Page 15

When she got to the front door, she carefully handpicked the keys she'd seen Alphose use and got to work. A few minutes later, she was inside the barren dungeon-room staring at the white wolf who was asleep.

But, as if the wolf realized it was no longer alone, it stirred awake.

Ismena froze. There was still a healthy distance between her and the wolf, but it didn't stop her heart from going into overdrive as she watched the wolf raise its big, furry body from the ground and shook it several times as if it wanted to completely wake itself from slumber.

Then its yellow eyes stared straight at her.

Stop being so scared, they can smell fear, Ismena! She loved you the last time, there is no cause for you to be so terrified now.

Ismena almost snorted at the voice trying to encourage her.

Yeah, right. She's standing in front of a woman who has been in her animal form for more than eighteen years, who is extremely angry at her kind for damaging her, ruining her life, and making her walk the fine lines of insanity.

There's no need to be so scared, my white ass.

Not to mention that the wolf was looking at her with anger?

She cleared her throat, "Uhmm... Hi? We meet a-again. "

The wolf growled lowly and bared its teeth at her. Instinctively, Ismena took a step back. "I know you're mad at me, I'm very sorry for whatever reason that may be."

When the wolf only looked at her. She forced herself to continue, "I'm really sorry for invading your space like this, I know I don't have the right to do that.

But, y-y-your brother just left to deal with the matters of the council and t-to catch a really bad man.

..so, I know this is my only opportunity to do this, and t-t-that's why I'm here. "

Ismena for chrissake, stop rushing your words and stumbling on them! Get hold of your nerves!

With the mental scolding she'd given herself, she took a deep breath and continued, "I'm very sorry for d-deserting you like that, it wasn't my intention, but something happened a-and I had to leave the tower.

It was a heartbreaking event and... I-I lost m-my dad.

" her voice cracked, "It hasn't been easy at all. "

Taking another deep breath to calm herself, her eyes found the eyes of the wolf beautiful amber, just like her brother's.

"I want to take you outside," she blurted out, "Would you like to go with me?"

The wolf just studied her like she was a specimen. It was no longer growling or baring its teeth, so Ismena took it as a plus.

Gathering all the courage she never thought she had, she took a step closer. And then another. And another. Until she was walking towards the heavy barricades that separated the wolf from the rest of the world.

"Your brother will be so mad at me if he realized that I was doing this.

He doesn't know I'm here. I just couldn't stay away any longer.

..knowing the only option he'll choose. Please, go out with me, Nalaila.

" Ismena looked behind the wolf to the closed window, "Let me show you how beautiful this world.

..your world...has become since the last time you saw it.

Let's roam the forest and see how gorgeous the lake is at night. Will you go with me...?"

Bravely Ismena put out her hand, slipped it through the metal bars, and stretched it as an offering towards the Wolf. "Will you go with me...?"

The wolf's eyes finally left her face and descended to the small arms that were in front of its face. It looked at it for very long seconds that slowly—very slowly—bled into minutes.

That's it, Ismena. This is how you are gonna lose a left hand and you will have no one but yourself to blame for that—

The wolf took a step forward, covering the distance that separated it from her hand, it slowly lowered its big head to her hand and rubbed against it.

Tears sprang to Ismena's eyes at the very sight of it. The heaviness in her heart all evening bled out and a lightness came over her.

"Oh, my God..." she whispered, reverently.

This wolf right here, trusts her. This broken but strong woman here is placing her trust in her.

"Thank you so much, Nalaila. I will take very good care of you, I promise." Using her free hand, she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Thank you."

For a full minute, Ismena did nothing but caress the wolf's head and neck with her hand, while the wolf allowed her to. Her heart was filled with joy that cannot be explained.

Finally, she withdrew her hand, "I have to unlock these bars now, so you can come out..." she proceeded to do that even as she kept talking to the wolf .

But as she unlocked the last key, her bravery disappeared like a mist.

The fear came back to her throat as the last of the barrier between her and the wolf was removed. She stepped back to make room for the wolf to come out.

For the first time in two years, the wolf came out of her cage. It kept walking forward until it stood nose to nose with Ismena.

She held her breath, looking the wolf in the eyes, hoping to convey her sincerity while noting that it wouldn't take much for the wolf to kill her now if it wanted to.

But then, the wolf pressed its nose to her shoulder and nudged her.

She's urging you out of the room, you idiot! Her brain shouted, drawing her out of her fear-induced shock.

"Oh!" Ismena gasped, moving her body to the direction the wolf nudged her to which was the door of the dungeon-room.

Ismena didn't bother closing up, instead, she walked out of the room with the wolf gliding beside her.