CHAPTER 2

🌺OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA🌺

"So, what else are we shopping for?" Sandra asked her friend as they got out of Penn Square mall, each of them carrying two shopping bags filled with Ismena's accessories and necessities for her vacay.

"Nothing, I think we're done. God, this feels heavenly!" Ismena raised her head towards the sun, a wide smile on her face, "I can't remember the last time I shopped."

"Me too. I'm glad you came back, you know. I almost forgot what the inside of a mall looks like. I've been too busy running after stories. Whoever said being a journalist is easy?"

"I know, right?" As they walked towards Ismena's car, she swung her head in her friend's direction, "If you wanna catch fun in life, now's the time, Sandy. Don't wait until you're dying or getting old. Life is too short."

"See who's talking? Just because you've got a few time on your hands now doesn't mean you aren't a workaholic." Her friend teased.

"Well, you are right but—Whoofs!!!" She gasped suddenly when the breath was suddenly knocked out of her. She'd bumped into someone while she was talking without looking.

"I'm sorry, so sorry..." She began saying immediately, even as the large hand instantly went around her to help steady her, helping her to find her footing. "Thank you so much, I'm grateful—"

"It is nothing. I should have been mindful too." The man cut her off, his voice deep.

Having found her footing, Ismena stared at her 'masculine accident'. She was suddenly robbed of speech. He is big, masculine and so tall, he towered over her. He has the built of a dangerous bodyguard and the sunshade that hid his eyes isn't helping matters either.

A shiver of fear worked its way through her spine. That's saying something because she doesn't scare easily. "L-Like I said, I'm truly sorry for walking into you like that."

His head bobbed. "That's okay." A large hand stretched out towards her, "I am called Alphose, and you are?"

"I-Ismena. I'm called Ismena, this is my friend, Sandra." She directed towards her friend as she shook his outstretched hand.

"Nice meeting you." Unlike her, Sandra wasn't unsettled at all, "I'm really sorry about my friend. She doesn't look it but she's a walking accident zone."

"Sandra!" Ismena seethed, throwing her a glare.

The man's lips curved up again, "I can see that."

"Anyway, we have to get going now. Sorry, once again, Alphose, it was nice meeting you but we have to be on our way now." Ismena practically dragged her friend forward towards her car.

She didn't turn, her back prickled all the way to her car but when she finally turned... The man was nowhere within sight anymore.

"Mehn, that guy is so hot! Bejeezus!" Sandra whisper-screamed, turning to search for the stranger fanatically with her eyes, "Heavens, I haven't seen a guy that hot in real life, and I've worked with some celebrities! Wow!"

"He would be hot if he wasn't scaring the very devils outta me." Ismena conceded reluctantly.

"He sure didn't scare me. Poor man didn't do anything scary at all, it's not his fault that God and Creation favored him really well." Her eyes took on a dreamy look, "I'll totally shag him if I was into bad guys."

"Alright, enough daydreaming. Let's get this to the trunk, my arms are aching." Ismena walked towards her trunk as she addressed her friend. Sandra is right, the man didn't do anything particularly scary at all.

He was on black sunshades but she knows that he'd been looking at her. Watching her. Pointedly.

And, there's something about the way he was looking at her...

Shivers sizzled down her spine.

🌺🌺KING'S TOWER, NATURIAH,🌺🌺

"How was your trip, Alphose? I hope you have good news for me from the Oklahoma branch?" Wolfariane's deep voice was calm, but the emptiness of the Meeting Hall made his voice echo through the big space.

Alphose walked towards one of the chairs out of the twelve empty, golden, high chairs that surrounded the huge roundtable which dominated the center of the big Meeting Hall. Whenever there is a general specie meeting, the high chairs are filled up by the twelve Alphas and leaders of each species, while the huge throne-chair at the head of the table is occupied by their King, Wolfariane.

