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"T his better be worth it, Adeladin." Dr. Beloca said as he walked through the door of the General's office.

"I would be if I was coming from your backyard. Well, I wasn't. What matters is that I'm here now." He took the nearest seat, directly in front of the General's table, and crossed his legs.

"Sonofabitch." He paused, "Have you heard anything from Simon yet?"

"No, but I figured he's dead." He deadpanned.

"I thought so too. What was the last reasonable information he gave you about the girl?"

"I was not listening that much, I was only desperate for results." Dr. Beloca admitted .

"From the information I gathered from my men, there were in that hospital to pick up The Successful's child, isn't that right?

" He continued without waiting for an answer, "That can only mean that the girl was in that hospital.

Well, I think we should request for the record of all the patients that were in that hospital on that day. "

"When we get their results, we are going to run some data analysis to try and match each of those patients with your former lab rat's record—Number 6, right?" The general nodded as he continued, "If any of them matches, we'll know it's the child and we track the family's information."

Dr. Beloca was starting to see some sense in what the general was saying. Why didn't he think of this?

"It's actually a great idea. I'm sure if I pull a few strings, I'll be able to get a doctor there to send me all this information."

"Good. Actually, that was the real reason why I called you here.

" Adeladin played with his table pen, watching his visitor carefully, "There's this man back then in Special Ops called Anaconda.

He's damn good. Man takes on four to five deadly soldiers at the same time back then. He killed his victims brutally."

"The thirst for blood got the better of him and he went rogue. Killed fifteen of his own men."

"Damn."

"Yeah. He was declared Wanted. So, he disappeared from the surface of this earth." He paused, allowing it to sink in. "I've been looking for Anaconda for a long time. I figured he would be a good Wolfhunter. The best."

"If the man is what you say he is, then I think it's a high dream to assume he'd wanna join wolf-hunting." The doctor snorted.

"Well, that's the thing. Because, two nights ago, he finally agreed to my offer to work for me." Adeladin announced smugly .

Beloca was loving this. He was loving it a lot.

"Anaconda will be a great asset to this mission for a better world. With him on our side, we'll be able to capture Number 6 again. What's remaining is the right weapons."

"This man, this Anaconda, have you given him a rundown of what we are dealing with here?" Beloca arched his brows, "Does he know that these people are not humans but very powerful animals?"

"Yes, he knows." Adeladin smiled, "He can take on them. The best step to all of these is to upgrade our weapons."

"You know I did that last time, or have you forgotten? We used Rhodium! It's a metallic element they have a weakness for. We made bullets with them. Bullets!" He emphasized, his rage towards the changelings showing, "But what happened? That animal managed to kill every last one of our men!"

"Calm down, doctor. This time around, we make more bullets.

They might have more weaknesses apart from Rhodium, so, we find them.

The plan now is to look for something that can cause them real harm and create a formula with it, mixed with Rhodium.

We can make weapons with the result; Arrows, guns, Spears, etc.

You can make injectable drugs too. That is called being fully prepared, Beloca. "

Beloca was really loving this idea. He was liking it a whole lot . A smile formed on his lips for the first time in a long time.

Adeladin seconded the smile. "Do you know what happens when you attack fully prepared? You. Win. The. War."

A bright light suddenly came through the window, lighting up Ismena's closed eyes .

She stirred awake, opening her eyes only to quickly close them back as the light threatened to blind her. Opening it again in a slit, she sat up and stressed her body languidly.

"Look who's finally awake! Good morning, My lady." Mirian's bright voice filled the air.

Ismena stared at the older woman through half-lidded eyes, "Good morning, Mirian."

"The light's too bright for your sleepy eyes? I'm sorry about that, My lady." She quickly closed the curtains.

Ismena nodded, opening her eyes fully. She looked around, "What time is it?"

"It's noon, My lady. The Alpha King already went back to the Elephant Clan to continue the hunt for that damned serial killer."

At the mention of his name, the memories of last night flooded her.

Was it real? Or it was just a dream? Or worse, a figment of her imagination?

But then, the images were way too vivid to be a dream. She raised her nightie and found the slight redness on her hips from where he'd grabbed her too hard.

A smile widened her cheekbones. No, it was no dream. It was real, alright. She rose from the bed and prepared to take a shower. That undeniable soreness and tingling of some places in her body as she moved around made her smile widen further.

The memory of how vulnerable he'd been—how badly he was probably hurting—dampened her good mood. If only he would talk to her, she lamented. He needed to talk to someone .

Cheer up, Ismena. Remember the special memories you made last night, with Nalaila.

That brightened her mood again.

She sang as she showered. Too happy to care that she was singing off-tune—and in a very sore voice at that.

"Someone must be in a very good mood today. In such a happy mood that she's shaking the walls of this great Tower with her voice!" Mirian shouted amusingly from the bedroom.

"Someone sure is!" Ismena shouted right back.

"I am happy to hear that, My lady." And she was. These past few days it's been bleak and sad around here, Mirian was very happy to see a change.

In the bathroom, Ismena kept singing, doing her happy hip dances.

Now, all she needs to do is find a way to get Wolfaraine to try taking his sister out for a walk again as soon as possible.

It'll be a little difficult because the second time she'd confronted Alphose, he'd mentioned that Wolfaraine might not be trying again for 'weeks' because he wanted to give Nalaila more time. He is hoping that she'll change her mind then.

Ismena was hopeful that Nalaila will go out with him if he tries again, and the earlier, the better.

She just has to find a way to convince him to try again as soon as possible, without getting him suspicious .

"So, what do you think about Ayeia soup?" Alphose asked with a smile on his face.

