My Love For You

Chapter 19
They, the Inverno wolves, kidnapped Nalani after attacking the Morvena witches’ camp and annihilating everyone without a trace, years ago.

Nalani and her family were part of the Morvena Covent, a group of witches with an old bloodline that other witches respected. She was only 12 years old at the time.

Her parents were killed, and she was kidnapped to pressure Zaria, Nalani’s grandmother, the Great Witch, to hand over the Thalorim, the four legendary Morvena magic books.

But something went wrong in the raid.

Zaria was killed and the whereabouts of the Thalorim were unknown as all of Morvena’s witches were killed, except Nalani.

However they brought Nalani to Inverno. Ahlf, Akbar's father and the alpha at the time, was furious when he discovered that the witch child they had kidnapped had no magical abilities.

“How could such a weak child find Thalorim!” he shouted. He was still furious that Zaria was killed and her body fell into the abyss.

The stupid wolf who did it had followed the witch to hell because Ahlf never tolerated mistakes and carelessness.

Some of his wolf followers advised him to kill Nalani. “Just kill the child if she’s useless,” said Arald, one of the werewolves who was his closest advisor.

“A weak child has no place in Inverno.”

An old female wolf, the mother of one of Ahlf’s advisors, had been eavesdropping on their conversation. She quickly came out of her hiding place.

“Enya, what are you doing here?” Ahlf glared in annoyance.

“Give me the girl, Alpha,” she said. “I’m in charge of the servants in your palace. The child can still be useful for kitchen work. We’re always short-handed. Especially if one of you is too lazy to hunt in the forest and decides to hunt in the kitchen,” she said sharply, with a hint of reproach.

The alpha thought for a moment. His brow furrowed with indecision. He had wanted to prey on the girl. However, Enya’s remark made him feel uneasy.

“Alright, Enya,” he said. “Take the girl to your kitchen to be a servant.”

“Thank you, Alpha. But I also ask for your guarantee.”

Ahlf sighed. He was not a patient man, especially with women. However, Enya was one of the few senior female wolves he respected. “What else?” he asked with irritation.

“I need your assurance that no one will prey on that girl. Although she has no magical abilities, her lineage must be respected. You never know if one day she might find Thalorim for you.”

Ahlf’s face lit up when he heard that possibility. “You're Right, Enya. You are always the wisest among us.” The alpha stroked his black beard cheerfully. “Very well. I guarantee her safety. Hear this.”

He looked at the entire pack in the room. “You are forbidden to touch the girl. Understand?”

A low murmur of assent to the alpha’s command filled the room.

“Fine. Now take her from the dungeon, Enya.” Ahlf waved a hand. “She is yours.”

Since then, Nalani has lived in the kitchen with the human servants.

She was trained to work every day. She slept on the floor with them after a long day’s work. However, like the servants, Nalani dared not complain.

When Nalani was 17 years old, Alpha Ahlf died in a bungled attack on another group of wizards in a futile search for Thalorim.

His son, Kabar, wanted the position of alpha. However, as per the rules, a duel was held for all adult wolves who wanted the position. Twenty-year-old Kabar participated in the dangerous battle ceremony.

The winner, the new alpha, had to kill all challengers.

That day, for the first time, Nalani saw Kabar clearly. She fell in love. In his human form, he was handsome.

Slender and tall, with defined muscles, dark brown hair, and amber eyes that blazed with ambition.

His wolf form when the fight began was even more handsome and stunning. Wolf Kabar was huge with thick brown fur and large snout with teeth as sharp as swords.

In the fight, Kabar easily tore apart all his opponents.

At one moment, his cruel wolf eyes stared at Nalani. The next day, a guard came to Enya and told her that Kabar, the new alpha, had ordered Nalani to move to one of the palace wings, where Kabar resided.

***

Nalani was brought to a large room. Kabar was there in his wolf form.

He approached, staring intently at Nalani who stood stiffly near the door.

Kabar lowered his head, touching his large snout to Nalani’s head.
"Are you afraid of me?" his deep voice echoed in Nalani's Mind. The Inverno wolves had telepathic abilities, and Nalani had naturally learned to listen.

"No," she replied.

Kabar growled softly. "Good. I saw you in the fighting arena. You were the most beautiful woman there, you know?"

Nalani shook her head.

"Do you know why I ordered you to be brought here?"

"I don’t know, Alpha. But I’m sure it’s not to make me your prey."

In Nalani’s mind, Kabar laughed. "I like your courage. Do you like me?"

Nalani nodded. Not only did she like him, but she also fell in love with the new alpha.

Their ages were not too far apart. In many ways, they might be compatible.

"I like you too, witch girl..." Kabar's voice was soft, with a hint of flirtation and cunning.

However, Nalani didn’t realize this. "From now on, you will stay here, keep me company. Maybe... just maybe..." Kabar's wolf form grinned. "If I still like you, I will make you my mate. Will you agree, Nalani?"

Nalani nodded.

She was very happy to hear that. The beautiful image of herself as Kabar’s mate flashed in her mind at that moment.

Kabar read it, he laughed again.

"Come, Nalani..." he said. He lay his large body on the carpet in front of the fireplace. "I’m still tired from yesterday’s fight. Keep me company."

Nalani approached, initially a bit hesitant.

But a moment later she sat between Kabar’s front and hind legs. Slowly, she leaned her head against Kabar’s brown-furred foreleg.

She stayed there until she heard Kabar snoring. Nalani closed her eyes and fell asleep as well.

Since then, she was always with Kabar, until she eventually agreed to be sent as a gift to Karyan.

Nalani always thought it was temporary. After all, her place was at the side of the Kabar she loved.