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"Burnt to the ground. You are safe now, Ena. I promise that you will never be in danger again as long as I live. I will always protect you." He vowed, his eyes intense.

Love for this man washed over Ismena. In his arms, she felt safe and secure. Like nothing could ever touch her.

Just then, the memory of losing their child flashed in her head. She wasn't bleeding anymore, she observed with a sinking feeling in her gut. Tears burned the back of her eyes.

"I lost our baby. I'm so sorry. It breaks my heart, Wolfe." Her voice cracked.

But Wolfaraine shook his head, slowing down his steps a bit. He smiled warmly, "Our child still nestles in you, strong and healthy."

"No, baby, I think—"

"Trust me, Ena," their eyes met and held. He whispered again with a small smile on his face, "Our baby is safe and sound."

A shudder of relief traveled through Ismena's body, the fear in her wide eyes disappeared, and she pressed herself closer to his chest, "Really? Is this not a dream? B-But, I bled so much, how is that possi— Oh, thank God, thank you so much, God. I'm so happy, so thankful, thank God so much."

As she mumbled her thanks, her joy, Wolfaraine only smiled wider before he picked up the pace to meet up with the other Alphas. He couldn't wait to get them back to his home.

When they got to the Heart Of Naturiah, the other Alphas refused to take the route to their own homes. Instead, they all accompanied him back to the Tower. As they stepped foot into the big living room, they were greeted by a good number of people.

A small crowd, the Alpha King thought, was baffled.

All the leading Alphas of Naturiah were there, the sentinels, the Betas, the Omegas, the houseworkers.

He could see Eline, Mirian, and Kassandra too, even the Alphas that fought with him in the human world earlier in the day.

They were all gathered there. They rose and greeted him respectfully when he walked through the door with his mate in his arm.

Then they were crowding him. The joy and relief on their faces, filled his heart with love for his people. The females had tears in their eyes as they came really close to him. Some were hugging him, while the others were kneeling at his feet—a gesture of welcome and respect.

They were all careful not to press tightly against him because of the woman in his arms. Ismena wiggled a bit, a sign that she wanted to be on her own feet, but Wolfaraine glanced at her and shook his head slightly.

"Please, I'll be careful, and I'll be right here by your side." she pleaded, a hint of her smile on her face. She knows how badly his people wanted to greet him, to touch him, to reassure themselves of his safe return.

Reluctantly, he agreed. He placed her gently on her feet, steadying her when she wobbled slightly. She stayed beside him, smiling as the people hugged their King, telling him how badly they'd prayed for his safety, how worried they were.

If anyone ever doubted Wolfaraine's love for his people, it would have disappeared at the stark love and affection on the big King's usually blank face. The gentleness with which he hugged the women back and wiped their tears with his fingers before kissing their foreheads.

The males didn't hug or touch him because they knew their King doesn't like his personal space invaded, so they were uncertain.

But the Alpha King took the decision from them, covering the distance and taking their hands into his one after the other.

For those that looked like they were about to give in to tears, he clamped their shoulders and gave them words of encouragement.

Ismena thought she would only be a bystander but was surprised when they crowded her too, hugging her and saying all kinds of affectionate words to her.

Their acceptance and love made her fulfilled, and her heart filled with so much love for these people who accepted her wholeheartedly as if she was born a changeling, not human. She felt like a part of the family.

"Thank you for loving our King," one of the females even whispered to her ear as she hugged her.

"I'm the lucky one," she whispered back, sniffling as she returned the hug.

Finally, they all moved back to give the Alpha King and his mate some space. The noise died down, reduced to murmurs."

"Someone is here to see you, Alpha King," Adanel's voice boomed from the back.

Wolfaraine couldn't see the male through the crowd, so he waited patiently.

The small crowd parted slowly, and gasps filled the air as they did so. Shocked gasps, surprised stares, the murmurs increased. What's going on?

The crowd in the front parted, and the Alpha King got a good view of the reason for the people's reaction. Adanel walked up to him with Nalaila's werewolf trailing behind him.

The wolf ran towards Ismena, stopping at her feet, growls of anguish pouring from its mouth.

"Nalaila!" Ismena bent down and wrapped her arms around the big wolf's neck. "I know you worried. I'm sorry, so sorry," she said aloud, hugging the wolf so tight.

Wolfaraine was trying to wrap his head around the sight when the wolf suddenly pulled away from Ismena and looked at him. The werewolf took two steps back, and he braced himself for an attack .

Then the wolf leaped into his arms.

For a few seconds, Wolfaraine was shocked, still with his arms around the wolf. His sister was always running away from him, always attacking him whenever he leaves Naturiah for too long. Never has the wolf ever hugged him.

And his sister wasn't only hugging him, he noted. The wolf's body was shaking, whimpers pouring from its throat and eyes.

Wolfariane’s breath caught in his throat. There were tears in those amber eyes.

His wolf sister was really terrified of losing him. Nalaila was scared for him, worried for him, concerned for him. His sister, even in wolf-form, still cares for him.

"Aila," his voice was thick, his throat clogged. "Aila, my lovely sister, I'm alright. I apologize for worrying you so much."

The wolf pulled its head back, its amber eyes searching his face, tears raining down from it. Unable to talk, the wolf pressed its head back to his shoulder.

Heavens, he was going to tear up in front of his people, Wolfaraine deduced, overwhelmed with emotions. But he blinked hard, keeping the waterworks away.

If only their animal forms could talk, could converse, he would give anything to hear what his sister wanted to say to him.

After what happened in those Labs eighteen years ago, he stopped giving any form of touch to his sister, carefully staying a few steps away from her all the time because he would rather die than do anything that would remind her of that horrible past.

But at that moment, Wolfaraine Daminor Throne let go of every conviction and hugged his sister like his life depended on it. He placed tender kisses all over the wolf's neck, ear, back—everywhere his mouth could reach as he whispered comforting words to her.

"I'm back, my dear. I love you so much, Aila. I will always love you, my dear little sister. Always." He groaned into the wolf's ears.

The wolf's body shuddered, and the wolf let out an anguished moan. It wiggled slightly to be let down.

He let her down to the ground, but the wolf didn't stand. Instead, it crouched down, its eyes swimming with tears.

The wolf outstretched a paw. He bent down and reached for it, giving the paw a gentle, comforting squeeze.

Then the wolf's eyes held his, and right there in front of everyone, for the first time in eighteen years, the wolf shifted to her mortal-form.