chapter 10. KASSANDRA'S HURT AND THE ALPHA KING'S GOOD MOOD.

The night was as beautiful as ever. Alphose walked together with Sandra, their steps unhurried, and so close to each other that they were almost touching.

They'd had dinner, and then they'd stood at the edge of the cliff to enjoy the beauty of the night. Kassandra loved it, Alphose thought with a smile. She'd cushioned her mouth with her hands and screamed repeatedly, enthusiastically euphoric when her voice echoed.

"What are you smiling about?"

Her voice pulled him out of his thoughts, and his eyes settled on her, "I just feel that it's a beautiful night." He said, instead.

"I feel that way too." Her cheek widened in a grin, "You know it's funny, I've never thought of the night that way in our world."

"I've been to the human world numerous times. Naturiah has the best of the night better than your world." Alphose said smugly.

Kassandra snorted, "You would think that, wouldn't you?"

They continued with their mild banter and small talks as they arrived at Alphose's home. Sandra has been here repeatedly while when she and the cougar Alpha was still forming the bonds of their friendship, but this place never stops making her breathless.

Apart from the castle of the Alpha King, his home was the most beautiful place she has seen in her tours through Naturiah. Not that she has visited lots of clans or houses, but she has seen her fair share. Most of those homes might not look like much on the outside, but their inside always had her jaw-dropping.

For Alphose's home, the outside was as beautiful as the inside, starting from the huge gates that separated it from the outside world. As they walked inside, her eyes took in the main room which was a spacious hall made of plastered stone walls, narrow-slitted windows, and a floor of stone slabs and tiles.

The fireplace was beautifully situated on the wall directly in front of her, already heating up the room. Sandra sat next to it in contentment while Alphose address a few of his sentinels that walked up to meet them the instant they sighted their alpha.

A thought prickled her mind. Mentally, Sandra shook her head to dissuade that thread of thought, because it was the same one that has crossed her mind, repeatedly, tonight.

It's just too absurd, Kassandra. Surely, that's not what it is. Your mind is playing tricks on you-

"What are you thinking about so hard?" His familiar voice filled the quiet, living room.

Sandra shook her head, adjusting on the double-chair when he moved closer to her, to make space for him to sit down next to her. Which was exactly what he did.

"Your home is so beautiful." She breathed sincerely, her eyes honing in on the beautiful art hanging next to the east window.

"Thank you," Pride laced his tone, "Do you love this place?"

"I love everything about it. The view, the art, the design, the structure. It's one of those countless times when I regret not coming here with my camera. I'd be taking mad pictures now..." She sighed in regret.

Alphose chuckled, "I'm glad you like it here. Do you wanna eat anything? I'll have Missy prepare-"

"Eat something? We just had dinner. I'm full." She smiled, turning to him, "I'm already fat. I'll be as big as a whale with the way you're feeding me."

He really laughed then, as if she'd said something funny. Momentarily, Sandra was struck dumb by seeing him do the belly-laugh thingy. Her heart raced.

By the balls of the angels, the man is breathtakingly handsome.

"You're beautiful, Kassandra. You're not fat, you just have a little bit more flesh than the very slim women, so you are still slim...just more fleshy." He grinned, "I don't mind fat, honey. In fact, watch out I might end up feeding you so much that you'll be really fat. As fat as a whale, and very, very, beautiful too."

Sandra's belly fluttered, her breath hitching in her throat. It wasn't the words, it was just the way he was saying them. Genuinely, like he was stating a fact.

And calling her 'honey' spiked the arousal she has been fighting all evening. Impulsively, she closed the little distance between them and pressed her lips to his.

But when she tried to draw back, his hands went around her, pulling her closer to him and he took over the kiss. His lips swept over hers, licking her lower lip until she gasped in surrender, and his tongue pushed past her lips to the space within.

Alphose had the intention of keeping that kiss gently, innocent, but tasting the sweetness of her kiss shot that intention point-blank in the heart with a rifle. He kissed her thoroughly, hearing her breath hitch and her hand around his neck to hold his head close.

His tongue danced with hers. A growl emitted from him when she sucked his lower lips, then his upper lips, with the fervor of a thirsty woman. Alphose has gone hard as a rock in his pants, his arousal swift and blinding.

That was the reason he forced himself to break the kiss. You have to take things easy, Alphose. You want her so much that you get in over your head whenever she's close, forgetting that you HAVE to take things easy!

Scolding himself helped too. He pressed their foreheads together, listening to her erratic breathing. Then, she asked a question that stopped his own breathing.

"Am I your mate, Alphose?" It was softly asked, but the impact was anything but soft.

