Chapter 23

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 pipped, "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 what 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 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 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 leader of 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 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 at his broad back as they walked.

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

.

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"Who is Nalaila?" Ismena asked Eline as she led her to the clearing of a nice-looking dwelling.

"Someone we should never talk about. Ever." She deadpanned, leading her into the house.

"Woah." From the outside, Eline's dwelling isn't much, but on the inside, "This place is so beautiful..." 

Eline smiled, walking deeper into the house, she began removing the weapons strapped to her body, "It's a small space, but I love it. We might not live out in the non-changeling world, but we try to keep up. My parents are dead, but this home will always remind me of them."

Paintings of nature hung on the wall, paintings of animals too. A fireplace dominated one side of the house. Paved tiled floor, fenestral windows, with rose frames that were covered in a fabric soaked in resin and tallow, allowed in light, but kept out drafts. 

It doesn't have a modern decoration, but it doesn't make it any less breathtaking. Already, she is having the feeling that she belongs here, no matter how weird the feeling is. Not this house, but in this land.

Strange, but satisfying. She yawned tiredly.

"Come on, I will lead you to your room," Eline said, leading the way.

Ismena followed, still wondering why Wolfariane didn't take her to his home directly. When he stated that she will be in his custody, she'd thought that was what he meant.

"You don't want to live at the big tower, Ismena. Trust me." Eline's voice made her jerk.

A flush spread through her cheeks. She had no idea she'd said that out loud.

"Here's, your room. Get some sleep to regain your strength. It must have been a stressful night, last night." Eline was still wondering why the woman is here, and why the Alpha King came back with a wound to his shoulder.

Why is there an unmated human in their world? Something that has never happened before. 

Most especially, no one expects it to be from Wolfariane who hated them more than the rest of them. And with good reasons too.