Sitting three-empty chairs away from Wolfariane, Alphos cleared his throat, "Sadly, I don't, Alpha King. In the meeting, I had with Josiah and his pack, there is a lot of uncertainties in the agricultural market, and with the new regulations the company is undergoing, it isn't helping our credit market. Nector and Co. Limited Company, our competitors, are coming up fast in the international market."

"Josiah and his Cougars are finding it hard getting things in control? That's disappointing." Wolfariane's displeasure showed clearly on his strong chiseled face. "What about our New York branch?"

"Not a good news from there too, Alpha King. Cronus and his pack have been busy in the last few weeks trying to get back control of the lower market. The sales of the new plant growth fertilizer products have been stuck, and seed treatments keep falling in the market. They have been developing business strategies to regulate this problem, which so far, have not worked. But, they are not giving up." Alphose hated being the bearer of bad news, but he had no choice.

Silence descended after his report. He can see the wheels turning in the head of the Alpha King even without the drumming of his fingers rhythmically on the arm of his throne.

Time passed. The Alpha King couldn't sit any longer, so he rose from his chair and began pacing in slow steady steps. Even such simple unconscious movement portrayed a lethal predatory action.

He toyed with the huge diamond ring in his middle finger. The ring has two golden pearls like a crown attached to it. Always outstanding and sprankled most times, it's also very precious to Wolfariane.

When he spoke, that displeasure is still clear in his voice. "So, let me get this straight. What you are trying to tell me is that among all my companies scattered all over the world, two out of five of the most powerful, largest and most successful of them all, led by the strongest, powerful, and best Alphas of our species, is having serious business problems that haven't be solved?"

Here goes nothing. "Unfortunately, yes, Alpha King." He paused, "But there's still time for them to solve it right. Cronus is already—"

"I will be going over to New York City myself. Get the jet ready, and tell Cronus to await my arrival." Wolfariane declared authoritatively.

Alphose was shocked about his decision. "But, you do not like leaving Naturiah." And with good reasons too. One of them being that the Alpha King has no liking for 'normal' humans at all.

That's an understatement. He hates them.

"I do not like it." He stated, matter-of-factly. "But, obviously, I cannot leave these problems unattended to. I have to be there myself. I will go to New York City first. Get the jet ready."

"I will do that as soon as possible." Alphose rose from his chair, "

Wolfariane walked to his chair and lowered himself down on the elaborated throne. He leaned back relaxingly, picked up a pen, and began signing the documents Alphose laid out in front of him.

"You are dismissed."

Alphos bowed his head, turned to the door, and began walking towards it. Then, he remembered...

His steps faltered. Is the Alpha King really the right person for him to give this news?

"What is the matter?" Wolfariane's asked without raising his head.

Alphose veered around, "Today, in Oklahoma, I caught the scent of a potential mate."

No reaction. Nothing. "You should be telling other males. I do not care about a mate, Alphose." Was all he said.

Did Alphose expect it? Yes, he did.

Another person will react with awe, happiness, and wonder, but not Wolfariane.

Alphose continued anyway, "Not only does she have the scent of potential mate, but the scent was also very strong and distinguishable above other odds. She has the scent of an unclaimed Alpha mate."

Placing the signed document aside, he picked up another one. "That's good news for you, Josiah, Cronus, and the other unmated Alphas, Alphose. You can claim her before the others discover her and claim her first."

Alphose wishes he can do that more than anything else in the world. "She is not mine. I went really close and even bumped into her to be sure because she has other scents too. The Cougar has not the slightest liking for her touch."

"Her 'other' scent?" Wolfariane inquired, reluctantly.

"She is dying. The smell of death was too strong. She doesn't have much time."

Eyes raised from the document to Alphose, "Too bad for her, and whoever she belongs to."

The curious mountain lion in him has to know, "What if she is yours?"

Wolfariane didn't bait an eyelash. "She can never be mine. And if she is, I am glad she is dying."

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