Page 18

W olfariane felt the exact moment the lightweight on his back stirred from her sleep. So, he switched back to half-shifter because he knows she is not ready to face his full-shifted form as the werewolf or the mountain lion.

Her bed is moving. Why is her bed moving? Ismena's brows furrowed as she stirred on her...bed?

Her eyes opened, landing on trees...so many trees. She is in a forest. What is she doing in a forest on someone's back?

Then, the memories rushed through her head; pawning a ring... Wolfariane on her doorstep... His lips devouring hers... His announcement that he'll hold her captive until his ring is found... Being attacked.. .

Being attacked!?

She raised her head from his back and surveyed her surrounding. The dawn chorus of melodic birdsong filled the air. It's early morning, she decided, seeing the way the night's darkness hasn't cleared completely.

It's obvious they aren't at their destination yet, but at least they must be close because he is no longer running. "Where are we...?" Her voice was drowsy.

"In Naturiah." He stopped, and waited for her to straighten down from his back. After she regained her footing, he allowed the wolf to recede completely, shifting back to his male form entirely.

He began walking forward again, "We are about to enter the very heart of Naturiah."

Ismena's eyes found the driver—no, he isn't a driver, according to Wolfariane. He is a leopard Alpha. "Good morning to you." She said to him.

Degar inclined his head to the woman beside him, without breaking his stride.

They walked in silence, and all the while, Ismena's head was still recalling the attack on the night before.

..and Wolfariane's defense. Catching lots of bullets flying from all directions on his hands and throwing them right back, while maintaining a fast run and with a woman hanging on his back? Heavenly heavens. She shivered.

Very dangerous man. Scary. Fearless. Powerful. What is this man?

She can't even begin to guess. Just thinking so much on it is threatening to give her heart failure. So, she surpressed the thoughts from her mind. Instead, her eyes surveyed him carefully...

"You're wounded!" She gasped when she saw the blood that smeared his left shoulder .

Wolfariane spared the wound a glance, and shrugged, "It's nothing."

She wanted to say something else, but the thick frown on his face wasn't encouraging it, so she snapped her mouth shut. Even the palm of his hands where he'd caught the bullets were bloodied too.

Guilt assailed her, it is all her fault.

"I'm very s-sorry for pawning your ring. I had no idea..." Her throat felt heavy and tears blurred her eyes.

The last twenty-four hours have been tiring, she'd put people's lives in danger. Him, Degar, her old neighbor...

What about poor Mr. Amil? Did he survive the attack? What about her house that has been destroyed? Her poor landlord...? Her clothes, shoes, meds...? Everything she has ever worked for is in that house.

She sniffled miserably. Suddenly, the weight of everything that happened was pressing down, hard on her shoulder. She's trying to keep the tears at bay, "What do I d-do now?."

His wolf stretched in agitation at the feeling of her anguish, Wolfariane turned towards her. "Keep it together. You have done great so far, don't fall apart now." He meant to console her, but his tone came out hard.

Ismena nodded her head vigorously, "Okay, okay. You're right." She sniffled again. Keep it together, Ismena. You have to keep it together, she told herself.

Degar's other half also felt her anguish, but he knows it's because she is an unclaimed potential mate. Either that or because she carries the scent of their Alpha King no matter how faint it is.

As they continued walking, Degar patted her back in consolation too.

Ismena nodded in gratitude .

The instant they stepped out of the unending forest, Ismena gasped in awe and shock. Her eyes widened, "Woah,"

People were moving around to their various destinations.

Some women were seen carrying baskets held to their left side, laughing and talking as they walked.

Children were playing around, having fun, screaming and laughing.

Men with guns and swords that looked like guardians, warriors, sentinels, and lieutenants at the same time we're walking at the other side of the path.

There were no cars on the paths. Beautiful trees scattered everywhere, children climbing and jumping from them. Most of them were dressed...weirdly?

No, not weirdly. Just so last centuries.

Houses were built with timber flakes, wooden flames, walls of plaited branches covered in clay. More like a dwelling, instead of a house. There were a few manor houses scattered around too.

The view was just so beautiful. So ancient. So nature.

"It's like stepping into a scene in an olden days movies." She whispered in awe. "So beautiful..."

Degar smiled, "We try to keep up with time, but I guess we love the old ways because it's more...less technology to suit our animal nature. Most of our people refused to go into the non-changeling world because they hate it there."

Ismena can clearly understand what he meant. Staring at these people, she can practically see the love and obvious happiness in their faces. So stark and blatant, it was enviable .

"Alpha King...!" A child screamed in excitement.

