard, I expected an episode by now." She blushed when she recalled her use of words, "I don't intend any pun in that statement!"

Wolfaraine smiled in amusement. "The sex we have does more good than harm in that aspect. No matter how hard I... drive you."

"Wolfe...!" She gasped, snatching her hand away from his, unconsciously placing it to her cheek in an attempt to stop herself from going redder.

He loved the way she calls his name. Even in that hoarse, raspy voice, it sounds sexy.

"Alphose introduced your best friend to me today, in my study." He informed her, changing the subject.

"Really?" Ismena's eyes widened, "Sandra came here today? Did she look for me?"

"Yes, she came here. She did not inquire about you, but I take it that it's because she was very scared of me. I could practically feel her need to run away. She is an interesting female."

Ismena arched her brows, looking devilish and amused at the same time, "She was really scared huh? Damn, I can't wait to tease her! Did she faint?"

Wolfaraine considered informing her that her best friend did worse than fainting, but he decided to spare the young girl's pride. "No, she did not faint."

"Damn, would have been so better if she fainted." She pursed her lips, "Well, it doesn't matter. I'll tease her anyway. Sandra with her big, hairy balls, getting so scared in front of a male who's fresh and blood like her. "

"Is that so? You were just as scared when we first met." He drawled.

"She doesn't know that," she grinned mischievously. The truth is that she's still scared of him, but not as much as it was in the beginning. Now, she has gotten to know him and it has eliminated some of her fears for him.

Plus, he wasn't wearing half as much frown as he used to wear then—atleast, not in front of her. Not lately.

He watched the excitement on her beautiful face, it was fascinating.

The way he was looking at her made her brighten the more, even as it made her feel shy.

He rose then, "The night is beautiful, Ismena. I will like to invite you for a walk."

After being in Naturiah for months and after last night, that statement sounded like 'let's go out on a date' to her.

"I will love to go out for a walk with you, but...uhh..." She cleared her throat, "...but my thighs h-hurt and I'm really s-sore down there too. I think this bed is offering the best comfort ever."

He gently picked her up with one hand and ever-so-slowly, he settled her on his back in a piggyback manner. "How about a ride?

She was shocked to her bones and it showed. She'd gone still behind him. Wolfaraine wants to give her a piggyback ride!

"You are no longer breathing. Why? Do you think I would hurt you?"

"No, it's not that. It's..." She trailed off, her heart racing in her chest, "But what about your wounded leg?"

"You healed it perfectly last night." He groaned .

Butterflies broke out in her belly and she felt light-headed too.

Suddenly, Ismena was wishing this day never ends.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. "I want a ride, please."