Alphose had wanted to be sure before he told her anything, that was why he'd kept it from her. Now, he felt a pang of guilt.

Sandra saw the look and draw back from him. The thought that has been harassing her senses all evening has finally been blurted out because he'd kissed her so senselessly that she'd stopped thinking.

She'd expected him to start laughing or something, anything that'll indicate how ridiculous the question sounded. But never the guilty look on his face. Her eyes went wide.

"Am I... your mate?" This time, she repeated it consciously, her eyes holding his.

But he didn't say anything. To her his silence confirmed her question, but at the same time, it stung. It stung hard.

He's silent because you are his mate and he doesn't like it. That was why he never told you, and why he hasn't done anything about it in the six weeks you've been here. It's you and he hates the fact that it's you. There are all those slim, beautiful women out there, so why does it have to be you? You are his mate, he knows it, but he does not like it.

Sandra sprang up from the chair, squeezing her eyes shut as to push those thoughts deep down where they belong. Her eyes watered, but she blinked hard again to force it away. There's no way in hades she's gonna cry. Not here, not in front of him.

She started walking away, and he was right there in front of her. "Kassandra, please wait-"

"Don't follow me, please, Alphose. I j-just..." Her voice cracked and she almost hated herself for it. You're not gonna cry here, dammit! She took a deep breath and tried again, "I just wanna be left alone. Please."

She didn't wait for him to respond, instead, she stormed out of the house. Thankfully, he didn't follow.

By the time Sandra got back to Eline's house, her heart was so heavy and the damn tears were back again.

"Sandy? Is everything alright?"

She was surprised to hear Eline's voice. Shouldn't she be helping Ismena cross the border, what is the sentinel doing here?

"The Alpha King interrupted our journey. He took Ismena back to the tower." Eline answered the unasked questions, smiling cheekily.

"That's great." It was all Sandra could muster before she headed for her bedroom-Ismena's bedroom, actually-where she locked the door.

Throwing herself on the bed, she allowed the bastard tears to have their way with her.

Ismena woke, feeling brand-new. For the first time in a long time, she was smiling upon waking to a new day. She hasn't slept so well in so long, it was refreshing.

Her smile widened when she used the bathroom, only to find out that someone already had a bath running for her and everything she needed to freshen up was ready.

"Oh, Mirian, you darling." She breathed, enthusiastically as she took the toothbrush and started cleaning up.

Minutes later, she felt even better than she did when she first woke up. Then she went in search of Wolfaraine.

She found him in the dining room but he wasn't eating, instead he had what looked like some kind of magazine to his face which his hands lowered when he felt her presence. He looked more relaxed than she has ever seen him.

She was about to say 'good morning' when he arched his brows dramatically. The memory of the way he'd told her was the best 'good morning' filled her head and her cheeks warmed a pretty shade of pink.

As she walked over to him, he dropped the magazine on the table before him, making more room for what she was gonna do. Ismena straddled his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, but instead of kissing him, she offered her lips to him.

Wolfaraine took what she offered. His hand went around her neck to bring her closer as his lips covered hers. He positively ravaged her mouth, kissing her thoroughly until she was breathless before he pulled back slightly.

"Good morning, Wolfe." she breathed, her eyes lowered to his lips.

"Good morning, Ena. I would ask if you slept well, but that would be a trick question, because I saw how good you slept." He drawled, which made her blush harder.

"I didn't know when I fell asleep..." She began,

"But, I do." An amused glint entered his eyes, "It was right after you screamed for your 'mummy'. Twice."

"Holy smokes! Stop...!" She smacked his arm playfully, before burying her face in his neck to hide her embarrassment and horror. "I would never bring my mom into...that!"

"Oh, but you did. I heard you shout for your mummy more than once-"

"Stop it, you're making fun of me!"

"I'm sure the poor woman felt the call through a series of coughs. She will wonder who's calling her name that time of the night-"

"Wooooolfaraaaaaine..." She moaned pitifully, so embarrassed that her neck was as flushed as her face.

He let out a deep rumble of laughter, deciding to take pity on her. "Okay, I'll stop."

She let out a sigh of relief.

But then, he lowered his tone further and whispered into her ears, "You smell so good. I want to lay you out on this table and have you for breakfast. Just the way I had you, last night. Maybe more..."

He heard her breath hitch, her thighs squeezed his lap and his nostrils flared at the slightest scent of her wetness.

A thud drew his attention away from her to the newcomer that just entered the dining room. Head Sentinel Rodarh's eyes went so wide that they were almost popping out of their sockets while looking at him.

