Page 50 of Mate to the Alpha Predator

A nod from Eline. "We have about thirty-six clans here and two general dwellings."

"Clans? Dwellings? you have lost me."

Eline smiled at her confusion. "I heard you saw Degar change into his other half, the Leopard?" At Ismena's nod, she continued, "The home for all leopards is their clan—The Leopard Clan, with the strongest Alpha as a leader. Degar is the strongest of his kind and the leader of the leopard clan."

Strong. Powerful. A conqueror. She remembered Wolfariane's words about the man. "I understand now. Although so many things are still unclear."

"Oh, don't worry about it. You will become very familiar with us in no time." She paused, "At least until the Alpha King retrieves his ring, and you leave us."

"I'm really sorry about his ring. You must have heard what happened..." Her cheeks flushed with guilt, "I put you all in danger."

"It's okay, don't sweat it." Eline waved her off, "We can take care of ourselves. Also, the ring will be retrieved, so you needn't worry yourself to death."

Bathed and feeling refreshed again, Ismena glanced at herself in the big mirror of the bedroom. Eline had been kind enough to lend her her clothes because they're almost the same size. It's her waist that wanted to disgrace her at first, rejecting all the clothes Eline picked out before.

But now, she's in a simple loose dress that only hugged her waist before it flowed loosely down her legs. Feeling satisfied with what she's seeing, she walked out of the bedroom only to see Eline and Alphose putting on their extra uniforms.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Ismena. But there was an emergency in the market we're posted on this week, that requires our attention. I'm afraid that I won't be able to take you around town today, after all." Elaine informed her as she hurriedly strapped in her guns to the bandoliers on her waist and shoulder.

"Don't worry about it. You go attend to business. I'll wait right here."

"Thank you. The television is old but it's working, so you can keep yourself busy. Bye...!" She flew out of the wooden door, Alphose following closely behind her.

Alone, Ismena glanced around at the house. Well, she can totally do this.

Three days later, Ismena is going out of her mind doing nothing and staying indoors.

She has never really been a sit-at-home-doing-nothing kinda person, so, saying its hard is a huge understatement. Plus the fact that she hasn't got much time left. These past few days she feels like she has been wasting the little time she has.

She has watched TV, all the shows going on are extremely boring. Just one managed to get her attention, but that one isn't been aired today. And without these shows, she's left with the thought of one man that has become an obsession in her head.

Wolfariane, the Alpha King, according to his people. She's not surprised that the man is King, he'd always had that elegance in his bearing...that sophistication in each step he takes.

In the past three days, she hasn't seen or heard about it, and even though she tries her possible best not to think about him, she still finds herself doing exactly that for seventeen hours every day, much to her consternation. Her boredom wasn't helping at all.

I have to go out of this house or I'll go crazy, Ismena decided when she couldn't take it anymore.

It was early evening when she stepped out of the house. The gentle breeze nuzzled her body, instantly setting her mind at peace. But not the fires in her blood, caused by the thoughts of Big Bad Wolfe.

Ismena likes the isolation of this place...the quietness. As she walked out of the compound, she admired the land that stretched for miles. Her eyes took in the beautiful views of other dwellings.

Meanwhile, people out on the routes and pathways stared at her as she walked. They were curious about her. Who is this woman? Who is this human?

Changelings are confused about who she might be because rumors have gone around the better part of town about a new human in Naturiah. An unmated human who has no business being here.

Ismena noticed the glances from them. She managed a polite smile to everyone she passed on the way. Some returned the smile while others were outrightly hostile.

Some bared their teeth at her greeting, showing off sharp elongated fangs that had her clinging with barely contained fear. But apart from these few people that obviously don't like her, the view was so wonderful.

Ismena was so carried away by her sightseeing, she wandered through the forest, down the river. A wide smile on her face.

"Oh, I'm definitely adding 'Living In A New World' to my To-Do list." She wondered aloud, "Just wait till I tell all this to Sandra." She giggled. Her poor friend will never believe it. Then, she will go right ahead and tell her everything she—

A growl. A growl had her crashing back to reality.

That was when she looked ahead of her...and saw it. A huge cat—or is it a lion?—besides a tree, staring right at her.

No, not really a cat. Having a Bachelor's degree in forestry, agriculture, and resource economics comes in handy here, because it helps her in identifying this animal that is watching her like it just saw a good meal.

---