Page 5

Ismena froze. She was in the process of putting the beautiful, flowery, red ribbon back into its packet when that voice simply paralyzed her to the spot. She wasn't even able to process what he said before her brain closed up on her.

"Oh, of course, of course, Alpha King. Ten of them coming right up!" The seller—Bennie—sounded positively radiant in front of her. Thankfully, her response got her brain and body going.

"No, Bennie. I'm only buying one. And, I'm paying for that one too, not any other person." She stated softly, but firmly as she resumed re-packaging the ribbon she'd opened last. Maybe, if she pretend she didn't see him, he will leave her alone.

"Oh?" Bennie's face fell. The older but beautiful woman stared behind her, "But, my Alpha King said..."

"All ten, Bennie." Wolfaraine reinstated behind her.

"Just one. Please, Bennie." Everything in Ismena wanted to turn and look at him. Oh, God, It was like trying to deny a very persistent need to use the bathroom. That longing she'd been trying to suppress all day came rearing back with a force that was staggering.

When his voice came again, it was lowered and he was speaking right to her ear, "You are putting poor Bennie in a bad position, Ismena.

You want her to disobey not only her King but her Alpha for you.

I have no intentions of punishing her or anything, but Bennie will never see it that way.

She'll think you're intentionally trying to hurt her when she hasn't done anything to deserve it. "

There was slight amusement in his tone and his voice caused another shiver to run down her spine but Ismena hoped she did a better job at hiding it.

What he said was confirmed true when the woman she came to realize is a werewolf changeling looked at her, her eyes getting a little too watery to Ismena's shock.

"Please, don't do this to me, Rahinna." Her lower lips wobbled, "Why are you doing this to me?"

"I'm not doing anything, I swear it, Bennie. I just want to buy one and I'm paying for it myself. He won't punish you, just give me what I want to buy." Ismena began.

Aloud, Wolfaraine said, "All ten of them, Bennie.

" To her ears alone, he added, "Rahinna is used to address the mate of an Alpha and high sentinels.

She knows who you are, they all do. Bennie can't do what I said because then, she'll be disobeying you and at the same time, she can't do what you want because she will be disobeying me.

We have stuck her in a very bad place, honey.

One of us has to be the bigger person and back down, or she will start crying.

" There was clearly amusement in his voice now, "Poor Bennie, I have no plans to be the bigger person here.

So, it seems the poor female will spend the rest of the day alone and in fear because she almost got in trouble for trading at the fair. "

"She's a wolf, she can hear you even if you're whispering. I'm sure she knows her Alpha is clearly playing around." Ismena said with gritted teeth, resisting the urge the look at him. Instead, she focused on the ribbon she was holding.

"She tuned off, so she can't hear. No one in his or her right mind will eavesdrop on me without invitation or permission, Ismena."

Indeed, the woman in front of her doesn't look like she was hearing anything. Ismena watched in horror as a tear slipped from Bennie's eyes as she stood helplessly, clearly wondering what to do.

Damn.

"Alright, alright, all ten of them, Bennie, all ten of them, I agree." Ismena dropped the last one she was holding for her too, so she would have no problem packaging them all for her.

Relief washed over the poor woman's face, and her radiant smile was back again. "Oh, thank you so much, Rahhinna, thank you so much." She proceeded to package and give it to her. Wolfaraine paid her, she bowed to the both of them.

Ismena inclined her head in response before she turned and began walking away. Her insides tingled, her heart raced in her chest and her body felt warm. She ignored everything and continued walking, not looking behind her to know if he followed her.

That particular question was answered by the several glances thrown at something behind her from different people as she passed, the bow that followed, and the way people in front of her cleared out of her path.

Just ignore him, Ismena. Ignore him, get to Eline and Sandra, and go home. You will be fine.

Problem was, she'd walked through the clothes session but she hasn't seen Eline. She extended her search to the next session that followed the clothes, but it was the same.

"Eline!?" She called out, "Sandra!? Where are you?"

She called them over and over and over again as she searched around, but there was no response. She was getting worried, so she stopped abruptly and whirled around .

The sudden movement made him bump into her. The familiar scent of him that was purely male caressed her senses, causing a flutter at the pit of her stomach. "Where are they? Can you smell them, right?"

He looked satisfied to finally have her attention. His face has a relaxed expression to it, but his blue eyes were smiling, "There are too many people here to scent just two people, Ismena."

Oh, she never thought of that. She turned around to continue her search.

"Eline, in her working, right mind would never allow you to find her. At least, for now."

That stopped her in her tracks. She turned again, "What!? Why?"