"Mother goddess, I'm so sorry, Alpha King, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to intrude on your privacy, your housekeeper p-pointed me to this direction without i-i-informing me that you would-"

"It's alright, Head Sentinel. Did you bring the files I asked for?" Wolfaraine reassured him. The way the Elephant sentinel was rushing over his words and the look of utter horror on his face might make the older man pull an artery.

"The file?" It took him a few seconds before he could collect himself, "Oh, oh, of-of course, I brought them." He bent and picked them up, arranging them jerkily.

"It's alright, Head Sentinel Rodarh. Kindly place them on the table, I will look at them later. I hope that's okay?"

"O-Of course, it is. Take all the time you need, Alpha King."

"I will. How is Onaries?" He asked, referring to the Elephant clan's alpha leader.

"His work is coming along great. The last evacuation we did in the human world went greatly, our changelings are doing very great."

"I am glad to hear that. Thank you, Rodarh. You may leave now." Wolfaraine extended a small smile his way.

Rodarh's shock could barely be hidden. Not because the Alpha King's mate was perched on his lap, hiding her face on his neck, but because of the male's dramatic change of moods.

Just yesterday, the Alpha King almost lit him on fire by the deadly looks he'd thrown him and the council at the meeting. But today, the male had an honest-to-heavens' smile on his face and he was even being patient with misbehaviors, and even saying 'thank you' at the same time!

He must have stayed longer than necessary because the Alpha King gave him that patient look again before he asked, "Anything else, Head Sentinel?"

That snapped Rodarh out of his shocked daze. He dropped the files on the table as quickly as he could, rattling out a series of 'no, no, nos' before bowing slightly and hurrying out of the room.

Outside, he could finally breathe freely. For the first time in two weeks, all the tension drained from his body. He'd known that their King's deadly mood had something to do with his troubles with his mate, but the cougar Alpha had clamped up when he'd suggested it, and Ratinus, that rat bastard had blatantly said he was making things up.

"What in the world would we do without women?" Rodarh muttered, walking away with a big smile on his face. He'll send a message to other Alpha council leaders so that they can put away the eggshells they've all been walking on for the past two weeks in council meetings because all is well again.

Well, he will tell everyone except Ratinus. Let the rat Alpha keep having mini heart attacks whenever he imagines getting their Alpha King's attention during the next council meeting.

Rodarh was whistling happily as he journey back to his clan.

"How is Nalaila?" Ismena finally found the courage to ask the question that has perturbed her all day.

It was early evening, she was walking with Wolfaraine through the pine field. He'd spent all afternoon with his sentinels, practicing all kinds of fighting moves; Karate, gun shooting, arrow shooting, sword fighting, taekwondo and all sorts of others, she hasn't heard about before. At first, she'd wanted to leave him to his business but he'd asked her to stay if she wanted to.

So, she'd spent all afternoon sitting in a corner and watching him, alternating between awe and shocked wonder. For a male so huge, the man was frighteningly light on his feet. He was such a good fighter and teacher too.

She'd pondered over asking about Nalaila all day, but seeing how great of a mood he was in, she hadn't been able to do it. But, after the training, Ismena could no longer contain her not knowing, anymore.

As expected, the small smile on his face disappeared and the familiar look of sadness crossed his features. For a moment, she thought he wouldn't respond but he surprised her.

"She's the same. She would not allow me to take her out for a walk."

That made Ismena sad. "Did you try...?"

"Yes, I did. Twice after you left the tower. She hasn't been eating well either."

All the hope Ismena had that she might have reached Nalaila the last time she visited died within her. "I'm so sorry, Wolfe."

Taking a deep breath, he looked away, "When I get back from the Reptile Clan tomorrow evening, I will do what needs to be done."

Just hearing it made her heart feel heavy. What needs to be done, is that he would have to force his sister out against her own will. Something she knows will kill him to do, but he will do it anyway because he wants his little sister alive, no matter what.

"You can't force her out, Wolfe." She pleaded, her finger intertwining with his.

"I won't allow her to die." He responded, firmly. "I have to go speak with Alpha Degar, I can scent him entering the gates."

Gently, he withdrew his hand from hers, before walking away. His good mood evaporated like it was never there in the first place.

For the first time, he'd looked genuinely relaxed happy, even. If he goes through with his plans, Ismena was sure that it would plunge him back to being the sad, lonely male who is ridden by anger and guilt, just like he was before.

No, I won't just sit by and watch him do this to himself.

As she watched him leave, Ismena made the decision out loud. The decision to go for such a suicide mission.

"When he leaves for the Reptile Clan tonight, I will try to get Nalaila out for a walk, myself." She stated out loud with conviction, doing her best to ignore the fear that crept into her spine.