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W olfaraine came back to the Tower in the middle of the night, tired and ready to get some sleep.

He walked to the dungeon to check up on Nalaila, she was sleeping again. After such a long, tiresome day, he only wanted to see the Wolf's face before he goes to bed.

"I wish you will let me take you out for a walk, Nalaila..." He grumbled, exhaustedly.

These days, she seemed to be doing better in his absence too. Before she would have been thrown fits whenever he stayed out of the Tower for long. He doesn't know if it's also because she was giving up or it's something else entirely.

Not waking the wolf, he silently walked out of the dungeonroom. On the long hallway that leads to his bedroom, he began hearing soft noises ahead of him.

Moans. Whimpers. It sounded terrified.

They were coming from Ismena's bedroom .

Quietly, he opened the door and walked inside. Soundlessly.

Ismena was twisting on the bed, her body writhing. She was panting, shaking her head from side to side. She didn't say a word...just noises. Her beautiful face twisted up as if she was in pain.

She was having a nightmare.

He walked closer to her, bent down and touched her arm, "Ismena... Wake up,"

"No...!" She jerked her arm away so hard as if his touch burned her. She hasn't woken yet.

Sitting down on the bed, he touched her arm again, "Wake up, Ismena. You are just having a nightmare."

She jerked away, snatching her arm away and bolting away from him so fast she almost fell off the other side of the bed. He was faster.

In a very sharp movement, He jumped towards her and grabbed her. She began screaming then. He held her close, holding her twisting body until she calmed down. She fell back to sleep in his arms.

When she stopped moving, Wolfaraine looked down to see her sound asleep in his arms. Gently, he laid her back on the bed and pulled the covers over her.

Then he stepped back, crossed his arms and just watched her sleep. These past few weeks haven't been easy for him, he missed her very much.

She's the only thing in his life that wasn't filled with sadness. The only thing that just makes things easier.

Unbiddenly, he remembered that night he took her for the first time. She had the same exact look she had tonight on her face too .

What could the nightmare be all about to terrify her this much, even in her sleep?

Ismena woke up very late in the morning. She was having a little bit of a headache. She decided she was going to call Harhan, the medicine man, to give her some of those herbs that helped to ease her head and sooth her soul.

As she walked to the bathroom, she was palming her head. Damn, she'd had one of those nightmares again. Those ones she never remembers, but can still feel the terror of it down her spine.

Was it also a dream that she saw Wolfaraine in her bedroom? Did he really come into her bedroom or was it just a dream?

Minutes later, she was freshened up. Ismena wondered if she should call for breakfast to her room or if she should go to the dining room to get some?

On a normal day, she goes to the dining room, hoping to see Wolfaraine. Seeing how she overslept, she knows he must have probably left the Tower to attend to some important business, but she decided to eat in the dining room anyway.

Ismena was most surprised when she got to the dining room, only to see Wolfaraine in his usual seat taking breakfast. Her heart fluttered in her chest and began to race.

She stood there for a few seconds, just watching him eat. She'd only seen flashes of him in the past few weeks, it was beautiful to see him now. Her eyes took him in greedily, while begging her heart to stop racing.

Then, he raised his eyes and their eyes met. Electricity sparked between them, and Ismena felt chills down her spine. She forced her legs to work, taking steps towards him until she lowered herself to the chair directly opposite his.

"Good morning, Wolfe. I thought you would have left for the day." She said softly, directing a smile towards Marian as she walked towards her in a gesture that suggests she should request for breakfast.

She told Mirian what she wanted to have.

The woman inclined her head, turned, and bowed towards Wolfaraine, before she turned and walked towards the kitchen.

"Good morning, Ismena. I need to be at the training ground where we are training new recruits to be Sentinels." He used the nearest handkerchief to wipe his mouth, "But, I waited for you to wake up."

"Huh?" Her heart skipped. Did she do something wrong?

She was almost sure she hasn't done anything wrong. Well she has, but she hasn't been caught.

Damn, did he find out she's been visiting Nalaila!?

He dropped his fork, leaned back on his chair, and just looked at her. He stared for so long, that Ismena shifted uncomfortably on her chair. His unreadable face wasn't making things easy at all.