That was when the other kids noticed their Alphas and a woman at the edge of the wild forest. The kids screamed, and started on a dead run towards them. Two little cats jumped down from the tree and joined the run.

Ismena watched with awe as these children and cats reached closer and threw themselves at Wolfariane and Degar. They caught as much as they could, while the others climbed their bodies, grabbing hold of their clothes as they did.

"No scratching, no shredding." Wolfariane instructed in the gentlest tone, she never knew he was capable of, love and care for this children practically overshadowing the constant coldness of his deep blue eyes.

She stood in shock watching the total transformation. A hand grabbed the edges of her skirt and tugged hard.

She looked down to see a small boy of about three-year-old smiling widely at her. The boy spread his little arms wide and piped, "Up, up, up, up,"

Instinctively, she knew the boy was asking to be picked up. Ismena can safely say that she avoids children because they cry a lot and she doesn't understand them. She's almost a stranger to them because she hasn't been around much of them in years.

But, as this blond little boy kept his arms spread, looking at her with big brown-eyes wide with trust and asking to be picked up, she couldn't resist bending to the waist and lifting the boy up. His little arms went around her neck, and he held on.

That gesture seems to be all the others, who were watching her warily before, were waiting for. They threw themselves at her .

She almost fell if not for the strong arm that shot out around her waist and steadied her.

"Easy." Wolfariane's voice filled her ear, the deep baritone causing a shiver to work its way down her spine. For a moment, their eyes met and the whole world fell away.

"Alright, that is it, children. Go away and let the Alpha King go. He just came back from a long journey, and he needs to attend to urgent matters." The new feminine voice came through, crashing Ismena back to reality.

The both of them looked at the female who was also approaching with a male. They were dressed in black leather cardigans and pants. They were armed with guns strapped to almost every part of their body, but they were smiling as they got close and inclined their head in respect towards Wolfariane.

Then, they turned towards her, their eyes barely hiding their curiosity. The woman stretched out her arms, "I am Sentinel Eline and you are?"

"Ismena Cranes." Shaking the hand she presented.

"Nice meeting you." She inhaled deeply. Surprise flashed in her eyes, "Human. She's human?" That was directed to the Alpha King and Degar.

Degar nodded, "Yes. Long story, but she will be staying with us for a while."

"Oh, okay. You're welcome to our home," Her smile was welcoming, which in turn made Ismena to relax. She'd come to expect frosty and rude welcoming from these people, seeing the way their Alpha King feels about humans.

"Thank you so much." She replied, before she swiveled her head towards the dark-haired man Eline came with. Her eyes widened, "You look so f-familiar... Have we met— "

"Nice meeting you again, Ismena Cranes," His lips curved into a smile, "My name is Alphose. The alpha leader of the cougar clan, all armies and the Alpha King's second-in-command. I believe we bumped into each other two weeks ago in Oklahoma."

"Woah! It's indeed a small world!" She gasped, shaking hands with him.

"Indeed it is." Alphose hid his surprise well. The Alpha King went out to retrieve his stolen ring, but instead of the ring, he came back with this woman? What is happening?

"You said something about an urgent matter." Wolfariane spoke for the first time. He was standing so close to her that Ismena can practically feel him behind her.

The smile faded from their faces, they were suddenly all business. "It's Nalaila."

He stiffened. Ismena felt him go rock-hard behind him, a chill went down her spine at the change that was so sudden.

"What happened to her?" His tone was flat, his face devoid of emotions.

"She's..." Alphose cleared his throat worriedly, "She's...out of control."

He was already moving, his strides hurried unless his usual steady strides. "For how long?"

Others hurried to catch up with him, including Ismena. Again, Alphose answered him, "It's been four hours. I called your cellphone but I was unable to reach you."

"We were under attack." He looked at the female sentinel, "Eline, take Ismena to your home, she will be staying with you for now, if you do not mind. It was a tiring night, she needs to get a good sleep. "

"I don't mind, Alpha King. Don't worry about it." She reassured him, knowing that he has other pressing things to worry about.

At the Alpha King's answering nod, she inclined her head before she turned and led Ismena towards another route.

As they separated from Wolfariane, Ismena couldn't help wondering what was wrong? She couldn't help worrying about him.

He had the most stressful night, she could practically see the tiredness in his eyes as they'd walked through the forest Degar had called the wild forest. If anyone needed to rest it was him.

Even the most powerful man needs a break every now and then. Hell, even God rested on the last day.

And, he was wounded too on his shoulder, and his palms.

Eline was saying something to her but she wasn't listening, turning her head occasionally behind her to glance as his broad back as they walked.

Nalaila... Who is Nalaila?

Who is this woman that has a man like him in a knot?