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Ismena found herself holding her breath as the wolf glided through the long hallways towards Wolfariane's bedroom.

Now, I understand why these hallways are not so narrow like a regular hallway. Of course it was made to accommodate their animal forms, Ismena thought fascinatingly as she watched the way the wolf glided fluidly and gracefully.

A growl from the huge animal made her jerk her hand away from his furs like it'd burned her. She realized that she's rubbing its fur like a favorite pet. Again.

She hasn't placed if the grumpy animal likes it or not, so it's better to keep her hands to herself.

As they entered the bedroom, all the fear, and nervousness that never really abated tripled inside her. You know what they say about 'behind closed doors'...

The King-Wolf came to a stop at the center of the big space of the bedroom and shook his body a bit.

Ismena took it as her cue to get down from its back, so she did. It wasn't easy, considering the size of the wolf but unlike when she climbed on, the wolf wasn't looking like it'll seat on its haunches for her to come down.

After she struggled down from its back, the wolf turned towards her. Just like that time after he'd killed their attackers, it watched her carefully with those deep amber-eyes.

A shiver worked its way down her spine. The wolf scares her much more than the man. She licked her lips, "Uhm... Can you s-s-shift back i-into your male form? I'll really appreciate it if you—"

The wolf growl again, this time baring its teeth.

"Noooo, don't shift forms, don't shift forms. Nope, don't w-w-worry about it at aaall." She was quick to insert, swallowing tightly.

The wolf shifted forms. Within seconds, a huge male stood in the space the wolf occupied, his face outlined with deep frowns.

Ismena's eyes widened, not only about the unnatural occurrence of an animal suddenly becoming a male but also at the blood that covered the male's body. And—

"You're hurt!" She gasped, suddenly taking two steps forward towards him to touch his wounded arm where three deep claw-marks were imprinted, bleeding profusely. "Should I tell them to call the doc—"

"You stink like the Dog. I do not like his scent on you." The snarl tore from Wolfariane's throat, his voice deeper than usual because of how close the wolf is to the surface. The scent of the dog was very faint on her, but it still drives him crazy.

Only his scent. She should only have his scent on her. His and no one else !

"Wait a min—"

He slammed his lips on hers. Suddenly, he was kissing her senseless. A gasp tore from her throat at the unexpected gesture and his tongue took the opportunity, plunging into her mouth and stealing her breath away.

The whiplash of arousal was so fast, it swept Ismena off her feet making her so weak in the knees. His hands steadied her, wrapping around her waist, he held her to him as he sucked on her lips over and over and over again.

Ismena has no idea when her eyes slipped close or when she began kissing him back like her whole world depended on tasting every bit of the essence from this male's mouth.

Her insides were on fire! Oh, God, she wanted more...! Needed more...! She has to have more...!

He tore his mouth away from hers all of a sudden, his breathing as uneven as hers. Like her, he was on fire. His hunger for her was burning inside him like the fires of hell, threatening to set him ablaze and bury him under.

But at the same time, he felt a bit calm and in control as more of his scent clung to her skin, her mouth wet and swollen from his kisses. He has never seen a sexier sight in his life.

"You are barely clothed." His tone, an accusation. It came out harsher than he meant it to be as his eyes took in her state of dressing. Or undress, as the case may be.

Desire and fear beat at Ismena, but they didn't stop her from lifting her chin proudly, "You don't wear church gowns to the club. I was going to have fun. You ruined it. "

"You were going to have fun? By sleeping around with any male? Are you that much of a slut?" He glared at her.

She glared right back, "Of course, I am." she responded flippantly, "Unlike the rest of the world, I don't have forever. I'm dying, sherlock! So yes, I'm that much of a slut. What is it to you?"

His eyes narrowed in anger.

Ismena wouldn't be swayed. "I was going to have fun and be happy. I have a long list to cancel, you know. And if I'm lucky enough and find another compatible mate that will fuck—"

"Don't you dare say it."

She snapped her mouth shut at the cool deadliness of his tone, but glared harder at him in her silence. At the same time, she fought the arousal he ignited in her.

By Above, the woman is very brave, Wolfaraine admitted for the first time. He watched the fear that hasn't abated from her face, but at the same time captivated at how firmly she stood her ground before him, angrily glaring up her pretty nose at him.

How can someone so small be so brave? She...fascinates him.

"There's a bathroom by your left. You can make use of it to clean up. There's blood all over you. I will use the one down the hallway."

Is it the blood or because of the scent of Donas?

Not that she would ask him that. The man was back to his cool, calm demeanor that was very deceiving. She can smell the volcano raging inside him, which is why she decided against aggravating him further.

Instead, she turned to her left, walked towards the door and stopped .

Slowly, she faced him. "You rejected me, Wolfariane. Remember?" This time around there was no anger or haughtiness but underlying pain in her eyes, "You don't want me as a mate or as a person, remember? Then, why are you trying to ruin my life? Why are you getting in my way of doing what I want?"

He said nothing. His face was blank.

But a muscle twitched in his jaw.

Ismena shook her head sadly. "I'll take my bath. Then, I'll go home." With that, she turned and walked through the door.

No way is she forcing herself on him or on any man for that matter, not even a man she wanted as badly as she wanted this male before her.

Ismena was still fuming in the bathroom but at the same time, she couldn't help enjoying her bath. The bathroom was definitely not the most ultramodern one, but it was most sophisticated, well-equipped, and well-decorated in a way that oozed masculinity.

She can stay here for hours and never get tired of it.

Everywhere smelled like him. Everything she touches smelled like him. It did nothing to help the desire beating down through her system, did nothing to help how hard her nipples budded for him and how wet she was for him.

