"Isabella, are you listening?"
"Yes, I am."
"Then why are you not saying anything?"
Isabella has made a new friend, Jasmine. When she came back after serving she saw a new girl talking to Peter. She tilted her head a little and went close to Peter. Peter introduced her as Isabella. She later comes to know that she has been to a relative of her which was why they never met. And ever since then, she has been talking. But Isabella is cutting the dry fruits with accurate margins. She doesn't want to be hurt by them, which is why she has squinted her eyes and tuned out all the other voices all this while and answered her just as she finished her work.
"Jasmine. Giving replies is not necessary. I introduced you so you can be friends. Someone for her to talk with. But you also have to understand that she doesn't talk too much or likes someone in her personal space. Respect her choices and let her be."
"But..."
"No buts. It is not adequate to force her. I don't want to hear anything else."
Peter can not explain the defensive stance or why he has a desire to protect her every time. He has seen a frown on Isabella's face instead of the normal blissful smile after finishing her work. He needs no words to tell him that it was because of the sudden accusation of Jasmine. Unlike Isabella, Jasmine demands attention although she doesn't need them. Like most other females, she too is mostly focused on outer beauty. But he sees a rare beauty in Isabella. Something far from this world. The one you want to keep safe. She reminds him of the sister he once had.
Isabella never liked humans. Especially females. Some males sure are rude but usually, they act the way they feel. She always felt out of place with them. The new girl, Jasmine, was energetic like a pup. She doesn't mind pups, rather she loves them but she was not a pup. She may not be loyal and the annoyance in her words was a clear indication. She had a frown on her face because of the two types of auras she senses in her. It makes her vary of her but the trust of Peter makes her follow.
"Show-off. Why was I chosen to be her friend in the first place?"
Jasmine couldn't hold in and muttered under her breath. She expected no one to hear her words but much to her expectations, Isabella heard. She halted her face for a moment in the middle of her way. Clenched jaw and with a flushed face she let out a deep breath. She wanted to tell her not to act like a friend when she doesn't want to be her friend. But she decided against it and continued to walk towards her room.
The foot of Isabella was swaying with the wind. There appeared light as if floating in the air. Her mind was playing the scenarios of her childhood. The scenario consists of her wolf pack where she played, laughed, ran, but most importantly she had friends and family. Where no one pretended to be her friend and she loved to spend her time. But here, she was alone with only Peter who is close to her friend but he is not a friend. A smile made its presence on her face after a long time when remembered those moments which have now become beautiful memories, it turned into a frown. The frown turned into a small smile of her. The piece was shown on her face completely.
"Here I was thinking Miss Isabella would like to spend some more time with them."
A voice came from behind her, which caused her smile to become bigger and brighter. She quickly turned in the direction of the voice and saw a mere silhouette. Although she could not see the face, that factor could not stop her feet from running to him. And before she knows, she is standing right in front of him.
She couldn't understand her emotions whenever she sees him. With others, she wants to run, while with him, she wants to stay. And same goes for Alexander. He couldn't stop a ghost himself from making its occurrence.
Seeing each other does brighten their mood.
"Xander..."
"Isabella, follow me, I want to show you something."
She nodded her head quickly and followed him with jumpy feet. After taking few steps she halted her steps. She blinked her eyes and started fumbling with her fingers.
Seeing the smile on her face a chuckle came out of his mouth on its own. But his amusement soon turned into a frown when he felt absence behind her.
"I assumed you agreed to follow?"
A tightly arranged pair of lips and questioning eyes met pouty lips and teary eyes.
"I-I am not allowed to go in the dark. I-It is an r-rule."
The eyes in the question vanished and the eyes became slightly wide. He was conflicted between cursing himself and complimenting himself. The rule was made to ensure the safety of the workers especially females. To keep them safe from the dangers lurking in the time of darkness.
A frown appeared on his face. He tapped his chin a little and suddenly his eyes brightened and a small grin appeared on his face.
"Nothing to fret about Isabella... Just follow me."
She tilted her head a little but followed him nonetheless. And when she saw the scene in front of him, she could not stop herself from gasping and watch with a fixed gaze. She could see lots of houses that have their own light resources to illuminate light. It was beautiful as if thousands of stars were on the land. Her gaze was fixed and unwavering. She forgot to even blink which Alexander observed with the slightly puffed chest. He soon followed her point of vision and started watching it.
"Wow, i-it is beautiful. "
"I know, My kingdom is beautiful."
Alexander observed the way her feet slowly brought her closer. And she stood beside him in the midst of her trance. The way her eyes twinkled and how she will stay few steps away but by his side. A ghost smile found its way on his face.
Suddenly, a long howl captured his attention. His eyes roamed around to look for something unusual around but he found none. It has become a daily occurrence. Every night when the moon shines, the howl pierce the silence of the dark.
The smile on Isabella's face turned bigger. It was the call of her brothers. The young group of pups has made their first kills and now, they have been designed as warriors. She was happy for her big family and the pups. Every night the wolves tell her the happenings of the pack and she does the same. The moon and howl have always been their way of communication and will be till the day they die.
She kept her eyes closed and continued enjoying the cold air. The cold breeze flowing across reminded her of the pack runs. It brought the smell of soil, flowers, and the lake. The moonlight was giving her peace. The moonlight illuminating her made her look more angelic. She looked as if she was standing exactly where she truly belongs. His chest fluffed slightly to see her in her true self which she shows only with him.
"Although it's a beauty, it is facing some problems. It should never face a problem."
Alexander was in a mess of his thoughts and emotions. Before he could stop himself from asking that, the words were already out of his mouth. He prepared himself to be disappointed. For her to not notice or maybe for her to not know the answer. But when he heard her talking he couldn't move and was frozen to the spot.