"I have no idea, but if I may guess... I think it's probably because I gave her a command before I joined you at Bennie's shop, not to show up until I was no longer with you." He suggested, feigning innocence.

"What!!? " She snapped.

The man was joking with her? Playing with her? Now? She thought he doesn't know what the words meant, talk more of knowing any method of joking around.

He scratched his silver-gold locks, "Well, like I said, I have no idea. I'm just guessing, that's all—"

She glared at him. Her eyes narrowed before she whirled around and stormed away.

She was so mad at him, Wolfaraine thought.

Apart from her emotions which the wolf picks up and the scent of anger, there's her demeanor which was screaming that the woman is pissed at him.

It's actually the first time he has seen her really pissed. From the looks of it, her small stature sure packs quite a punch of anger. She looks so cute. Wolfaraine hid his smile.

He'd been on his way to the cougar clan when he'd picked up her scent from the market. He'd followed the scent and found her trying out hair bands. They were all so beautiful on her.

She quickened her steps as she walked out of the jewelry session. He barely paid attention to his people who greeted him as he followed closely behind her. It didn't take long for him to realize that they were leaving the market altogether.

It was a long walk. The evening air was relaxing on his skin, so he was enjoying it. He'd been so restless, so agitated since morning after leaving her home. It's so soothing to see her again doing so well after worrying about her all day.

Finally, she stopped at the Avery Lake. A beautiful, secluded lake which is one of the lakes in the Heart of Naturiah. Where the lake always attracts very few people, today, there was no one around, probably because of the tradeshow.

She turned then and gave him her full attention. During the cause of the long walk, the anger had slowly sipped out of her. Now that she faced him, Wolfaraine decided that he would have preferred to face her anger than this.

She looked resigned. Tired .

"What do you want from me, Wolfaraine? I don't understand you, you were the one that asked me to leave you alone. You were the one that sent me away. You were the one—"

"Ismena, please listen—"

"No," she shook her head slowly, her eyes so sad that it hurt to see, "No, I won't listen. I don't want to listen. You were the one that said to deal with the grief and everything separately, weren't you?"

She waved her hands around, "So, what is this? Why are you tormenting me like this?"

All amusement has disappeared from him at that point. "It was never my intention to torment you, honey. I just want to say that—"

"Don't call me that! Do you hear me!?" She screamed angrily, coming up to his face and flicking her forefinger at his chest, "Don't ever call me that again!

Not 'honey' or 'baby' or 'Ena' or 'sweetheart' because they hurt , Wolfaraine!

It's like you are stabbing me in the belly because they remind me of us in the bedroom or out for a walk or just hanging out together.

I don't want to hear those words because those memories hurt to remember! I don't want to remember!"

Each word was like a dagger to his heart. A dagger laced in rhodium. He tried to reach for her, "Ismena—"

"Don't touch me!" She stepped away from him so fast she almost fell at the speed she used to avoid his touch. Tears filled her eyes as she glared at him, "Don't touch me, do you hear me!? Stay away from me, Wolfaraine! Please! That was what you wanted after all, wasn't it!?"

Her movement was jerky as she wiped the tears from her eyes but they kept coming.

When she spoke again, she was no longer shouting but her voice was still raised, "You left me when I needed you the most. You let me go when I wanted you to hold on to me the most. I don't know what you want to say but I don't think I can take more words like that again, so it's better you don't say them.

It's better you don't say anything to me ever again. "

She fell silent after that, the fight draining out of her, leaving the resigned and tired look again.

Wolfaraine has never felt so helpless. It felt as if someone was pressing hard on his windpipe and refusing to let go. It hurts. He also knows he deserves it. He deserves everything she was throwing at him.

"I'm sorry, Ismena." He said, hoarsely. His eyes reflected his pain and remorse, "I'm really sorry for everything. That was all I wanted to say. I wanted to make sure you were alright, after last night. I wanted... I wanted to make amends."

She swiped the tears from her eyes again. Then, she looked him in the eyes and whispered, "It's too late, Wolfaraine. Too late."

Gripping her chest like she was trying to stop whatever pain was throbbing there, she continued, "You hurt me. You hurt me so badly that the grief of losing my father and the pain of finding out his secrets...was only secondary to the agony that came from our break-up. I almost died from it."

Wolfaraine lowered his head, his shoulders slumped.

"Leave me alone. Please." Ismena turned away, giving him her back, "Goodbye, Alpha King."

She walked away without a backward glance. When she was sure she'd gone far away from him, she allowed the tears to run freely as she walked home.

"You did the right thing, Ismena. You did great." She whispered to herself over and over again, hoping that if she says it for long enough, maybe her heart will take a hint and feel less like it's been ripped apart on her chest.