Then, the mask on his face fell away, "I waited for you to wake up, because I have missed you so much." He admitted at last.

She blushed prettily like a schoolgirl. The tension dissolved from her and her insides tingled.

"Oh..." That was all she could manage, speechlessly. Hell, the man always lives her tongue-tied, so effortlessly .

"I think a better 'Good morning' will do. Come and kiss me, Ismena." He ordered softly, pulling his chair back and away from the dining table.

Those words were so unexpected that for a few seconds, her brain blanked out and she couldn't interpret them.

But, when she did her eyes widened and her heart raced away from her eyes. The order might be unexpected, but she loved it a lot.

She rose—does it matter that her legs are shaking slightly?—and came out from her seat. Slowly, she walked closer to him until she stood directly in front of him.

He was looking up at her, his blue eyes held her brown ones. She palmed his stubble-trimmed cheeks, lowered her head, and kissed him firmly on his soft lips.

She waited for him to take over, but he didn't. Leaning back, she stared him into his eyes. There was a bit of fire there now, unlike before that it was...just blank.

So, she leaned in and kissed him again. This time around, she prolonged the kiss. She closed her eyes and sucked his lower lip into her mouth. He tasted like mint and salmon stew which reflected his breakfast. Pushing her tongue into his mouth, she deepened the kiss, moaning throatily.

Then, with a growl, his arms went around her waist. He drew her down to his lap, her legs spread on either side of him and took over the kiss. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her closer until she plastered against him as he devoured her lips.

Marian was bringing in Ismena's food when she saw what was going on. She paused instantly, her eyes widened. Then, she turned and soundlessly walked out of the dining room .

There was a faint blush on the older woman's cheeks as she led every servant that was within talking distance to the dining room, away.

Inside the dinning room, Ismena's breathing was unlabored as Wolfaraine finally broke the kiss. His eyes was filled with desire. "That, Ismena, is how you say 'Good Morning'."

"Oh..." she sounded like a broken record to her own ears. To make matters worse, her panties were soaked and her legs were shaking.

His hands, which were still resting on her waist, felt too warm even through the layers of clothes. She squeezed her eyes closed in an effort to get herself under control again

"What do you say we go for a walk at the back of the Tower?"

Ismena knows something better she wanted to do, but she found herself nodding her head anyway. With everything going on, she barely gets enough time to see him these days. She'll be happy to be anywhere as far as she is with him.

"I'll like that," she agreed, straightening up from his embrace. His silver-gold hair which looked tidy before, was looking disheveled because she'd curled her fingers into it while he kissed her.

Her cheeks warmed pleasantly as she raised her hand and began running it through the straight hair while uncurling from his body. Her scalp tingled as he did the same to her own hair.

"Better," he grunted afterward, his eyes on her hair.

The backyard of the Castle was decorated with dainty-looking flowers so fresh and delicately-looking, that they lighted up the entire surrounding—making it look so incredibly beautiful like those luxurious castles seen in medieval movies. Ismena loves this place with all her heart .

They walked the backyard, out of it, and into the woods. The fresh air caressed their skin, raising their hairs from their nape. She wanted to hold hands but his hands were crossed together behind his back. So, she folded and unfolded her hands. In the end, she allowed them to drop to her sides.

"It's beautiful today, isn't it?" Wolfaraine asked, breaking the silence that developed between them.

"Yes, it is." She affirmed, her eyes unconsciously taking in the details of every tree within sight.

"These past few weeks have not been easy. The death of Andras and his family..." He shook his head, "All because there is a killer roaming free out there. A killer that hasn't been caught."

For the first time he was talking about it, Ismena thought. It gave her mixed feelings; she was happy that he decided to talk to her about it, but at the same time, she was feeling very sad because of what happened.

"I know all this must be hard for you." She empathized in a sad tone.

"Of course it is. I am their Alpha King, Ismena. My people should not be dying. The killer should be caught, not roaming around free and looking for who else to kill."

"I'm sorry to hear that. How is the search for him going?"