"I didn't expect to like it so much," Sandra admitted, unconsciously sucking her tongue to get the last taste of that soup.

"I told you, you would." The cougar Alpha said smugly.

"You did." She linked her fingers to his. He smiled and held her hand firmly.

They were walking out of a popular food house in the Cougar Clan which sells the best Ayeia soup, which is the most popular but expensive soup in Naturiah.

Sandra was happy and it showed on her face. One would think her happiness came from the food she just ate, but that wasn't true. The male walking beside her was the cause of her happiness.

For the past few weeks, they've become close. It's as if he was courting her. They spend time together, which makes it all so great.

In the past two weeks, she'd realized how much she liked Alphose. He'd told her that he wanted them to be friends. She'd agreed because she loves spending time with him.

"So, how about that cave you told me you were gonna take me to see?" She asked excitedly.

"Cliffin Cave?" He glanced up to the sky as if he was looking for something, "That will be another time. I have to join the other Alphas in the Elephant Clan."

"That's true, you told me about it."

Together, they walked until they got to the T-junction that will separate them. They turned and faced each other .

"I guess this is where we say goodbye." Alphose said, looking into her beautiful brown eyes.

"Yes. Until next time..." She breathed, licking her lips.

Alphose wanted nothing more than to take those lips with his and show her what it feels like to have her lips licked. As usual, he put a damper on his feelings and stepped back.

"Until next time." He echoed.

She swept forward and kissed him on the cheek before she turned towards her next direction and started for it.

Alphose watched her walk away. The cougar stretched out in pleasure of being kissed by her. They wanted more, but Alphose was good at suppressing their urges.

An hour later, he arrived at a forest in the Elephant Clan where they agreed to meet. Exchanging greetings with the other Alphas, he asked where the Alpha King was and they told him.

He went in search of Wolfaraine.

He arrived at the forest Wolfaraine was hunting on, twenty minutes later.

"Alpha King," he inclined his head at the sight of Wolfaraine at the top of the apricot tree. "I apologize for being late."

In one smooth move, Wolfaraine jumped down from the tree. Hands elegantly crossed behind his back, he took in the cougar Alpha.

"How is it going with Kassandra?" He asked .

"It's going well. I guess..." Alphose asked instead, "How is the search going?"

"Nothing has been found." His voice clipped, irritably.

Alphose looked for the lines of tiredness that was there yesterday, but thankfully, they weren't there anymore. Wolfaraine looked relaxed too, even though his mood hasn't improved.

"I'm glad you caught a good sleep when you went back home early this morning. Even if it's just a few hours' sleep, it looks good on you." Alphose admitted.

That's probably because he passed through Ismena's arms before making it to the bed. But Wolfaraine had no plans of telling Alphose that.

It was a few hours sleep but it had been peaceful, unlike other nights.

Ismena.

His heart hummed as the memories of being in her dainty arms filled his head.

"There's something that has been bugging me, Alpha King." Alphose indicated softly.

He pushed the memories down where they belonged, "What is that?"

"When we were in the human world, those hunters called Ismena 'The Successful’. They said they had orders to take The Successful back with them." His brows furrowed as if he was still thinking about it.

Wolfaraine paused, "What does that mean?" His brows drew together in a frown.

"I have no idea, Alpha King. But, that was exactly what the man called her. "

Wolfaraine resumed walking. He seemed to be thinking about it while they walked quietly through the woods.

"Never take her out of this world again without my permission, Alphose.

The reason why I did not say much of anything the first time, was because it was you.

" He stated, "If I was ever going to entrust Ismena to the hands of anyone, it would be you.

..and a very few others. But, I do not want that happening again. Not without my permission."

"Copy that. I truly apologize for that, Alpha King."

"I understand."

"How about Nalaila? How is it going with her?" Alphose asked softly, threading carefully.

Nalaila is the most delicate subject you can bring up in front of Wolfaraine, no matter how close you think you are with him.

His arms elegantly crossed behind his back, he began walking. Alphose fell into steps with him.

"She has not changed her mind, Alphose. I will try again with her in a month. Who knows, she might agree to it."

But he doesn't believe that, Alphose thought. It's right there in his voice. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"How is it really going with Kassandra, Alphose? Stop brushing off the topic."

The cougar Alpha took a deep breath and gave in, "I've been spending a lot of time with her like you advised, Alpha King. Everyday, it gets harder to control the cougar in her presence. We want her for ourselves. We want to claim her so badly. But... "

Wolfaraine did not rush him, allowing the silence settle between them. He gave all the time he knows the cougar Alpha needed.

"But, her scent hasn't altered." He admitted, unable to keep the bitterness from his voice.

"Alphose,"

"I just don't understand. I spent all that time with her. If she was mine she would have taken my scent—no matter how faint—at every physical contact we make." He shook his head, "I just don't understand."

"I am sorry to hear about that." Wolfaraine said truthfully.

The small peeping of a baby bird remained in the air. Followed by a faraway trumpet of an elephant.

"Maybe it's time you start looking at all this from that direction that scares you the most." Wolfaraine groaned, at last.

"I don't understand, Alpha King." But dread filled him. His chest suddenly felt heavy. He could almost hear his heart pumping blood.

Wolfaraine stopped walking.

He swiveled his head to face him, "Yes, you do, Alphose. There is a most possible reason why she attracts your other-half but does not have your scent. You are thinking about it too, just like you've thought of it before."

"You've thought of it before but it scares you so much, because it might be the truth." Wolfaraine finished in a soft tone.

Alphose stopped walking too .

Then, he lowered his head in defeat, "Yes. I know what you mean... It's the thought that Kassandra might not be my mate but the mate of my twin, Josiah."