Page 121 of Mate to the Alpha Called God

"Alright, honey. Take good care of yourself and please, stay safe."

"I will."

When she pulled back, Sandra moved forward and hugged her family too. Amelia gave her an earful of how to stay safe and she nodded obediently through it all.

They arrived at Naturiah around 2am in the morning. Sandra was already sleeping on Alphose's back while Ismena was awake. She was drained, she was tired but sleep eluded her.

Her heart was hurting too much to shut down for sleep.

"The sentinels at my border just changed posts." Alphose commented, staring ahead at the border of the lands owned by the cougar clan.

"Dreco seems to be doing a very good job as your second-in-command." Wolfaraine said. It was the first words he'd spoken since they began this journey.

In the past few days, he wasn't saying a lot. His face was blank most of the time so no one knows what was going through his head. He leaves with Alphose every night and comes back after hours of staying out, which Ismena articulated might be because of the Wolfhunters.

There are times he just goes out alone. Into the woods. He barely says anything.

"He is doing a very good job." Alphose exhaled, "Should I call the leopard Alpha to come over, so he'll be aware that we're back in the land?"

"Leave it till day breaks." Was all he said before he walked ahead of Alphose, leaving him to catch up.

To get to Naturiah, they'd run all day without relenting and the males weren't showing any sign of fatigue. Ismena's arms tightened around his neck, she pressed her cheek deeper into his soft furs and allowed her own tiredness to wash over her.

As they continued walking, Alphose did most of the talking. She wasn't sure if Wolfaraine was listening or not.

Finally, they arrived at the Tower. That was when Alphose said goodbye to the Alpha King who nodded dismissively. Then, he turned and started walking home. On his back, Sandra stirred awake.

"Where are we?" Her voice was drowsy from sleep.

"We're in Naturiah. I'm going to drop you off with Eline first before I go home."

"Where's Mena and the King?"

"They're home already."

Sandra took a deep breath, allowing her head to rest on his furry back again, "I'm so worried for them. The both of them."

Alphose was more worried than Sandra will ever be. He'd been the only Alpha who's very close to Wolfaraine over the years, he'd become his friend. He'd told Alphose about Nalaila, but he never told him—or anyone—about Ismena. Or Hazel Smith, which is her name at that time.

He's the only one who knows how badly Wolfaraine battled with his horrible past every day of his life—those times in the lab would drive another male insane, but he'd been controlling it. He'd been trying to beat those traumatic experience, even when it doesn't help that there's a part of him so feral and close to insanity.

Only to find out that his mate was among the women he'd molested under the influence of those inhumane drugs. Not only that, everything she had to go through as an eight-year-old recovering from the most brutal rape experience anyone should ever go through. The consequences that followed—

"Are you listening to me?" Sandra's voice penetrated his worried mind.

"Hmm."

Sandra sighed, "I'm worried about Amelia and Tina. After the things I heard about these wolf hunters, I'm worried about their safety, especially now that their father is dead."

"Don't worry about them, The Alpha King already has four strong sentinels watching over them for the time being."

"Really?"

"Yeah. He arranged for them days ago. They're already in the human world. Ismena's family is in great hands."

"I'm so glad to hear that." It made her feel better, even though worry still gnawed at her for a different reason. "I'm so proud of my best friend. She lost her beloved father, but still managed to remain strong for the past six days. But, I'm so worried. It's not a good idea that she's keeping it all bottled in like that. I hope she lets it all out..."

Alphose was quiet for some time, before he exhaled heavily. "Stop worrying, Kassandra. Everything will be fine."

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