Page 7

The sleep fled from Eline's eyes. Surely, she didn't hear Ismena right. She rose from the bed, put on her robes and took Ismena's hand.

She led her out of the bedroom and out of the house. The night's air was soothing and caressing on their body as they made their way outside, Eline led her to the two chairs under the mango tree and urged her to take one of the chairs while she took the other one.

Eline began, "I was sleeping really well so I was in a dream-state when you came into my bedroom. I'm sure I didn't hear what I thought I heard—"

"I'm leaving Naturiah, Eline." Ismena cut in, softly.

"But, you can't, Mena! You can't just leave...!"

Ismena sighed, "The ring has been found, Eline, you know that. When I came here, it was because of that ring but now, it's back to its owner's hands. I'm no longer in any sort of danger for that."

"But, those lab rats are still after The Successful and that's you."

"They think I had his child." Longing dripped from her voice.

Before Ismena came to Naturiah, she can safely say that she was not ready to have a child and she might never be.

But in Naturiah, she began spending time with most children and slowly, she found herself wondering.

..wishing. After months in this place, those feelings have turned to longing.

She would have loved it if she never lost his child. If it was possible, she would love to have his child.

Wishful thinking, all of it, because Wolfaraine made it clear that he doesn't want to have a child. And, she has no womb.

And, their relationship—or whatever they had—was over.

"They think I had his child," she repeated, "I didn't. When they find out, they will leave me alone."

"When they find out!? You wanna gamble with your life like that!? So, what if they kidnap you, find out you didn't have his child and decide to breed you again?"

Ismena laughed humorlessly, "They are welcomed to be my guest. They are doctors. When they test me and find out that I have no uterus, they will let me go."

"You can't really mean all this. Are you willing to risk it!? What's wrong with you, Ismena!?" Eline asked, horrified.

The truth is, I just don’t care anymore. I'm tired.

Ismena swallowed those words down, knowing how it will hurt Eline.

Taking a deep breath, she said, "I was just playing with you, Eline—"

"Oh, thank God, I thought as much. So, you're not going back to the human world—"

"I'm going. No, I'm truly going, but that's not what I meant.

I won't be captured, kidnapped, breeded or anything like that.

That's what I'm saying. Wolfaraine already put a strong, security protection on my family and he promised me that he will double it when I go back to the human world.

I know him, and I know he will keep his word.

" she smiled sadly, "I will be fine, Eline. "

"But, what about here? What about the Alpha King? Stay, please Ismena."

"I wish I can, Eline. I love this place, I love everything about it. But, I miss my family. There is..." Her throat closed up and she swallowed tightly, "There is nothing left for me here."

Eline shook her head, "But, that's not true, Mena. There is everything for you here. You told me that the Alpha King apologized to you, two days ago, at the lake. Please, forgive him and get back together with him."

"He only feels bad because of the Crave Shock, because it almost took my life.

..not because he broke things off between us.

The truth is, even if he was sorry for breaking things off, it wouldn't change anything.

" She exhaled, shakily, "We only had a sexual relationship between us.

Wolfaraine has no intentions of mating me.

He fights what we have so much, he has no intentions of letting me into his heart.

He does not love me. Our relationship can never be more. "

"But, Ismena..."

"I can't go back to him and continue where we left off. I want more. I want everything. I love him so much, Eline. I want everything he can't give me. So, it's all for the best." Her eyes watered, but she blinked it away, "It hurts...badly....but it's all for the best."

"His heart is already involved, Ismena." Eline stated, adamantly, "You don't see it and he doesn't see it either.

That night you went into Crave Shock, he cried, Ismena.

Wolfaraine Daminor Throne couldn't control his tears.

..for you. I heard him appeal to the deities of the humans to keep you alive, in desperation.

Repeatedly. He stayed with you all night.

He made a Summon Howl, Ismena. Do you even know how big of a deal that is!

? The male didn't do that Howl when he lost his parents but the thought of loosing you had him instinctively making a Summon Howl. That, Ismena, is love."

She took Ismena's hand in hers and shook it, speaking vehemently.

"I know what I saw that night you were dying.

That male I saw there in that bedroom...

was a male so hopelessly in love. He doesn't know it because, apart from family, he has never truly loved anyone.

The love he has for us, his people, is different. He is in love with you."

"He isn't. Wolfaraine does not love me, Eline.

I wish with all my heart that it was true but it isn't. You're just seeing what is not there.

" She withdrew her hands and averted her eyes, "Doesn't matter, anymore.

I'm leaving. I will go back to Oklahoma, pick up the pieces of my life and leave it for how long as my sexual intimacy with him has bought me.

And, I'll do my best to live it well while I'm at it. "

Silence descended upon them. Sadness filled Eline's eyes, "You really have made up your mind, haven't you? Nothing I say is going to make you stay, right?"

Finally, Ismena nodded. "I've made up my mind, Eline. I will tell Sandra when she wakes up, but she still has a chance with your Alpha, so I'll convince her to stay here."

"How do you plan to cross the border?"

"That's why I came to you, Eline. I would like you to do me a favor and tell the sentinels on boarder duties tonight to take me with them. Once I cross the boarder and go down the mountains, I can take it from there."

"Tonight!? You're leaving tonight!? But, Ismena—"

"You don't have to worry about Wolfaraine hurting you for helping me. He told me that I can go home, so he knows that possibility exists. Also, I will leave a note for you to give to him, just in case he summons you for it. "

Eline shook her head, "I wasn't worried about him, If you leave a note, I'm sure I can get away with it. I'm just worried about your safety."

"I will be fine, Eline. Just help me cross the boarder, please. I know it's greatly selfish of me to make this request of you, especially since you just got promoted to Elite Sentinel but I really can't help it." Ismena took Eline's hands into hers and squeezed gently, "Please, Eline."

"Alright, I will help you. I'll join those on evening duties and take you to the boarder myself." Eline promised, at last.

For the first time that night, Ismena smiled genuinely but it was still a sad smile at the same time. "Thank you, Eline. I will never forget your kindness to me."

Tears filled Eline's eyes, she pulled closer and hugged Ismena tightly. "I will never forget you, Ismena. I love you so much. I will miss you a lot."

"I love you too. I'll miss you too. Try to visit me from time to time."

Eline nodded vigorously, "I will, I will."