"Dead ends. He is covering his tracks well. This killer is not a Wild One. No, his senses are complete. So, he is covering his tracks really well. There's no scent. No tracks. Nothing."

He spoke in a calm tone, but she could feel the anger reverberating through him. The rage in his blue eyes was like wildfire.

"I know he will be caught." Ismena said strongly, "One day, he's going to slip up and he's gonna get caught. They always slip up. Always. "

Wolfaraine did not think it was possible, but her words gave him a little bit of comfort. "What makes you so sure?"

"That is how it is, Wolfaraine. Killers like this psycho are egoistic maniacs, that's what they do.

There are a lot of them in my world. They think they have become professionals, so they stop putting in too much effort.

And that is when they slip up. They always get careless, especially when they start feeling smug about their 'professionalism'. "

She was right. It does make him feel better. "Thank you, Ismena."

She only grinned at him. "So, stop beating yourself up too much. You will catch him, I know you will."

They walked in silence for a few moments before she asked, "How are things going with Nalaila?"

"I decided to give her some time. Since, she does not want to go out yet, I thought I should give her some more time. Who knows? She might change her mind in a few months." He replied with a hint of sadness.

Ismena does not know how to tell him about her progress with her, without being suspicious. "I think you should try again soon. Try tonight...or tomorrow morning. Anytime. Who knows? She might have changed her mind."

He smiled. It was not a 'happy' smile. "If only things worked like that, Ismena. I just visited her a few days ago. It's going take nothing short of a miracle for her to change her mind so soon."

"But, at least you should try again, Wolfaraine. I know it's hard but—"

"No." He stopped suddenly, cutting her off, "No, you don't know how hard it is. I see her there... Barely alive. With no will to eat, to drink...to live. You have no idea how hard it is, Ismena. "

Then, you resumed walking, "I am not giving up on my sister. I will keep trying. But, she needs time. I..." He paused. He swallowed tightly, "I...need time."

The last part of that statement was whispered so low, that Ismena had a hard time hearing what he was saying. But, she did.

And, she understood.

"Oh..." God, she felt stupid, "I'm so sorry, Wolfie."

His eyes took in the blue sky, and the beautiful tree surrounding them.

"If I'm going to force my own sister, against her own will.

.. then, I need time. I need time to make peace with it.

I need time to get accustomed to it." He took a deep breath, "I need time to get myself to think that it would stop hurting. "

She stopped and grabbed hold of his strong hand—pulling it from behind his back towards her lower belly.

She squeezed firmly, "Do not think like that! Do not hurt yourself like that! You are NOT doing her any wrong. You are just trying to save her life. Anyone who loves his own sister will do the same thing, so stop beating yourself up for it."

He looked at his large hand in her pale, dainty ones.

"Whatever the reasons are, Ismena, it does not change the fact that I am going to do something to her, against her will. Again." He stated without emotion in his voice.

Then, he slowly withdrew his hand from hers and continued walking.

Ismena's heart felt heavy. God, she felt like shaking him so hard, to get him to stop blaming himself so much. To get him to go back to that dungeonroom and try again today .

God, what do I do?

Alfred Cranes has been getting some really bad feelings in his gut. Something is just not right. He has been feeling this way for the past few weeks.

He just finished getting the tools he needed for work, from the auto mechanic store. He was walking back to his workshop, his mind filled with worry and unrest.

He called his daughter, Ismena, over and over again in the past few weeks and she'd reassure him that she was fine. She was safe.

So, what is this feeling about? He wondered.

He took a deep breath. Well, maybe it's just his age acting up. Nothing is wrong. He is just feeling paranoid.

Convinced, he felt better again. His lovely daughter was—

"HEY, LOOK OUT!!!" Came a scream from behind him.

But, it was too late. Alfred did not hear it on time.

The impact of the car hitting him was so hard, that it threw him up...up...up... across the road, before he crashed into the walkway.

He tried to move but he couldn't.

His ears rang, he could not make out any sound.

Suddenly, he was feeling too dizzy. Very dizzy.

As he closed his eyes, he had one last thought...

It was no old age. It was a bad feeling after all.