One minute, Degar stood between her and the door, the next minute, a huge six-foot tall cream-yellow leopard dominated three times the space the man occupied before, its beady blue eyes watching her pointedly.Ismena's head stopped sending and receiving signals. Infact, it went blank as she watched a man turn into a huge leopard right in front of her. W.H.A.T!?What happened next, she had no idea. All she knows is the walls of her bedroom were closing in on her. Why is the floor suddenly moving up to meet her face...? She was barely aware of her body hitting the floor.Wolfariane, on the other hand, watched the woman's eyes go very wide, then it rolled back into her head and she dropped on the floor like a heavy sack, out like a light.Degar in his leopard form turned towards him and grunted, pushing his head in the woman's direction."I did expect her to faint, Degar. Who wouldn't? She saw a man morph into a leop." He made no move to pull away from the wall, but his head was workin
Her voice was high and shrilly, "It was a f-figment of my imagination, right? That can't be p-possible, right? He didn't just turn into a big c-cat...right?" She asked hopefully, staring at him with wide eyes."He prefers to be called a leopard. And no, it is not a figment of your imagination," his tone hard, like he is angry at her. He turned and faced her, "Unless, you will like him to come and show you again in order to convince you otherwise—""No, no, no, no, don't worry, I g-get the idea now. I don't need a repeat, I a-assure you!" Her heart was thudding in her chest, the memory of Degar turning into a big cat—no, a leopard—repeated itself in her head over and over again. "Is this a dream...!?"She began feeling faint again..."Don't you dare faint on me again, female." He glared at her.Yep, that voice was enough to snap her right back to consciousness. For a man that just kissed her senseless a few moments again, and had her body on fire, he is sure looking so calm, cool, and
The more they walked towards the direction of the trees, the more their attackers filled everywhere. They came from all directions, shooting from all directions. Wolfariane caught the bullets from all directions, his movement fluid, sharp and fast. As they stepped further into the trailing edges of the forests and walked through the woods, his pace fastened further, and that the same time, he threw a command at her. "Climb onto my back. I am about to run."Instantly, she threw herself at his back and wrapped her arms around his wide shoulders and her legs around his wide midriff. Her arms couldn't meet each other, likewise her legs because of the huge width of him and the smallness that was her, but she held on as tight as she could. His furs... She was suddenly encompassed in the softest thing she has ever felt in her life. So fluffy she wrapped her arms around it—him—tighter.He took off in a dead run, with her piggybacked behind him. So fast, he was a blur of movement.Ismena fe
Wolfariane 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. My bed is moving. Why is my 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 at someone's back? Then, the memories rushed through her head; pawning a ring... Wolfariane at 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. "
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 s
Alphose and Degar led the way back to the Alpha King's tower, in quick steps and tensed silence. The sentinels at the guard scented them before they got closer and opened the gate for the three of them, bowing their heads in greeting to their King. The King beside Alphose said nothing. His muscles were bunched and tensed, his face a blank slate. But, everyone around can practically feel the tension radiating from him in waves. Inside the big tower, they walked through the long hallways with large picture frames hanging on them, to the curved stairway which they climbed to go up to the third part of the big castle. Their footsteps were soundless as they walked through the tiles of the long hallway, towards the door at the opposite end of it. As they got closer, they began hearing a faint howling that sounded like a wolf in anguish. Snarls and enraged roar. They got to the door, Alphose stepped forward and opened it. It was dark inside. Degar walked in first, going straigh
"Of course, Alpha King. But what about the ring?""We will make plans about it later. Gather the Enforcers for a meeting in the evening. They need to know what is going on." His eyes remained closed as he issued these commands."I will do as you wish." He inclined his eyes and faced the door."Degar?" His tone was low. Too low.The quiet tone told Degar how badly he was hurt. How terribly he is losing blood. How urgently he needs to start healing."Yes, Alpha King?" He answered."When you are done with your duties, check on the female. You or Eline can take her around town later, so she can familiarize herself with this place. But stick to the Werewolf Clan and the Cougar Clan." He paused, "Inquire about her illness and meds from her, so you can arrange for getting the new meds she can live on.""Of course. As you wish.""Don't forget to send a message to Cronus, Josiah, and all Changelings out there about the resurfacing of the Wolfhunters." Just the thought of it made his tone harde
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...!"