"Yes, you can." His face closed up, he gave her a blank face, "Our relationship was never one for commitments, after all, you know this, Ismena. I never deceived you into it or made false promises to you, did I? I was honest with you from the very start. This relationship between us was bound to end someday."

"Yes, but not today of all days!" The cry tore from deep inside her, against her better judgment. "Not today of all days! You are going through so much, Iamgoing through a lot already! I can't add this to it, it's too much, Wolfie...!"

His hand raised to palm her cheek but it didn't make contact. Instead, it hovered in the air before it dropped back to his side. "You are strong, Ismena. You are brave... much braver than any human I have ever come across. You can do this."

But, I love you so much! Even with everything going on, I still love you so much! Don't push me away, please!!!

She wanted to scream these words to him. He couldn't even bear to touch her anymore. She had the most insane urge to shamelessly beg him to keep her because she can't stay away from him.

But, she forced herself to clamp her mouth shut. You have your pride, dammit.

"What about you?" She was glad that her voice came out strong, not as shaky as she was feeling.

He averted his eyes, "I'm used to being alone."

She wanted to say something else, but thought against it. His body was so taut with the tension she feared he'll twist the wrong way and snap like a rubber band stretched to its limits.

If I push a little too hard, he will break right in front of me. Would it be a good break or a bad break? She was scared to find out.

"I'm..." He exhaled in one deep breath, "I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry that you had to meet a male like me in your life. I am deeply sorry for the things I did to you when you were eight. I am sorry for everything, Ismena."

There's nothing to be sorry for! There is nothing to forgive! It was not your fault!

She didn't bother with those words, because she might as well be pouring water on a rock. The blame, the guilt he was feeling was deeply-ingrained.

She forced her jaw to unlock, "So, what happens now?"

"I found the ring."

"What?" She asked, clearly taken aback.

"The ring. The one you took, the one that was taken away. Your father took it from the leader of the Wolfhunters' gang that attacked the hospital during your sister's operation. He told Alphose where it was before he died. I have it now."

The ring has been found. It was great news. It was beautiful news, she knows how much that ring meant to him. But, at the same time, it means that...

Her throat went dry and she looked at him.

"Yeah," He nodded. Swallowed tightly, "You can stay in Naturiah if you want, but you are free to leave Naturiah now, Ismena. You can leave if you wish. I placed strong security for your family so they'll never be in any danger and if you decide to go back to your world, I will double the security to make sure no harm comes to you."

His eyes hardened, "They'll stay until I have found and killed every last doctor of the laboratory."

Her heart broke.

There was no other way to describe it, her heart just shattered into a million pieces in her chest.

The sight of him and the part of the bedroom within her vision swarm. Everything just went blurry as fresh tears gathered in her eyes.

But, she will be strong, dammit. She has to be, at least until she leaves this place.

No.

"Alright. Thank you so much for everything," her lower lip wobbled. She bit down hard on it. "I'll just pack a few things and leave now."

"You can leave in the morning—"

"No. I will leave now." She went to the wardrobe and packed a few of her things there. It didn't take more than two minutes before she got her bag—most of her things are in Eline's place and that's where she's going now.

"I hope you're not planning to go to the human world now. Please, don't—"