She decided that Eline was right. No one in their right mind would attack a male like him.
"Anyway, I can teach you how to fight and defend yourself here if you want." Eline said to her as she walked towards her and sat beside her. "Not that you will need the knowledge because everyone knows who you are now. No one in their right mind will attack the Alpha King's woman."
"You'll really teach me!? I will love to learn!" Ismena gasped, excitedly. "Apart from those in their right minds, there are still Wild Ones, am I right?"
"You are. I will teach you. Not that you'll be needing any teaching if the Alpha King mates you. With how compatible you both are seeming to be, I wouldn't be surprised if you take on some of his changeling qualities after the mating rituals, when the bond has formed between you two...like his strength or sensitive hearing or his ability to see clearly at night." Eline shrugged at the shocked look on her face, "It rarely happens but it does happen."
Ismena remembered her discussion with Wolfaraine on the night before and sadness formed in her heart. They will never mate.
Shaking the sadness off, she smiled that Eline. "I'm still glad you're gonna teach me."
"Wouldn't be today though and definitely not in this condition you're in. So, you can go into your bedroom and sleep the rest of the day away if you want to. I'll have dinner ready when you wake up."
She wants to. So, she got up, "Thank you, Eline. I'll be taking that sleep you're offering."
"What about the Alpha King?" She bit her lips worriedly, "Is he still angry about last night?"
"Marian said he was having a meeting with his council when I woke, so I didn't get to see him." She answered. Seeing how it only made her friend more worried, she added, "But, I'll have you know that she did not look angry anymore, the night before."
"Oh..." Eline's worry cleared, "Of course, he wouldn't be." She said meaningfully.
Ismena's cheeks reddened. She turned and walked gingerly towards the bedroom, "I'll see you later."
Eline watched her silently until she got to the door. The Cougar sentinel grinned in amusement and muttered, "Poor woman."
"Stop!" Ismena's face was really blazing by the time she got into bed and closed her eyes.
UNKNOWN LABORATORY IN AMERICA
Dr. Beloca was still waiting to hear from Simon and his team whom he sent to go and bring The Successful and her child to him. He hasn't gotten any more calls from Simon but he was waiting.
Staring at the pearls of the diamond ring in front of him, he wondered if he should have given the ring to Simon to aid him in finding The Successful faster.
In the hands of the Wolf Hunters and the scientists, the ring glows whenever a changeling is near which helps them to locate that changeling and attack. The ring is that powerful in their hands, which is why they have wanted it for decades since the first time they got to know about it.
It also glows whenever anyone who has had a special connection with the changelings is near, like any sexual partner they've been with here in the states. So, they can question that person until she gives off the location of that changeling.
It has been eighteen years but surely the ring will glow when it's within the vicinity of The Successful or the changeling child she bore? Which will definitely help them in recognizing and identifying her again after eighteen years?
Just then, his cellphone rang.
He took the call and placed it to his ears, "Dr. Beloca Wells speaking."
"I bring good news, doc." Simon's voice came through.
He straightened, the ring was momentarily forgotten. "I was finally able to get a lead on her. After so many dead ends, I finally managed to get hold of one of her mother's co-workers in the cleaning agency eighteen years ago. She said that Claro Smith relocated to Oklahoma with her family months after her daughter was found."
"Oklahoma, huh?" Dr. Beloca was thinking, "Did she say the exact town in Oklahoma?"
"Nope, she doesn't know. Another thing she knows is that Claro remarried. Nothing else."
"I doubt we'll have any need for the second info, but it's all good. Let's focus on the possibility that Hazel Smith and her family are in Oklahoma now. Take the team to that city and find her. Upend every town, search thoroughly and bring her back here to me."
"I will do just that, Doc."
His eyes landed back on the ring. "Come back to the lab and take the ring with you."
"B-But, I thought you never want the ring to leave your possession—"