Chapter 26

Bathed and feeling refreshed again, Ismena glanced at herself in the big mirror of the bedroom. Eline had been kind enough to lend her her clothes because they were almost the same size. It's her waist that wanted to disgrace her at first, rejecting all the clothes Eline picked out before.




But now, she's in a simple loose dress that only hugged her waist before it flowed loosely down her legs. Feeling satisfied with what she's seeing, she walked out of the bedroom only to see Eline and Alphose putting on their extra uniforms.




"Oh, I'm so sorry, Ismena. But there was an emergency in the market we're posted on this week, that requires our attention. I'm afraid that I won't be able to take you around town today, after all." Elaine informed her as she hurriedly strapped her guns to the bandoliers on her waist and shoulder.




"Don't worry about it. You go attend to business. I'll wait right here."




"Thank you. The television is old but it's working, so you can keep yourself busy. Bye...!" She flew out of the wooden door, Alphose following closely behind her.




Alone, Ismena glanced around at the house. Well, she can totally do this.




**********




Three days later, Ismena is going out of her mind doing nothing and staying indoors.




She has never really been a sit-at-home-doing-nothing kinda person, so, saying it's hard is a huge understatement. Plus the fact that she hasn't got much time left. These past few days she feels like she has been wasting the little time she has.




She has watched TV, and all the shows going on are extremely boring. Just one managed to get her attention, but that one isn't been aired today. And without these shows, she's left with the thought of one man that has become an obsession in her head.




Wolfariane, the Alpha King, according to his people. She's not surprised that the man is King, he'd always had that elegance in his bearing...that sophistication in each step he takes.




In the past three days, she hasn't seen or heard about it, and even though she tries her possible best not to think about him, she still finds herself doing exactly that for seventeen hours every day. Much to her consternation. Her boredom wasn't helping at all.




I have to go out of this house or I'll go crazy, Ismena decided when she couldn't take it anymore. 




It was early evening when she stepped out of the house. The gentle breeze nuzzled her body, instantly setting her mind at peace. But not the fires in her blood, caused by the thoughts of Big Bad Wolfe.




Ismena likes the isolation of this place...the quietness. As she walked out of the compound, she admired the land that stretched for miles. Her eyes took in the beautiful views of other dwellings.




Meanwhile, people out on the routes and pathways stared at her as she walked. They were curious about her. Who is this woman? Who is this human?




Changelings are confused about who she might be because rumors have gone around the better part of town about a new human in Naturiah. An unmated human who has no business being here.




Ismena noticed the glances from them. She managed a polite smile to everyone she passed on the way. Some returned the smile while others were outrightly hostile. 




Some bared their teeth at her greeting, showing off sharp elongated fangs that had her clinging with barely contained fear. But apart from these few people that obviously don't like her, the view was so wonderful.




Ismena was so carried away by her sightseeing, she wandered through the forest, and down the river. A wide smile on her face. 




"Oh, I'm definitely adding 'Living In A New World' to my To-Do list." She wondered aloud, "Just wait till I tell all these to Sandra." She giggled. Her poor friend will never believe it. Then, she will go right ahead and tell her everything she—




A growl. A growl had her crashing back to reality.




That was when she looked ahead of her...and saw it. A huge cat—or is it a lion?—beside a tree, staring right at her.




No, not really a cat. Having a Bachelor's degree in forestry, agriculture, and resource economics comes in handy here, because it helps her in identifying this animal that is watching her like it just saw a good meal.




It's a cougar. A living...breathing...COUGAR!!! 




There was hate in its eyes. Ismena doesn't know how she knows this, but she does. She can FEEL it.




"Ohmigoooood!!!!" Ismena screeched loudly and took off in a dead run.




The cougar roared in rage. Its roar can be heard through the forest. Then, it chased after her.







***********







Wolfariane Daminor Throne had a stressful day. After the training with the new lieutenants that are eager to serve Naturiah, he'd been in the Meeting Hall for hours on end with the twelve councils. The pack leaders. 




The topic had been the same for the past three days... His special ring is in the hands of the enemies.




They've been deliberating on it, working on ways to retrieve it. First, they've agreed to send out scouts to the former laboratory where the scientists of the Wolfhunters dwelled fifteen years ago. The same laboratory they'd destroyed. 




But then again, they'd thought the Wolfhunters had gone extinct too.




So, the scouts have to go back to their old location to know if they are still there. If they aren't, they can try to find any little evidence that might be able to lead them to their new location.




After the strenuous day, he'd dismissed the council, and took the stairs that lead to the particular floor of the huge tower which is his very personal space, with the intention of resting his head... But, not before stopping by Nalaila's dungeon-room.




She was still sleeping. 

He wasn't surprised, but the ache in his heart burned at the very sight.




Recently, Nalaila has been sleeping a lot. Three days... 

A week...

Sometimes, two weeks...

Wolfariane feared that one day, she will not wake from that sleep. 




He feared that one day, the wolf will sleep away...forever.




Just the thought of that has his mountain lion roaring in anguish. 

He can't look at Nalaila. He just can't.




He stood there for so long, losing track of time until his wolf snarled in agitation. Knowing it was because he'd been standing still for a long time, he left that dungeon to the last floor of the huge tower that leads to his bedroom.




There, he walked straight to his study to go over some business papers Alphose had brought in earlier in the day.




But, the wolf was too agitated. Raging and roaring inside him. Howling and snapping his teeth. Prowling like an enraged predator. 

The mountain lion was quiet. Too quiet.




Then, he'd heard her terror-filled scream. 




It sounded so far away, but at the same time, it made his blood boil. 

At that scream, the wolf is already banging his head on the wall of his chest, forcing it to be let out. His mate is in danger!




"Shit." He rose from the chair and made his way out of his bedroom again.




************




Fear becomes a living entity inside Ismena as she ran and ran and ran. Her heart beat loudly to her own ears. Her legs carry her so far, so fast.













She ran for so long, trying to find her way out. Whenever she turned back, the Cougar was not far from her, running after her...stalking her...hunting her. 













"Oh, God, I'm gonna die today...!" She cried when she found out that she was truly lost in the forest because she couldn't find a way out.













But, she didn't give up. Even when her legs were tired and almost gave out, she kept running.













And then, she ran into a wall.













No, not a wall, she thought as she breathed in and smelled that familiar scent that has lived with her for the past three days. 













She glanced up, up, up, up, into that bluest eyes she'd never forgotten. Behind her, the cougar was still raging closer.













"Wolfariane...!" She cried out in sheer fear and panic. 













Then, she moved quickly behind him, climbed onto his back, squeezed her eyes closed, and wrapped her arms and legs around his neck and his waist. She held on tightly.