"No way, Body. He doesn't want us, remember? I think we should stop wanting him and hold onto the little bit of pride we have left. Let's not forget that he almost killed us in the afternoon in his lion form." She muttered at herself as she soaped her body .

Nope, her body wasn't listening to her. Instead, the scent of the man surrounded her like a second skin, playing with her sense, playing with her heart at the same time.

Outside the bathroom, it was all Wolfariane could do not to barge into that bathroom, pin her against the wall, and fuck her senseless. The hunger was too fucking much.

His blood boiled with it. His body tautened him with it. His dick throbbed with it.

Does the woman sincerely think he does not want her?

He wants her to the point of madness, and that is the problem.

On another male, the pains from the bruises on his body, from fighting Wild Ones would have been unbearable and visible on their faces. But the Alpha King barely shrugged it off, completely ignoring how badly he was bleeding.

Instead, he walked out of the bedroom to go check up on Nalaila and also clear his head at the same time.

A few minutes later, he stood in front of her dungeon-room. His arms crossed, pain on his unguarded features as he watched the rise and fall of the body of the wolf.

When will she wake again?

Tomorrow or next week?

Or...never...?

No. He will not think like that. Ever.

Nalaila will stay alive. She has to.

This Wolf behind those bars is his weakness. His greatest pain. His greatest guilt .

Unbiddenly, he remembered the underlying pain in Ismena's eyes when she 'reminded' him that he doesn't want her.

He wasn't supposed to care about that, but he did. He'd hurt her. He'd been too harsh on her during the evening.

Can he tell her about Nalaila?

Can he tell her about himself, no matter how little?

The urge surprised him. He has never been a male that talks about himself. Ever.

The wolf before him whimpered pitifully.

His cold heart burned at the sound of it.

Even in her sleep, his sister is being tormented by the past. By humans. By him.

Hating himself, hating humans, he closed the door as gently as he could and walked away. But he didn't go back upstairs to his bedroom, instead, he stopped by another bedroom.

Alphose was still sleeping soundly. Taking in the bandages that covered the cougar Alpha's body, and his sound breathing, the Alpha King breathed deeply and exhaled.

Alphose will be fine in a few days like the physicians said. He found a little bit of peace in those words.

Finally, when he closed the door, turned, and took the stairs to his bedroom; his raging hunger for the small human woman in his bathroom has calmed a bit, his heart heavy with renewed inner pains and burden of the past .

And his body suddenly began throbbing from the loss of blood from his bruises.

The remnants of Ismena's anger flew out of the window as she came out of the bathroom in white towels and saw the Alpha King slumped on the white throne-like chair that dominated a big part of his bedroom. He looked ashen and so tired.

"Are you alright!?" She gasped, almost flying across the bedroom in her hurry to get to him.

"It's nothing. I'm fine, it's nothing that a few bandages cannot help." He replied in a reluctant tone, his eyes still closed. His head was thrown back and hanging off the top of the chair.

"It's NOT nothing! You are seriously hurt and bleeding badly!" Worry clouded her features as she caressed the ghastly bruise on his shoulders. Suddenly, she felt bad for raging at him when he got hurt trying to protect her.

"I have already summoned Alpha Degar to come put some bandages on—"

"I'll do it." She said quickly, cutting him off. "Are there any bandages around here? Or is there a nearest packmate's home I can get it from? I don't mind going, I just need to dress up."

"No. You don't have to worry about it. I will—"

"Please allow me to worry about it. Please?" She pleaded softly. Not giving him time to answer, she walked towards the nearest drawer and started rampaging through it .

Time passed in silence. The only sound heard in the room was the sound of stuff being pushed around as she rampaged from one drawer to another, searching intently for bandages.

"The third drawer to the right." He groaned at last.

Ismena hurried to the opposite side of the room and dragged out the third drawer. Relief poured through her as she sighted so many bandages.

She grabbed as many as she could, walked to him, and placed them beside him. "I'll get some water and washcloth to clean the wound..."

"Get water," he agreed, "but there is a healing potion in the cupboard of the bedroom next to this one."

"Okay, okay, I'll grab it too." She was already hurrying to the bathroom to get water and a washcloth.

His eyes remained close, but these other senses were very much open to his surroundings. The scent of the woman filled his nose. It penetrated even his inner pain, leaving his dick so hard it was throbbing for her. Damn.

His hands tightened on the arms of his throne-like chair. His teeth gritted.

"So sorry about the pain. It'll get better." Her soft voice filled the bedroom. Then, he felt her lower herself to the floor on the left side of him, take his leg with that small softness that is her hands, and began running cold water on the length of it.

If only she knows that there are other feelings much more to the surface than those little scratches she was fussing over.

"I'll clean it with water before I apply the healing portion." She whispered, swallowing tightly. There's too much blood—enough to make her faint— but she was determined to brave this out .

Time passed in silence. Ismena was able to clean out the wound with water. Then, she opened the healing portion and began cleaning the wound with it.

Apart from the slight stiffening of his leg at the beginning, he gave no other indication that the portion might hurt, but Ismena is very sure that it must hurt like the very devils.

How can a male be so strong? She marveled as she continued running the already-bloodied washcloth through the open wound.

When his voice rose to interrupt the silence of the night, Ismena never expected the words that began pouring from his mouth. Never expected that he would be opening up to her about himself.

"My father began training me to take over the companies we own in the non-changeling world since I was ten.

That is where most of Naturiah's wealth and success come from.

When I was thirteen, I began accompanying him on business meetings and business deals to the non-changeling world, to learn firsthand how things work.

" A pause, "When I was fifteen, I started going on my own. "

His hands gripped the chair-arms tighter. "In July, on a bright summer day, I set out to the non-changeling world again. My ten-year-old sister was waiting for me at the Wild Forest..."